Effect of a dispersed filler on the modulus of elasticity of composites in the glassy state

An expression is proposed for predicting the reinforcement of composites by a dispersed filler in both the rubbery and glassy states with allowance for the internal thermal stresses in the polymer matrix. It is shown that by varying the plasticizer concentration in composites based on polyvinyl chloride it is possible to regulate the thermal stresses in the polymer matrix. The time-stress and time-concentration superposition principles are shown to be applicable to the dependence of the relative modulus of elasticity on filler concentration for glassy composites.     

Lifetime of amorphous polymers under intermittent loading

The lifetimes of two types of amorphous polymers (polyvinyl chloride and plasticized epoxy resin) under intermittent loading have been investigated. It is established that the lifetime, determined without allowance for recovery time, is less than that under constant load. Under periodic loading at constant stress the lifetime varies with the loading regime. For each of the investigated polymers a lifetime minimum is observed at a certain duration of the loading and recovery periods.Higher Chemical Technology Institute, Sofia. Translated from Mikhanika Polimerov, No. 5, pp. 912–916, September–October, 1971.     

Sterological modeling and micromechanical analysis of rubber particle-reinforced epoxy composite materials

Some brittle epoxies can be said to be toughened significantly by a dispersion of rubber particles. Several models have been proposed to explained the role of the rubber particles in toughening. In the present research, by introducing the stereological concept based upon the statistical geometry to the microstructural modeling of composites and considering the interfacial phenomena between a matrix and a particle, the micromechanical modeling by means of the generalized equivalent inclusion method is made of the rubber particle-reinforced epoxy composite having the crack bridging particles whose radius are various in size. By analyzing the micromechanical model, the critical length a_c of the matrix crack whose propagation will be arrested, which implies the fracture toughness of such a composite, can be calculated. The effects of the volume fraction of the particles and the variance of the radii of the particles on the toughness can be evaluated. The results obtained are consistent with the common experimental findings.Presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials. Riga. October, 1995.Published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 317–329, May–June, 1996.     

Micromechanical modelling and two-scale simulation of epoxy/glass composites with interphases and interfaces

Composite systems consisting of glass fibres and epoxy matrix with interphases and interfaces will be considered in the modelling approach. The interphase forms the transition zone between the epoxy matrix and the glass fibre. The interface is the layer between the glass fibre and the surrounding interphase. The macroscopic strength of the composite material is intrinsically related to the bond strength of the polymeric/solid interface and the micromechanical characteristics of the three phases (epoxy, glass and interphase). Homogenization is an appropriate methodology to link these two scales to predict the overall physical behaviour of the composite. The nonlinear behaviour of amorphous polymers, cohesive interface elements and the elastic behaviour of glass fibres as part of the considered composite material are presented, as well as a representative example to show the necessity of taking interface influences into account. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Study of relaxation transitions in polymers in the presence of magnetic fields

Infrared spectroscopy in polarized light has been used to investigate specimens of polyvinyl chloride exposed to a magnetic field. It is shown that, depending on the conditions of heat treatment, various conformational transitions of the C-Cl bond occur in the polyvinyl chloride. The orientation effects in PVC exposed to a magnetic field are associated with the preferential formation of trans isomers of the C-Cl bond.Sumgait Branch, Mamedaliev Institute of Petrochemical Processes, Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaidzhan SSR. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 5, pp. 923–925, September–October, 1972.     

Direct proofs of self- and mutual diffusion in the formation of adhesion bonds between polymers

The authors discuss experiments aimed at the direct investigation of self- and mutual diffusion in polymers. New electron microscope data are presented for mutual diffusion in the systems polyvinyl chloride — polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride — polybutyl methacrylate, and polystyrene — SKS-85. It is shown that with increase in temperature and improvement in compatibility the depth of mutual diffusion increases. The data obtained make it possible to calculate the polymer-polymer diffusion coefficient.Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 446–452, 1966     

Failure of Polymer Beams Reinforced with Glass Fibers

Mechanics of Composite Materials - The present paper deals with the four-point bending of polyvinyl chloride beams reinforced with glass fiber clusters. The clusters, treated as orthotropic...     

The Effect of an Active Diluent on the Properties of Epoxy Resin and Unidirectional Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Plastics

The influence of an active diluent on the properties of an epoxy matrix and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) is investigated. The physicomechanical properties of an ED-20 epoxy resin modified with diglycidyl ether of diethylene glycol (DEG-1), the adhesion strength at the epoxy matrix–steel wire interface, and the mechanical properties of unidirectional CFRP are determined. The concentration of DEG-1 was varied from 0 to 50 wt.%. The properties of the matrix, the interface, and the composites are compared. It is stated that the matrix strength affects the strength of unidirectional CFRP in bending and not their strength in tension, compression, and shear. The latter fact seems somewhat unexpected. The interlaminar fracture toughness of the composites investigated correlates with the ultimate elongation of the binder. A comparison between the concentration dependences of adhesion strength and the strength of CFRP shows that the matrices utilized provide such a high interfacial strength that the strength of CFRP no longer depends on the adhesion of its constituents.     

