The effect of compressive stress on the Young's modulus of unirradiated and irradiated nuclear graphites

The Young's moduli of unirradiated and high temperature (800–1000°C) irradiated graphites for HTGR were measured by the ultrasonic method in the direction of applied compressive stress during and after stressing. The Young's moduli of all the tested graphites decreased with increasing compressive stress both during and after stressing. In order to investigate the reason for the decrease in Young's modulus by applying compressive stress, the mercury pore diameter distributions of a part of the unirradiated and irradiated specimens were measured. The change in pore distribution is believed to be associated with structural changes produced by irradiation and compressive stressing. The residual strain, after removing the compressive stress, showed a good correlation with the decrease in Young's modulus caused by the compressive stress. The decrease in Young's modulus by applying compressive stress was considered to be due to the increase in the mobile dislocation density and the growth or formation of cracks. The results suggest, however, that the mechanism giving the larger contribution depends on the brand of graphite, and in anisotropic graphite it depends on the direction of applied stress and the irradiation conditions.     

A correlation of Young's modulus with yield stress in oriented poly(vinyl chloride)

The variations of tensile and compressive yield stresses and of Young's modulus of oriented poly(vinyl chloride) sheet with direction and with degree of orientation, represented by birefringence, are shown. Young's modulus was calculated from elastic stiffness constants measured by an ultrasonic pulse method at 5MHz with estimated strain and strain rate amplitudes of 2 × 10^?5 and 100s^?1. Yield strains were about 5 × 10^?2 measured at strain rates of about 2 × 10^?2s^?1. Although the measuring conditions were so different there was found to be a close correlation between tensile yield stress and Young's modulus, the two quantities being connected by a simple linear relationship, as direction of measurement and degree of orientation were varied. Compressive yield stress did not correlate with Young's modulus, and changed little with direction or degree of orientation by comparison with tensile yield stress. The empirical linear relationship between tensile yield stress and Young's modulus, difficult to account for theoretically, might form the basis of a method for determining tensile yield stress ultrasonically.     

Mechanical and fracture behavior of an artificially ultraviolet‐irradiated poly(ethylene‐carbon monoxide) copolymer

In this work, 1 wt % carbon monoxide (CO) poly(ethylene‐carbon monoxide) (ECO) copolymer sheets were artificially exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light with a power density of 3 mW/cm² for up to 130 h. A thorough mechanical characterization of the irradiated material was conducted, in which both the stress–strain data and the values of the quasistatic crack initiation and growth toughness were measured and correlated with companion uniaxial tensile tests and single‐edge‐notched fracture tests. Average values of the elastic modulus, failure strain, and failure stress were determined from the tensile tests. The full‐field optical technique of digital image correlation was used to quantify in‐plane deformation (displacements and displacement gradients) during the fracture experiments and to extract values of the crack initiation and growth fracture toughness. The elastic modulus increased monotonically with UV irradiation for the exposure times used in this investigation. In addition, for low irradiation times of less than 5 h, both the failure strain and failure stress of ECO decreased, and this caused a corresponding decrease in the crack initiation and growth toughness. However, for longer irradiation times, the failure strain remained almost invariable, whereas the failure stress increased by about 25% over that of unirradiated ECO. As a result, for longer irradiation times (>5 h), 1 wt % CO ECO became not only stiffer but also stronger and tougher, as quantified by companion fracture experiments. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 139–148, 2004     

Tensile yield in polyethylene

Uniaxial tension tests to the yield point were performed on polyethylene as a function of temperature from 21 to 117°C at a strain rate of 2 min^?1. At 21, 45, and 69°C, measurements were also made at strain rates from 0.02 to 8 min^?1. Yield energy was found to be a linear function of temperature extrapolating to zero at the melting point (140°C). The ratio of thermal to mechanical energy to produce yielding is about three times smaller than for glassy amorphous polymers. The ratio of yield stress to (initial) Young's modulus is 0.021 at room temperature and increases to 0.059 at 117°C. Also this ratio was found to decrease with log strain rate. For instance, at 21°C for a strain rate of 0.02 min^?1 the value was 0.023, while at 8 min^?1 this value decreased to 0.020.     

Effect of oxidation and residual stress on mechanical properties of SiC seal coated C/SiC composite

The effect of oxidation and thermal residual stress on mechanical properties of SiC seal coated C/SiC composite at ambient temperature and high temperature were studied. The oxidation of SiC seal coated C/SiC composite at 1300 and 1500 °C resulted in carbon fibres burn area near through thickness micro cracks in the SiC seal coating. With the increase in exposure time, the formation of SiO₂ layer in SiC matrix near carbon fibres burns area was found. Residual mechanical properties of SiC seal coated C/SiC composite after exposure in air show significant degradation. First time, a continuous measurement of Young's modulus with temperature of C/SiC composite was carried out using an impulse excitation technique. The effect of relaxation of thermal residual stress on mechanical properties was observed with the help of continuous measurement of Young's modulus as a function of temperature in an inert atmosphere.     

