Plastic Deformation of Ceramic-Oxide Single Crystals

It was found that plastic deformation takes place in periclase above 1100°C., in rutile above 600°C., and in sapphire above 900°C. The mechanism is slip; in sapphire (0001) is the slip plane and [1120] is the slip directiog. All creep curves for sapphire in tension show the same qualitative features. Each consists of three stages: a stage of increasing creep rate (sometimes called an incubation period), a stage of large but decreasing creep rate (sometimes called first-stage creep), and a stage of small and nearly constant creep rate (sometimes called second-stage creep). The so-called third-stage creep, characteristic of metal behavior, has not been noted. Plastic deformation increases the electrical resistivity of sapphire at constant temperature.     

Symbiosis between grain boundary sliding and slip creep to obtain high-strain-rate superplasticity in aluminum alloys

Aluminum alloys with a fine and recrystallized microstructure deform by grain boundary sliding at low strain rates. However, some aluminum alloys, for instance, Al–5% Ca–5% Zn, Supral 2004, Al–Li 2090, Al–Li 8090, show indications of slip creep and grain boundary sliding at a given temperature and strain rate inside the superplastic range. These materials, in addition, deform superplastically even at high-strain rates (10⁻² to 10⁻¹ s⁻¹). The simultaneous operation of grain boundary sliding (GBS) and slip creep is a surprising observation since these two deformation mechanisms usually act independently of one another. The one yielding the highest strain rate becomes rate controlling and thus the main contributor to the total strain. In this paper, microstructure (including microtexture) as well as mechanical property data of several Al alloys are reviewed with the aim of seeking further understanding on the symbiosis between GBS and slip creep.     

Effect of molecular weight and branch content on the creep behavior of oriented polyethylene

Creep studies were carried out on a range of homopolymers and copolymers of polyethylene with well‐defined molecular weight and branch content. The creep data were analyzed in terms of two thermally activated processes acting in parallel and the effects of molecular weight and branch content are discussed. It is shown that increasing either the number‐average molecular weight or the weight‐average molecular weight gives improved creep behavior at all stress levels. The introduction of butyl branches leads to lower creep at low‐stress levels but can give rise to higher creep at high stress. Plots of the equilibrium log₁₀(strain rate) versus stress at fixed draw ratio (strain) can be used to define sections through a unique true stress/true strain/strain rate surface for each material. These creep results have an additional value in terms of the link between slow crack propagation (SCG) in polyethylene and fibril creep, confirming the proposal made elsewhere that SCG can be quantified in terms of creep to failure across the true stress/true strain/strain rate surface. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, J Appl Polym Sci 89: 1663–1670, 2003     

Compressive Creep of Al2O3 Single Crystals

Aluminum oxide single crystals deformed by dislocation glide and deformation twinning during compressive creep at 1400° to 1700°C. The activation energy for basal slip was a function of the applied stress and agreed with activation energies previously measured by observation of yielding phenomena. The overcoming of a large Peierls-Nabarro stress is the most probable rate-controlling mechanism. Rhombohedral twinning, a significant deformation mode in creep, depends on surface damage for nucleation. The activation energy for rhombohedral twin growth, a function of the applied stress, is substantially lower than that for basal slip. When basal slip and rhombohedral twinning occur concurrently, creep by basal slip results, but the presence of twins can substantially reduce the creep rate.     

Biaxially oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate) bottles: Effects of resin molecular weight on parison stretching behavior

Uni- and biaxial stretching of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) specimens of appropriate geometry at temperatures near the glass-rubber transition may lead to non-uniform deformation unless the draw ratio exceeds a critical value, the natural draw ratio, characteristic of the onset of strain hardening due to stress-induced crystallization. Experimental results obtained in the present investigation show that natural draw ratios in uni- and biaxial stretching decrease with increasing resin molecular weight and with decreasing temperature. Undesirable uneven wall thickness distribution in biaxially stretched cylindrical parisons can only be prevented if draw ratios in both orthogonal principal stretching directions exceed the corresponding natural values. The minimum thickness reduction required for uniform biaxial stretching of a cylindrical parison at 95°C may vary between 12 and 5 depending on the resin's molecular weight or viscosity and this will affect the optimum design of parison geometry. The degree of unbalanced biaxial molecular orientation in the wall of cylindrical parisons stretched up to or beyond the natural draw ratios also depends on the resin molecular weight. Unbalanced biaxial orientation has been investigated by means of wide angle X-ray diffraction and birefringence measurements as well as its effect on various properties: rigidity, yield stress, creep compliance, and dimensional stability.     

