Mechanical damage and strain in carbon fiber thermoplastic‐matrix composite,sensed by electrical resistivity measurement

The volume electrical resistivity of a unidirectional continuous carbon fiber thermoplastic (nylon‐6) matrix composite was found to be an indicator of strain and damage during repeated loading in the fiber direction. The through‐thickness resistivity irreversibly and gradually decreased upon damage (probably fiber‐matrix debonding) during repeated compression or tension. Moreover, it reversibly and abruptly increased upon matrix damage, which occurred reversibly near the peak stress of a stress cycle. In addition, the resistivity increased reversibly upon tension in every stress cycle, and decreased reversibly upon compression in every stress cycle. On the other hand, the longitudinal resistivity irreversibly and gradually increased upon damage. Moreover, it decreased reversibly upon tension in every stress cycle and increased reversibly upon compression in every stress cycle. The through‐thickness resistivity was a better indicator of damage and strain than the longitudinal resistivity.     

Thermoplastic matrix phase transitions in a carbon fiber composite,studied by contact electrical resistivity measurement of the interface between two unbonded laminae

Measurement of the contact electrical resistivity of the interface between two unbonded laminae of a continuous carbon fiber thermoplastic (nylon-6) matrix composite during heating provides a method of thermal analysis that is sensitive to the glass transition and melting of the thermoplastic matrix. The phase transitions result in peaks in the resistivity, due to matrix molecular movement.     

The effect of filler concentration on the electrical,thermal, and mechanical properties of carbon particle and carbon fiber‐reinforced poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) composites

Composite materials of poly (styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) (luran) matrix with carbon fibers (CF)/carbon particles (CP) were prepared and their properties were evaluated. The mechanical and thermal properties of these composites were studied by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Although, by increasing the filler concentration no significant difference was found in melting and crystallization temperatures of the luran. The storage and tensile modulus of the composites increased linearly with filler concentration up to 40 wt % that was approximately three times higher than that of the virgin luran. There is a shift in glass transition temperature of the composite with increasing the filler concentration and the damping peak became flatter that indicated the effectiveness of the filler–matrix interaction. The volume resistivity and thermal conductivity (TC) of the composites were also measured. At a given carbon filler content the CF–Luran composites have much less volume resistivity as compared to CP–Luran composites. The decreased percolation threshold and volume resistivity in case of CF–Luran composites indicated that conductive paths existed in the composites. The conductive pathways were probably formed through interconnection of the carbon fillers. The volume resistivity was also decreased as a function of temperature. The thermal conductivity was increased linearly as a function of temperature with increasing filler concentration up to 40% of CF and CP. This increase was more profound in case of CF–Luran as compared to CP–Luran composites. This was owing to greater thermal networks of fibers as compared to particles. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:186–197, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Temperature dependence of the conductivity behavior of graphite nanoplatelet‐filled epoxy resin composites

In this article, epoxy/graphite nanoplatelet (GNP) conductive composites with the low percolation threshold of ～ 0.5 vol % were prepared. The effect of microstructure, particularly the spatial distribution of fillers in the matrix on the resistivity and its dependence on temperature, also was investigated. It is suggested that the high aspect ratio and good distribution of GNPs in the matrix contribute to the low threshold of the composite. The thermal–electrical behavior of the composite is also significantly influenced by the GNP content and microstructure of the composite. When the GNP content is greater than percolation threshold, a noticeable positive temperature coefficient of resistivity disappears. It is explained by the unique conductive network formed by plane contact between GNPs, which is hardly affected by the expansion of matrix during heating. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

The electrical and thermal conductivity of woven pristine and intercalated graphite fiber-polymer composites

A series of woven fabric laminar composite plates and narrow strips were fabricated from a variety of pitch-based pristine and bromine intercalated graphite fibers in an attempt to determine the influence of the weave on the electrical and thermal conduction. It was found generally that these materials can be treated as if they are homogeneous plates. The rule of mixtures describes the resistivity of the composite fairly well if it is realized that only the component of the fibers normal to the equipotential surface will conduct current. When the composite is narrow with respect to the fiber weave, however, there is a marked angular dependence of the resistance which was well modeled by assuming that the current follows only along the fibers (and not across them in a transverse direction), and that the contact resistance among the fibers in the composite is negligible. The thermal conductivity of composites made from less conductive fibers more closely followed the rule of mixtures than that of the high conductivity fibers, though this is thought to be an artifact of the measurement technique. Electrical and thermal anisotropy could be induced in a particular region of the structure by weaving together high and low conductivity fibers in different directions, though this must be done throughout all of the layers of the structure as interlaminar conduction precludes having only the top layer carry the anisotropy. The anisotropy in the thermal conductivity is considerably less than either that predicted by the rule of mixtures or the electrical resistivity.     

