Effects of thermal exposure on mechanical behavior of carbon fiber composite pyramidal truss core sandwich panel

An experimental study was performed to investigate the effect of high temperature exposure on mechanical properties of carbon fiber composite sandwich panel with pyramidal truss core. For this purpose, sandwich panels were exposed to different temperatures for different times. Then sandwich panels were tested under out-of-plane compression till failure after thermal exposure. Our results indicated that both the thermal exposure temperature and time were the important factors affecting the failure of sandwich panels. Severe reductions in residual compressive modulus and strength were observed when sandwich panels were exposed to 300 °C for 6 h. The effect of high temperature exposure on failure mode of sandwich panel was revealed as well. Delamination and low fiber to matrix adhesion caused by the degradation of the matrix properties were found for the specimens exposed to 300 °C. The modulus and strength of sandwich panels at different thermal exposure temperatures and times were predicted with proposed method and compared with measured results. Experimental results showed that the predicted values were close to experimental values.     

Compressive behavior of C/SiC composite sandwich structure with stitched lattice core

C/SiC composite sandwich structure with stitched lattice core was fabricated by a technique that involved polymer impregnation and interweaving. The mechanical behaviors of C/SiC composite sandwich structure were investigated at room temperature. The out-of-plane compressive strength was 20.97 MPa while modulus was 1473.55 MPa. The microstructural evolution on compression fracture surfaces of the stitching yarns was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, and the damage pattern of fibers on compression fracture surface was presented and discussed. Under an in-plane compression loading, the C/SiC composite sandwich structure displayed a linear-elastic behavior until failure. The peak strength and average modulus are 165.61 MPa and 19.74 GPa, respectively. The failure of the specimen was dominated by the fracture of the facesheet.     

Properties of laminated panels made from compressed oil palm trunk

This study evaluated physical and mechanical properties of laminated panels made from compressed oil palm trunk (OPT). The OPT were steamed at 130 °C before being compressed and laminated using polyvinyl acetate adhesive at 250 g/m² and 500 g/m² spread rates. The modulus of rupture and compression strength values of laminated panels made from compressed OPT was greater than those of laminated panels made from uncompressed OPT. Surface roughness, water absorption, and thickness swelling of laminated panels made from compressed OPT significantly improved. The findings in this study indicated that compressing of OPT would be considered as an alternative to produce value-added material with enhanced properties.     

Effects of temperature and clay content on water absorption characteristics of modified MMT clay/cyclic olefin copolymer nanocomposite films: Permeability,dynamic mechanical properties and the encapsulated organic device performance

In the present study, amino-silane modified layered organosilicates were used to reinforce cyclic olefin copolymer to enhance the thermal, mechanical and moisture impermeable barrier properties. The optimum clay loading (4%) in the nanocomposite increases the thermal stability of the film while further loading decreases film stability. Water absorption behavior at 62 °C was carried out and compared with the behavior at room temperature and 48 °C. The stiffness of the matrix increases with clay content and the recorded strain to failure for the composite films was lower than the neat film. Dynamic mechanical analysis show higher storage modulus and low loss modulus for 2.5–4 wt% clay loading. Calcium degradation test and device encapsulation also show the evidence of optimum clay loading of 4 wt% for improved low water vapor transmission rates compared to other nanocomposite films.     

Assessment of three oxide/oxide ceramic matrix composites: Mechanical performance and effects of heat treatments

Mechanical performance of three oxide/oxide ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) based on Nextel 610 fibers and SiOC, alumina, and mullite/SiOC matrices respectively, is evaluated herein. Tensile strength and stiffness of all materials decreased at 1000 °C and 1200 °C, probably because of degradation of fiber properties beyond 1000 °C. Microstructural changes in the composites during exposure at 1000 °C and 1200 °C for 50 h reduce their flexural strength, fracture toughness and work of fracture. A literature review regarding mechanical properties of several oxide/oxide CMCs revealed lower influence of fiber properties on composite strength compared with elastic modulus. The tested composites exhibit comparable stiffness and strength but higher fracture toughness compared with average values determined from a literature review. Considering CMCs with different compositions, we observed an interesting linear trend between strength and fracture toughness. The validity of the linear relationship between fracture strength and flexural toughness for CMCs is discussed.     

