On the mechanical properties,deformation and fracture of a natural fibre/recycled polymer composite

A composite laminate based on natural flax fibre and recycled high density polyethylene was manufactured by a hand lay-up and compression moulding technique. The mechanical properties of the composite were assessed under tensile and impact loading. Changes in the stress–strain characteristics, of yield stress, tensile strength, and tensile (Young's) modulus, of ductility and toughness, all as a function of fibre content were determined experimentally. A significant enhancement of toughness of the composite can be qualitatively explained in terms of the principal deformation and failure mechanisms identified by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. These mechanisms were dominated by delamination cracking, by crack bridging processes, and by extensive plastic flow of polymer-rich layers and matrix deformation around fibres. Improvements in strength and stiffness combined with high toughness can be achieved by varying the fibre volume fraction and controlling the bonding between layers of the composite.     

Kohlenstoff-Fäden und deren Verwendung in Verbundwerkstoffen

Carbon fibres and carbon fibre composite materials. Carbon fibres are a new reinforcement for high performance composite materials. Their most interesting property is the high Young's modulus. The tensile strength of carbon fibres exceeds 200 kp/mm², the Young's modulus 50,000 kp/mm². Carbon fibre reinforced plastics are mainly used where high stiffness is needed. In most cases, carbon fibre composite components are manufactured by filament winding burt also by lamination and moulding. Data about the different processes for the production of carbon fibres as well as mechanical properties are given. In addition to the different manufacturing methods of composite materials a survey about the today applications is given.     

Comparison of the Material Parameters of Polyethylene Grades with the Test Performance Behaviour of Packagings for the Transport of Dangerous Goods in Relation to the Pre‐Storage Time with 55% Nitric Acid

The material parameters melt flow rate (MFR), density (D), notched impact strength (NIS) at –30°C, stress crack resistance [determined with the Full Notch Creep Test (FNCT)] and resistance to oxidative degradation (Ox) have been selected for a comparison of polyethylene grades in the European standard EN 15507. These parameters have a relationship with design type tests of packagings for the transport of dangerous goods. This paper presents the results of additional investigations to determine the impact of the pre‐storage time of jerricans with 55% nitric acid at 40°C and 23°C on the marginal drop heights in drop tests at –18°C, on the MFR and on the tensile properties. Jerricans made of different polyethylene grades were pre‐stored with 55% nitric acid for 21, 42 and 84 days at 40°C and for six months at 23°C. The tests showed that the NIS values at –30°C of polyethylene grades were not comparable with marginal drop heights determined in drop tests at –18°C. Pre‐damage with 55% nitric acid for 21 days at 40°C led to an increase in the marginal drop heights of the jerricans. Altering the test regulations by increasing pre‐storage time with 55% nitric acid to 42 days would be an alternative. The test results demonstrated clearly that pre‐storage of the jerricans for six months at 23°C caused a higher increase in the MFR and lower marginal drop heights for the jerricans when compared with pre‐stored jerricans for 21 days at 40°C. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bio‐Inspired,Self‐Toughening Polymers Enabled by Plasticizer‐Releasing Microcapsules

A new concept for the design of self‐toughening thermoplastic polymers is presented. The approach involves the incorporation of plasticizer‐filled microcapsules (MCs) in an intrinsically rigid and brittle matrix polymer. The intriguing adaptability that this simple tactic enables is demonstrated with composites composed of a poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix and 5–20% w/w poly(urea‐formaldehyde) (PUF) MCs that contained hexyl acetate as plasticizer. At low strain (<1.5%), the glassy PLA/MC composites remain rigid, although the intact MCs reduce the Young's modulus and tensile strength by up to 50%. While the neat PLA shows brittle failure at a strain of around 2.5%, the composites yield in this regime, because the MCs rupture and release their plasticizing cargo. This effect leads up to 25‐fold increase of the elongation at break and 20‐fold increase of the toughness vis‐à‐vis the neat PLA, while the impact on modulus and ultimate stress is much smaller. Ballistic impact tests show that the self‐toughening mechanism also works at much higher strain rates than applied in tensile tests and the operating mechanism is corroborated through systematic thermomechanical studies that involved dynamic mechanical testing and thermal analysis.     

Mechanical properties of squeeze-cast zinc alloy matrix composites containing α-alumina fibres

α-Alumina fibre-reinforced ZA12 alloy matrix composites, with fibre volume fractions ranging from 7.5 to 30%, were manufactured by squeeze casting. The alumina fibres were homogeneously distributed in the matrix and had a planar-random orientation. Mechanical properties of the composites such as hardness, tensile strength, Young's modulus, elongation and wear resistance were measured and the effect of fibre volume fraction on these properties was investigated. At room temperature the hardness, Young's modulus and wear resistance increased with increasing volume fraction of alumina fibres, but the other properties were inferior. At elevated temperature (above 80°C) the tensile strengths of the composites were higher than that of the matrix alloy.     

