Mechanical properties of flat braided composite with flexible interphase

Textile composites have been used extensively as industrial materials because of the excellent mechanical properties resulting from the continuously oriented fiber bundle. In a study of the mechanical properties, it is important to consider the fiber/matrix interface property as for other composite materials. In a recent study, the fiber/matrix interface is regarded as an interphase that has its own material constants and thickness; consequently, the mechanical properties of a composite can be controlled by specifically designing the interphase. In this study, we applied this concept to braided composites with flexible resin as interphase for the purpose of designing the interphase. In a static tensile test, though there were no improvements in Noncut specimens (normal braided composites), but a Cut specimen (each side of the Noncut specimen was cut) with flexible interphase was improved in fracture load and displacement. The observation of the specimen edge was carried out and it was confirmed that the progress of debonding at the fiber bundle intersection was interrupted by a flexible interphase, and a matrix crack did not occur in the Cut specimen with flexible interphase. In a fiber bundle pull-out test, it was confirmed that debonding progressed not into the fiber/resin interface but into the flexible interphase in the specimen with flexible interphase, and the interfacial property at the fiber bundle intersection was improved.     

The influence of particle distribution and interphase on the thermal expansion coefficient of particulate composites by the use of a new model

In this work, the thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) of a composite containing spherical particles surrounded by an inhomogeneous interphase embedded in an isotropic matrix is evaluated by means of a new model. The thermomechanical properties of the interphase are formulated as continuous radial functions. It is assumed that this third phase developed between the polymeric matrix and the filler particles contains both areas of absorption interaction in polymer surface layers onto filler particles as well as areas of mechanical imperfections. It can be said that the concept of boundary interphase is a useful tool to describe quantitatively the adhesion efficiency between matrix and particles and that there is an effect of this phase on the thermomechanical properties of the composite. The thickness and volume fraction of this phase were determined from heat capacity measurements for various filler contents. On the other hand, it is assumed that the particle arrangement (distribution) which can be considered as an influence of neighboring inclusions and their interaction should affect the thermomechanical constants of the composite. The theoretical predictions were compared with experimental results as well as with theoretical values from expressions obtained from other workers and they were found to be in satisfactory agreement.     

Improvement in damage tolerance of CFRP laminate using the hybridization method

Flexible epoxy resin was used as an interphase matrix to improve the transverse properties of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminates. The use of flexible interphase is considered to act as the energy absorber and prevent the fiber/matrix interface cracking. The purposes of the present study are fabrication and characterization of CFRP laminates with flexible interphase. The effect of the flexible interphase on the damage tolerance of CFRP laminates was investigated. It was confirmed that transverse strength was improved and transverse crack progress was suppressed in the laminates with flexible interphase.     

Effect of surface elasticity on scattering of elastic P-waves from a nanofiber including an inhomogeneous interphase

Scattering of elastic P-waves from a nanofiber in a matrix is studied analytically throughout this paper. An inhomogeneous interphase region is considered between the nanofiber and the matrix. Dividing the interphase into homogeneous sublayers, surface elasticity effects are studied in the layers adjacent to matrix and nanofiber. Wave function expansion method is used to solve the corresponding equations in all three phases including fiber, interphase, and matrix. Dynamic stress concentration factors around the nanofiber are calculated and utilizing a parametric study, effects of different parameters, such as nanoscale interface, interphase thickness, and interphase rigidity are investigated. The results indicate that considering the effects of surface elasticity in wave scattering problems from inhomogeneous interphases show a major impact on the results. The dimensionless equations presented in this paper provide the possibility of further numerical studies.     

Interphase formation and fiber matrix adhesion in carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin: influence of carbon fiber surface chemistry

The chemistry and morphology of the carbon fiber surface are important parameters which govern the properties of the interfacial region and the adhesion between carbon fibers and polymeric matrix in carbon fiber reinforced polymers. In the presented paper the surface chemistry of the fibers is varied while the surface morphology is left unchanged. We analyze chemical functionality and morphology of carbon fiber surfaces showing different degrees of activation, together with the adhesion of these fibers to an epoxy matrix and the width of the interfacial region between fiber and matrix. An increase of the oxygen and nitrogen concentration of the fiber surface, in particular in form of carboxyl functional groups, results in a significant increase of interfacial shear strength. Also the width of the interphase, as determined by scanning force microscopy in nanomechanical mode, depends on the activation degree of the carbon fibers. However, no direct correlation between interphase width, surface chemistry and fiber matrix adhesion is found, suggesting no direct influence of interphase width on adhesion properties.     

