Investigation of mechanical properties of graphene decorated with graphene quantum dot-reinforced epoxy nanocomposite

In this investigation, the mechanical properties such as compression, impact, and flexural properties of graphene decorated with graphene quantum dots (GDGQD) epoxy composites with concentration of GDGQD ranging from 0.25 to 1 wt % were studied. Ideal mechanical properties are obtained by systematically varying the filler weight in the epoxy matrix. The morphological studies of GDGQD have been characterized using transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared technique. The compression, impact, and flexural strengths were enhanced effectively by the GDGQD loading. With the addition of 0.75 wt % of GDGQD, the compressive strength, compressive modulus, flexural strength, and flexural modulus of the composites were improved by 22, 29, 31, and 63%, respectively. Also an improvement in impact strength of 102% for 0.75 wt % GDGQD epoxy sample was also obtained. Examination of fractured test specimens was performed with scanning electron microscope. The enhancement in the mechanical properties is due to the better stress transfer that is attributed by enhanced interfacial bonding between GDGQDs and the epoxy. Using the GDGQD aspect ratio in the two-dimensional randomly oriented filler modified Halpin–Tsai model, the theoretical flexural modulus for the GDGQD/epoxy composites has been established. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 137, 48680.     

Study on mechanical properties and material distribution of sandwich plaques molded by co‐injection

In the sandwich injection molding process (co‐injection), two different polymer melts are sequentially injected into a mold to form a part with a skin/core structure. Sandwich molding can be used for recycling, improving barrier and electrical properties, or producing parts with tailored mechanical properties. In this study the evaluation of flexural modulus and impact strength of co‐injected plaques have been investigated. Virgin and short glass fiber reinforced (10 and 40%) polypropylene were used in six different combinations of sandwiched layers. The skin and core thicknesses were measured by optical microscopy and used to calculate the theoretical flexural modulus, which was compared to the experimentally measured modulus. Fiber orientation states were also observed by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) at some specific locations and their effect on mechanical properties discussed. The experimental results indicate that an important improvement in transverse modulus, near the gate, is obtained when the virgin polypropylene (PP) is used as a skin and 40% short glass fiber polypropylene (PP40) as core. When both skin and core are made of PP40, the flexural moduli are slightly higher than conventionally injected PP40. POLYM. COMPOS. 26:265–275, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Compressive and flexural properties of functionally graded fly ash cenosphere–epoxy resin syntactic foams

The present study focuses on developing functionally graded syntactic foams (FGSFs) based on a layered co‐curing technique. The FGSFs were characterized for compressive and flexural properties and compared with plain syntactic foams. The results showed that the specific compressive modulus was 3–67% higher in FGSFs compared to plain syntactic foams. FGSF exhibited 5–34% and 34–87% higher specific modulus and strength, respectively in flexural mode. The microscopic examinations of comparative responses of the filler and matrix to deformation suggest that the failure is dominated by the matrix. The gradient in the composition of syntactic foams helps in effectively distributing the stress throughout the microstructure and results in improved mechanical performance of syntactic foams. From the microscopy studies, it is evident that, the failure mechanism in the FGSF under flexural loading is governed by a crack that initiated on the tensile side of the specimen and propagated through the thickness to cause complete fracture. The microscopic observations further clearly demonstrate the existence of seamless interfaces between the layers and a clear difference in the cenosphere concentration across the interface, affirming the gradation in the prepared samples. The results show that appropriate compositions of FGSFs can be selected to develop materials with improved mechanical performance. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:685–693, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The effect of density profile on the flexural properties of structural foams

In this study, a comparison is made on the models available to predict the flexural modulus of structural polymer foams. Skin thickness and density profile in the core zone are taken into account to better relate foam morphology with mechanical response. It was found that including skin thickness is not sufficient to predict flexural moduli with high levels of precision and thus a transition zone between the skin and the core must be included. To this end, a single continuous equation is proposed to represent the complete density profile, which enabled us to predict our experimental data within 3%. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:1459–1468, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Nonwoven polylactic acid and flax biocomposites