Polyoxymethylene composites with natural and cellulose fibres: Toughness and heat deflection temperature

Cellulose and abaca fibre reinforced polyoxymethylene (POM) composites were fabricated using an extrusion coating (double screw) compounding followed by injection moulding. The long cellulose or abaca fibres were dried online with an infrared dryer and impregnated fibre in matrix material by using a special extrusion die. The fibre loading in composites was 30 wt.%. The tensile properties, flexural properties, Charpy impact strength, falling weight impact strength, heat deflection temperature and dynamic mechanical properties were investigated for those composites. The fibre pull-outs, fibre matrix adhesion and cracks in composites were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy. It was observed that the tensile strength of composites was found to reduce by 18% for abaca fibre and increase by 90% for cellulose fibre in comparison to control POM. The flexural strength of composites was found to increase by 39% for abaca fibre and by 144% for cellulose fibre. Due to addition of abaca or cellulose fibre both modulus properties were found to increase 2-fold. The notched Charpy impact strength of cellulose fibre composites was 6-fold higher than that of control POM. The maximum impact resistance force was shorted out for cellulose fibre composites. The heat deflection temperature of abaca and cellulose fibre composites was observed to be 50 °C and 63 °C higher than for control POM respectively.     

Behaviour ofE-glass fibre reinforced vinylester resin composites under impact fatigue

An impact fatigue study has been made for the first time on 63.5% glass fibre reinforced vinylester resin notched composites. The study was conducted in a pendulum type repeated impact apparatus especially designed and fabricated for determining single and repeated impact strengths. A well-defined impact fatigue (S-N) behaviour, having a progressive endurance below the threshold single cycle impact fracture stress with decreasing applied stress has been demonstrated. Fractographic analysis revealed fracture by primary debonding having fibre breakage and pullout at the tensile zone, but a shear fracture of fibre bundles at the compressive zone of the specimen. The residual strength, modulus and toughness showed retention of the properties at high impact stress levels up to 1000 impacts followed by a sharp drop. Cumulative residual stresses with each number of impacts not withstanding the static fatigue failure at long endurances have been ascribed for the composite failures under the repeated impact stresses.     

Thermo-mechanical properties of randomly oriented carbon/epoxy nanocomposites

The thermo-mechanical properties of epoxy-based nanocomposites based on low weight fractions (from 0.01 to 0.5 wt%) of randomly oriented single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes were examined. Preparation methods for the nanocomposites, using two types of epoxy resins, were developed and good dispersion was generally achieved. The mechanical properties examined were the tensile Young's modulus by Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis and the toughness under tensile impact using notched specimens. Moderate Young's modulus improvements of nanocomposites were observed with respect to the pure matrix material. A particularly significant enhancement of the tensile impact toughness was obtained for specific nanocomposites, using only minute nanotube weight fractions. No significant change in the glass transition temperature of SWCNT/epoxy nanocomposites was observed, compared to that of the epoxy matrix. The elastic modulus of the SWNT-based nanocomposites was found to be slightly higher than the value predicted by the Krenchel model for short-fiber composites with random orientation.     

Mechanical characteristics and bioactivity of porous Ni50−xTi50Cux (x = 0, 5 and 10) prepared by P/M

The present research work investigates and analyses the effect of compaction pressure, sintering temperature and time on mechanical characteristics, namely compressive strength and Young's modulus of Ni_50?xTi₅₀Cu_x (x?=?0, 5 and 10) alloys fabricated using powder metallurgy technology. The effect of process parameters on mechanical characteristics was evaluated using the Taguchi method and analysis of variance. Using the Taguchi approach, optimised values of process parameters were found for higher compressive strength and lower Young's modulus in each set of Ni₅₀Ti₅₀, Ni₄₅Ti₅₀Cu₅ and Ni₄₀Ti₅₀Cu₁₀ alloys. With the addition of copper in NiTi alloy, a little improvement in mechanical characteristics was observed, but bioactivity was decreased at 10%of Cu. Therefore, above 5% of Cu in NiTi alloy was not proved successful for biomedical applications.     

