Fiber Strength After Grain Growth in Nextel™ 610 Alumina Fiber

Nextel^? 610 alumina fiber tows were heat‐treated at 1100°C–1500°C for 1 to 100 h in air. Tensile strengths and Weibull moduli were measured for 30 filaments after each heat‐treatment. 3‐D grain size and orientation distributions were described using oblate ellipsoids. The number of grains in a 1 inch gauge length and grains with the largest major and minor ellipsoid‐axes were determined from these distributions. The grain with the largest K_EFF for mixed‐mode fracture was also determined, using the maximum energy release rate criteria from grain‐size and orientation distributions. Grain‐size dependence of tensile strength and Weibull modulus was evaluated. Strength had no obvious dependence on grain size for fibers with average major‐axes smaller than 0.25 μm. For fibers with larger grains, grain‐size dependence may involve flaws originating from clumps of grains, rather than a single grain. Possible relationships between strength and grain‐size and other causes of strength degradation after heat‐treatment are discussed.     

Extraction of Weibull Parameters of Fiber Strength from Means and Standard Deviations of Failure Loads and Fiber Diameters

The errors in using an average fiber diameter to calculate the mean strength (ς_m), Weibull reference strength (ς₀), and Weibull modulus ( m ) from failure loads of fibers were examined experimentally. Although the use of an average diameter gave very good estimates of ς_m, the error in the Weibull parameters (ς₀ and m ) was significant, which supported the recent simulation results. Computational approaches to reduce these errors have been considered, and a numerical procedure to extract the Weibull parameters from the means and standard deviations of the load and fiber diameter has been proven feasible, provided the sample population is large. Parametric studies have shown that sample populations of ∼175 are required to obtain results within an error of 10%. The recommended sample populations for commercial fibers are 75–200, depending on the scatter in the fiber diameter and the acceptable error.     

Mechanical properties of vapor grown carbon nanofibers

Individual as-fabricated, high temperature heat-treated and graphitized/surface oxidized vapor grown carbon nanofibers (VGCNFs), with average diameter of 150 nm were tested for their elastic modulus and their tensile strength by a MEMS-based mechanical testing platform. The elastic modulus increased from 180 GPa for as-fabricated, to 245 GPa for high temperature heat-treated nanofibers. The nominal fiber strengths followed Weibull distributions with characteristic strengths between 2.74 and 3.34 GPa, which correlated well with the expected effects of heat treatment and oxidative post-processing. As-fabricated VGCNFs had small Weibull modulus indicating a broad flaw population, which was condensed upon heat treatment. For all VGCNF grades, the nanofiber fracture surface included the stacked truncated cup structure of the oblique graphene layers comprising its backbone and cleavage of the outer turbostratic or thermally graphitized layer.     

Weibull parameters obtained from dependence of fiber strength on fiber length and area

Weibull strength parameters of ceramic fibers can be inferred from variations in strength with fiber diameter or gauge length. The goal of this article is to provide a critical assessment of the efficacy of these methods. The issues are addressed using theorems in regression analysis and uncertainty propagation as well as Monte Carlo simulations. The results show that, when Weibull moduli are obtained from strength variations with fiber area, inordinately large sample sizes (>1000) are required to achieve reliable results. In contrast, Weibull moduli can be accurately estimated from the dependence of average fiber strength on gauge length for a modest sample size at each of two gauge lengths, provided the gauge length range is sufficiently large. The dependence of strengths of bundles containing many (ca. 500) fibers on gauge length yields yet more reliable results. The results are used to assess the fidelity of Weibull moduli obtained from these methods and provide guidance for preferred test methods.     

In Situ Fiber Strengths in Ceramic-Matrix Composites from Fracture Mirrors

The in situ breaking stresses of pulled-out fibers on the fracture surface of a fiber-reinforced composite can be determined ex post facto from a measurement of the fracture mirrors on the surfaces of the fibers. Here, the relationship between the resultant distribution of breaking stresses and the true in situ fiber strength distribution, as characterized by a Weibull modulus m and characteristic strength ó_c, is derived for composites that fail after the first matrix crack has propagated. Specifically, it is demonstrated thai, if the true in situ parameters are m and σ_c >, then the distribution of breaking stresses is well approximated by a Weibull form with apparent Weibull modulus m * and apparent characteristic strength S *. The relationships between m * and m , and S * and σ_c, are presented, and these results allow for the conversion of fracture mirror data, or any fracto-graphic determination of fiber strength, to the true strength parameters necessary for predicting/interpreting composite performance.     