Physicomechanical properties of elastomers in binary and ternary systems

A study was made of the physicomechanical and thermophysical properties of elastomers in binary and ternary systems consisting of polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, and rubber in various proportions. Binary and ternary systems with optimal physical and mechanical properties were selected from the composition-property diagrams for engineering applications. It was found that at a given ratio of polyvinyl chloride and SKN-40 rubber there is a nonmonotonic change in the physicochemical properties of films caused, apparently, by chemical interaction. It was shown that the mechanical properties of polyamide can be stabilized against thermal aging by blending with binary systems.Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 1, No. 5, pp. 3–12, 1965     

Interfacial strength of joints between fibers and dispersedly filled epoxy matrices

The concentration dependences of adhesive strength are investigated for fiber/dispersedly filled epoxy matrix systems. The measurements were carried out using an improved model of adhesiometer under normal conditions at a constant rate of loading. It is shown that the adhesive strength as a function of filler concentration has a maximum, which is more or less pronounced. The location of the maximum depends on the nature of filler and particle geometry. The increase in the adhesive strength at the maximum reaches 20–30% in comparison with that for the unfilled epoxy matrix. Since the interfacial strength between steel wire and all the mineral powders investigated is zero, the growth in the adhesive strength upon introduction of a finely divided filler in polymer binders is rather un expected. The possible reasons for the phenomenon observed are discussed. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 43, No. 1, pp. 3–14, January–February, 2007.     

The Effect of Surface Treatment of F-12 Aramid Fibers with Rare Earths on the Interlaminar Shear Strength of Aramid/Epoxy Composites

Solutions of a rare-earth modifier (RES) and the epoxy chloropropane (ECP) grafting modification method are used for the surface treatment of F-12 aramid fibers. The effects of RES concentration on the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of F-12 aramid fiber/epoxy composites are investigated in detail, and the fracture surfaces of ILSS specimens are analyzed by SEM. It is shown that the RES surface treatment is superior to the ECP grafting treatment in promoting the interfacial adhesion between aramid fibers and the epoxy matrix. However, the tensile strength of single fibers is almost unaffected by the RES treatment. The optimum ILSS is obtained at a 0.5 wt.% content of rare-earth elements.__________Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 265–272, March–April, 2005.     

Mathematical modeling and process simulation of perlite grain expansion in a vertical electrical furnace

Expanded perlite is a lightweight material with remarkable thermal and acoustic insulation properties, rendering it widely useful in the construction and manufacturing industries. Currently applied perlite expansion technology suffers numerous technical disadvantages, which adversely affect product quality and limit the range of its applications. To overcome these established drawbacks, a new perlite expansion process has been designed on the basis of a vertical electrically heated expansion furnace. The novel furnace enables precise control of experimental conditions, in order to allow for efficient adjustment of particle residence time and internal temperature. The quality of expanded perlite strongly depends on raw material thermophysical properties as well as furnace operating conditions, and the experimental investigation of the isolated effect of each parameter on expanded product quality is technically cumbersome and extremely time-consuming and expensive.A mathematical model for perlite grain expansion has been developed in order to perform a detailed numerical investigation of process efficiency, toward the optimization of the expansion process in the novel pilot-scale furnace. The dynamic model consists of ordinary differential equations for both air and particle heat and momentum balances, as well as nonlinear algebraic equations for both air and perlite melt thermophysical and transport properties, probing the air temperature distribution within the vertical electrical furnace as well as the particle velocity, temperature and size along its trajectory inside the heating chamber. The effect of raw material physical properties (raw feed origin, initial particle size, effective water content) as well as operating parameters (air inlet temperature and flowrate, furnace wall temperature) on evolution of the particle state variables is presented and discussed. Model results indicate perlite expansion is strongly affected by raw ore feed origin, size and water content. Moreover, operating conditions affect expansion considerably, and furnace wall temperature has the strongest effect on the final particle expansion ratio attained. The new dynamic model is instrumental towards achieving a detailed comprehension of perlite expansion in the vertical electrical furnace towards multi-parametric sensitivity analysis, process optimization and efficient control.     

The acoustic properties of polymers with an asymmetric potential barrier at liquid-helium temperatures

The pulse-phase compensation method has been used to measure the propagation velocities of longitudinal and shear waves in polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl fluoride, and polystyrene at frequencies of 1 and 5 MHz on the temperature interval 2.1–240°K. It has been established that as the temperature falls to 2.1°K the speed of ultrasound in these polymers monotonically increases, the dispersion (frequency dependence) of the speed of sound being preserved over the entire temperature interval. Two possible causes of the viscoelastic relaxation observed in the investigated polymers in the region of helium temperatures are considered.Scientific-Research Institute of Plastics, Moscow. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 4, pp. 749–751, July–August, 1973.     