Fabrication and characterization of three-dimensional PMR polyimide composites reinforced with woven basalt fabric

A PMR polyimide composite reinforced with three-dimensional (3D) woven basalt fabric is fabricated for medium high temperature applications. The PMR polyimide matrix resin is derived from 4,4′-methylenediamine (MDA), diethyl ester of 3,3′,4,4′-oxydiphthalic (ODPE) and monoethyl ester of Cis-5-norbornene-endo-2,3-dicarboxylic acid (NE). The rheological properties of the PMR polyimide matrix resin are investigated. Based on the curing reaction of the PMR type polyimide and the rheological properties, an optimum two-step fabrication method is proposed. The three dimensional fabric preforms are impregnated with the polyimide resin in a vacuum oven at 70 °C for 1 h followed by removing the solvent and pre-imidization. The composites are then consolidated by an optimized molding procedure. Scanning electron microscopy analysis shows that needle shaped voids are generated in yarns and the void volume fraction is 4.27%. The decomposition temperature and the temperature at 5% weight loss of the composite post-cured at 320 °C for 24 h are 440 °C and 577 °C, respectively. The dielectric constant and the dielectric loss of the composite are measured by circular cavity method at 7–12 GHz. The tensile strength and the modulus in the warp direction of the composite are 436 MPa and 22.7 GPa. The composite shows a layer-by-layer fracture mode in three-point bending test. The flexure strength and modulus in the warp direction of the composite are 673 MPa and 27.1 GPa, respectively.     

Effect of strain rate on the dynamic compressive mechanical behaviors of rock material subjected to high temperatures

Strain rate is not only an important measure to characterize the deformation property, but also an important parameter to analyze the dynamic mechanical properties of rock materials. In this paper, by using the SHPB test system improved with high temperature device, the dynamic compressive tests of sandstone at seven temperatures in the range of room temperature to 1000 °C and five impact velocities in the range of 11.0–15.0 m/s were conducted. Investigations were carried out on the influences of strain rate on dynamic compressive mechanical behaviors of sandstone. The results of the study indicate that the enhancement effects of strain rates on dynamic compressive strength, peak strain, energy absorption ratio of sandstone under high temperatures still exist. However, the increase ratios of dynamic compressive strength, peak strain, and energy absorption ratio of rock under high temperature compared to room temperature have no obvious strain rate effects. The temperatures at which the strain rates affect dynamic compressive strength and peak strain most, are 800, and 1000 °C, respectively. The temperatures at which the strain rates affect dynamic compressive strength and peak strain weakest, are 1000 °C, and room temperature, respectively. At 200 and 800 °C, the strain rate effect on energy absorption ratio are most significant, while at 1000 °C, it is weakest. There are no obvious strain rate effects on elastic modulus and increase ratio of elastic modulus under high temperatures. According to test results, the relationship formula of strain rate with high temperature and impact load was derived by internalizing fitting parameters. Compared with the strain rate effect at room temperature condition, essential differences have occurred in the strain rate effect of rock material under the influence of high temperature.     

Retention of mechanical performance of polymer matrix composites above the glass transition temperature by vascular cooling

An actively cooled vascular polymer matrix composite containing 3.0% channel volume fraction retains greater than 90% flexural stiffness when exposed continuously to 325 °C environmental temperature. Non-cooled controls suffered complete structural failure through thermal degradation under the same conditions. Glass–epoxy composites (T_g = 152 °C) manufactured by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding contain microchannel networks of two different architectures optimized for thermal and mechanical performance. Microchannels are fabricated by vaporization of poly(lactide) fibers treated with tin(II) oxalate catalyst that are incorporated into the fiber preform prior to resin infiltration. Flexural modulus, material temperature, and heat removal rates are measured during four-point bending testing as a function of environmental temperature and coolant flow rate. Simulations validate experimental measurements and provide insight into the thermal behavior. Vascular specimens with only 1.5% channel volume fraction centered at the neutral bending axis also retained over 80% flexural stiffness at 325 °C environmental temperature.     