Promoting the adhesion of high‐performance polymer fibers using functional plasma polymer coatings

Plasma‐copolymerized functional coatings of acrylic acid and 1,7‐octadiene were deposited onto high strength, high modulus, poly‐p‐phenylene benzobisoxazole (PBO) fibers. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) with trifluoroethanol derivatization confirmed that the PBO fibers were covered completely with the plasma copolymer and that the coating contained a quantitative concentration of carboxylic acid groups. Microdebond single filament adhesion and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) tests were used to evaluate the interfacial strength of epoxy resin composites containing these functionalized PBO fibers. Both the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) obtained from single filament tests, and the ILSS of high volume fraction composites were a function of the surface functionality of the fibers so that there was a good correlation between ILSS and IFSS data. The tensile strengths of single fibers with or without coating were comparable, demonstrating that the fiber surface was not damaged in the plasma‐coating procedure. Indeed, the statistical analysis showed that Weibull modulus was increased. Therefore, plasma‐polymerized coatings can be used to control the interfacial bond between PBO fibers and matrix resins and act as a protective size for preserving the mechanical properties of the fibers. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Mechanical characterization and application of Weibull statistics to the strength of softwood lignin‐based carbon fibers

Mechanical characterization of the first generation of softwood kraft lignin‐based carbon fibers (CF) was carried out. The single‐fiber tensile tests of filaments with different diameters and length were performed to evaluate stiffness and strength of carbon fibers. The average mechanical properties were measured as follows: tensile strength of approximately 300 MPa, the elastic modulus of 30 GPa and a strain at failure within interval of 0.7–1.2%. The fiber strength data was evaluated by the two‐parameter Weibull statistics and parameters of this distribution were obtained. Although strength of the produced fibers is still significantly lower than that of commercially available, the experimental results and predictions based on Weibull statistics show a fairly good fit. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 3689–3697, 2013     

Strengths of ceramic fiber bundles: Theory and practice

The Weibull modulus and reference strength of ceramic fibers can be inferred from measurements of the tensile stress‐strain response of a bundle of such fibers. The goal of the present article is to address issues in the fidelity of results stemming from fiber bundle tests and strategies to optimize outcomes. The issues are addressed through established theorems in uncertainty propagation, Monte Carlo simulations of fiber bundle fracture, and experimental measurements on bundles of SiC fibers of various length and surface condition. The study shows that optimal results are obtained when: (i) tests are performed on fiber bundles with a gauge length that exceeds a critical value (specifically, that needed to prevent mechanical instabilities in the post‐load‐maximum domain); (ii) bundles are lubricated with a low‐viscosity oil, to mitigate both inter‐fiber friction and dynamic coupling associated with release waves following fiber fracture; and (iii) the Weibull parameters are obtained by directly fitting the measured stress‐strain curves with the function predicted by fiber bundle theory, rather than using methods based on either linear regression analysis of Weibull probability plots or fitting of the peak stress and strain alone.     

Analysis of Size Dependence of Ceramic Fiber and Whisker Strength

The strengths of ceramic fibers and whiskers have been observed to increase with decreasing fiber diameter and length. Typically, both surface flaws and volume flaws exist in ceramic fibers and whiskers, which makes it impossible to characterize the strength dependence of both the diameter and the length with a single-modal Weibull distribution function. Our data also show that the single-modal Weibull distribution is inadequate to characterize the strength of fibers with varying diameters even in the case of a constant fiber length. In addition, experimental data also show that, for sapphire whiskers whose surface flaws were removed by chemical polishing, the whisker strength has a much stronger size dependence on diameter than predicted by the single-modal Weibull function, which indicates that factors other than those characterized by the Weibull function also play a role in the strength of sapphire whiskers. In this paper, the factors affecting the strengths of ceramic fibers and whiskers are analyzed in terms of Weibull statistics, fracture mechanics, and flaw size density variation with varying fiber diameters. A three-parameter modified Weibull distribution, which combines the above strength-affecting factors, is proposed to characterize both the diameter and the length dependence for ceramic fibers and whiskers with or without surface flaws. Characterization of the strength data of sapphire whiskers and Nicalon SiC fibers with varying diameters shows the validity of the modified Weibull distribution function.     