Stress influence on the deformation mechanisms of tetragonal zirconia polycrystals

The influence of stress on deformation mechanisms of tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (TZP) has been studied by constant strain rate tests and creep tests. It has been shown that the deformation results from two mechanisms: (1) a low-stress mechanism where the strain rate is proportional to σ²/d (where d is grain size) and (2) a high-stress mechanism with strain rate proportional to σ/d³. These results are discussed, taking into consideration the possible role of the vitreous phase on the diffusion mechanisms.     

Characterization of the adhesion of single-walled carbon nanotubes in poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) composite fibres

Poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide)/single-walled carbon (PPTA/SWNT) composite fibres with different draw ratios have been spun using a dry-jet wet spinning process and their structure and deformation behaviour analysed using Raman spectroscopy. The dispersion of nanotube has been examined by Raman scattering intensity mapping along the fibre. The nanotubes improved the polymer orientation in composite fibre with a draw ratio of 2 but degraded the orientation at higher draw ratios. The mechanical reinforcing effect by nanotubes is related to the change of polymer orientation, suggesting a dominant role of polymer orientation in mechanical performance of the composite fibre. High efficiency of stress transfer within the strain range of 0-0.35% and breakdown of the interface at higher strains has been found in the composite fibres through an in situ Raman spectroscopic study during fibre deformation. Cyclic loading applied on the fibre has indicated reversible deformation behaviour at low strain and gradual damage of the interface at high strains.     

Creep behavior of nylon fiber-reinforced asphalt concrete

This study aims to investigate the permanent deformation behavior of asphalt concrete reinforced by nylon fibers. Nylon fibers (12 mm length) have been added to a typical asphalt concrete at different percentages of 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, and 0.3% (based on total weight of mixture), and the permanent deformation behavior of the mixtures have been investigated by dynamic creep tests at different stress levels of 200 and 400 kPa, and different temperatures of 40, 50, and 60 °C on the mixtures. A three-stage model (developed by Zhou et al.) has been used for modeling the creep curve of the mixtures and determining the flow number and creep strain slope of the mixtures, which are used to describe the permanent deformation of asphaltic mixtures. The parameters of the models were determined in MATLAB using an algorithm established by Zhou et al. The results showed that the mixture reinforced by 0.1% of nylon fibers has the highest resistance to permanent deformation. The three-stage model was well fitted with the dynamic creep test results of the mixtures. The results also showed that the mixture containing 0.1% of nylon fibers has the lowest creep strain slope and the highest flow number, indicating that this mixture has the highest resistance to permanent deformation.     

Rapoport-Samoilenko test for cathode carbon materials—II. Swelling with external pressure and effect of creep

The creep strain of an anthracitic commercial cathode material used for aluminium production has been measured on solid cylinder samples. Experimental results have been obtained using a Rapoport-Samoilenko-type apparatus for virgin material at room and high temperatures as well as for electrolyzed material under loading. When an external pressure is applied to the material, the reduction of sodium expansion is explained by the effect of compressive creep deformation related to the sodium penetration into the binder phase of carbon. The creep strain is much larger when sodium is absorbed under pressure compared with the creep strain when an external pressure is applied to the material after binder phase sodium saturation. A constitutive model for creep deformation in the binder phase of cathode carbon materials which is able to reproduce the relationship between the creep strain, external pressure and time during the Rapoport-Samoilenko-type test has been developed. The model has been extended to a three-dimensional stress-strain state. The calculations demonstrate that creep has to be considered in order to obtain realistic stress-strain results.     