Elevated temperature strength and thermal shock behavior of hot-pressed carbon fiber reinforced TiC composites

In order to improve the elevated strength and thermal shock resistance of TiC materials, 20vol% short carbon fiber-reinforced TiC composite (C_f/TiC) was produced by hot pressing. With carbon fiber addition, the strength and fracture toughness of TiC is increased remarkably, and the elastic modulus and thermal expansion coefficient are decreased. The strength value of C_f/TiC composite is 593 MPa at room temperature and 439 MPa at 1400°C, and the fracture toughness value at room temperature is 6.87 MPa m^1/2. The thermal stress fracture resistance parameter, R, thermal stress damage resistance parameter, R^IV, and thermal stress crack stability parameter, R_st, are all increased. The residual strength decreases significantly when the thermal shock temperature difference, ΔT, is higher than 900°C, and the residual strength is 252 MPa when ΔT is 1400°C. Carbon fiber reinforced-TiC composite exhibits superior resistance to thermal shock damage compared with monolithic TiC. The catastrophic failure induced by severe thermal stresses can be prevented in C_f/TiC composite.     

Superior Mechanical Properties of Double-Network Hydrogels Reinforced by Carbon Nanotubes without Organic Modification

A facile method is developed to fabricate nanocomposite double-network (DN) gels with excellent mechanical properties, which do not fracture upon loading up to 78 MPa and a strain above 0.98, by compositing of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) without organic modification. Investigations of swelling behaviors, and compressive and tensile properties indicate that equilibrium swelling ratio, compressive modulus and stress, fracture stress, Young’s modulus, and yield stress are significantly improved in the presence of CNTs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals that the pore size of nanocomposite DN gels is decreased and some embedded micro-network structures are observed on the fracture surface in comparison to DN gels without CNTs, which leads to the enhancement of mechanical properties. The compressive loading-unloading behaviors show that the area of hysteresis loop, dissipated energy, for the first compressive cycle, increases with addition of CNTs, which is much higher than that for the successive cycles. Furthermore, the energy dissipation mechanism, similar to the Mullins effect observed in filled rubbers, is demonstrated for better understanding the nanocomposite DN polymer gels with CNTs.     

Time and temperature effects on the tensile yield properties of polypropylene

Tensile tests were made on polypropylene films as a function of aging temperature from 80 to 130°C at a strain rate of 5 cm min^-1. Polypropylene films aged at 60 and 100°C and at time intervals up to 180 min were also stretched at the same strain rate. The yield stress and initial modulus were found to be linear functions of temperature, extrapolating to a zero value close to the thermodynamic melting point of the polymer (170°C). The work of yield, the plastic and yield strains also decreased with increase in aging temperature but the elastic strain increased. The plastic strain, yield strain, yield stress, and initial modulus for the 60°C aged film had larger values than the corresponding values for the 100°C aged film at equivalent time intervals and all properties decreased with increasing log time of aging. These decreases in properties were explained in terms of decrease in the density (crystallinity) of aged PP films. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65: 625–633, 1997     

The influence of EB-crosslinking on barrier properties of HDPE–mica composites

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) was compounded with untreated and surface-treated mica (10, 20, 40 wt %) and composites were injection-molded. The composites were radiation crosslinked (100, 300, 700 kGy) and hydrocarbon permeability, tensile impact strength, and tensile strength at 25 and 80°C of the composites were examined. The permeability of HDPE decreased from 7 to 3.6 g/(d × m²) by compounding the polymer with 20 wt % mica, and the permeability was additionally reduced to 1.3 g/(d × m²) by irradiation of the compounds (700 kGy). When surface-treated mica was used, the permeability of the composite furthermore decreased to about 1.0 g/(d × m²). Upon irradiation, the E modulus measured at 25°C increased 5% when the dose was 300 kGy. At 80°C, the corresponding increase was 40%. The tensile impact strength of an unfilled polymer increased more than three times by an irradiation dose of 700 kGy, and for a polymer with 10 wt % mica, the tensile impact strength was twice the level of an unirradiated composite. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Sintering and thermomechanical behavior of a Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic

The thermoelastic, viscoplastic and sintering properties of a commercial Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC, ref. ESL 41111-G) were carefully characterized and correlated to its microstructural features. This LTCC was made of rhombohedral quartz and an amorphous phase composed of silicon, oxygen and some trace amounts of aluminum, carbon and potassium. The dependences of the elastic response vs. temperature and density were characterized by various techniques from nano- to macro-scales. A stable Young's modulus around 54.0?±?3.5?GPa was measured up to 500?°C before a sharp fall. It was associated with the exceeding of the glass transition temperature (around 576?±?4?°C). Based on constant heating rate and master sintering curve methodologies, it was shown that the apparent activation energy for free sintering was stable during the whole densification process, with an average value of approximately 291?±?11?kJ?mol^?1. The uniaxial viscosity ranged from 0.1 to 2.0?GPa?s for relative densities between 0.56 and 0.92. The activation energy identified for viscous flow was similar to the one for free sintering. Moreover, a low and stable value of viscous Poisson's ratio was determined, with an average value around 0.14?±?0.01 during the initial and intermediate stages of sintering.     

Mechanical and electrochemical properties of cubic and tetragonal LixLa0.557TiO3 perovskite oxide electrolytes

Solid oxide electrolytes with high Li ion conductivity and mechanical stability are vital for all solid-state lithium ion batteries. The perovskite material Li_xLa_0.557TiO₃ with various initial Li (0.303 ≤ x ≤ 0.370) is synthesized by traditional solid-state reaction. The cubic and tetragonal structures are prepared with fast and slow cooling, respectively. The results reveal that the Li ion conductivity of the cubic structure is higher. In fact, the bulk conductivity of 1.65 × 10^?3 S cm^?1 is obtained at room temperature for x = 0.350. The crystal structure is not affected by the Li₂O quantity. In addition, Young's modulus, hardness, and fracture toughness are determined with indentation method for both structures. The Young's modulus increases with increasing Li₂O. However, hardness and fracture toughness keep a relatively stable value independent of Li₂O quantity.     

Off-axis tensile properties and fracture in a unidirectional graphite/polyimide composite (celion 6000/PMR 15)

Tensile properties of unidirectional Celion 6000 graphite/PMR 15 polyimide composites prepared by hot molding and cold molding processes were measured at room temperature and 316°C, the upper use temperature of the polyimide resin, at both 45 and 90° to the fiber axis. The resulting fractures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and materialographic techniques. Variation in tensile properties with processing history occurred in the elastic modulus and strain to failure for specimens loaded at 90° at 316°C, and in the fracture stress, and hence the in-plane shear stress, for those loaded at 45° at room temperature. Significant plastic deformation was observed in the 45° orientation at 316°C for material produced by both processing methods. In general, fracture occurred by both failure within the matrix and at the fiber-matrix interface; the degree of interfacial failure increased with temperature. Secondary cracking below the primary fracture surface also was observed.     

Effect of holding time on high strain hysteresis loss of carbon black filled rubber vulcanizates

Hysteresis loss has been measured at constant stress and constant strain, at various holding times under tensile deformation of natural rubber (NR) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) vulcanizates filled with various loadings of carbon black filler. The effects of temperatures (25°C to 150°C), strain rates (3.78 × 10^?5 sec^?1 to 210 × 10^?3 sec^?1) and strain levels (20% to 300%) have been studied. Hysteresis loss and hysteresis loss ratio increase with an increase in strain rate, filler loading, strain level and holding time. It decreases with an increase of temperature. However, higher hysteresis loss and hysteresis loss ratio are observed at constant stress than at constant strain. NR and SBR vulcanizates show similar behavior. Evidence has been produced for the existence of a distinct relaxation process that occurs within first 120 second of holding time at room temperature. This process becomes less important as the strain or the temperature is increased. However, at high temperature another distinct relaxation process has been observed. The activation energy has been found to be 66.3 kJ/mole for the rates at the higher holding time, while it has been found to be 17.3 kJ/mole for the rates at the lower holding time using the data of hysteresis loss at first cycle of 40 phr black filled NR vulcanizates.     

Al2O3/Cu-O composites fabricated by pressureless infiltration of paper-derived Al2O3 porous preforms

Al₂O₃/Cu-O composites were fabricated from the paper-derived alumina matrix infiltrated with a Cu-3.2?wt% O alloy. Paper-derived alumina preforms with an open porosity ranging from ～ 14 to ～ 25?vol% were prepared by sintering of alumina-loaded preceramic papers at 1600?°C for 4?h. Pressureless infiltration at 1320?°C for 4?h of the preforms with Cu–O alloy resulted in the nearly dense materials with good mechanical and electrical properties, e.g. fracture toughness up to 6?MPa?m^0.5, four-point-bending strength up to 342?MPa, Young's modulus up to 281?GPa and electrical conductivity up to 2?MS/m depending on the volume fraction of copper alloy in the composites. The technological capability of this approach was demonstrated using prototypes in various engineering fields fabricated by lamination, corrugating and Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) methods.     

