Mechanical and tribological properties of glass–epoxy composites with and without graphite particulate filler

The objectives of this research article is to evaluate the mechanical and tribological properties of glass‐fiber‐reinforced epoxy (G–E) composites with and without graphite particulate filler. The laminates were fabricated by a dry hand layup technique. The mechanical properties, including tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation at break, and surface hardness, were investigated in accordance with ASTM standards. From the experimental investigation, we found that the tensile strength and dimensional stability of the G–E composite increased with increasing graphite content. The effect of filler content (0–7.5 wt %) and sliding distance on the friction and wear behavior of the graphite‐filled G–E composite systems were studied. Also, conventional weighing, determination of the coefficient of friction, and examination of the worn surface morphological features by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were done. A marginal increase in the coefficient of friction with sliding distance for the unfilled composites was noticed, but a slight reduction was noticed for the graphite‐filled composites. The 7.5% graphite‐filled G–E composite showed a lower friction coefficient for the sliding distances used. The wear loss of the composites decreased with increasing weight fraction of graphite filler and increased with increasing sliding distance. Failure mechanisms of the worn surfaces of the filled composites were established with SEM. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2472–2480, 2007     

Friction of linerboard based on recycled fiber

The purpose of this investigation was to study the origin of the differences in paper‐to‐paper friction of linerboards based on old corrugated containers (OCC). The sheets were subjected to two extraction stages and analyzed with respect to, surface roughness, and their content of low‐molecular‐mass lipophilic compounds (LLC). Friction was measured using a friction tester based on the horizontal plane principle. The surface roughness was measured using a Perthometer profiler and the low molecular mass lipophilic constituent of the paper sheets was determined by gas chromatography‐mass spectroscopy. The sheets were imaged using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), and the relative compositions of inorganic ions on the paper surfaces were determined by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that a high amount of LLC in the sheets lead to low friction, due to lubrication. It was also observed that large CaCO₃ particles on the surface had a friction‐increasing effect, and that there was no relationship between the surface roughness and the friction. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 1511–1520, 2002     

Surface properties of fluorinated hybrid coatings

A commercial perfluoropolyether containing alkoxysilane functionalities was employed to prepare organic–inorganic hybrid coatings by using the sol‐gel process in the presence of tetraethoxysilane. Contact angle analysis revealed a strong hydrophobic and oleophobic character of the coatings almost independently from the molecular weight of the starting fluorinated oligomer. Surface tension values were in the range of 14–16 mN/m, suggesting a preferential segregation of fluorinated segments onto the surface of the coating. Atomic force microscopy showed the presence very smooth surfaces permitting to neglect the contribution of the surface roughness to wettability. Friction coefficient values were markedly lower with respect to the value of uncoated glass substrate. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 1483–1488, 2006     

Influence of untreated and novel electron‐beam‐modified surface‐coated silica filler on the thermorheological properties of ethylene–octene copolymer

We developed surface‐modified silica fillers by coating these with an acrylate monomer, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, or a silane coupling agent, triethoxyvinyl silane, followed by electron‐beam irradiation at room temperature. These were incorporated in an ethylene–octene copolymer rubber. Thermorheological studies of the unvulcanized ethylene–octene copolymer and its untreated and modified silica‐filled composites were done with a shear dynamic oscillating rheometer. Modification of the silica filler, especially via the silanization process followed by electron beam treatment, significantly reduced filler–filler networking as revealed from the log–log plots of storage modulus and complex shear viscosity, and its real component. The rheological complexity of the compositions was analyzed from a double logarithmic plot of the storage modulus and loss modulus. The results obtained from the master curves constructed on the basis of the time–temperature superposition principle and the activation energy calculated from the Arrhenius equation for the flow of above these compounds further supported these findings. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 2453–2459, 2003     

Metal effects in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Bond-order-conservation-morse-potential approach

We have applied the BOC-MP method to theoretically analyze the metal effects in the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis by calculating the energetics of conceivable elementary steps (the relevant heats of chemisorption and the reaction activation barriers) during CO hydrogenation over the periodic series Fe(110), Ni(111), Pt(111), Cu(111). The basic steps such as dissociation of CO, hydrogenation of carbidic carbon, C-C chain growth by insertion of CH₂ versus CO into the metal-alkyl bonds, and chain termination leading to hydrocarbons (alkanes versus -olefins) or oxygenates are discussed in detail. It is shown that the periodic trends in the ability of metal surfaces to dissociate chemical bonds and those to recombine the bonds are always opposite. In particular, we argue that metallic Fe is necessary to produce the abundance of carbidic carbon from CO but the synthesis of hydrocarbons and oxygenates can effectively proceed only on carbided Fe surfaces which resemble the less active metals such as Pt. More specifically, we project that the C-C chain growth should occur predominantly via CH₂ insertion into the metal-alkyl bond and the primary FT products should be -olefins. These and other model projections are in agreement with experiment.     

Synthesis and surface characterization of poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐polydimethylsiloxane copolymers from macroazoinitiator

Poly(methyl methyacrylate)‐block‐polydimethylsiloxane (PMMA‐b‐PDMS) copolymers with various compositions were synthesized with PDMS‐containing macroazoinitiator (MAI), which was first prepared by a facile one‐step method in our lab. Results from the characterizations of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), contact angle measurements, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that the copolymer films took on a gradient of composition and more PDMS segments enriched at the film surfaces, which then resulted in the low surface free energy and little microphase separation at the film surfaces. By contrast, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis demonstrated that distinct microphase separation occurred in bulk. Slight crosslinking of the block copolymers led to much steady morphology and more distinct microphase separation, in particularly for copolymers with low content of PDMS. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Average mixing torque,tensile and impact properties,and thermal stability of poly(vinyl chloride)/sawdust composites with different silane coupling agents

Unique explanations are given to describe changes in the mixing torque and tensile and impact properties of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/wood sawdust composites affected by various types and concentrations of silane coupling agents. Concentrations of 0.5–1.0 and 1.5 wt % coupling agent are recommended for the optimization of the tensile and impact properties of the composites, respectively. Changes in the tensile and impact properties of the composites with a low sawdust content were more sensitive to the addition of silane coupling agents than those with a high sawdust content. KBM603 was suitable for improving the tensile properties, whereas KBE603 is recommended for high impact resistance of the composites. The differences in the mechanical and thermal properties of the PVC/sawdust composites were dependent on the characteristics of the functional groups in the silane coupling agents used, such as hydrophilic level, number of functional groups, self‐condensation reaction, and effectiveness of the hydrolysis reaction. Silane coupling agents above 1.0 wt % resulted in an increase in polyene sequences in the PVC structure. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 213–221, 2005     

Modification of polyolefins with silicone copolymers. II. Thermal,mechanical, and tribological behavior of PP and HDPE blended with silicone copolymers

Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) films with permanent, silicone‐rich, low‐friction, low‐abrasion surfaces were obtained by melt blending of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)‐containing block copolymers. Two different block copolymers, a siloxane–urea segmented copolymer and a polycaprolactone‐b‐PDMS triblock copolymer were used as modifiers at levels between 0.1 and 5.0% by weight. Blends were prepared in a twin‐screw extruder. Modified films displayed surfaces with very low friction coefficients and high abrasion resistance, which depended on the type and the level of additive incorporated into the system. Bulk properties of these modified systems, such as crystallization and melting behavior or tensile properties, were not affected. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 535–540, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10279     

Tests and numerical simulation on curved blade of super-critical adjust stage

Tests and numerical simulations of super-critical adjust stage blade were carried out and the effect of bowed blade on flow characteristics and the secondary flow were analyzed. The simulation and test results show that the adjust stage blade with aft-loading and big front-edge radius has good flow characteristics by meridian shrink. The numerical studies were carried out with software of NUMECA in order to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of adjust stage blades,which include prototype blade(tested blade) ,positive curved blade (15°) and negative curved blade(-15°) . The simulation results show that the positive curved blade forms a negative static pressure gradient in the lower region of the cascade along the blade height and a positive static pressure gradient in the upper region. This leads to the reduction of the streamwise vortices intensity and the aerodynamic load on both sides of the blade and the endwall. Therefore,the crosswise secondary flow losses of endwall can be decreased considerably.