High char‐yielding poly[acrylonitrile‐co‐(itaconic acid)‐co‐(methyl acrylate)]: synthesis and properties

Polyacrylonitrile terpolymers of various compositions consisting of acrylonitrile (AN), itaconic acid (IA) and methyl acrylate (MA) were synthesized by solution polymerization in dimethylsulfoxide. Increase in concentration of either IA or MA retarded the overall polymerization rate and the polymer molecular weight. The system consisting of AN + MA and varying IA concentration was more prone to retardation in comparison with the system composed of AN + IA with variable MA concentration. The retardation factors were quantified. Minor quantities of MA boost the reactivity of IA in the terpolymer system. The terpolymer was richer in MA vis‐à‐vis the feed. The thermal characteristics of the terpolymer were examined as a function of its composition. In contrast to the copolymer of AN and IA requiring 1–1.5 mol% IA, the terpolymer required an IA content of approximately 2.5 mol% for optimum thermal stability. The polymer with 90 mol% AN, 2.5 mol% IA and 7.5 mol% MA exhibited reasonably good char‐forming characteristics and thermal stability. The overall crystallinity and crystallite size of the polymers were found to decrease on incorporation of the comonomers. The ‘aromatization index’ of the copolymer increased with the temperature of pyrolysis through re‐organization of the tetrahydropyridine ladder structure. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Gelling of alginate fibres

Equipment was developed to measure the time for complete gelling of sodium alginate fibres in calcium chloride solution, taken as the time to achieve maximum tensile strength. The effects of fibre diameter, alginate concentration, alginate composition and calcium chloride concentration on gelling time were investigated. A diffusional model, developed to predict the gelling time, agreed with experimental results except for the effect of calcium ion concentration which was modelled empirically.     

Creep of aromatic polyamide fibres

Creep of Kevlar 29, Kevlar 49 and PRD 49-III fibres was investigated. The fibres exhibited transient creep and the strain-time relationship was represented by a logarithmic time law. The creep strain recovered with time when the load was removed. Upon reloading to the same creep stress the strain-time relationship was again logarithmic but the creep rate was reduced. Modulus measurements were made during the creep test and these showed that the modulus increased with time. This result indicated a crystallite rotation mechanism which could account for the experimentally observed creep strain. Creep in PRD 49-III fibres exhibited a small temperature dependence over the temperature range 20°C to 150°C. The apparent creep activation energy was consistent with the range of values reported for hydrogen bonding. This suggests one possible creep mechanism in which the combined action of stress and thermal activation causes rearrangement of intercrystalline bonds in the crystallite boundaries resulting in boundary creep. Boundary creep allows crystallite rotation which produces the macroscopic creep strain. Boundary creep is discussed in terms of the fibre morphology and a model of delayed elasticity.     

Micromechanical characterisation of fibre/matrix interfaces

Theoretical analyses for the single fibre pull-out and push-out models under monotonic loading are given which are based on a shear-lag analysis in a fracture mechanics approach considering non-constant friction at the debonded interface as a result of fibre Poisson contraction (or expansion). The solutions allow the determination of typical fibre/matrix interfacial properties such as the interfacial fracture toughness, G_ic, the coefficient of friction, μ, and the residual clamping stress, q₀. Under cyclic loading the interfacial properties are expected to degrade as a result of repetitive abrasion, and a power law function is assumed between μ and the number of elapsed cycles, N. However, G_ic is assumed to be unaffected and a fracture mechanics based debond criterion is derived for the relationship between the external applied stress, the debond length and the reduced friction coefficient for both fibre pull-out and fibre push-out. In addition, the relative displacements between the free fibre end and the matrix top are obtained for cyclic fatigue when the fibre is loaded and unloaded. A relationship obtained for the protrusion (or intrusion) length in fibre pull-out (or push-out) experiments allows the severity of the interface frictional degradation to be evaluated and characterised. Similarities and differences in the frictional degradation behaviour between fibre pull-out and push-out are also identified.     

Dietary fibre of coconuts from a pacific atoll: Soluble and insoluble components in relation to maturity

Polysaccharide fractions were measured in coconuts at three stages of maturity, which corresponded to dietary usage in the Tokelau Islands of the South Pacific. Kernel was sequentially extracted with cold water (CW), hot water (HW) hot 0.5% ammonium oxalate (HOX), 1M H² SO⁴ and 72% H² SO⁴, and the monosaccharide compositions of the fractions determined. Total readily soluble fractions (CW+HW+HOX) were predominantly galactomannan, and decreased from 77% of the polysaccharide in the immature kernel to 8.8% of that in the mature kernel. Insoluble mannan increased during maturation to be the major polysaccharide component in mature kernel. This indicates that marked differences exist between the three stages of maturity examined, in the properties of their dietary fibre. The results suggest that in studies of diets in which coconut is a staple part, there is a need for careful definition of the coconut component with respect to maturity. Furthermore, they show the importance of using dietary fibre methods which are appropriate to the solubility characteristics of the indigestible polysaccharide.     

Comparison of interfaces in Ti composites reinforced with uncoated and TiB2/C-coated SiC fibres

Interfaces play an important role in determining the mechanical properties of composite materials. The interfaces established between a titanium-alloy matrix (Ti-6Al-4V) and uncoated and TiB₂/C-coated SiC fibres are analysed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray techniques. Emphasis is placed upon the interfacial morphology and microstructure, identification of reaction products, and the stability of the coating layer. Complex multi-reaction layers are observed frequently in the interfacial zones. Previous, often contradictory, reports about the interlayers are reviewed. Experimental observation demonstrates that the type and distribution of interlayers vary in a given system, due to prolonged treatment of the samples at temperature. The formation and distribution of the interlayers are discussed further, with respect to these and previous findings. Methods of reducing interfacial reactivity are discussed.     

Milled fibre reinforced epoxy resin — an engineering polymer composite

A milled fibre reinforced epoxy resin composite (MFRE) has been developed for low temperature use. It is resistant to fracture at temperatures down to at least 77 K in direct contact with liquefied gases. It can be used as an adhesive, a gap-filling mastic or a moulding compound for difficult cryogenic applications. The characteristics of the material and some applications are described.     

Microstructure of high modulus solid state extruded polyethylene: 2. X-ray scattering studies of 12, 24 and 36 extrusion draw ratio

The microstructure of a series of solid state extruded polyethylene fibres was examined by wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering. By measuring absolute intensities using a two dimensional position sensitive detector, accurate values of the small-angle invariant for anisotropic samples were obtained. This measurement coupled with wide-angle X-ray scattering and d.s.c. permitted determination of the density of the noncrystalline component. The use of a two phase model for solid state extruded polyethylene is justified if consideration is given to the effective densities of the crystalline and noncrystalline phases, which change with deformation. The effective density of the crystalline phase decreases by 1% (0.999–0.990 g cm^?3) from the unextruded billet compared to a 36 draw ratio extrudate, while the noncrystalline phase density increases by 6% (0.84–0.89 g cm^?3). These changes lead to an overall decrease in the mean squared electron density fluctuation of 63%. The average axial crystallite length measured by wide-angle X-ray scattering increases with extrusion draw ratio while the SAXS long period decreases and weakens considerably. These observations and the electron microscopy results from the previous paper, (Polymer, 1982, 23, 1069), are fully consistent with the key features of the Peterlin model of fibre microstructure.     

网络存储技术的探讨

本文介绍了传统的依赖服务器存储的缺陷以及网络存储的现状,对附网存储及存储局域网技术进行了论述,把二者进行了比较,并总结出了二者优势和缺点,最后介绍存储局域网和附网存储的应用。