集成电路封装用GNPs/CNTs/HDPE导热高分子复合材料的研究

本文以高密度聚乙烯(HDPE)为基体,以自制的h-G-C-2/1体系杂化填料为导热填料,制备了GNPs/CNTs/HDPE导热高分子复合材料,重点对比了杂化填料和复配填料对GNPs/CNTs/HDPE复合材料在导热、导电及力学性能方面的影响。结果表明,GNPs/CNTs/HDPE导热高分子复合材料的拉伸强度为31.9 MPa,冲击强度为22.1 kJ/m^2,体积电阻率为690 MΩ·cm,热导率为0.759 W/(m·K),满足集成电路封装用技术参数要求。杂化填料的分散性优于复配填料,杂化填料在提高复合材料的拉伸性能方面优于复配填料,复配填料在提高复合材料的热导率方面优于杂化填料。本文所获得的研究成果为制备新型综合性能优异的集成电路封装用导热高分子复合材料提供了一条新的思路。     

基于SPH方法的鸟撞复合材料层合板数值分析

采用光滑粒子流体动力学法(SPH)耦合有限元法对复合材料层合板受鸟撞击的过程进行了数值模拟。复合材料层合板采用渐进损伤模型,鸟体采用SPH粒子建立模型,利用ANSYS/LS-DYNA显示动力分析模块分析了复合材料层合板结构非线性接触。分析了鸟撞层合板过程中鸟体损伤及层合板单层纤维失效和基体失效情况,分析了鸟体的入射角方向及层合板采用不同铺层时对层合板吸能效果的影响。计算结果表明,合理设计层合板铺层可以提高层合板的吸能效果。     

Use of carbon nanotubes for strain and damage sensing of epoxy-based composites

The interest in structural health monitoring of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers using electrical methods to detect damage in structures is growing because once the material is fabricated the evaluation of strain and damage is simple and feasible. In order to obtain the conductivity, the polymer matrix must be conductive and the use of nanoreinforcement seems to be the most feasible method. In this work, the behavior of nanoreinforced polymer with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and composites with glass and carbon fibers with nanoreinforced matrices was investigated. These composites were evaluated in tensile tests by simultaneously measuring stress, strain and resistivity. During elastic deformation, a linear increase in resistance was observed and during fracture of the composite fibers, stronger and discontinuous changes in the resistivity were observed. Among other factors, the percentage of nanotubes incorporated in the matrix turned out to be an important factor in the sensitivity of the method.     

Damage detection in 2.5D C/SiC composites using electrical resistance tomography

In this work, an innovative method for the detection of damage in fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) is introduced. For electrically conductive CMCs, the conductivity distribution is coupled with the internal damage, which enables the realization of structural health monitoring (SHM). In this research, we verify the feasibility of using electrical resistance tomography (ERT) for damage detection in CMCs. The nature of conductivity anisotropy was considered. Local damage was introduced and was evaluated through ERT. Different injection patterns and values of the regulation parameter were compared to obtain optimal spatial resistivity mapping imaged via ERT. The effect of typical damage states on the resistivity was quantified to determine the theoretical resolution of ERT for damage detection in the 2.5D C/SiC composite. The present study serves as a further step into introducing ERT as a promising SHM method which can be implemented to CMCs for in situ and non-destructive inspection.     

Effects of fiber length and solid loading on the properties of lightweight elastic mullite fibrous ceramics

Mullite fibrous ceramics were successfully prepared by a TBA-based gel-casting with mullite fibers as the main matrix. The effects of the fiber length and the gel-casting solid loading on the composite properties and microstructure were investigated. The 3D structure of the composite was constructed by the randomly arranged mullite fibers with the fixed crossing point, and therefore the fiber length was the most important factor influencing the microstructure of the composition. Further analyses indicate that long fibers were more suitable for the fabrication of high porosity composite. Compared with controlling the fiber length, adjusting the gel-casting solid loading was an easy method of tailoring the properties of the composite. The composite fabricated with the low solid loading and long fibers exhibited a high porosity, a low thermal conductivity, and an excellent elastic property, and can be regarded as a potential high-temperature thermal insulator applied in the industrial or aerospace thermal protection system.     

