Assessment of dispersion in carbon nanotube reinforced composites using differential scanning calorimetry

For assessing the state of dispersion, which plays an important role in improving the mechanical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced composite material, the relationship between the state of particle distribution and the change in the cure kinetics was experimentally investigated by the use of differential scanning calorimetry. It was found that the addition of CNTs to epoxy resin reduced the total heat of reaction. This may be because CNTs act as obstacles to the cross-linking reaction. The decrease was found to depend on the CNT concentration as well as the state of dispersion. To obtain a correlation between the decrease in the total heat of reaction and the quantity of well-dispersed particles, the mass of aggregated particles was measured by dynamic light scattering. The results showed that there is a correlation between the concentration of well-dispersed CNTs and the total heat of reaction. Any departure from this correlation could be interpreted as poor dispersion and the magnitude of the difference may serve as an indicator of the overall state of dispersion.     

Studies on heat capacity of cellulose and lignin by differential scanning calorimetry

Heat capacities (C_p) of wood cellulose, other natural celluloses having various crystallinities and of lignin are given for temperatures ranging from 330K to 450K using differential scanning calorimetry. The calculation of the C_p of completely crystalline cellulose is based on a two-state model of cellulose which assumes linearity between the crystallinity and C_p. The higher C_p found in the amorphous region compared with the crystalline region, is apparantly due to differences in the frequency of molecular vibration in these two areas. The glass transition of lignin was observed as a sudden increase in C_p at 400K. The precise T_g of lignin was dependent on the sample's origin, characterization, thermal history etc. When annealed at around T_g enthalpy relaxation occurs, and this can be detected as an endothermic peak in the C_p curve at the transition temperature. Moreover, the C_p in the glassy state was found to decrease with both annealing time and temperature, suggesting that rearrangement of the local conformation of lignin molecules occurs in the glassy state temperature range.     

Effect of heat transfer channels on thermal conductivity of silicon carbide composites reinforced with pitch-based carbon fibers

In this study, silicon carbide (SiC) composites reinforced with pitch-based carbon fibers and composed of heat transfer channels were fabricated by combining chemical vapor infiltration and reactive melting infiltration method. It was observed that the internal heat conduction skeleton of pitch-based carbon fibers was sequentially formed. The thermal conductivities from room temperature to 500 °C along through-thickness direction and in-plane direction were investigated. The results showed that C_pf/SiC composites with heat transfer channels possessed excellent thermal conductvity in two directions, and the thermal conductivity increased with increasing volume content of heat transfer channels. The thermal conductivity in through-thickness direction reached 38.89 W/(m·K), and that for in-plane direction reached 112.42 W/(m·K). Theoretical calculations were empolyed to study the temperature dependence of the C_pf/SiC composites. The variations in slope A′ and intercept B′ values of fitted curves were in good agreement with the experimental results. To verify the reliablilty of the theoretical model, the C_pf/SiC composites were heated at 1650 °C for 2 h and the thermal conductivity exhibited further improvement due to the formation of more perfect crystalline structure. Thermal conductivity through thickness direction improved to 43.49 W/(m·K), and that in in-plane direction improved to 142.49 W/(m·K), which could be identified by the theoretical model. Finally, the leading edge model was established by using ABAQUS finite element analysis software to evaluate the potential application of the composites. Owing to the outstanding thermal conductivity, the leading edge obtained by using C_pf/SiC composites in this study exhibited lower temperature gradient and a more uniform temperature distribution. Moreover, less thermal stress and displacement were generated during heating process.     

Measurement and prediction of thermal conductivity for hemp fiber reinforced composites

The thermal conductivity of hemp fiber reinforced polymer composites were studied from the steady state temperature drop across samples exposed to a known heat flux. The transverse and in-plane thermal conductivities for oriented and randomly oriented composites for different volume fractions of fiber were investigated. Experimental results showed that the orientation of fibers has a significant effect on the thermal conductivity of composites. To validate the experimental results, the heating tests for the thermal conductivity measurements were simulated by a finite element model using the thermal conductivity values obtained from the experiments. Predicted temperatures show close agreement with measured temperatures. Moreover, the experimental results of thermal conductivities of composites at different directions were compared with two theoretical models and illustrated good agreement between the obtained results and models. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 47:977–983, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Crystallization kinetics by differential scanning calorimetry for PCL/starch and their reinforced sisal fiber composites

