Dynamic mechanical properties of some epoxy matrix composites

Dynamic mechanical properties of some epoxy matrix composites have been studied, comparing experimental data with theoretical models. The matrix in all composite samples was Shell Epon 828, a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, cured with meta-phenylenediamine. Fibrous composite samples were made with glass and graphite fibers. Particulate composite samples were made with glass microspheres, atomized aluminum, powdered silica, alumina, asbestos, mica, carbon black, and graphite. The dynamic elastic modulus and damping of these samples were measured at temperatures between 85° and 345°K by a free-free flexural resonance technique. The dynamic modulus of parallel fiber composites follows the linear rule of mixtures for low fiber volume fractions; deviations from linearity at higher volume fractions appear to be due to defects caused by the sample fabrication technique. Dynamic moduli of the particulate composites conform, within experimental error, to the static modulus theory of Wu up to filler volume fractions of 0.35 to 0.40. Deviations from Wu's theory at higher volume fractions may be due to agglomeration of filler particles. The damping of particulate composites with quasi-spherical filler particles appears to follow the rule of mixtures. In particulate composites with needle- and flake-type fillers, and in fibrous composites, the fillers are more highly stressed; with more of the strain energy in the low-damping fillers, overall damping is reduced. Damping greater than that attributable to the matrix and filler may be due to slippage at the interface between them. In addition to supporting Wu's theory of the elastic modulus of a particulate composite, this study demonstrates the utility of the nondestructive free-free flexural resonance techniques for obtaining a large body of reliable data in a short time from relatively few small samples. This greatly facilitates the experimental testing of theoretical models and the evaluation of fillers, matrix materials, and fabrication techniques.     

Some mechanical properties of particulate-filled thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers

A semiempirical, single-parameter equation describes the modulus of particulate systems This equation has been found applicable for thermoplastic/glass bead systems, and it is further verified for particulate thermosetting systems (epoxy and polyester matrices). The temperature effect on the modulus of epoxy/glass bead composites is also analyzed. Crazing characteristics calculated from tensile data of thermoplastic/glass bead composites are summarized and compared with literature results on the corresponding unfilled polymers. The effect of coupling agents and preliminary results on rigid foams are also presented.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of poly-2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate based composites

The dynamic-mechanical properties of swollen poly-2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate reinforced with PET net and PP fibrillated films are reported. The results indicate that while the shift factors used for the time-temperature superposition are independent of the fillter content, the tan δ is strongly affected by the reinforcement.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of N-phenylnadimide modified PMR polyimide composites

Temperature-frequency dependence of α, β, and γ transitions was determined using a Rheometrics dynamic spectrometer on a series of unidirectional Celion 6000/N-phenylnadimide (PN) modified PMR polyimide composites. The objective was to see if any correlations exist between crosslinked network structure and dynamic mechanical properties. Variation in crosslinked network structures was achieved by altering the polyimide formulation through addition of various quantities of PN into the standard PMR-15 composition. As a control, PMR-15 composite system exhibited well-defined α, β, and γ transitions in the regions of 360, 100, and −120°C, respectively. Their activation energies were estimated to be 232, 60, and 14 kcal/mole, respectively. Increasing the amount of PN concentration caused (a) lowering of the activation energies of the three relaxations, (b) a decrease of the glass transition temperature, and (c) increasing intensities of the three damping peaks, compared to the control PMR-15 counterpart. These dynamic mechanical responses were in agreement with formation of a more flexible co-polymer from PN and PMR-15 prepolymer.     

Strain behavior of particulate-filled composites

A theoretical expression has been derived to describe the strain behavior of rigid plastic composites containing spherical filler particles. By combining the predicted ultimate strength values with the appropriate modulus relationship, the complete stress–strain history and corresponding fracture energy may be estimated. The theoretical predictions were compared with experimental values obtained for a general-purpose polyester resin containing spherical glass beads. The influence of silane coupling agents and filler adhesion was also evaluated. Although the experimental values showed considerable scatter, the general trend agreed fairly well with the theoretical predictions.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of particulates: Application to iron-epoxy composites

The dynamic mechanical properties of composite materials, consisting of an epoxy matrix filled with iron particles, were determined over a temperature range. The storage- and loss moduli were evaluated in a Dynastat apparatus, with the parameters being the volume fraction of filler and the test frequency. A theoretical model was developed for comparing the experimental results with the theoretical predictions. A satisfactory correlation was obtained for the glassy region of the composite.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of polypropylene composites filled with ultrafine particles

The dynamic moduli of isotactic polypropylene (PP) filled with ultrafine SiO₂ and micron sized glass particles are measured in the temperature range 30–130°C at frequency 10 Hz. The storage moduli of PP composites, E′_c, increase with filler content and decreasing filler size in the whole range of temperature. The loss moduli of PP composites, E″_c, increase with filler content and decreasing filler size above 40°C. The intensity of the broad despersion which appears at ca. 60°C increases with filler content and decreasing filler size. By assuming that the energy is not dissipated in the effective volume, namely, filler volume plus that of immobilized interfacial region, the effective volume fraction is evaluated from the relative loss modulus, E″_cE″₀ at 60°C. The effective volume fraction increases with filler content and decreasing filler size. The effect of addition of ultrafine particles on the broad dispersion at ca. 60°C resembles the effect of increasing crystallinity of pure PP. It is concluded that the broad dispersion which appeared at ca. 60°C seemed to be assigned to the grain boundary of PP composities or crystalline boundary of pure PP.     