Ultra high thermal conductivity polymer composites

Epoxy composites based on vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF) were fabricated and analyzed for room temperature thermophysical properties. An unprecedented high thermal conductivity of 695 W/m K for polymer matrix composites was obtained. The densities of all the composites are lower than 1.5 g/cc. In addition the high value of coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the polymer material was largely reduced by the incorporation of VGCF. Also, unlike metal matrix composite (MMC), the epoxy composite has an electrically insulating surface. Based on the composite thermal conductivities, the room temperature thermal conductivity of VGCF, heat-treated at 2600°C, was estimated to be 1260 W/m K. Furthermore, the longitudinal CTE of the heat-treated VGCF was determined, for the first time, to be −1.5 ppm/K.     

Thermal Expansion Behavior of the Si3N4-Whisker-Reinforced Soda-Borosilicate Glass Matrix Composite

Thermal expansion behaviors of a Si₃N₄-whisker-reinforced sodaborosilicate glass matrix composite are studied. An abrupt increase of the coefficient of thermal expansion is observed and is attributed to formation of crystobalite in the sodaborosilicate glass matrix. This thermal expansion behavior is discussed with special reference to the phase transformation of the crystobalite.     

高韧性绝缘环氧基复合材料的研制

采用聚砜改性环氧树脂为基体,通过高温模压成型法制备环氧树脂/玻纤/BN复合材料.探讨了BN用量对复合材料力学性能、电性能和热性能的影响.结果表明,当BN用量为10wt％时,复合材料的力学性能较佳.电阻率随着BN用量增加,呈下降趋势.通过DSC和TGA综合分析表明,聚砜的加入提高了树脂基体的热稳定性能,随BN用量增加,复...     

Influence of carbon fiber surface treatments on the structure and properties of conductive carbon fiber/polyethylene films

Effects of carbon fiber (CF) surface modification on the crystalline structure and both electrical and mechanical properties of conductive CF/high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) films were studied. Three different types of surface‐treated CF, epoxy‐sized, unsized, and sized but thermally treated, were considered. It was found that the uniformity of the transcrystalline zone around CF and the overall crystallinity of the polyethylene matrix decreased when epoxy‐sized CF was used. Epoxy‐sized CF caused a significant reduction not only in electrical resistivity and temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) but also tensile strength and coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) of composite films compared with that of unsized or sized CF that was thermally treated. We observed the systematic changes of TCR and CLTE values in accordance with CF surface modification and CF content in composite films. It was concluded that thermal expansion of the polymer matrix is the main reason for the positive TCR of CF/HDPE films. As the most probable reasons for decreased resistivity and strength of the CF/HDPE films with epoxy‐sized CF, the diffusion of epoxy sizing agent into the polyethylene matrix and the formation of loosened semiconductive interphase structure in the film are considered. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 2040–2048, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10500     

An electrical approach to monitor wire and cable thermal oxidation aging condition based on carbon black filled conductive polymer composite

Polymeric materials are widely used as insulation and jacketing materials in wire and cable. When such materials are used for long‐term applications, they undergo thermal oxidation aging in the environment. It is necessary to develop an in situ and nondestructive condition monitoring (CM) method to follow the aging of cable materials. The main objective of this work was to investigate low‐density polyethylene/carbon black (LDPE/CB) conductive polymer composites as potential sensor materials for this purpose. LDPE/CB composites with a carbon black loading below the percolation threshold underwent accelerated thermal oxidation aging experiments. The results indicated that the substantial resistivity decreases of the LDPE/CB composites could be directly related to the increases in volume fraction of the conductive carbon black, which was mainly caused by the mass loss of polymer matrix and sample shrinkage during the thermal oxidation aging process. Compared to existing CM method based on density change, the electrical resistivity is more explicit regarding its absolute changes throughout the thermal oxidation aging. The change in resistivity spanned over four orders of magnitude, whereas the composite density only increased 10%. The results offer strong evidence that resistivity measurements, which reflect property changes under thermal aging conditions, could represent a very useful and nondestructive CM approach as well as a more sensitive method than density CM approach. Crystallinity changes in materials investigated by modulated DSC and TGA measurements indicated deterioration of crystalline regions in polymer during the thermal oxidation aging. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 513–520, 2004     

Improved stability of volume resistivity in carbon black/ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer composites by employing multi-walled carbon nanotubes as second filler