Atmospheric plasma fluorination as a means to improve the mechanical properties of short-carbon fibre reinforced poly (vinylidene fluoride)

The impact of fluorination of carbon fibres on the properties of short fibre reinforced polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composites was studied. As received and continuously atmospheric plasma fluorinated (APF) carbon fibres were cut to an average fibre length of 2 mm. Short fibre composites (SFC) containing 5, 10 and 15 wt.% carbon fibres were manufactured using a twin-screw mixer. Test specimens were produced by injection moulding. The mechanical properties of the SFC were studied using tensile and compression testing. As expected, the incorporation of short-carbon fibres into PVDF led to an increase in strength and stiffness. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the SFC containing APF-treated carbon fibres increased by up to 17% and 190%, respectively. Furthermore, the compressive strength and modulus of the SFC containing APF-treated carbon fibres also increased by 19% and 35%, respectively. APF of carbon fibres results only in a marginal increase in the bulk matrix crystallinity of PVDF as determined by DSC. Scanning electron micrographs of fracture surfaces from tensile tested specimens exhibited a typical brittle failure mode with low fibre loading fraction. Despite the presence of up to 5% of voids and visible resin rich regions at fracture surface, SFC containing APF-treated fibres suggest better bonding at the fibre/matrix interface which led to the much enhanced mechanical properties.     

Determination of mechanical behavior of natural fibre based hybrid composites experimentally

This paper deals with the production and the mechanical testing of natural fibre‐based hybrid composites. Hybrid composite is produced by vacuum assisted resin infusion method of woven jute fabric and nonwoven wool felt along with glass fabric. Tensile, flexure and impact properties have been evaluated and compared. The tensile strength and the Young's modulus were found to be 70.66 MPa and is 5.63 GPa, respectively. Flexure and impact tests were performed on both woven jute fabric surface and on nonwoven wool felt surface of the composite specimens. The highest flexural strength was obtained in the specimen loaded at the woven jute fabric surface. Impact test results show that the specimens impacted at the nonwoven wool felt surface were carrying higher loads than the specimens impacted at the woven jute fabric surface.     

Adhesive Backing Foil Interactions Affecting the Elasticity,Adhesion Strength of Laminates,and How to Interpret These Properties of Branded Transdermal Patches

ABSTRACT

Standard tensile strength and peel adhesion tests were carried out to investigate interactions of pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) with several backing foils used for transdermal patches. Seven branded transdermal patches (Alora®, Cutanum®, Estraderm MX® 50, Estraderm TTS® 50, Fem7®-50 μg, Menorest®, Oesclim®) were included in the investigation. Their skin adhesion measured in several clinical trials was compared with the results of the laboratory measurements according to PSTC-1 (Peel Adhesion for Single Coated Tapes 180° Angle, Pressure Sensitive Tape Council, Illinois, 1996), such as Young's modulus at 3% elongation and peel adhesion to stainless steel. Data obtained for the PSA-coated backings (laminates) show increasing elasticity with increasing PSA thickness. Interactions of PSAs with backing foil became evident in significant changes in Young's modulus by low PSA thickness, as seen for the silicone adhesive. The Young's moduli of the laminates were found to be influenced not only by the elasticity of the backing foil but also by the chemical structure of the PSA. There was no correlation between the elasticity and peel adhesion of both the laminates and the branded patches. Likewise, for the branded patches the peel adhesion to stainless steel does not correlate with skin adhesion values obtained from clinical trials.

The Young's modulus of the branded patches was between 4 N/mm² (Oesclim®) and 501 N/mm² (Fem7®). For the branded transdermal patches no correlation was found between Young's modulus and both the peel force on stainless steel and the skin adhesion reported in studies.     

A New Drop‐Weight Impact Machine for Studying Fracture Processes in Structural Concrete

Abstract: This paper describes the main characteristics of a new drop‐weight impact machine that has been specifically designed for studying the dynamic mechanical behaviour of structural concrete samples. Such a type of equipment has been used to generate simple and measurable fracture processes under moderate‐to‐fast loading rates, contrary to blast chambers, which produce complicated crack patterns that are difficult to analyse. The machine consists of two main parts, the mechanical structure and the data acquisition system. The former is just a hammer, guided by two robust columns, which can impact the specimen with energy up to 7860 J. The latter consists of piezoelectric force sensors, accelerometers and optical fibre photoelectric sensors plus oscilloscopes and signal conditioners. The paper also presents the results of some preliminary tests on plain‐notched specimens that show the sensitivity of the work of fracture of a high‐strength concrete to the loading rate.     

Effect of fibre volume fraction on fatigue behaviour of glass fibre reinforced composite

The aim of this paper is to study the fatigue behavior of GFRP composites manufactured by vacuum bagging process by varying the volume fraction. Constant‐amplitude flexural fatigue tests were performed at zero mean stress, i.e. a cyclic stress ratio R=?1 by varying the frequency of the testing machine. The relationship between stiffness degradation rate and fibre volume fraction, was observed, and the influence of volume fraction on the tensile strength was also investigated. The results show that, as the volume fraction increases the stiffness degradation rate initially decreases and then increases after reaching a certain limit for the volume fraction. Graph between volume fraction and Young's modulus shows that as the volume fraction increases Young's modulus also increases and reaches a limit and then it decreases with further increase in volume fraction, due to the increase in fibre content which changes the material properties of the composite material. The obtained results are in agreement with the available results.     