On the modulus of three-component particulate-filled composites

Modulus–composition data obtained on a model three-component particulate composite comprising a finely divided dispersed rubber phase and inorganic glass beads in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix cannot be represented appropriately in terms of the multicomponent form of the well-known Kerner equation. The data are more nearly in accord with a model based on the assumption that the dispersed rubber phase and the PMMA matrix, taken together, constitute an effective matrix for the glass bead filler. Interparticle interactions are discussed in terms of a maximum packing fraction for each filler species; interspecies interactions are found to be minor for the system studied.     

Dynamic mechanical and mechanical properties of polypropylene/poly(vinyl butyral)/mica composites

Three-component composites consisting of polypropylene (PP) matrix, poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) modifier, and mica filler at various ratios of matrix to modifies and a constant mica content (30 wt %) were prepared by using two different kinds of PVB, viz., PVB and PVB-P. By correlating with the morphology, the dynamic mechanical and mechanical properties of the composites are studied in detail. PVB component in PP/PVB/mica composites cannot display a reinforcing effect to PP/mica binary composites, while impact strength of the composites are reduced further. It associates with incompatibility between PP and PVB, and as well as higher glass transition temperature of PVB. For PP/PVB-P/mica composites, stiffness decreases and, meanwhile, impact strength increases when PVB-P content is 7 wt %. The improvement of impact strength on PP/mica binary composites at the composition is due to a little affinity between the PP matrix and the plasticizer of PVB-P. Moreover, a minor amount of PP-g-MA in the 63/7/30 PP/PVB/mica composites only acts as an adhesion promoter. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65: 2003–2011, 1997     

Dynamic mechanical properties of high density polyethylene and teak wood flour composites

The dynamic mechanical properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and teak wood flour (TWF) composites at varying volume fraction (Φ _f) of TWF from 0.00 to 0.32 have been studied. In HDPE/TWF composites, storage modulus (E′) decreased at Φ _f = 0.05, then increases with Φ _f; however, values were lower than HDPE up to Φ _f = 0.16, due to a pseudolubricating effect of filler. Loss modulus (E″) values were higher than HDPE in β and α relaxation regions while in γ relaxation region values were marginally equal to HDPE. Tan δ value decreases with Φ _f which may be due to enhanced amorphization and decreased crystallinity of HDPE. In presence of maleic anhydride grafted HDPE (HDPE-g-MAH), E′ values were lower than HDPE/TWF composites. In HDPE/TWF/HDPE-g-MAH, E″ were slightly higher than HDPE/TWF due to slippage of HDPE chains facilitated by the extent of degradation of coupling agent. Tan δ were higher for both systems than the rule of mixture.     

Dynamic mechanical and morphological properties of polycarbonate/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites

Dynamic mechanical and morphological properties of the polycarbonate (PC)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composites were studied by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and X-ray diffractometry, respectively. For the without annealed PC/MWNT composites containing the higher content of the MWNT (≥7.0 wt%), double tan δ peaks were observed, which could be explained by the phase separation morphology model. For the annealed PC/MWNT composites, a broad single tan δ peak was observed. From the X-ray diffraction of the annealed PC/MWNT composites, it was observed that more regular structure of the PC was obtained, which was consistent with the result of the thermal analysis of the annealed PC/MWNT composites. From the dynamic mechanical properties, thermal analysis, and X-ray diffraction of the annealed PC/MWNT composites, it is suggested that PC/MWNT composites show a broad single tan δ peak and partially crystalline structure of the PC in the PC/MWNT composites by annealing.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of whisker/PA66 composites at high strain rates

PA66 reinforced with potassium titanate whisker (TKW) treated with silane coupling agent were prepared using a twin-screw extruder. The quasi-static and dynamic mechanical properties were investigated. Addition of 40 wt % TKW to PA66 improves all the investigated properties. The high-speed dynamic tests with TKW/PA66 were carried on split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The loading pulses in SHPB experiments were precisely controlled to ensure that the composite specimens deformed at a nearly constant strain rate under dynamically equilibrated stress during dynamic compression. The constitutive curves and equations at high strain rates have been obtained. TKW/PA66 composites show 20-100% increase on reference modulus and 20% increase on compression strength.     