Plastic Deformation of Ceramic-Oxide Single Crystals, II

Sapphire single crystals exhibit the same qualitative creep properties over the temperature range 900° to 1400°C. as do comparable metal single crystals at room temperature. The creep of sapphire under constant load has four portions: ( a ) a period of increasing creep rate, ( b ) a period of decreasing creep rate, ( c ) a period of constant creep rate, and ( d ) a final period of increasing creep rate. The stress required to initiate creep falls smoothly from about 780 kg. per sq. cm. at 900°C. to about 130 kg. per sq. cm. at 1400°C. After creep is initiated, it will continue at a lower stress (the addition of chromia increases the stress required to initiate creep). The electrical resistivity of sapphire is apparently increased by plastic deformation and decreased by subsequent heating near 1800°C. Slip lines in periclase and rutile were studied and slip systems were identified.     

Compressive large deformation viscoelastic behaviour of a polycarbonate

The effect of deformation level and loading rate on compression creep and stress-relaxation behaviour of a polycarbonate has been studied. The possibility of obtaining master curves has been examined throughout. Satisfactory results were obtained for the stress-relaxation data by considering only the relaxable part of stress and by using a time shift factor proportional to both the inverse of deformation rate just prior to the test and the strain. The same shift factor allowed us to obtain a single master curve for the creep data.     

Uniaxial compressive creep of polytetrafluoroethylene

A machine to measure the creep deformation of plastics under uniaxial compressive loads is described. The problems associated with accurate creep testing in compression, primarily the application of a uniform stress to the specimen and the measurement of the resultant strain, receive particular attention. For the specimen geometries used, the effect on the measured strain of frictional restraints at the specimen ends is negligible provided the strain measurement is made with an extensometer attached to the specimen. The effect of fabrication techniques on the deformation behavior of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) has been examined. Sintering time and temperature are found to be the most significant variables in the processing of PTFE. A comparison of uniaxial tensile and compressive creep data has shown that the non-linear viscoelastic behavior of the material extends into the low strain region.     

Study of the molecular structure of PET films obtained by an inverse stretching process. Part I: Constant speed drawing of amorphous films

The constant rate stretching of amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) films is the first step of the industrial “inverse” process. To study this process, films deformed under uniaxial planar symmetry conditions have been produced on a laboratory stretching machine in order to discuss the influence of macroscopic parameters, such as draw ratio, temperature and melt viscosity of the amorphous film, on the deformation mechanism. The structure of oriented films has been characterized by combining X-ray diffraction and refractive index measurements. Stress strain curves have been simultaneously recorded. The draw temperature and the molecular weight of the polymer are determining factors controlling the development of molecular orientation and crystalline structure in the stretched films. The major influence of relaxation processes is described and a comparison with constant force drawn films is given.     

The influence of the stress relaxation and creep recovery times on the viscoelastic properties of open cell foams

The aim of this work is to study the mechanical behavior of flexible polyurethane foams used in cushioning applications. In particular, the differences between slow recovery (SR) and fast recovery (FR) foams are highlighted. To characterize the flexible polyurethane foams, creep and hysteresis tests were performed at different strain rate, stress levels, and temperatures. Significant differences were observed between the SR and FR foams, particularly in terms of residual deformation after unloading, hysteresis area, and creep behavior at different stress levels. Creep compliance at different stress levels was compared with a Voigt‐Kelvin model. Stress–strain loading curves were compared with a phenomenological model originally modified to account for the strain rate dependence. In both cases, it is possible to show that the main differences observed in the behavior of the foams are due to the different relaxation and recovery times of the foams. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Viscoelastic behavior of flexible slabstock polyurethane foam as a function of temperature and relative humidity. II. Compressive creep behavior