超高模量聚乙烯纤维-碳纤维混杂复合材料冲击性能的研究

本工作以平面Charpy冲击、缺口与非缺口Charpy冲击全面地研究了本实验所制备的超高模量聚乙烯(UHMPE)纤维-碳纤维混杂增强环氧复合材料的冲击性能。同时根据试样在冲击过程中的载荷-时间曲线以及试样在冲击破坏后的形貌对该类混杂复合材料的冲击破坏过程与冲击破坏模式进行了分析。结果表明,将UHMPE纤维与碳纤维相混杂,复合材料的冲击性能呈现出明显的正混杂效应。     

Experimental Investigation of Strain Behaviour of Heated Cement Paste and Concrete

The material degradation of concrete subjected to fire events has a severe influence on the load‐carrying capacity of support structures. Spalling of concrete layers, exposing the reinforcement bars and degradation of the material properties (Young's modulus, compressive strength) may lead to significant damage of the reduced cross‐section and, therefore, cause failure of the structure. In order to understand the stress build‐up at the heated surface caused by thermal expansion due to fire loading, finally leading to damage and spalling of concrete, the strain behaviour of cement paste and concrete exposed to combined thermo‐mechanical loading is the focus of this work. Hereby, the evolution of thermal strains, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio with increasing temperature are investigated experimentally. For this purpose, the specimens are loaded uniaxially while the temperature is increased up to 800 °C. The obtained results provide the proper basis for the development of realistic material models, allowing more sophisticated simulations of structures exposed to fire.     

胶粉增韧改性聚丙烯研究

针对聚丙烯在生产应用中抗冲击性较差的问题,以废旧胶粉对聚丙烯进行增韧改性。研究了不同含量、粒径的胶粉对胶粉/聚丙烯共混体系力学性能的影响。结果表明:随着胶粉含量的增加,混合体系的弯曲强度和拉伸强度呈下降趋势,抗冲击强度呈现先逐步上升后逐渐下降的趋势,且在胶粉的添加质量分数为15%时,体系的抗冲击强度达到峰值;不同粒径胶粉的添加,对混合体系的影响趋势相同,粒径过小或过大,均不利于混合体系性能的提高;当所选胶粉粒径为80目,添加质量分数为15%时,共混体系的综合性能最好。     

Modeling and damage repair of woven thermoplastic composites subjected to low velocity impact

The low velocity impact behavior of three layer thermoplastic laminates consisting of woven glass fiber and polypropylene has been investigated for two different fiber volume configurations. Panels with configurations of 50/50 and 20/80 in the warp and fill directions were subjected to low velocity impact energies between 4 and 16 J using an instrumented dropping weight impact tower. Load vs. displacement plots showed the excellent energy absorbing capabilities exhibited by the woven composites. Both configurations dissipated approximately 75% of the 16 J incident impact energy. An energy-balance model was used to successfully predict the impact response of the woven thermoplastic composites. The impact damaged plates were tested under four point bend (4 PB) loading conditions. Results showed a reduction in flexural strength and modulus as the impact energy increased. A simple compression molding damage repair process was applied to the 16 J impacted composite plates. 4 PB testing of the repaired samples revealed a significant recovery in the flexural strength and modulus of the thermoplastic woven composite with both fiber configurations.     

Bulk and porous metastable beta Ti-Nb-Zr(Ta) alloys for biomedical applications

In this work, metastable beta Ti-Nb-Zr(Ta) ingots were manufactured by vacuum arc melting. The ingots thus obtained were divided into two batches: the first subjected to cold rolling (CR) from 30 to 85% of thickness reduction and subsequent annealing in the 450 to 900 °C temperature region, and the second atomized to produce 100 μm size powders. This powder was used to manufacture open-cell porous material. Regardless of the CR intensity, Ti-(18…20)Nb-(5…6)Zr (at.%) samples subjected to 600 °C (1 h) annealing showed a significant material softening due to the stress-induced martensitic transformation. The Young's modulus of these alloys varied between 45 and 55 GPa, and the yield stress, between 300 and 500 MPa. The obtained Young's moduli, which are comparable to 55-66 GPa of concurrent beta-titanium alloys and 45-50 GPa of superelastic Ti-Ni alloys, come close to those of cortical bones. Compression testing of the porous material as a function of porosity (from ~ 45 to 66%) and interconnected cell size (d₅₀ from 300 to 760 μm) showed the following properties: Young's modulus from 7.5 to 3.7 GPa, which comes close to that of trabecular bones, and ultimate compression strength, of from 225 to 70 MPa.