Dynamic mechanical behavior of continuous multilayer composites

The dispersion processes in multilayer laminate composites of styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) and polycarbonate (PC) were studied utilizing the torsion pendulum. A third damping peak with a log decrement intensity of approximately one was observed at a temperature intermediate to the damping peaks corresponding to the T_g's of the two constituent phases. Variations of numerous material and experimental parameters such as composition ratio, orientation, thermal history, thermal cycling, number of layers, and layer thickness, as well as overall changes in the composition of the phases had no effect on the observance of a third peak. Only the disruption of the continuous layer structure effectively eliminated this novel transition. The origin of this transition was explained by assuming appropriate temperature dependencies for the controlling viscoelastic parameters in such a continuous layer composite.     

Dynamic mechanical analysis of fiber reinforced composites

Dynamic mechanical and thermal properties were determined for unidirectional epoxy/glass composites at various fiber orientation angles. Resonant frequency and relative logarithmic decrement were measured as functions of temperature. In low angle and longitudinal specimens, a transition was observed above the resin glass transition temperature which was manifested mechanically as anadditional damping peak and thermally as a change in the coefficient of thermal expansion. The new transition was attributed to a heterogeneous resin matrix induced by the fiber. The temperature span of the glass-rubber relaxation was found to broaden with decreasing orientation angle, reflecting the growth of fiber contribution and exhibiting behavior similar to that of Young's modulus. The change in resonant frequency through the glass transition was greatest for samples of intermediate fiber angle, demonstrating behavior similar to that of the longitudinal shear modulus.     

Predicting mechanical properties of multiscale composites

Abstract

The effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) integration in polymer matrixes (two-phase) and fibre reinforced composites (three-phase) was studied. Simulations for CNT/polymer composites (nanocomposites) and CNT/fibre/polymer composites (multiscale) were carried out by combining micromechanical theories applied to nanoscale and woven fibre micromechanic theories. The mechanical properties (Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio and shear modulus) of a multiscale composite were predicted. The relationships between the mechanical properties of nano- and multiscale composite systems for various CNT aspect ratios were studied. A comparison was made between a multiscale system with CNTs infused throughout and one with nanotubes excluded from the fabric tows. The mechanical properties of the composites improved with increased CNT loading. The influence of CNT aspect ratio on the mechanical properties was more pronounced in the nanocomposites than in the multiscale composites. Composites with CNTs in the fibre strands generated more desirable mechanical properties than those with no CNTs in the fibre strands.     

Effect of thermal exposure on the properties of phenolic composites: Dynamic mechanical analysis

Changes in the dynamic response of glass‐reinforced phenolic composites following thermal exposure at 180^oC for periods of time up to 28 days were monitored using dynamic mechanical analysis. Four phenolic resins were investigated: a resol/novolac blend, a phenolic–furan novolac/resol graft copolymer, a novolac, and a resol. Reactive blending and copolymerization of phenolic resins are currently being investigated to determine if these techniques will produce phenolic resins (and composites) that have improved impact properties and retain the excellent high‐temperature properties of resol and novolac phenolic resins. The results indicate that thermal aging at 180^oC for 1 day led to a more complete cure of all four phenolic resins as indicated by an increase in the temperature of the maximum of plots of both loss modulus (E″) and tan δ versus temperature. The storage modulus (E′) of the composites at 40^oC varied little following thermal aging at 180^oC for 1 day but decreased with increasing exposure time for samples aged 2, 7, and 28 days. Thermal aging led to an increase in E′ at higher temperatures and the magnitude of E′ at a given temperature decreased with increasing exposure time. The magnitude of E″ and tan δ decreased with aging time for all resins, although E″ and tan δ were larger for the blend and copolymer composites than for the novolac and resol composites. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 385–395, 2001     

Dynamic mechanical properties of polymers

A technique, employing samples in the form of tuning forks, to measure the mechanical properties of polymers is presented. Results for low density polyethylene, polypropylene, and polycarbonates are shown. A large transition is observed for polypropylene at approximately +10°C and a small transition at ?100°C for the polycarbonates. Polycarbonate data has also been obtained from 20 to 150°C, at approximately 70 cps. Effects of time, temperature, and history are presented.     

Dynamic mechanical analysis of thermoplastic composites and resins

The anisotropy of continuous fiber thermoplastic composites limits the number of geometries that can be employed effectively in dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Therefore, a Mechanical Energy Resolver, developed for use with elastomers, was modified with a bending fixture using a cantilever beam sample geometry and a high temperature oven. The bending fixture allows determination of composite transition temperatures. Based upon the simple geometry, one can also determine elastic moduli. This test scheme can be coupled with simple shear DMA on melts to determine neat resin properties, including solidification temperature. Results are presented for several semicrystalline and armorphous thermoplastic/graphite fiber laminates and neat resins.