The compression creep behavior was monitored at constant temperature and/or relative humidity for two slabstock foams with different hard-segment content. The tests were performed by applying a constant load (free falling weight) and then monitoring the strain as a function of time over a 3-h time period. A near linear relationship is obtained for linear strain versus log time after a short induction period for both foams and at most conditions studied (except at temperatures near and above 125°C). The slope of this relationship or the initial creep rate is dependent on the initial strain level, espcially in the range of 10–60% deformation. This dependence is believed to be related to the cellular structs buckling within this range of strain. At deformations greater than 60% and less than 10%, the solid portion of the foam is thought to control the compressive creep behavior in contrast to the cellular texture. Increasing relative humidity does cause a greater amount of creep to occur and is believed to be a result of water acting as a plasticizer. For low humidities increasing the temperature from 30 to 85°C, a decrease in the rate of creep is observed at a 65% initial deformation. At 125°C, an increase in the creep rate is seen and is believed to be related to chemical as well as additional structural changes taking place in the solid portion of the foams. The creep rate is higher for the higher hard-segment foam (34 wt %) than that of the lower (21 wt %) at all of the conditions studied and for the same initial deformation level. This difference is principally attributed to the greater amount of hydrogen bonds available for disruption in the higher hard-segment foam. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rheological modeling of the tensile creep behavior of paper

Paper is a networked structure of randomly bonded fibers. These fibers are composed of naturally occurring polymeric materials (cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin). Polymeric materials such as these exhibit viscoelastic deformation, and as a result, creep under an applied stress. A rheological model has been developed to predict the tensile creep behavior of paper under a uni‐axial stress. Specifically, the focus of this model was to predict creep strain using only stress, time, and efficiency factor (effectiveness of bonding). This rheological model offers insight into creep behavior (drawing from molecular creep mechanisms) and separates total strain from creep into initial elastic, primary creep, and secondary creep components. Interfiber bonding is taken into account through the use of an efficiency factor which represents how effectively bonding is distributing load throughout the fiber network of the paper. As a result, this model makes it possible to predict the creep behavior of paper over a range of bonding levels, induced by mechanical changes in bonded area or chemical modification of specific bond strength, using creep data from paper at any single level of bonding. This utility is retained as long as the fibers and the orientation of the fibers are not changed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Push–pull extrusion: A new approach for the solid-state deformation illustrated with high density polyethylene

The crystalline state deformation of high density polyethylene has been examined at an extrusion draw ratio of 30 over a range of temperatures and pressures. The experiments involve combined pushing (extrusion) and pulling through a conical die. The pressure dependence of the extrusion rate through conical dies is given by a logarithmic relation and the temperature dependence by an activation energy of ～95 kcal/mole. An equation established for the total applied force linearly relates the pulling and extrusion pressure components and represents a force balance at the die entrance and exit. Steady-state extrusion, with or without pulling, was feasible in a pressure range beyond which fractures occurred owing to strain rate and shear or tensile failure. Under some circumstances the extrusion rate was increased by ten times. The mechanical properties and mode of deformation were not affected by pull load and fibers with a tensile modulus of 55 GPa were produced at T < 110°C.     

Creep performance of CNT reinforced glass fiber/epoxy composites: Roles of temperature and stress

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been emerged as a potential nanofiller to reinforce polymeric materials to improve their mechanical properties, like strength and modulus. However, time-dependent deformation of such materials under a constant load and elevated temperature is a matter of concern for long-term durability of these materials. The present article primarily demonstrates the effects of creep temperature and stress on the reinforcement efficiency of CNT in a glass fiber/epoxy (GE) composite. Two types of materials were investigated in this study—GE which was used as a control material, as well as CNT embedded GE composite. To elucidate the impact of CNT on the long-term durability of GE composite, creep tests have been performed at different temperatures (50, 80, and 110 °C) under bending loading. As applied stress has also significant contribution toward the elevated creep deformation of materials, creep tests have also been carried out under different stresses (5, 10, and 40 MPa). The strength of the CNT-GE composite exhibited 8.7 and 18.3% higher than that of control GE composite under tensile and bending load, respectively. Results suggest CNT reinforcement to be beneficial for low temperature applications, both in terms of creep strain and strain rate. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47674.