Combined Effect of Flaw Distribution and Diameter Variation on the Statistics of Glass Fiber Strength

This paper examines the combined effects of flaw-severity distribution and fiber diameter distribution on the fracture statistics of glass fibers. The approach adopted is to assume specific forms (Gaussian and Weibull) for the diameter distribution, a Weibull distribution for the true strength, and then to calculate the measured strength distributions. Exact analytical results are obtained in the cases of flawless fibers, uniform size flaws, and when true strength and fiber diameter are Weibull distributed. Approximate analytical expressions have been derived for the general case. A procedure is described to obtain the parameters of the true strength distribution from the knowledge of measured strength distribution and the coefficient of variation of fiber diameters. Implications of these results for the fracture statistics of high-strength glass fibers are discussed.     

Structure–property relationships in glass reinforced polyamide,part 2: The effects of average fiber diameter and diameter distribution

We present the results of an extensive study of the influence of average fiber diameter and the width of the diameter distribution on the performance of injection‐molded glass‐fiber reinforced polyamide 6,6. In the average fiber diameter range from 9 to 18 μm, dry‐as‐molded (DaM) composite unnotched impact and tensile strength decreased significantly. The composite notched impact performance and tensile modulus showed little dependence on fiber diameter. The influence of broadening the fiber diameter distribution by blending glass fiber samples of different average diameter was found to be particularly negative on the level of composite unnotched impact when compared at equal number average diameter. After hydrolysis treatment, the composite tensile strength and modulus exhibited a large drop compared to the DaM results. In contrast, the unnotched impact results became insensitive to fiber diameter after hydrolysis. The average level of unnotched impact after hydrolysis was sufficiently high to show an increase over DaM when the fiber diameter was above 14 μm. Residual fiber length correlated significantly with fiber diameter with a lower average length for thinner fibers. The interfacial shear strength was found to be in the range of 26–34 MPa for DaM composites. There was a highly significant inverse correlation between the DaM interfacial strength and the average fiber diameter. It is shown that results from both tensile and unnotched impact measurements can be brought back to single trend lines by using a Z average value for the average fiber diameter, which is more heavily weighted to the thicker fibers in the distribution. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:331–343, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Preparation and characterization of the modulus intermediate layer in carbon fiber/epoxy composites by depositing sepiolites

An important aspect in development of multi‐scale reinforced composites is their mass production which can be easily realized. In this article, the sepiolites (Si12O30Mg8(OH)4(OH2)4·8H2O) are directly deposited onto the surface of JH‐T800 carbon fibers for the first time with no need for removal of the commercial sizing agent. The sepiolites adhering to the carbon fibers are uniformly distributed with random orientation, and participated in the formation of high modulus intermediate layer encompassing the carbon fiber. After the deposition of sepiolites, the interfacial shear strengths (IFSS) of the carbon fiber/epoxy composites are significantly improved as shown in single‐fiber composite fragmentation tests. Compared to the commercial carbon fiber composites, the sepiolite‐deposited fiber composites also exhibit obvious improvement in the interlaminar shear strength and flexural strength. As a new kind of multi‐scale reinforcement with industrial application value, the sepiolite‐deposited carbon fibers can further raise the level of mechanical properties of the existing carbon fiber reinforced composites. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43955.     

Polyacrylonitrile solution homogeneity study by dynamic shear rheology and the effect on the carbon fiber tensile strength

Poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐methacrylic acid) (PAN‐co‐MAA)/N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) solutions were prepared and dynamic shear rheology of these solutions were investigated. With increasing stirring time up to 72 h at 70°C, the polymer solution became less elastic (more liquid‐like) with a ～60% reduction in the zero‐shear viscosity. Relaxation spectra of the PAN‐co‐MAA/DMF solutions yield a decrease in relaxation time (disentanglement time, τ_d), corresponding to an about 8% decrease in viscosity average molecular weight. The log‐log plot of G′ (storage modulus) versus G″ (loss modulus) exhibited an increase in slope as a function of stirring time, suggesting that the molecular level solution homogeneity increased. In order to study the effect of solution homogeneity on the resulting carbon fiber tensile strength, multiple PAN‐co‐MAA/DMF solutions were prepared, and the precursor fibers were processed using gel‐spinning, followed by continuous stabilization and carbonization. The rheological properties of each solution were also measured and correlated with the tensile strength values of the carbon fibers. It was observed that with increasing the slope of the G′ versus G″ log‐log plot from 1.471 to 1.552, and reducing interfilament fiber friction during precursor fiber drawing through the addition of a fiber washing step prior to fiber drawing, the carbon fiber strength was improved (from 3.7 to 5.8 GPa). This suggests that along with precursor fiber manufacturing and carbonization, the solution homogeneity is also very important to obtain high strength carbon fiber. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:361–370, 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