Improved mechanical properties of an epoxy glass–fiber composite reinforced with surface organomodified nanoclays

An organomodified surface nanoclay reinforced epoxy glass-fiber composite is evaluated for properties of mechanical strength, stiffness, ductility and fatigue life, and compared with the pristine or epoxy glass-fiber composite material not reinforced with nanoclays. The results from monotonic tensile tests of the nanoclay reinforced composite material at 60 °C in air showed an average 11.7% improvement in the ultimate tensile strength, 10.6% improvement in tensile modulus, and 10.5% improvement in tensile ductility vs. these mechanical properties obtained for the pristine material. From tension–tension fatigue tests at a stress-ratio = +0.9 and at 60 °C in air, the nanoclay reinforced composite had a 7.9% greater fatigue strength and a fatigue life over a decade longer or 1000% greater than the pristine composite when extrapolated to 10⁹ cycles or a simulated 10-year cyclic life. Electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy of the fracture and failure modes of the test specimens were used to support the results and conclusions. This nanocomposite could be used as a new and improved material for repair or rehabilitation of external surface wall corrosion or physical damage on piping and vessels found in petrochemical process plants and facilities to extend their operational life.     

Properties of steam treated binderless particleboard made from oil palm trunks

The objective of this study was to evaluate both physical and mechanical properties of particleboard panels manufactured from steamed material of oil palm trunks without using any adhesives. Experimental panels from fine particles and vascular strands of oil palm were manufactured. Modulus of rupture (MOR), internal bond strength (IB), thickness swelling (TS) and water absorption (WA) of the samples were tested based on Japanese Industrial Standards. Bonding quality of such binderless samples was also evaluated by using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Based on the findings on this work steaming of the raw material enhanced overall mechanical and physical characteristic of the samples. The highest MOR values of 8.12 MPa and 25.84 MPa were found for the samples made from fine particles and strands steamed at a temperature of 130 °C for 30 min, respectively. It appears that mechanical properties of the panels reduced when they exposed to beyond 30 min steaming time.     

Mechanical and physical properties of medium density fiberboard panels laminated with thermally compressed veneer

The objective of study was to evaluate some of the physical and mechanical properties of medium density fiberboard (MDF) panels laminated with veneer sheets compressed at different levels of pressure and temperature. Rotary peeled veneer samples of European beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) were compressed at temperatures of 150 °C, 180 °C, and 200 °C using 4 MPa and 6 MPa pressure for 8 min. Commercially produced MDF samples also were laminated with such compressed veneer sheets. Both modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) of the specimens increased with increasing pressure and press temperature. Bending characteristics of the samples tested parallel to the grain orientation resulted in significantly higher values than that perpendicular to the grain orientation for each manufacturing parameter. Thickness swelling of the samples also was influenced by increased pressure but variation in press temperature did not result in any influence on dimensional stability. The findings of this work provide potential to produce sandwich type panels with improved properties. Initial results found in this study could be used to manufacture laminated panels with a fixed rate of adhesive while controlling press parameters as a function of the magnitude of pressure and temperature.     

Experimental study on the dynamic compressive mechanical properties of concrete at elevated temperature

Strain rate effect and temperature effect are two important factors affecting the mechanical behavior of concrete. Each of them has been studied for several years. However, the two factors usually work together in the engineering practice. It is necessary to understand the mechanical responses of concrete under high strain rate and elevated temperature. A self-designed high temperature SHPB apparatus was used to study the dynamic compressive mechanical properties of concrete at elevated temperature. The results show that the dynamic compressive strength and specific energy absorption of concrete increase with strain rate at all temperatures. The elastic modulus decreases obviously with strain rate at room temperature and stabilizes at a level with slightly decrease at elevated temperature. The dynamic compressive strength of concrete at 400 °C increases by nearly 14% compared to the room temperature. However, it decreases at 200 °C, 600 °C and 800 °C with the decrease ratio of 20%, 16% and 48%, respectively. The dynamic elastic modulus decreases largely subjected to elevated temperature. The specific energy absorption at 200 °C, 400 °C and 600 °C is higher than room temperature and decreases to be lower than room temperature at 800 °C. Formulas are established under the consideration of mutual effect of strain rate and temperature.     

