Nonlinear viscoelastic modeling of soft polymers

A one‐dimensional phenomenological constitutive model, representing the nonlinear viscoelastic behavior of polymers is developed in this study. The proposed model is based on a modification of the well‐known three element standard solid model. The linear dashpot is replaced by an Eyring type one, while the nonlinearity is enhanced by a nonlinear, strain dependent spring constant. The new constitutive model was proved to be capable of capturing the main aspects of nonlinear viscoelastic response, namely, monotonic and cyclic loading, creep and stress relaxation, with the same parameter values. Model validation was tested on the experimental results at various modes of deformation for two elastomeric type materials, performed elsewhere. A very good agreement between model simulations and experimental data was obtained in all cases. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42141.     

Investigating the effect of silver nanorods embedded in polydimethylsiloxane matrix using nanoindentation and its use for flexible electronics

The stretchable electrodes with excellent flexibility, electrical conductivity, and mechanical durability are the most fundamental components in the emerging and exciting field of flexible electronics. This article proposes a method for fabrication of such a stretchable electrode by embedding silver nanorods (AgNRs) into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix that is grown by a unique glancing angle deposition technique. The surface, mechanical, and electrical properties of PDMS are significantly changed after embedding the AgNRs in it. The results show that surface roughness and polarity increase after AgNRs are embedded in the PDMS matrix. Elastic modulus (E) and hardness (H) decrease with an increase in the indentation load as a result of the indentation depth effect. Due to strong interfacial adhesion of AgNRs embedded in the PDMS matrix, the E and H of nanocomposite are increased by 167.6 and 93.3% compared with PDMS film, respectively. Furthermore, the AgNRs-PDMS film has an electrical resistivity value in the order of 10⁻⁷ Ωm. It remains conductive during various mechanical strains such as bending, twisting, and stretching, which is demonstrated using a light-emitting diode circuit. Simultaneously, the antimicrobial activity of silver could make it a promising candidate for wearable electronics.     

The effect of annealing on the elastoplastic and viscoelastic responses of isotactic polypropylene

Observations are reported on isotactic polypropylene (i) in a series of tensile tests with a constant strain rate on specimens annealed for 24 h at various temperatures in the range from 110 to 150 °C, (ii) in two series of creep tests in the subyield region of deformations on samples not subjected to thermal treatment and on specimens annealed at 140 °C, and (iii) in a series of tensile relaxation tests on non-annealed specimens. Constitutive equations are derived for the elastoplastic and non-linear viscoelastic responses of semicrystalline polymers. A polymer is treated as an equivalent transient network of macro-molecules bridged by junctions (physical cross-links, entanglements and lamellar blocks). The network is assumed to be highly heterogeneous, and it is thought of as an ensemble of meso-regions with different activation energies for separation of strands from temporary nodes. The elastoplastic behavior is modelled as sliding of junctions in meso-domains with respect to their reference positions driven by macro-deformation. The viscoelastic response is attributed to detachment of active strands from temporary junctions and attachment of dangling chains to the network. Constitutive equations for isothermal deformations with small strains are derived by using the laws of thermodynamics. Adjustable parameters in the stress–strain relations are found by fitting the experimental data.     

Materials modelling: A bridge from atoms to bulk properties

The use of molecular-level materials modelling techniques in the development of advanced performance polymers is discussed, with particular emphasis upon bridging the large difference in the scales of dimensions between atomic structure and fabricated parts. The advantages and disadvantages of bulk quantitative structure-property relations and atomistic modelling are assessed, and the method of group interaction modelling is suggested as a means of bridging the dimensional scales.After a brief introduction to the concept of group interaction modelling, examples of modelling the engineering properties of polymers are presented which are difficult to model quantitatively by any other means. The important phase transitions from the crystal and glassy states of matter to those of rubber- and liquidlike states are shown quantitatively to be due to the same isoenergetic condition. The viscoelastic properties of a polymer are critical for many applications and expressions are derived for the loss and storage components of the complex modulus, with reference to failure initiation conditions. The effect of crosslinking in thermosets upon the glass transition temperature and viscoelastic properties is outlined. Finally, the scaling of time from atomic vibrations to the years involved in creep and ageing effects are discussed.     

Dynamical considerations of network properties

Elasticity is discussed as an aspect of viscoelasticity, which is described by the tube model. The effects of both crosslinks and entanglements contribute to this model and a discussion of how these effects can be quantified is given. At high enough concentration, entanglements ensure the existence of elastic effects even without crosslinks, and a theory is presented on how this dynamical phase change comes about.     

Linear viscoelastic properties of mixtures of 3- and 4-arm polybutadiene stars

The viscoelastic properties of a three-arm and a four-arm star polybutadiene with the same arm molecular weight (M_a) were studied. The zero-shear recoverable compliance (J⁰_e) and plateau modulus (G⁰_N) for these stars are the same. The zero-shear viscosity (η₀) of the three-arm star is 20% lower than that of the four-arm star. Mixtures of the stars had J⁰_e and G⁰_N unchanged. A $\text{50}\text{50}$ mixture of the three- and four-arm star was diluted with a low molecular weight linear polybutadiene. G⁰_N∝ø²; J⁰_e∝ø^?1 and M_e∝ø^?1, as expected for dilution with a θ-solvent.     

Some concepts on design of surfactant gels and vesicles

It is conjectured that anionic-cationic surfactant combination can be regarded as equivalent to a double chain surfactant and using molecular packing considerations it is shown that vesicles, viscoelastic solutions and liquid crystals can be designed by the proper choice of chain lengths of the pair. Using these concepts new systems are designed, from mixtures of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide and sodium alkyl sulfonates, to produce both viscoelastic gels and vesicles.     

连铸板坯的鼓肚变形与应力分析

以粘弹性薄板为模型，应用材料流变学理论及弹性薄板理论，分析计算了连铸板坯在钢水静压力与不均匀温度场作用下所发生的鼓肚变形与应力。计算结果与宝钢板坯连铸机的设计公式所得结果相吻合。此外，还得出了铸坯对夹辊的作用力。     

表面活性剂聚集体的流变性质

以流变学基础知识为出发点，系统综述了胶束、微乳液，溶致液晶（层状、六角状、立方状），囊泡、虫状胶束等表面活性剂聚集体的流变性质及其剪切诱导结构转变现象的研究现状，总结了自流变性质的特点和理论模型，对具有黏弹性的表面活性剂活性剂聚集体进行了较为详细的论述，胶束稀溶液和微乳液多为牛顿流体；溶致液晶为非牛顿流体，有应力服价值和较高的黏弹性，囊泡的弹性性质比较突出，；虫状胶束体系具有非线性黏弹性，易形成网络结构；层状液晶、囊泡和虫状胶束等结构在剪切作用下能发生变化。这些结论对指导表面活性剂的研究和应用有重要意义。     

Shear Strength of Pressure Sensitive Adhesives and its Correlation to Mechanical Properties

Correlations between shear resistance and the mechanical properties of pressure sensitive adhesives are studied by measuring the deformation behaviour in the static and the dynamic shear test and determining the dynamic shear modulus of the adhesive. For polymers with low or moderate viscosities, the shear strain vs. time characteristics in a static shear test and, accordingly, the static shear strength, can be evaluated from the master curves of the dynamic shear modulus or the dynamic viscosity. The dynamic shear strength also can be calculated. These exact calculations cannot be applied to highly viscous or slightly crosslinked polymers. On the basis of the model experiments, empirical correlations between shear strength and the dynamic shear modulus are established which seem to be generally valid.