High strength micron size carbon fibers from polyacrylonitrile–carbon nanotube precursors

An improved, high strength, carbon fiber derived from islands-in-a-sea bi-component gel spun polyacrylonitrile (PAN)–carbon nanotube (CNT) precursor fibers containing 1 wt% mixture of single, double, and few walled CNTs was developed. Microscale experiments with properly designed MEMS tools provided the mechanical properties of individual, 1-μm diameter carbon filaments, which were isolated from bundles of 407 fibers. The statistics of the mechanical strength were described well by the cumulative Weibull probability density function that resulted in characteristic strength of 6.2 GPa and a Weibull modulus of 4.5, while the highest tensile strength and Young’s modulus values were 7.3 GPa and 318 GPa, respectively. At the lower end of the spectrum, the strength values correlated well with predictions based on an effective flaw size obtained from fracture cross-sections. On the other hand, the failure cross-sections of the high strength carbon fibers contained a large number of long and oriented CNTs but no discernible flaws. The high interfacial strength between the CNTs and the surrounding carbon resulted in fracture and telescopic pull-out of the CNTs, which was corroborated by individual CNT pull-out experiments with MEMS tools inside an SEM, and in situ fiber failure observations of telescopic pull-out of CNTs inside a TEM.     

Short glass fiber reinforced ABS and ABS/PA6 composites: Processing and characterization

In this study acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (ABS) terpolymer was reinforced with 3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APS)‐treated short glass fibers (SGFs). The effects of SGF concentration and extrusion process conditions, such as the screw speed and barrel temperature profile, on the mechanical properties of the composites were examined. Increasing the SGF concentration in the ABS matrix from 10 wt% to 30 wt% resulted in improved tensile strength, tensile modulus and flexural modulus, but drastically lowered the strain‐at‐break and the impact strength. The average fiber length decreased when the concentration of glass fibers increased. The increase in screw speed decreased the average fiber length, and therefore the tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural modulus, and impact strength were affected negatively and the strain‐at‐break was affected positively. The increase in extrusion temperature decreased the fiber length degradation, and therefore the tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural modulus, and impact strength increased. At higher temperatures the ABS matrix degraded and the mechanical strength of the composites decreased. To obtain a strong interaction at the interface, polyamide‐6 (PA6) at varying concentrations was introduced into the ABS/30 wt% SGF composite. The incorporation and increasing amount of PA6 in the composites broadened the fiber length distribution (FLD) owing to the low melt viscosity of PA6. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural modulus, and impact strength values increased with an increase in the PA6 content of the ABS/PA6/SGF systems due to the improved adhesion at the interface, which was confirmed by the ratio of tensile strength to flexural strength as an adhesion parameter. These results were also supported by scanning electron micrographs of the ABS/PA6/SGF composites, which exhibited an improved adhesion between the SGFs and the ABS/PA6 matrix. POLYM. COMPOS. 26:745–755, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers     

不同拉伸条件下基于Weibull模型的粘胶基碳纤维强度分布研究

从粘胶基碳纤维的拉伸实验得到其 S-S曲线和强度、模量、断裂伸长等力学性能数据 ,表明该材料是典型的脆性断裂 ,且断裂分散性较大。采用 VB编程软件设计了 Weibull程序 ,该模型能计算出碳纤维的平均强度、Weibull模数、尺度参数 ,并能模拟碳纤维强度的累积概率分布和概率密度曲线。不同氧化拉伸条件下强度的实验数据基本上落在程序模拟出的累积概率分布直线上 ,证明了该数学模型适用于分析碳纤维强度分布。在氧化完全松弛的条件下 ,粘胶基碳纤维的平均强度较高 ,但 Weibull模型分析的结果表明氧化拉伸比为 -5 %时 ,Weibull模数最大 ,不匀率最小 ,而氧化拉伸对粘胶基碳纤维模量没有显著影响。     