Flax fiber‐reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) biocomposites were made using a new technique incorporating an air‐laying nonwoven process. Flax and PLA fibers were blended and converted to fiber webs in the air‐laying process. Composite prepregs were then made from the fiber webs. The prepregs were finally converted to composites by compression molding. The relationship between the main process variables and the properties of the biocomposite was investigated. It was found that with increasing flax content, the mechanical properties increased. The maximum tensile strength of 80.3 MPa, flexural strength of 138.5 MPa, tensile modulus of 9.9 GPa and flexural modulus of 7.9 GPa were achieved. As the molding temperature and molding time increased, the mechanical properties decreased. The thermal and morphological properties of the biocomposites were also studied. The appropriate processing parameters for the biocomposites were established for different fiber contents. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:1611–1619, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

用于北方满族民居墙体的再生混凝土性能研究

通过试验研究了再生混凝土作为北方满族民居建造材料的可行性。研究重点:再生骨料的物理性质测定、再生混凝土基本力学性能试验,以及粉煤灰、聚丙烯纤维以及附加水对其力学性能的影响。通过试验得到,再生混凝土立方体抗压强度最高应力达37.1 MPa、轴心抗压强度平均应力28.4 MPa、静力受压弹性模量平均应力22 300 MPa、抗折强度平均应力3.8 MPa、劈裂抗拉强度平均应力1.68 MPa。结果表明:在再生混凝土中加入粉煤灰和聚丙烯纤维都对立方体抗压强度有所提高,但附加水的加入对立方体抗压强度产生了降低作用。整体来说,再生混凝土各方面的力学指标都能满足一定的强度要求。因此可以作为北方满族民居的建设材料。     

Morphology and mechanical properties of injection‐molded ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene/polypropylene blends and comparison with compression molding

The mechanical properties and morphology of UHMWPE/PP(80/20) blend molded by injection and compression‐molding were investigated comparatively. The results showed that the injection‐molded part had obviously higher Young's modulus and yield strength, and much lower elongation at break and impact strength, than compression‐molded one. A skin‐core structure was formed during injection molding in which UHMWPE particles elongated highly in the skin and the orientation was much weakened in the core. In the compression‐molded part, the phase morphology was isotropic from the skin to the core section. The difference in consolidation degree between two molded parts that the compression molded part consolidated better than the injection one was also clearly shown. In addition, compositional analysis revealed that there was more PP in the skin than core for the injection‐molded part, whereas opposite case occurred to the compression‐molded one. All these factors together accounted for the different behavior in mechanical properties for two molded parts. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

棉秆塑木复合材料的制备及性能研究

以棉秆粉和回收聚乙烯为原料、钛酸酯为偶联剂,采用热压法制备了棉秆塑木复合材料,利用正交试验法探讨了棉秆粉含量、热压温度和保温时间对塑木复合材料性能的影响,并通过物理力学性能测试单独考察了棉秆粉含量对塑木复合材料性能的影响。正交试验法的结果表明:棉秆粉含量对复合材料的弯曲强度、弹性模量和吸水率影响最大,热压温度和保温时间对复合材料的弯曲强度和弹性模量影响较大,对吸水率影响不大;当棉秆粉含量为40%、热压温度为160℃、保温时间为10 min时,塑木复合材料具有最优的综合性能。物理力学性能测试结果表明:复合材料的弯曲强度和弹性模量随棉秆粉含量的增加均呈现先增大后减小的趋势,在棉秆粉含量为40%时均达到最大值;吸水率随棉秆粉含量的增加而增大。     

盐冻作用下玄武岩纤维混凝土力学性能损伤研究

针对西北寒旱地区混凝土结构易开裂耐久性降低的问题,选取力学性能优异的玄武岩纤维作为混凝土增强材料,采用室内快速冻融试验,以纤维体积掺量为变量,研究了不同纤维体积掺量(0.05%、0.1%、0.15%、0.2%)混凝土试件分别在清水、质量分数为3%的NaCl溶液、质量分数为5%的Na₂SO₄溶液冻融作用下动弹性模量、抗压强度、抗折强度三个力学性指标的变化。研究发现,玄武岩纤维的掺入能有效提升混凝土的初始抗折强度和抗盐冻能力,纤维体积掺量在0.15%~0.2%时混凝土试件动弹性模量、抗压强度与抗折强度在盐冻作用下的衰减速率减缓明显,玄武岩纤维混凝土在三种冻融介质中力学性能下降速率排序为清水<5%Na₂SO₄溶液<3%NaCl溶液。以动弹性模量为损伤变量,拟合混凝土相对抗压强度、相对抗折强度与损伤度的相关模型,模型相关性良好。研究结果可为玄武岩纤维混凝土的实际运用与后期维护提供理论依据与参考。     