Relaxation of polyvinylchloride compositions

The relaxation of polyvinyl chloride, stabilized by dibasic lead carbonate or lead stearate and plasticized by a small amount of diisooctyl phthalate, was investigated. It was found that the lead stabilizers and diisooctyl phthalate accelerate the relaxation processes in the polymer. There is a correlation between the rate of the relaxation processes and the glass-transition temperature.Higher Chemicotechnological Institute, Sofia. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 5, pp. 916–919, September–October, 1972.     

On the acoustics of sonic composites

The primary goal of this paper is to propose an alternative method for obtaining the band structures of the 3D sonic composites without/ with point defects. The point defects are vacancies or foreign interstitial atoms which are supported by the interfaces between the hollow spheres and the matrix. The proposed method is used to simulate a sonic plate composed of an array of acoustic scatterers which are piezoceramic hollow spheres embedded in an epoxy matrix. The scatterers are made from functionally graded materials with radial polarization [1, 2]. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Modeling of the Interphase of Polymer-Matrix Composites: Determination of Its Structure and Mechanical Properties

In this work, a model is developed which allows one to determine the thickness and properties of the interphase layer in unidirectional and filled composites, assuming that the materials of the interphase, matrix, and fillers may have a fractal structure, and to predict the properties of composites with interphases. Using a set of computer programs elaborated, the corresponding calculations are carried out for glass-epoxy composites, epoxy carboplastics, and graphite-filled epoxy polymers.     

Modeling of imperfect contact interfaces in sonic composites

In this paper, the tangential and normal discontinuities at the interface between the scatterer and the matrix are independently modeled, and these relative displacements are directly proportional to the corresponding components of tractions at the interface. The generation of full band-gaps is investigated on the basis of the derived imperfect interface conditions for a sonic plate with an array of acoustic piezoceramic hollow spheres scatterers embedded in an epoxy matrix. The scatterers are made from functionally graded materials with radial polarization. Numerical evaluation has shown that imperfect interface may have a significant effect on the increasing of the length of the full band-gaps. (© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Water absorption and swelling of glass/epoxy syntactic foams

The results of experimental and theoretical investigation of glass/epoxy syntactic foams at a long-term (10 years) exposure in water are presented. Specimens for experimental investigation were made from EDT-10 epoxy filled with MSO-779 hollow glass spheres. Seven types of specimens with filler volume fraction varying from 0 to 0.6 were tested. The curves of long-term water absorption and swelling were determined. It was expected that the addition of hollow glass spheres must substantially reduce the sorptional capacity of material because of the reduction of the volume content of the matrix and, therefore, because of reduction of the part of the volume where the molecules of water can diffuse. However, the water absorption process in syntactic foams was found to continue during the total term of the experiments without a tendency to stop. After ten years the limiting equilibrium state was not achieved and the concentration of water in composite specimens became higher than the equilibrium concentration of water in unfilled EDT-10 epoxy. In long-term tests the swelling strain was found to be a nonlinear function of water content. The degree of nonlinearity increased when the volume content of the filler was increased. The calculational prediction of absorption and swelling curves of syntactic foams with different volume contents of the filler was done using the experimentally determined characteristics of absorption of the matrix. The water transport process in the matrix was considered to obey Fick's law. It was found that the initial parts of the experimental curves (during the first year of exposure) show a good enough agreement with calculated data for engineering applications. Subsequently, the discrepancy between the experimental results and calculated data increased and reached such large values that the predicted results became unacceptable. The possible reasons of such discrepancy (breaking of adhesion bonds between the matrix and the filler with subsequent sorption of water at the glass sphere surface, and diffusional filling by water of the inner parts of the damaged glass spheres, etc.) are discussed.Presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials, Riga, October, 1995. University of Colima, Colima City, Colima, Mexico. Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Latvian Academy of Sciences, Riga, LV-1006, Latvia. Published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, No. 1, pp. 83–97, January–February, 1996.     

Creep simulation in polymer matrix — disperse filler composites

The deformation properties of composites with disperse fillers in close to maximum amounts were investigated. Two types of matrices were selected: epoxy resin with high structural stability in filling, and a crystalline polymer-trioxane-dioxolane copolymer. Materials with a high and low relative surface area-diatomite and ceramic-were used as fillers. The elastic properties were simulated with the Kerner model and creep was simulated with its viscoelastic analog. The model was extended to a matrix-filler-buffer layer model. The possibility of estimating the part of the matrix entering the pores of the filler was examined. Differences in the use of the structural models in predicting elasticity and viscoelasticity were examined. The best results in describing creep were obtained for epoxy resin-ceramic filler composites which have the least interaction between matrix and filler. The possibility of estimating the change in the degree of crystallinity of the matrix and formation of buffer layers in filling with active fillers was examined.Presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, October, 1995).Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 31, No. 6, pp. 754–768, November–December, 1995.     

Mechanical properties of henequen fibre/epoxy resin composites

By using surface-treated and untreated henequen fibres and an epoxy resin, composites were made by compression moulding, and their mechanical properties and failure modes were determined experimentally in tension, bending, and impact loading. The results obtained show that the treatment of fibre surface does not improve the bond between the fibres and the resin matrix, and the general mechanical properties of the composites are similar.