Oxidation kinetics strength of Hi‐NicalonTM‐S SiC fiber after oxidation in dry and wet air

Hi‐Nicalon?‐S SiC fiber strengths and Weibull moduli were measured after oxidation for up to 100 hours between 700°C and 1400°C in wet and dry air. SiO₂ scale thickness and crystallization extent were measured by TEM. The effect of furnace environment on trace element levels in the SiO₂ scales was characterized by secondary ion mass spectroscopy. Crystallization kinetics and Deal‐Grove oxidation kinetics for glass and crystalline scale, and the transition between them, were modeled and determined. Crystallization retards oxidation kinetics, and scale that formed in the crystalline state was heavily deformed by the growth stress accompanying SiC oxidation volume expansion. Glass scales formed in dry air slightly increased fiber strength. Glass scales formed in wet air did not increase strength, and in some cases significantly decreased strength. Scales more than 200 nm thick were usually partially or completely crystallized, which degraded fiber strength. Contamination of scales by trace impurities such as Al and Ca during heat treatment inhibited crystallization. The oxidation kinetics and the strengths of oxidized Hi‐Nicalon?‐S fibers are compared with previous studies on SiC fibers, bulk SiC, and single‐crystal SiC. Empirical relationships between oxidation temperature, time, scale thickness, and strength are determined and discussed.     

Resol–vegetable fibers composites

Vegetable fibers like cotton, sisal, and sugar cane bagasse have been used as reinforcement in a polymeric matrix. Because of its low cost and affinity with lignocellulosic fibers, a phenol‐formaldehyde resin —resol— was selected as the matrix. Composites were prepared by compression molding. The influence of fiber volume fraction‐V_f‐in flexural properties and density of composites has been studied. Cotton and sugar cane bagasse composites present a V_f value at which flexural strength and modulus are maxima. However, sisal composites show a continuous rise in flexural strength and modulus as fiber volume fraction increases, up to 76%, which is the highest concentration studied. Composites made with raw cotton show the highest values of strength and stiffness. The actual density of composites is always lower than theoretical density, due to the presence of voids. Scanning Electron Microscopy reveals a good adhesion between fiber and matrix in the composites. In addition, the flexural properties were analyzed with an efficiency criterion, which relates strength and stiffness with density, and the values obtained were compared with those corresponding to typical structural materials. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 1832–1840, 2000     

Strength degradation of alumina fiber: Irreversible phase transition after high-temperature treatment

The mechanical properties of alumina AF17-20 fiber after high-temperature treatment have been evaluated through tensile tests on single fiber and bundle. The tensile test on single fibers shows that the temperature has little effect on the elastic modulus of the fibers, which stables around 140 GPa. The test on bundles minimizes the personal errors thus giving a more reliable value of tensile strength. In general, as temperature increases, both the Weibull modulus and the tensile strength decrease gradually. De-sized fibers have the highest tensile strength, but inherent defects like pores still cause slight dispersion of the strength. Further, the strength maintains about 90% after treating below 1200 °C, and this insignificant decline is caused by the decrease of amorphous SiO₂ and the formation of aluminum silicate. In addition, the severe degradation in strength over 1200 °C is mainly attributed to the appearance and growth of mullite grains, which is only about 60% of the initial value.     

Study on effects of short glass fiber reinforcement on the mechanical and thermal properties of PC/ABS composites

This article mainly investigated the length distributions of the alkali‐free short glass fibers in specimens and their effect on the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites. The results show that the initial length, addition level and feed way of the fibers have obvious effects on the length distributions of fibers in specimens, and thereby the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites. The main‐direction feed way has an intense shear action on the fibers in specimens. With the increase of the fiber content, the reinforcing effect of fibers on the tensile strength, flexural strength and flexural modulus of the composites is increased, while the impact strength is decreased first and then tends to be stable, and the strength factor (F) of the tensile strength to weld line is significantly reduced. The longer the fiber lengths in specimens are, the more obvious the reinforcing and toughening effects are. To some extent, with the increase of the fiber content, the storage modulus (E′) and loss modulus (E′′) of the specimens are increased, but the loss factor (Tan δ) is reduced. The effect of the fiber initial lengths on the heat‐degradation of composites is smaller than that of the fiber content. Meanwhile, adding fibers can improve the thermal stability of the composites, and this law is also confirmed by the heat deflection temperature (HDT) test. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40697.