Influence of PP fiber and SBR latex on the mechanical properties of crumb rubber mortar

This article presents a new kind of rubber mortar modified by polypropylene fiber (PP fiber) and styrene‐butadiene rubber latex (SBR latex). The mechanical properties of this crumb rubber mortar were investigated in the research, including the compressive strength, flexural strength, flexural toughness, and flexural elasticity modulus. The test results showed that the flexural toughness index of the rubber mortar was seen to enhance by about 50–100% with the addition of PP fiber and SBR polymer latex. Due to the addition of PP fiber and SBR latex, the flexural elastic modulus of rubber mortar could further reduce by 4–27%. The three‐phase composite dispersion model of this rubber mortar was put forward. Furthermore, it was observed from scanning electron micrograph that the interfacial transition zone between the rubber particles and cement paste was enhanced by the SBR latex, and the interleaving of polymer films and rubber particles strengthen the flexibility and toughness of the mortar. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40591.     

Development and application of triglyceride-based polymers and composites

Triglyceride oils derived from plants have been used to synthesize several different monomers for use in structural applications. These monomers have been found to form polymers with a wide range of physical properties. They exhibit tensile moduli in the 1–2 GPa range and glass transition temperatures in the range 70–120 °C, depending on the particular monomer and the resin composition. Composite materials were manufactured utilizing these resins and produced a variety of durable and strong materials. At low glass fiber content (35 wt %), composites produced from acrylated epoxidized soybean oil by resin transfer molding displayed a tensile modulus of 5.2 GPa, a flexural modulus of 9 GPa, a tensile strength of 129 MPa, and flexural strength of 206 MPa. At higher fiber contents (50 wt %) composites produced from acrylated epoxidized soybean oil displayed tensile and compression moduli of 24.8 GPa each, and tensile and compressive strengths of 463.2 and 302.6 MPa, respectively. In addition to glass fibers, natural fibers such as flax and hemp were used. Hemp composites of 20% fiber content displayed a tensile strength of 35 MPa and a tensile modulus of 4.4 GPa. The flexural modulus was ∼2.6 GPa and the flexural strength was in the range 35.7–51.3 MPa, depending on the test conditions. The flax composite materials had tensile and flexural strengths in the ranges 20–30 and 45–65 MPa, respectively. The properties exhibited by both the natural- and synthetic fiber-reinforced composites can be combined through the production of “hybrid” composites. These materials combine the low cost of natural fibers with the high performance of synthetic fibers. Their properties lie between those displayed by the all-glass and all-natural composites. Characterization of the polymer properties also presents opportunities for improvement through genetic engineering technology. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 703–723, 2001     

Mechanical,electrical and thermal performance of hybrid polyethylene-graphene nanoplatelets-polypyrrole composites: a comparative analysis of 3D printed and compression molded samples

ABSTRACT

The paper focuses on the investigation of the 3D printing of multi-functional composites using graphene nanoplatelets (GNP), polypyrrole (PPY) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). A holistic approach was performed and characterization methods to assess the properties of 3D printed composites and compared with those of compression molded composites and neat LLDPE to understand the factors affecting their performance. It has been noted that the 3D printed composites have superior mechanical and electrical properties than neat LLDPE, but slightly lower compared to those of compression molded composites having high packing density of fillers. The nominal increases were 13.2% (tensile strength), 31.9% (flexural strength), 29.4% (flexural modulus) and 24.7% (storage modulus).     