Semiconductive polymer shielding layers of power cable require stable volume resistivity to protect the insulation layer from stress enhancements when carbon black (CB)/polymer composite undergoes thermal cycles. For the CB-filled polymer composites, CB would often re-aggregate when temperature is close to the melting point of polymer matrix, so that the conductive network would be destroyed. Re-distribution of CB and re-formation of conductive CB network under thermal cycles might be the main reason for the instability of volume resistivity. In this work, the re-aggregation of CB in the CB/polymer composites was disclosed. Besides, a small amount of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) was employed as cofiller with CB to improve the stability of volume resistivity of the polymer composites under thermal cycles. The total weight fraction of conductive fillers (CB or CB cofilled with MWNTs) was set as 35 wt%. Compared with the polymer composites loaded with CB solely, the volume resistivity of the composites filled with CB-MWNTs was much more stable with changing temperature. This can be attributed to the enhancement of conductive networks when the MWNTs are employed as second conductive filler.     

Enhancing the electrical and thermal stability of metallic fiber-filled polymer composites by adding tin–lead alloy

This article presents a novel way of greatly enhancing the electrical and thermal stability of copper fiber (CuF)-filled acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) composites via the incorporation of small amount of tin–lead (Sn–Pb) alloy. It was observed that many fibers are soldered together by Sn–Pb, and a continuous CuF/Sn–Pb network is formed throughout the ABS matrix. As a result, the percolation concentration of ABS/CuF composite containing 1 vol% Sn–Pb is lower than for ABS/CuF composite, and the addition of Sn–Pb to the ABS composites containing 5 vol% CuF leads to a further decrease of electrical resistivity compared to ABS/CuF composites with corresponding filler contents. Furthermore, the electrical resistivity of ABS/CuF/Sn–Pb composite shows no temperature dependence, and remains constant during the thermal post-treatment.     

Damage analysis of 2.5D C/C-SiC composites subjected to fatigue loadings

Damage analyses of a ceramic matrix composite during fatigue and quasi-static loads were performed by acoustic emission (A.E.) monitoring. The material studied was a 2.5D C/C-SiC composite produced by chemical vapor infiltration followed by liquid silicon infiltration. The analysis done during the first 200 cycles of a fatigue test showed that the number of A.E. hits is a good parameter for the quantification of damage. Furthermore, the A.E. hit energy was associated with the type of damage. In this sense, the damage developed during the fatigue loading was related to matrix crack initiation, propagation and re-opening, as well as fiber-matrix friction. Quasi-static tests on post-fatigue samples showed that the previous fatigue loadings increased the material`s damage threshold and hindered the development of new damage. Particular attention was given to the sample after 2,000,000 cycles as this sample showed distinct A.E. signals that could be related to fiber debonding.     

Effects of thermal aging on morphology,resistivity, and thermal properties of extruded high‐density polyethylene/carbon black heating elements

Various output heating elements were extruded with carbon black (CB)‐filled high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) composites. After thermal aging near melting point of HDPE, the effects of thermal aging on the morphology, resistivity, and thermal properties of the extruded and electron beam (EB)‐irradiated heating elements were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) megohmmeter and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. The heating element was insulated with a polytetrafluoroethylene tape wrap. The SEM image of HDPE is covered with microvoids that leave a dimple‐like structure on the surface. As the percolation threshold is achieved, CB aggregates are usually located in oval cavities larger than the particles themselves. During the resistivity–temperature cycling test, significant change in resistivity was observed for extruded and EB‐irradiated heaters. In case of thermal‐aged samples at 140°C for 120 h, both heaters showed good stability without pronounced changes in resistivity after resistivity–temperature cycling test. After thermal aged at 140°C for 120 h, the Heater02‐EB composite recovered the oval cavity structure, whereas for Heater02, the amorphous region became narrower and formed a more electroconductive pathway. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Thermal Shock Damage in a Two-Dimensional Woven-Fiber-Reinforced-CVI SiC-Matrix Composite

Thermal shock damage in a two-dimensional woven-Nicalon^(tm)-fiber-reinforced-CVI SiC-matrix composite was induced by water quenching and characterized by optical microscopy as a function of quench temperature difference (Δ T ) and number of quench cycles. Mechanical damage generated in flexure on quenched and unquenched specimens also was characterized and compared to the thermal shock damage. The observed thermal shock damage consisted of small matrix cracks and fiber-matrix interfacial debonding on the surface, and large interior cracks in the matrix that formed between and parallel to the fiber cloths. At low Δ T values, only small matrix cracks on the surface were observed, and they were related to initial decreases in Young's modulus. At higher Δ T values, larger cracks between the fiber cloths in the specimen interior were observed and related to decreases in the ultimate strength. Cyclic quenching resulted in progressive thermal shock damage that was consistent with Young's modulus measurements.