An efficient healing agent for high temperature epoxy composites based upon tetra-glycidyl diamino diphenyl methane

Poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) (EMAA) as a thermally activated healing agent in a high performance, high temperature tetra-glycidyl methylene dianiline (TGDDM)/diethyl toluene diamine (DETDA) mendable epoxy composite is reported for the first time. Despite curing above EMAAs melting point (T_m = 85 °C), healing occurred by incorporating a preliminary low temperature curing step of 5 h at 80 °C, prior to cure at 177 °C. Healing occurred via the pressure delivery mechanism derived from tertiary amine catalysed surface condensation reactions between EMAA and hydroxyl groups from the epoxy resin. Healing efficiencies of 36%, 55% and 105% were achieved after heating at 150 °C, 200 °C and 230 °C respectively, but decreased rapidly with continued healing. Healing at 150 °C and 200 °C revealed significant healing despite remaining in the glassy state. In addition, EMAA enhanced mode I interlaminar fracture toughness by more than 270% for both the DETDA and 4,4-DDS networks.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of an Al–TiC metal matrix composite obtained by reactive synthesis

A metal matrix composite has been obtained by a novel synthesis route, reacting Al₃Ti and graphite at 1000 °C for about 1 min after ball-milling and compaction. The resulting composite is made of an aluminium matrix reinforced by nanometer sized TiC particles (average diameter 70 nm). The average TiC/Al ratio is 34.6 wt.% (22.3 vol.%). The microstructure consists of an intimate mixture of two domains, an unreinforced domain made of the Al solid solution with a low TiC reinforcement content, and a reinforced domain. This composite exhibits uncommon mechanical properties with regard to previous micrometer sized Al–TiC composites and to its high reinforcement volume fraction, with a Young’s modulus of ∼110 GPa, an ultimate tensile strength of about 500 MPa and a maximum elongation of 6%.     

Compressive performance of laminated bamboo

This study investigated the compressive performance of 24 laminated bamboo specimens made from three different growth portions of the source bamboo. The cross-section of each specimen was 100 mm × 100 mm. The load–strain and load–displacement relationships are obtained from compression tests, and the detailed failure modes, compressive strength and elastic modulus for all specimens are reported. The results show that the mean compressive strength increases with growth portion height, but that the variation in compressive strength also increases with growth portion height. The net result is that the characteristic strength (typically used in the design process) decreases slightly with growth portion height, but not significantly. In contrast, laminated bamboo manufactured from the middle growth portion exhibits the highest elastic modulus, with the variation again increasing with height. Although the source growth portion has a clear effect on the behaviour of laminated bamboo under compression, the paper concludes that the effect is not significant from a design perspective. The results of all the tests are combined to produce a model stress–strain relationship suitable for predicting the performance of laminated bamboo under compression for design purposes. The stress–strain relationship shows that under compression laminated bamboo fails in a ductile manner. Based on the compressive properties obtained in this research, laminated bamboo is a suitable construction material for engineering structures.     

Aging of a polymer core composite conductor: Mechanical properties and residual stresses

Polymer core composite conductor specimens were aged in atmospheric conditions at 140 and 180 °C and then tested under four point bending. When aged up to a year at a temperature of 140 °C no detrimental effect on flexural performance of the composite was observed, as opposed to aging at 180 °C, which had a very negative effect on the properties. A finite element model was developed to characterize the residual stress in the composite on a micro scale using representative volume elements (RVE). The residual stresses developed after aging at 140 °C for a year were minimal. However, at temperatures higher than 160 °C significant increases in the stresses were observed. The effect of chemical aging on the failure process of the rods was not considered but could result in the rapid reduction in the loads at failure for the rods tested at 180 °C for up to a year.     

