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.     

不同粘弹性驱替液下毛管数对驱油效果的影响

通过在微亲水人造岩心上开展的室内驱油物理模拟试验,探讨了毛管数对不同粘弹性聚合物溶液驱油效率及残余油饱和度的影响.同时,在相同毛管数条件下,研究了不同粘弹性聚合物溶液对其驱油效率及残余油饱和度的影响,得到了不同粘弹性条件下毛管数与驱油效率关系的一族曲线;比较系统地研究了不同粘弹性聚合物溶液下毛管数对驱油效率及残余油饱和度的影响规律,即在毛管数相同的条件下,聚合物溶液的粘弹性越高,体系的采收率越高,残余油饱和度越低,说明了聚合物溶液的弹性也是影响其提高采收率、降低残余油饱和度的重要因素.对进一步深入研究聚合物驱油机理和现场作业具有行重要指导意义.     

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.     

粘弹性圆柱壳在轴向恒压下的动力稳定性

基于Timoshenko-Mindlin假设,得到考虑粘弹性的各向同性圆柱壳及纤维增强正交铺设层合圆柱壳在轴向恒压下的动力学方程。文中对两端简支的圆柱壳进行了分析,依Laplace变换,导出动力稳定的特征方程,由Routh-Hurwitz判据建立动力稳定性条件,对两类圆柱壳讨论了横向剪切变形的影响。     

高水头弧形闸门伸缩式水封的黏弹性仿真计算方法

认为止水材料的蠕变和应力松弛是由于材料参数的变化而引起的，把描述橡胶类材料应变能密度函数中的物理参数假设成与时间有关的黏弹性函数。在此基础上改进材料应力张量与应变张量的关系式，得到了改进的Mooney-Rivlin公式，给出了一种考虑止水材料黏弹性性质的伸缩式水封仿真计算方法。分析得出，止水材料由于受周边结构的限制，材料黏弹性阶段除顶点垂直位移不变，关键结点的其它位移并没有因材料的蠕变而显著变化，材料的蠕变有提高封头顶点接触应力的趋势，不会降低水封的水密性。通过工程实例，给出了140m水头下、封头与面板间隙控制在30mm内的可行并较优的伸缩式水封的断面。