Calorimetric results obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been used to develop a kinetic model for the crystallization behavior of PCL/starch and their composites with sisal fibers. The model takes into account the effects of nucleation and crystal growth, and it is able to describe the isothermal and non‐isothermal conditions, especially for the low cooling rates. The effect of the sisal fiber has also been analyzed. The Avrami exponent was 2.0 for the crystallization of PCL/starch and sisal fiber reinforced composite. The activation energy of the crystallization process was 4.3 and 4.0 kJ/mol for PCL/starch and sisal composite, respectively. The induction time of the crystallization and the crystallization rate was not influenced by the presence of sisal fiber.     

A new differential scanning calorimetry based approach for the estimation of thermal conductivity of polymer solids and melts

A new concept based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSG) is introduced which enables us to make a rapid estimation of the thermal conductivity of materials. This technique is shown to give reasonable agreement with the literature data and offers unique advantages, e.g. short analysis time, no instrument modification, small thermal radients across the sample, spall sample size requirements, and most importantly it can be applied to polymer melts. Although our data falls within the literature range, it is difficult to comment on its accuracy since the literature itself shows a wide variation. The precision of our measurements is better than ±20 percent which is considered adequate for thermal conductivity evaluation. As a matter of convenience, we have also presented briefly, a background of the thermal conductivity measuring techniques.     

Localized thermal analysis of carbon fiber‐reinforced polypropylene composites

The effect of carbon fiber (CF) and annealing temperature on polypropylene (PP) microstructure was studied. The crystalline state of polymer matrix was found to be a strong function of thermal history. The effect of annealing temperature on the microstructure evolution of PP in the presence of CFs was characterized by using X‐ray diffraction, DSC and localized thermal analysis. The melting behavior of CF‐reinforced PP composite was strongly dominated by the thermal history and was weakly influenced by the presence of CFs. The interface between a CF and PP matrix was found to be weak. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Corn oil‐based composites reinforced with continuous glass fibers: Fabrication and properties

Novel thermosetting composites have been successfully developed using glass fibers to reinforce regular corn oil (COR) and conjugated corn oil (CCOR) resins prepared by cationic copolymerization with styrene (ST) and divinylbenzene (DVB). The dependence of morphology and physical properties of the composites on the contents of glass fibers and DVB was determined by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and tensile testing. The glass fiber loading and polymer matrix composition play an important role in improving the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the resulting composites. As the glass fiber content increases from 0 to 45 wt %, the COR‐based composites show an increase in Young's modulus from 4.1 to 874 MPa and tensile strength from 1.7 to 8.4 MPa. Furthermore, the composites exhibit good damping properties and are suitable for applications where reduction of both unwanted noise and vibration is important. Compared with the composites from COR, the CCOR‐based composites exhibit slightly higher thermal stabilities and mechanical properties, due to higher reactivity of CCOR with comonomers. Increasing the DVB content improves the crosslink density of the polymer matrix, leading to a significant improvement in the thermal stabilities and mechanical properties of the resulting composites. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102:3345–3353, 2006     

Damage characterization of repeatedly impacted glass fiber reinforced polyester‐armor steel composites with cone beam computed tomography technique

This article utilizes the characterization of single and repeated low velocity impact damage behavior of glass fiber reinforced polyester (GFRP) armor steel composite. Cone beam computed tomography technique (CBCT) was used for damage assessment. Impact energies, maximum loads and the permanent deflection of GFRP, armor steel composites are determined with instrumented drop weight impact test machine. The repeated impact performance and damage resistance were evaluated. On the other hand, preliminary single impact loading tests also performed in order to find the energy levels, which were ranged fully elastic energy level to perforation energy level for GFRP, armor steel composites. Additionally, CBCT was used to provide a novel, multiscale approach for assessing impact damage. Deformation areas of both single and repeatedly impacted GFRP, armor steel composites were assessed three‐dimensionally by CBCT. An innovative approach was used to visualize the internal damages. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:583–593, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Experimental characterization and morphology investigation of composites based on high‐density and low‐density polyethylene reinforced with non‐crimp‐stitched glass fabrics