Tyranno ZMI fiber/TiSi2–Si matrix composites for high-temperature structural applications

A Tyranno ZMI fiber/TiSi₂–Si matrix composite was fabricated via melt infiltration (MI) of a Si–16at%Ti alloy at 1375 °C under vacuum. The Si–Ti alloy was used as an infiltrant to conduct MI processing below 1400 °C and inhibit the strength degradation of the amorphous SiC fibers. The alloy matrix formed was dense and comprised primarily of TiSi₂–Si eutectic structures. The TiSi₂–Si matrix composite melt-infiltrated at 1375 °C showed a pseudo-plastic tensile stress–strain behavior followed by final fracture at ∼290 MPa and ∼0.9% strain. When the MI temperature was increased to 1450 °C, however, substantial reduction in the stiffness and ultimate strength occurred under tensile loading. Microstructural observations revealed that these degradations were attributed to the damages that occurred on the reinforcing fibers and pyrolytic carbon interfaces during the MI process. The present experimental results clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of the low-temperature MI process in strengthening Tyranno ZMI fiber composites and reducing the processing cost.     

Mechanical properties and damping capacity of SiCp/TiNif/Al composite with different volume fraction of SiC particle

SiC_p/TiNi_f/Al composite with 20 Vol.% TiNi fibers were fabricated by pressure infiltration method. The effect of volume fraction of SiC particle on the mechanical properties and damping capacity of the composite were studied. Four different volume fractions of SiC particle in the composite were 0%, 5%, 20% and 35% respectively. The microstructure and damping capacity of the composites was studied by SEM and DMA respectively. As the gliding of dislocation in the Al matrix was hindered by SiC particle, the yield strength and elastic modulus of the composites increased, while the elongation decreased with the increase in volume fraction of SiC particle. Furthermore, the damping capacity of the composites at room temperature was decreased when the mount of strain was more than 1 × 10⁻⁴. In the heating process, the damping peak at the temperature of 135 °C was attributed to the reverse martensitic transformation from B19′ to B2 in the TiNi fibers.     

Fabrication and mechanical properties of lightweight ZrO2 ceramic corrugated core sandwich panels

ZrO₂ ceramic corrugated core sandwich panels were fabricated using gelcasting technique and pressureless sintering. The nominal density of the as-prepared ZrO₂ ceramic corrugated panel was only 2.4 g/cm³ (42.9% of bulk ceramic). Lightweight was realized through this sandwich structured design. The three-point bending strength was measured to be 298.4 MPa. And the specific bending strength was as high as 124.3 (114% higher than bulk ceramic). The compressive strength was 20.2 MPa. High strength was also realized through this sandwich structured design. The stress distribution during three-point bending and compression testing was finally simulated using finite element analysis (FEA) method.     

Synthesis and properties of sandwiched films of epoxy resin and graphene/cellulose nanowhiskers paper

Graphene (GN)-based composite paper containing 10 wt.% cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) exhibiting a tensile strength of 31.3 MPa and electrical conductivity of 16 800 S/m was prepared by ultrasonicating commercial GN powders in aqueous CNWs suspension. GN/CNWs freestanding paper was applied to prepare the sandwiched films by dip coating method. The sandwiched films showed enhanced tensile strength by over two times higher than the neat resins. The moduli of the sandwiched films were around 300 times of the pure resins due to the high content of GN/CNWs paper. The glass transition temperature of the sandwiched films increased from 51.2 °C to 57.1 °C for pure epoxy (E888) and SF (E888), and 49.8 °C to 64.8 °C for pure epoxy (650) and SF (650), respectively. The bare conductive GN/CNWs paper was well protected by the epoxy resin coating, which is promising in the application as anti-static materials, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials.