Lab-scale feasibility study on new elastomer comprising chloroprene and acrylonitrile for oil and gas applications

The limited options of suitable elastomers with adequate cost-performance balance drive the necessity to introduce new materials in the oil & gas (O&G) application space. The relevance of a recently developed copolymer of chloroprene and acrylonitrile (referred to as acrylonitrile–chloroprene rubber or NCR) to O&G applications is described in this technical contribution. The new elastomer demonstrates adequate physical properties and reasonably good high and low-temperature capabilities. It offers good resistance to several aqueous and non-aqueous fluids with low volume swelling and retains its physical properties to reasonable extents while exposed to hot test oils. Acrylonitrile–chloroprene rubber has been found to sustain “sour gas” exposure. Good abrasion resistance, high tear strength, and remarkably high flex-fatigue resistance coupled with low heat build-up reflect its durability under dynamic conditions. In addition, acrylonitrile–chloroprene rubber can very well withstand the rapid gas decompression test at 25°C. This unique combination of attributes may allow acrylonitrile–chloroprene rubber to be considered as a candidate material for high-performance O&G applications.     

Chemiresistor sensor using elastomer-functionalized carbon nanotube nanocomposites for the detection of gasoline spills

Two types of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-based elastomer nanocomposites are used as a sensor material for the detection of gasoline spills by applying the interdigitated electrode (IDE) device. MWNT-g-polyisoprene (PI) and Si-MWNT/natural rubber (NR) are prepared by applying “grafting-from” and “grafting-to” process, respectively. When compared based on the identical condition of gasoline sensing test, the maximum response value to the exposure of gasoline is 17.5 for MWNT-g-PI sensor and 12.9 for Si-MWNT/NR sensor, which reach the maximum in less than 3 min. The MWNT-g-PI sensor selectively detects gasoline, and its response is completely reversible. It shows that the longer chain length of PI brings about the larger response of MWNT-g-PI sensor to gasoline. The sensitivity of MWNT-g-PI sensor highly depends on both how much gasoline is exposed to the sensor and what bias voltage is applied to the IDE device. The IDE sensor using MWNT-g-PI nanocomposites effectively detects gasoline spills.     

超支化聚酰胺强化热塑性聚氨酯结晶及发泡性能的研究

在热塑性聚氨酯（TPU）中引入超支化聚酰胺HyPer,利用傅里叶红外光谱研究了HyPer对TPU分子间氢键的影响;同时采用旋转流变仪及差示扫描量热仪研究了HyPer对TPU的结晶及流变性能的影响规律。结果表明,HyPer可以与TPU中的氨基甲酸酯形成分子间氢键,显著提高了TPU中羰基峰的氢键化程度; 另外,HyPer的加入对TPU有显著的增塑作用,特性黏度降低,分子间活动能力增加,提高了TPU的结晶速率和结晶度;添加0.25 %（质量分数,下同）的HyPer降低了TPU的熔体黏弹性,有利于泡孔生长,发泡倍率提高30 %,而HyPer含量提高增强了 TPU的结晶度,结晶度的提高一方面可以促进泡孔成核,另一方面可以抑制泡孔生长,有利于泡孔密度的提高,泡孔尺寸的减小。     

Linear actuation in coextruded dielectric elastomer tubes

Cylindrical fibre actuators have been constructed by a coextrusion method using a thermoplastic polyurethane wall and a conductive grease filler. These actuators may be operated as single fibres or bundled together as actuating ropes. Key results include the validation of Carpi’s wall pressure model [F. Carpi, D.D. Rossi, Dielectric elastomer cylindrical actuators: electromechanical modelling and experimental evaluation, Mater. Sci. Eng. C-Biomimetic Supramol. Syst. 24 (2004) 555–562] and the proof-of-concept demonstration of a technique that can be used for producing inexpensive dielectric elastomer actuators on an industrial scale.     

Fatigue behaviour and modelling of talc‐filled and short glass fibre reinforced thermoplastics,including temperature and mean stress effects

Effects of temperature and mean stress on fatigue behaviour of talc‐filled polypropylene (PP‐T) and short glass fibre reinforced polypropylene (PP‐G), polyamide‐66 (PA66), and a blend of polyphenylene ether and polystyrene (PPE/PS) were investigated. Load‐controlled fatigue tests were conducted under positive stress ratios (R = 0.1 and 0.3) and at several temperatures (T = 23, 85 and 120 °C). Larson–Miller parameter was used and a shift factor of Arrhenius type was developed to correlate fatigue data at various temperatures. Effect of mean stress on fatigue life was significant for some of the studied materials; however, for the PPE/PS blend no effect of mean stress was observed. Modified Goodman and Walker mean stress equations were evaluated for their ability to correlate mean stress data. A general fatigue life prediction model was also used to account for the effects of mean stress, temperature, anisotropy and frequency.     

聚碳酸酯基聚氨酯/芳纶纤维复合材料的制备与性能

以聚碳酸酯二元醇为软段,利用预聚体法制备了系列聚碳酸酯基聚氨酯/芳纶浆粕纤维(Aramid pulp)复合材料,研究了芳纶浆粕纤维对聚碳酸酯基聚氨酯弹性体(PUE)力学性能的影响。采用扫描电镜、X射线衍射、差示扫描量热分析、热重分析、红外光谱及电子拉伸机等测试仪器对聚氨酯复合材料的结构与性能进行了表征和分析。结果表明,芳纶浆粕纤维能有效实现对聚氨酯弹性体的增强作用,其中对撕裂强度的增强尤为突出。当芳纶浆粕纤维用量为0.5%时,复合材料的撕裂强度由106 k N/m提高到120 k N/m,表现出最好的力学性能;芳纶浆粕纤维在聚氨酯中分散均匀,提高了复合材料的热稳定性。     

热塑性复合材料自动纤维铺放装备技术

基于热塑性复合材料(TPC)自动纤维铺放(AFP)原位固结技术,开展热塑性复合材料AFP装备技术研究,分析AFP平台的功能需求,提出平台总体规划方案,设计开发热塑性复合材料自动铺丝头,并提出预浸纱张力控制方案、精确送纱及温度闭环控制方案。在此基础上,设计AFP系统可行性验证实验,证明方案的可行性和平台的实用价值。结果表明:本实验平台针对热塑性复合材料铺放特点,优化张力与铺放速度匹配,实现预浸纱动态恒张力铺放,确保成型构件质量;实验平台调控铺放速度与送纱协调,实现精确定位,保障成型构件尺寸;建立了铺放速度与加热功率、热流分布关系,实现高精度温度场分布控制。虽AFP成型构件的力学性能比热模压成型构件的力学性能低约20%,但为热塑性复合材料AFP装备技术的广泛应用奠定了基础。