In this study, the effects of matrix material on mechanical properties were investigated in glass fiber reinforced high‐density and low‐density polyethylene composites. Also, in order to compare the fiber configuration effect on anisotropic behavior, unidirectional and biaxial glass fabrics were used as reinforcement material. Composite laminates were manufactured via the compression molding technique. Tensile and three‐point bending flexural tests were conducted up to failure on specimens cut out in different directions. Extensive fracture photomicrographs were presented for observing the failure modes (e.g. delamination) of the composites resulting from a variety of loading conditions. In addition, Scanning electron micrographs of postfractured surfaces of composites were interpreted in an attempt to explain the failure mechanisms (adhesive or cohesive failure) of the composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Crystallinity in PPS–carbon composites: A study using diffuse reflection FT-IR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry

A method based on diffuse reflection Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy has been developed for determining the state of crystallinity in composite materials made from poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) reinforced with carbon fibers. Using this technique, good-quality spectra can be obtained directly from the surface of prepreg or molded composite; thus the method is rapid and nondestructive. Several peaks in the spectrum are sensitive to the crystallinity and can be used for quantitative characterization purposes. The recommended indicator is the ratio of the heights of the peaks at 1075 and 1093 cm^?1. Using a range of samples of varying crystallinity prepared by annealing amorphous prepreg, it has been shown that there is a very good correlation between this ratio and the enthalpy of crystallization as determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The effects of such annealing, as well as heating in air at high temperatures, have been investigated.     

Effect of thermal cycling on carbon fiber‐reinforced PPS composites

Calorimetry, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and tensile modulus were recorded to investigate the effect of thermal cycling on polyphenylene sulfides (PPS) carbon fiber composites. Thermal cycling at higher temperatures increased the degree of crystallinity of PPS, as indicated by increasing heat of melting. CTE measurements during thermal cycling were used to study the anisotropy of the composites in directions parallel and transverse to the fiber orientation. It was noted that increasing crystallinity enhanced the tensile modulus of unidirectional composites, while reducing the tensile modulus of quasi‐isotropic composites. The latter reduction may be due to internal damage or interlaminar slippage associated with the residual thermal stresses caused by thermal mismatch between multiply oriented plies. POLYM. COMPOS., 26:713–716, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of treated oil‐palm‐fiber‐reinforced phenolformaldehyde composites

The effective thermal conductivity (λ_e) and effective thermal diffusivity (χ_e) of oil‐palm‐fiber‐reinforced treated composites were measured simultaneously with the transient plane source technique from 50 to 110°C. The fibers of the composites were treated with sodium hydroxide alkali, silanol, and acetic acid. The experimental results for the different treated composites showed that there were variations in λ_e and χ_e over this temperature range. However, the maximum values of λ_e and χ_e were observed at 90°C, in the vicinity of the glass‐transition temperatures of these composites. An effort was also made to predict the temperature dependence of λ_e and χ_e through the development of an empirical model. The theoretically predicted values of λ_e and χ_e for these composites were in excellent agreement with the experimental results over the entire range of investigated temperatures. Sudden increases in λ_e and χ_e in the glass‐transition region of these composites were indicative of the fact that the crosslinking density decreased and was at a minimum at the temperature at which λ_e and χ_e showed their maxima. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 3458–3463, 2003     

Polycarbonate‐based composites reinforced by in situ polytetrafluoroethylene fibrillation: Preparation,thermal and rheological behavior

Fibrillar reinforced composites of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polycarbonate (PC) were prepared by in situ fibrillation of PTFE into PC matrix using twin screw extruder. Different samples were obtained by varying the relative ratio between PC and PTFE. The rheological properties of the PC/PTFE composites were found to depend on concentration of the PTFE fibrils. The melt strength analysis in nonisothermal conditions was also studied. The increase in force and decrease in drawability with increasing the PTFE content are associated with the PTFE fibrils formed in situ during the thermomechanical process in twin screw extruder. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42401.     

用激光导热仪测定炭黑填充橡胶的导热系数

用激光导热仪测定了5种填充不同量炭黑N 220的胶料在30～140℃时的导热系数,分析了导热系数随温度和炭黑填充量变化的关系,发现胶料的导热系数均随着温度的升高呈线性增大趋势,随炭黑填充量的增加也逐渐增大.将导热系数与温度和炭黑填充量进行了关联,得到了线性回归方程式,进而确立了适合于计算不同温度和不同炭黑N 220填充量胶料导热系数的关联方程A=0.133 77 2.008 74×10-4t 0.001 64 X.将用该方程计算的结果与实验值进行比较,60个数据点的平均相对误差仪为0.93%.     