Thermal stresses around a circular inclusion with functionally graded interphase in a finite matrix

Based on the theory of the complex variable functions, the analysis of non-axisymmetric thermal stresses in a finite matrix containing a circular inclusion with functionally graded interphase is presented by means of the least square boundary collocation technique. The distribution of thermal stress for the functionally graded interphase layer with arbitrary radial material parameters is derived by using the method of piece-wise homogeneous layers when the finite matrix is subjected to uniform heat flow. The effects of matrix size, interphase thickness and compositional gradient on the interfacial thermal stress are discussed in detail. Numerical results show that the magnitude and distribution of interfacial thermal stress in the inclusion and matrix can be designed properly by controlling these parameters.     

Finite element analysis of the thermal residual stress distribution in the interphase of unidirectional fiber-reinforced resin matrix composites

By means of three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) which is based upon the micro-mechanical model of fiber-reinforced composites, this paper selects representative volume elements and studies the effect of the five factors, namely, cooling rate, matrix elasticity modulus, fiber elasticity modulus, interphase elasticity modulus and fiber volume fraction, on the interphase thermal residual stress and its distribution law in epoxy resin NPEF-170/unidirectional glass fiber composites. The results indicate that thermal residual stress is mainly distributed on the fiber and the matrix of neighboring interphase; the thermal residual stress on the fiber and the matrix declines as the distance to the interphase layer grows; and it tends to zero at the distance of 1.5 times the radius of the fiber away from the interphase. The increase in any of the four factors, namely, cooling rate, matrix elasticity modulus, fiber elasticity modulus, and fiber volume fraction would trigger the rise of thermal residual stress in epoxy resin NPEF-170/unidirectional glass fiber composites. The additional flexible interphase layer can eliminate and transfer thermal residual stress effectively, whose effectiveness mainly depends on the difference between interphase elasticity modulus and fiber elasticity modulus.     

Filler surfaces and composite properties

The formation of stearate on precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) has been examined. The object of coating the filler surface is to achieve improved mechanical properties in the resulting composite material. The coating of a filler with stearate allows the modification of the energies of interaction, so as to improve dispersion and alter the mechanical properties of the interphase region. In this work, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) has been used to characterise the efficiency of stearate formation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to estimate the thickness of the stearate coating on the surface of the filler. By using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMTA), a variation in mechanical properties has been demonstrated.     

Surface Interactions at the Phase Interface in the Boron Oxide–Polypropylene System

The interphase interaction of highly dispersed boron oxide (99.3% of B ¹¹) in a polypropylene matrix has been investigated by IR spectroscopy. In the region of absorption of hydroxyl groups, maxima at 3500 and 3340 cm^–1 had been detected, which were assigned to the surface OH groups which interact with the polymer matrix and which respectively are bound with the trigonally and tetrahedrally coordinated boron atoms.     

Atomistic–continuum interphase model for effective properties of composite materials containing nano-inhomogeneities

Classical micromechanics were revised to study the elastic properties of heterogeneous materials containing nano-inhomogeneities. Contrary to previous studies, this work introduces the concept of an interphase, in contrast to a sharp interface, to account for the interface excess stress effect at the nano-scale. The interphase's constitutive properties are derived from atomistic simulations within the continuum framework. These properties are then incorporated in a micromechanics-based interphase model to compute the effective properties of nano-composites. This scale transition approach bridges the gap between discrete systems (atomic level interactions) and continuum mechanics. An advantage of this approach is that it combines atomistic with continuum models that consider inhomogeneity and interphase morphology. It thereby enables us to account simultaneously for both the shape and the anisotropy of a nano-inhomogeneity and interphase at the continuum level when we compute a material's overall properties. In so doing, it frees us from making any assumptions about the interface characteristics between matrix and the nano-inhomogeneity.     

Application of nano-indentation, nano-scratch and single fibre tests in investigation of interphases in composite materials

Three novel experimental techniques were employed in this work in order to investigate the influence of the interphase region in polymer–glass composites on the bulk material properties: (i) the microdroplet test is a single fibre test designed to characterize the fibre–matrix bond (interface region) and to determine the interfacial shear stress in composite material; (ii) the nano-indentation test, a novel nano-hardness technique with ability to produce an indent as low as a few nanometres was employed in order to measure nano-hardness of the fibre–matrix interphase region; and (iii) the nano-scratch test, used in conjunction with the nano-indentation test for measurement of the interphase region width. The microdroplet test (MDT) has been used to characterize the interfacial bond in fibrous composite materials. The specimen consists of a fibre with a drop of cured resin pulled while the drop is being supported by a platinum disc with a hole. A properly tested specimen fails at the droplet’s tip–fibre interface, revealing the ultimate interfacial shear strength. In this study, finite element analysis (FEA) of the MDT has been focused toward simulation of the fibre–matrix interphase region. The influence of several functional variations of the material properties across the interphase layer on the stress distribution at the droplet’s tip was analysed. The results showed that the variation of the interphase properties significantly affects the stress distribution at the fibre–droplet interface, and, therefore, the stress redistribution to composite material. These results led to further experimental investigation of the interphase region, in order to obtain the material properties essential for the interfacial stress analysis. The interphase region in dry and water aged polymer–glass composite materials was investigated by means of the nano-indentation and the nano-scratch techniques. The nano-indentation test involved indentation as small as 30 nm in depth, produced along a 14 μm path between the fibre and the matrix. The distinct properties of the interphase region were revealed by 2–3 indents in dry materials and up to 15 indents in water aged, degraded materials. These results indicated interdiffusion in water aged interphase regions. The nano-scratch test involves moving a sample while being in contact with a diamond tip. The nano-scratch test, used in conjunction with the nano-indentation test, accurately measured the width of the interphase region. The results showed that the harder interphase region dissolved into the softer interphase region (both regions being harder/stronger than the matrix) expanding its width after aging in water.     

Balance the oxidation resistance and mechanical properties of C/Si–C–N composite by a Si–O–C interphase

Carbon fiber reinforced Si–C–N matrix composite with a Si–O–C interphase (C/Si–O–C/Si–C–N) was fabricated via chemical vapor infiltration and polymer impregnation and pyrolysis process. The mechanical properties and oxidation behaviors of C/Si–O–C/Si–C–N were investigated using three-point-bending test and thermogravimetry. The results indicated that the oxidation resistance of C/Si–O–C/Si–C–N was improved as compared to C/Si–C–N with pyrolytic carbon (PyC) interphase (C/PyC/Si–C–N). The higher oxidation resistance of C/Si–O–C/Si–C–N attributed to the high inoxidizability of Si–O–C interlayer and low thermal stress in matrix. The flexural strength of C/Si–O–C/Si–C–N rivaled that of C/PyC/Si–C–N and the modulus was higher than that of C/PyC/Si–C–N. The suitable interphase and the optimized interface bonding can get the high oxidation resistance of the composites with the mechanical properties maintained.     

Deposition of BN interphase coatings from B-trichloroborazine and its effects on the mechanical properties of SiC/SiC composites

Boron nitride thin films were deposited on silicon carbide fibers by chemical vapor deposition at atmospheric pressure from the single source precursor B-trichloroborazine (Cl₃B₃N₃H₃, TCB). The film growth and structure, as a function of deposition temperature, hydrogen gas flow rate, and deposition time, were discussed. The deposition rate reaches a maximum at 1000 °C, then decreases with the increasing of temperature, and the apparent activation energy of the reaction is 127 kJ/mol. Above 1000 °C, gas-phase nucleation determines the deposition process. The deposited BN films were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of BN interphase on the mechanical properties of the unidirectional SiC fiber-reinforced SiC matrix (SiC/SiC) composites was also investigated. The results show that the flexural strength of SiC/SiC composites with and without coating is 276 MPa and 70 MPa, respectively, which indicates that BN interphase coating deposited from B-trichloroborazine precursor can effectively adjust the fiber/matrix interface, thus causing a dramatic increase in the mechanical properties of the composites.     

Plasma‐Substrate Interaction during Plasma Deposition on Polymers

The initial stage of film growth during plasma deposition on polymers determines many film properties such as morphology and structure, interphase formation and adhesion. Therefore, the plasma‐substrate interaction is investigated regarding the energy density during film growth, which is defined by the energy flux per depositing atom. The flux of film‐forming species and the flux of energetic particles were determined for metal sputtering (silver films) and plasma polymer deposition (amino‐functional hydrocarbon films). It is shown that enhanced energy densities can be obtained during the initial film growth due to reduced deposition rates and mixing with the polymer substrate (interphase formation). Thus, good adhesion on polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has been achieved. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Exploring Microstructures and Interphase Properties of Surface- Grafted Diblock Copolymers in a Homopolymer Melt by Self-Consistent Field Theory Simulations