废弃陶瓷骨料混凝土的力学性能和三维预测模型研究

为探索废弃陶瓷作为骨料在混凝土工程中的可行性,通过室内试验探讨了陶瓷粗、细骨料对混凝土力学性能的影响,研究了不同陶瓷骨料类型和掺量对混凝土抗压强度、抗折强度和弹性模量的影响,建立了考虑废弃陶瓷骨料掺量和类型的混凝土力学性能三维预测模型。研究结果表明,陶瓷粗骨料的内养护作用使混凝土弹性模量和抗压强度平均提高了10.42%~12.28%,而陶瓷细骨料的掺加使混凝土弹性模量和抗压强度平均降低了7.57%~13.88%。陶瓷粗、细骨料的掺加使混凝土抗折强度平均降低了7.24%~10.52%。另外,基于室内试验和国内外规范,得到了废弃陶瓷骨料混凝土力学性能与国内外规范的异同点。建立的三维预测模型适用于类似废弃陶瓷骨料混凝土的力学性能预测,在一定程度上提高了二维模型的精度。研究结果为废弃陶瓷骨料混凝土的设计和制备提供一定参考,为绿色环保型混凝土的发展提供了一些借鉴思路。     

Post curing effect of poly epoxy on visco‐elastic and mechanical properties of different sandwich structures

Poly epoxy is a high performance room temperature cured epoxy system which provides excellent physical and mechanical properties. However, the effects of post curing of this resin system on the properties of different sandwich structures are unknown. This study aims to evaluate the effect of post curing (at 70°C for 2 hr) on the edgewise compressive and flexural strengths of a sandwich structure, constructed with Styrofoam and honeycomb as core materials and a plain weave carbon fabric as face sheet. Tested factors evaluated from edgewise compressive tests were as follows: peak load, compressive strength, and crash energy absorption of sandwich structures while core shear stress and bending stress of sandwich structures were determined and compared with flexural tests. It was observed that post curing affects significantly on the bending and compressive strengths of the sandwich structures. However, the data obtained for crash energy absorption suggested that the effect of post curing on the core shear strength and the total deflection was statistically insignificant. The matrix polymer was also inspected using dynamic‐mechanical thermal analysis to assess the changes in glass transition temperature and degree of conversion due to post cure. POLYM. COMPOS., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of environmental stress on the mechanical properties of surface treated fly‐ash/polyester particulate composite

Fly‐ash (FA) was surface treated with silane coupling agents (CA) vinyltriethoxy silane and aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. Fly‐ash/polyester (FA/GPR) and surface treated fly‐ash/polyester (FA/CA/GPR) particulate composites were made. The composites were exposed to various adverse environmental conditions such as water, boiling water, salt water, acid, alkali, toluene, weather and freezing–thawing cycles for 30 days. The mechanical properties, ie tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation at break, flexural strength, flexural modulus, compressive strength, impact strength and hardness of FA/GPR and FA/CA/GPR were studied before and after exposure to adverse environmental conditions. The results indicate that the mechanical properties of FA/GPR composites are improved by surface treatment of FA and that their resistance to the various environmental stresses is also enhanced substantially by surface treatment. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

碳纤维改性HA/PMMA生物复合材料力学性能的研究

采用原位合成与溶液共混相结合的方法,制备了短切碳纤维增强纳米羟基磷灰石(HA)/聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)生物复合材料。研究了碳纤维的含量和长度对HA/PMMA复合材料结构和力学性能的影响。采用万能材料试验机和扫描电子显微镜对复合材料的力学性能及断面的微观形貌进行了测试和表征。结果表明:碳纤维在HA/PMMA复合材料中分布均匀,有效提高了复合材料的力学性能;碳纤维含量为4%时,复合材料的拉伸强度、弯曲强度、压缩强度和弹性模量等均达到最大值;复合材料的断裂伸长率随碳纤维含量的增加而减小;当碳纤维含量一定时,随其长度的增加,复合材料的拉伸强度、弯曲强度和弹性模量均增加,但断裂伸长率降低。     