Prediction of the effective thermal conductivity of carbon nanotube‐reinforced polymer systems

A study dealing with the effect of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs), at various weight fractions, on the effective thermal conductivity of a CNT‐reinforced polymer by associating it with the Kapitza resistance (R_Kap) phenomena is presented. The finite element method was utilized as a tool for the models' solution by using the principles of the representative volume element. An intermediate continuum layer between polymer matrix and CNTs was considered for the representation of the R_Kap phenomena. The influence of the intensity of R_Kap phenomena at various CNT contents was investigated through the parametric study of the R_Kap value and the thickness of the intermediate layer. The predicted results were compared against experimental measurements derived from an equivalent CNT–epoxy resin system. The discrepancy between calculated and measured values is diminished when the R_Kap phenomena are taken into account, thus confirming the existence of thermal resistance between the CNTs and the polymer matrix. The R_Kap rise as the % CNT weight content is increased. This behavior is correlated to the higher CNT agglomeration at higher CNT contents, which is proven by the scanning electron microscopy and thus providing a first indication of the effect of the CNT agglomeration on the effective thermal conductivity at various CNT contents. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:1997–2009, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Hybrid composites from coir fibers reinforced with woven glass fabrics: Physical and mechanical evaluation

Sandwich composites based on coir fiber nonwoven mats as core material were manufactured by Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding technique. Mechanical and physical properties of produced coir/polyester and coir‐glass/polyester composites were assessed. Samples were evaluated according to their reinforcement contents, resin contents, areal density, and thickness. Tests on physical properties revealed that coir‐glass/polyester sandwich structure has the lowest values of thickness swelling, water absorption and moisture contents compared with coir/polyester composite. Mechanical tests such as tensile strength, open‐hole tensile strength, and flexural strength were also performed on all samples. Coir‐glass/polyester sandwich structure showed significant increase in tensile strength of 70 MPa compared with 8 MPa of coir/polyester composite. Introducing two skins of fiber glass woven roving to coir/polyester increased its flexural strength from 31.8 to 131.8 MPa for coir‐glass/polyester. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2212–2220, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

FTIR and SEM analysis of polyester‐ and epoxy‐based composites manufactured by VARTM process

Polyester‐ and epoxy‐based composites containing glass and carbon fibers were manufactured using a vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyses were conducted to determine the interaction between fibers and matrix material. The results indicate that strong interaction was observed between carbon fiber and epoxy resin. However, weak interactions between remaining fiber‐matrix occur. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was also performed to take some information about strength of interaction between fibers and matrix material. From SEM micrographs, it is concluded that the findings in SEM analysis support to that obtained in FTIR analysis. Another aim of the present work was to investigate the influence of matrix on composite properties. Hence, the strengths of composites having same reinforcement but different matrix systems in axial tension and transverse tension were compared. Short beam shear test has been conducted to characterize the interfacial strength in the composites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

The thermal oxidation of guayule and hevea rubbers by dynamic differential scanning calorimetry

The thermal oxidation of natural rubbers from Hevea brasiliensis (pale crepe and smoked sheet) and Parthenium argentatum (Guayule) were studied with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) using the dynamic method. The atmosphere was oxygen at 110 ml/min and the temperature range was 393° ?473°K. The decomposition reactions showed a pronounced exothermic emission with shoulders on the high-temperature side. The kinetic parameters were computed by using three different mathematical approaches: the heat evolution treatment of Borchardt and Daniels, the diffusion-controlled method by Jander, and the heating rate method developed by Kissinger and Ozawa. The best agreement between these methods was achieved assuming first order in the Borchardt and Daniels method and three-dimensional diffusion with the Jander model. The mass influence was analyzed observing that good agreement is obtained working with sample weight in the order of 3–4 mg. Under such conditions the activation energies (E_a) were 16–17, 18–19, and 23–24 kcal/mole for the Borchardt-Daniels, Kissinger-Ozawa, and Jander models, respectively.