Mechanical property degradation of high crystalline SiC fiber–reinforced SiC matrix composite neutron irradiated to ∼100 displacements per atom

For the development of silicon carbide (SiC) materials for next-generation nuclear structural applications, degradation of material properties under intense neutron irradiation is a critical feasibility issue. This study evaluated the mechanical properties and microstructure of a chemical vapor infiltrated SiC matrix composite, reinforced with a multi-layer SiC/pyrolytic carbon–coated Hi-Nicalon^TM Type S SiC fiber, following neutron irradiation at 319 and 629?°C to ～100 displacements per atom. Both the proportional limit stress and ultimate flexural strength were significantly degraded as a result of irradiation at both temperatures. After irradiation at 319?°C, the quasi-ductile fracture behavior of the nonirradiated composite became brittle, a result that was explained by a loss of functionality of the fiber/matrix interface associated with the disappearance of the interphase due to irradiation. The specimens irradiated at 629?°C showed increased apparent failure strain because the fiber/matrix interphase was weakened by irradiation-induced partial debonding.     

Fatigue resistance and damage mechanisms of 2D woven SiC/SiC composites at high temperatures

Fatigue resistance and damage mechanisms of 2D woven SiC/SiC composites at high temperatures were investigated in this research. Fatigue behavior tests were performed at 1200℃ and 1000°C at 10 Hz and stress ratio of 0.1 for maximum stresses ranging from 80 to 120 MPa, and the fatigue run-out could be defined as 10⁶ cycles. Evolution of the cumulative displacement and normalized modulus with cycles was analyzed for each fatigue condition. Fatigue run-out was achieved at 80 MPa and 1000°C. It could be found that the cycle lifetimes of the composites decreased sharply with the increasing maximum stress and temperature conditions significantly affected the fatigue performance under matrix cracking stress. The cumulative displacement showed no noticeable increase before 1000 cycles and the modulus of the failed specimens decreased before fracture. The retained properties of composites that achieved fatigue run-out, as well as the microstructures, were characterized in order to understand the fatigue behavior and failure mechanisms. The composites exhibited similar fracture morphology with matrix crack extension and glass phase oxidation formation under different conditions. In general, the high-temperature fatigue damage and failure of composites could be affected by combination of stress damage and oxidative embrittlement.     

Mechanical and physical properties of ultraoriented polyoxymethylene produced by microwave heating drawing

The properties of ultra-oriented polyoxymethylene tubes produced by drawing under microwave heating have been assessed by mechanical testing, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray analysis, birefringence and differential scanning calorimetry. The highest Young's modulus of 58 GPa was obtained at room temperature (77 GPa at ?150°C) at a draw ratio of 33. The maximum tensile strength was 1.7 GPa at a draw ratio of 26. The nonuniformity of Young's modulus in a radial direction has been compared with the nonuniformity of the birefringence and heat of fusion.     

Tensile yield in polypropylene

Untaxial tension tests to the yield point were performed on polypropylene as a function of temperature from 22 to 143°C at a strain rate of 2 min^?1. At 22, 42, and 71°C, measurements were also made at strain rates from 0.02 to 8 min^?1. Yield energy was found to be a linear function of temperature extrapolating to zero at the melting point (164°C). The ratio of thermal to mechanical energy to produce yielding is about three times smaller than for glassy polymers. The ratio of yield stress to (initial) Young's modulus is about 0.024 at room temperature and increases to 0.043 at 143°C. Yield stress is a linear function of unstrained volume.     

The solid-state polymerization and physical properties of bis(ethyl urethane) of 2,4-hexadiyne-1,6-diol: 3. Mechanical properties

The mechanical properties of partly and fully polymerized single-crystal fibres of a substituted polydiacetylene have been investigated. In particular the Young's moduli, fracture stresses and creep properties have been measured. The Young's modulus was found to increase with conversion from monomer to polymer up to a maximum value of 62 GPa. The fracture stress was found to vary with both the degree of conversion and fibre diameter. Strengths of up to 1.4 GPa have been determined for fully polymerized, 20 μm diameter fibres. It has not been possible to detect any creep or time-dependent deformation for the fibres. The variation of the mechanical behaviour with conversion from monomer to polymer has been explained in terms of the Voigt and Reuss models and related to the structure of the crystals. The dependence of the fracture stress upon fibre diameter has been accounted for in terms of the presence of defects upon the surface of the crystals.