Polymeric self-consistent field theory is used to investigate microstructures and interphase properties of diblock copolymers grafted onto solid surfaces in a homopolymer melt. The calculations show that the grafted diblock copolymers can self-assemble into hemispherical microstructures at low grafting densities of the diblock copolymers. The morphology transforms into hemicylinder-like and sandwich-like lamellar microstructures with an increase in the chain-grafting density. The effective thickness of the grafted block layer and the interphase width between the homopolymer melt and the grafted copolymers strongly depend on the physicochemical parameters of the system, such as the composition of the grafted copolymer, the chemical incompatibility between the different components, the length ratio of grafted copolymer to homopolymer, and the grafting density of the diblock copolymers. In addition, the above computational results of microphase-separated structures and interphase properties are qualitatively compared with our previous experimental observations. The comparison indicates that our theoretical results not only reproduce the general feature of the experimental observations, but also elucidate the internal structural information and complement the findings in the region of high grafting densities of diblock copolymers.     

Interphase characterization in epoxy resin/carbon fibre composites

In this paper, interphase properties of carbon fibre/epoxy resin single-fibre model and unidirectional (UD) composites are reported. To study the contribution of the carbon fibre surface chemistry and morphology and of the resin itself to the overall properties of the composites, untreated, oxidized and sized fibres are used with bi- and tetrafunctional, diglycidylether of Bisphenol A, DGEBA and tetraglycidyl 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane, TGDDM-based resins, cured with amine and anhydride hardeners. Adsorption measurements and single fibre contact angle experiments, as well as the pull-out test were applied to characterize the surface of carbon fibre and the interfacial shear strength with different matrices. It was shown that the presence of the size on the surface can drastically affect the wettability as well as the starting rate of the cure reaction of epoxide in the vicinity of the fibre surface, as revealed by FTIR microscopy. Different elastic-plastic behavior of model composites before debonding is found for untreated, oxidized and sized fibres, due to the various interphase structures formed. Both micro-and macromechanical properties of the composites are found to be significantly affected by the matrix properties. The role of the surface treatment of fibers becomes especially important in high performance resin systems.     

Single-disk process technology for magnetic media

Very high coercivity hard disks (2 kOe) have been made under production conditions. The influence of various process parameters such as temperature, sputter pressure and layer thickness on disk properties has been investigated. The results show that a very flexible technology, to produce media of high performance with typical stabilities within a few percent, is obtainable.     

Effect of Geometry,Loading and Elastic Moduli on Critical Parameters in a Nanoindentation Test in Polymeric Matrix Composites with a Nonhomogeneous Interphase

Fiber nanoindentation models are developed for polymeric matrix composites with nonhomogeneous interphases. Using design of experiments, the effects of geometry, loading and material parameters on the critical parameters of the indentation test such as the load–displacement curve, the maximum interfacial shear and normal stresses are studied. The sensitivity analysis shows that the initial load–displacement curve is dependent only on the indenter type, and not on parameters such as fiber volume fraction, interphase type, thickness of interphase, and boundary conditions. The interfacial tensile radial stresses are not sensitive to indenter type, or to type and thickness of interphase, while the interfacial compressive radial stresses are sensitive mainly to boundary conditions and thickness of interphase; however, the influence of these factors on the interfacial radial stresses can be large. In contrast, the interfacial shear stress is sensitive to all factors, but the influence of the factors is relatively small.     

聚苯乙烯-聚丁二烯嵌段共聚物的固体NMR研究

采用我们前期发展的测定多相高聚物中界面相厚度及相区尺寸的NMR新方法对两种不同嵌段结构的聚苯乙烯-聚丁二烯嵌段共聚物进行了研究,并与关于界面相厚度的高分子物理理论结果进行对比. 该NMR方法采用偶极滤波-自旋扩散技术分别测定非界面相的柔性区与界面相中质子的百分含量,然后根据界面相与柔性相的几何关系计算界面相厚度. 研究结果表明这两种嵌段共聚物具有几乎相同的界面相厚度,该结果与Helfand等人关于多相高聚物中界面相厚度的自洽场理论预言基本符合.     

Transcrystallinity phenomena in PET and PAN fibres/polyhydroxybutyrate matrix systems

The interface in polyhydroxybutyrate/ PAN- and polyhydroxybutyrate/ PET fibres model composites has been investigated by polarizing optical and scanning electron microscopy. Under certain melting/cooling conditions in PAN fibre system a transcrystalline interphase is clearly observed, whereas in PET/PHB model composites the transcrystallization phenomenon occurs only when fibres with significant surface roughness are used.