Preparation and mechanical characterization of chicken feather/PLA composites

Green composites, a bio‐based polymer matrix is reinforced by natural fibers, are special class of bio‐composites. Interest about green composites is continuously growing because they are environment‐friendly. This study describes the preparation and mechanical characterization of green composites using polylactic acid (PLA) matrix including chicken feather fiber (CFF) as reinforcement. Extrusion and an injection molding process were used to prepare CFF/PLA composites at a controlled temperature range. CFF/PLA composites with fiber mass content of 2%, 5%, and 10% were manufactured. The effects of fiber concentration and fiber length on mechanical properties of CFF/PLA composites have been studied. Mechanical properties of composites were investigated by tensile, compression, bending, hardness, and Izod impact testing. The results of experiments indicated that Young's modulus, compressive strength, flexural modulus, and hardness of the PLA reinforced CFF composites are higher but tensile strength, elongation at break, bending strength and impact strength of them are lower than pure PLA. The results indicate that these types of composites can be used for various applications. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:837–845, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Toward improved mechanical performance of multiscale carbon fiber and carbon nanotube epoxy composites

A novel class of multiscale epoxy composites was developed containing carbon fibers (CFs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to explore their mutual effect on the mechanical performance of composites. The loading of CFs in composites was kept constant at ∼60 wt%, while the contents of MWCNTs were increased from 0.5 to 2.0 wt%. MWCNTs were functionalized through acid treatment before incorporating into epoxy matrix to promote dispersion quality. The developed composites were characterized microstructurally by scanning electron microscopy and mechanically by tensile, flexural, edgewise compression, and hardness tests. Homogeneous dispersion of MWCNTs was observed until their loading of 1.5 wt%, which enhanced the mechanical performance of composites. Hardness increased up to 47% while tensile, flexural, and edgewise compressive moduli increased to 40%, 16.3%, and 164%, respectively. Moreover, tensile, flexural, and edgewise compressive strengths showed rises of 45%, 15.2%, and 43%, respectively. The fracture strain increased in both the tensile and flexural tests while it decreased in edgewise compressive tests. Increasing the MWCNTs in composites to 2.0 wt% produced their agglomerates and reversed the rising trend in mechanical properties. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1519–1528, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of Coupling Agent Concentration,Fiber Content,and Size on Mechanical Properties of Wood/HDPE Composites

In this study, the influence of coupling agent concentration (0 and 3 wt%), wood fiber content (50, 60, 70, and 80 wt%), and size (40–60, 80–100, and 160–180 mesh) on the mechanical properties of wood/high-density-polyethylene (HDPE) composites (WPCs) was investigated. WPC samples were prepared with poplar wood-flour, HDPE, and polyethylene maleic anhydride copolymer (MAPE) as coupling agent. It was found that the tensile properties and the flexural properties of the composites were improved by the addition of 3 wt% MAPE, and the improved interfacial adhesion was well confirmed by SEM micrographs. It was also observed that the best mechanical properties of wood/HDPE composites can be reached with larger particle size in the range studied, while too-small particle size was adverse for the mechanical properties of wood/HDPE composites. Moreover, the tensile modulus, tensile strength, and flexural strength of WPCs decreased with the increase in fiber content from 50 to 80 wt%; the flexural modulus of WPCs increased with the increase in fiber content from 50 to 70 wt% and then decreased as the fiber content reached 80 wt%. The variances in property performance are helpful for the end-user to choose an appropriate coupling agent (MAPE) concentration, wood fiber content, and particle size based on performance needs and cost considerations.     

Study of the flexural modulus of natural fiber/polypropylene composites by injection molding

Effect of fiber compression on flexural modulus of the natural fiber composites was examined. The kenaf, bagasse, and polypropylene were mixed into pellets, and composites were fabricated by injection molding. To predict flexural modulus of the composites, the Young's modulus of kenaf and bagasse fiber were measured. Using the obtained Young's modulus, the flexural modulus of the composites was predicted by Cox's model that incorporates the effect of fiber compression. It was found that those fibers with high Young's modulus were more compressed than that with low Young's modulus. Moreover, the distribution of fiber length and orientation in the composites were also investigated. To calculate the orientation factor for the prediction model, the distribution function of fiber orientation was determined to a triangular function. The flexural modulus of the composites increased with increase of volume fraction. The predicted values were in good agreement with the experimental values. Furthermore, it was revealed by SEM that the porous structure of the natural fibers was compressed. The fiber compression ratio (3.6) in bagasse was higher than that in kenaf (1.4) due to the difference in porous structure. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 911–917, 2006