Effect of curvature of the reinforcement on the mechanical and thermophysical properties of a composite

The elastic constants and thermal expansion coefficients of a composite consisting of a matrix with low elastic properties and exceptionally stiff fibers have been experimentally determined. The curvature of the reinforcement in the specimens has been investigated. The results of the experiments are compared with the corresponding theoretical characteristics. The calculations are based on a model with an ideal arrangement of the fibers [4] and a model that takes the curvature of the reinforcement into account [5, 6].Moscow Power Engineering Institute. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 6, pp. 1036–1039. November–December, 1971.     

Study of microbuckling of fiber-reinforced composite materials

On the basis of the theory of microbuckling of lamina-reinforced composites and formula predicting the critical composite stress for microbuckling in the shear mode _cs published in the literature, a FORTRAN program for study of the behavior of microbuckling of fiber reinforced composites has been developed. Some types of composite materials (reinforcement of different fibers and epoxy matrix) have been studied. Graphics and curves, accounting for the dependences of the compressive stress at failure _cs from the reinforcement volume k, specimen length L, and shear modulus of resin G_r have been obtained. The comparison of the theoretical diagrams presented here and experimental and theoretical results, published in the literature shows good agreement. The basic conclusion of the work presented here is that the study could be used for other fiber reinforced composites (with different mechanical properties of matrices and fibers).Institute of Mechanics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria. Published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 531–538, July–August, 1996.     

Anisotropy of torsional rigidity of sheet polymer composite materials

Wide application of polymer composite materials (PCM) in modern technology calls for detailed evaluation of their stress-strain properties in a broad temperature range. To obtain such information, we use the dynamic mechanical analysis and with the help of a reverse torsion pendulum measure the dynamic torsional rigidity of PCM bars of rectangular cross section in the temperature range up to 600 K. It is found that the temperature dependences of the dynamic rigidity of the calculated values of dynamic shear moduli are governed by the percentage and properties of the binder and fibers, the layout of fibers, the phase interaction along interfaces, etc. The principles of dynamic mechanical spectrometry are used to substantiate and analyze the parameters of anisotropy by which the behavior of a composite can be described in the temperature range including the transition of the binder from the glassy into a highly elastic state. For this purpose, the values of dynamic rigidity are measured under low-amplitude vibrations of the PCM specimens with a fiber orientation angle from 0 to 90°. It is shown that for unidirectional composites the dependence between the dynamic rigidity and the fiber orientation angle is of extreme character. The value and position of the peak depend on the type of the binder and fibers and change with temperature. It is found that the anisotropy degree of PCM is dictated by the molecular mobility and significantly changes in the temperature range of transition of the binder and reinforcement from the glassy into a highly elastic state (in the case of SVM fibers). The possibility of evaluating the anisotropy of composites with other reinforcement schemes, in particular, of orthogonally reinforced PCMs, is shown.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 291–308, May–June, 1999.     

Structure and properties of ceramic composites based on ZrO2

Monodisperse fine powders of high purity obtained by sol-gel method are used for production of high technical data ceramics. The fiber reinforcement is used for hardening of composite materials. It was of interest to study production possibility of reinforced composite material based on ZrO₂ obtained by sol-gel method with filler from fibers of partially stabilized zirconia. ZrO₂ powders were obtained by precipitation of its hydrated gel from aqueous zirconium oxychloride solution by ammonium hydroxide followed by thermal treatment. For composite reinforcement ceramic partially stabilized (8 mole Y₂O₃) ZrO₂ fibers 0.16–0.67 mm in length and 5–7 m in diameter were used. Content of the fibers in composite was 20 wt.%. From powders and their mixtures with fibers, the samples were pressed as disks, beams and cylinders, and anneal in air at 1100–1600°C temperature range. The investigation has shown that the fibers of partially stabilized zirconia change the composite structure, increase the content of tetragonal modification that promotes its hardening. Treatment temperature of precursor determines physical chemical properties of compositions with fibers. Their high specific surface and reaction ability provides a workability of forming and sintering processes into strong composite material. The ceramics was increased by 2.5–3 times as strength after fibrous filler introduction into ZrO₂ hydrogel matrix.Presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, October 1995).Presented at the Ninth International conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, October 1995). Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the Academy Sciences of the Belarus. Minsk. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 418–427, May–June. 1996.     

Antifriction basalt-plastics based on polypropylene

A study is made of the dependence of the mechanical and friction-engineering properties of polypropylene reinforced with basalt fibers on the viscosity of the polymer matrix. It is established that the main factors that determine the mechanical properties of the plastics are the quality of impregnation of the fibers by the binder and the residual length of the reinforcing filler in the composite after extrusion and injection molding. The material that was developed has a low friction coefficient and low rate of wear within a relatively brood range of friction conditions. The basalt-plastics can be used in the rubbing parts of machines and mechanisms subjected to dry friction.Ukrainian State Chemicotechnical University, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov,33, No. 3, pp. 417–421, May–June, 1997.     

Viscoelasticity of liquid-crystalline copolymer/poly(methyl methacrylate) blends. Effect of reinforcement by aluminum borate whiskers

The elastic moduli and mechanical losses for blends of liquid-crystalline copolyester (LCP) and PMMA have been determined at various temperatures. The specimens were produced by the extrusion of preliminary mixed components. In the course of extrusion, a system is formed where the LCP forms thin fibers imbedded into a PMMA matrix. The greatest effect of the reinforcement of the thermoplastic matrix with LCP was found for a 7/3 ratio of components. The effect of fillers (whiskers) was also investigated. It is shown that the reinforcing action of the filler is much higher for the 7/3 blends as compared with the reinforced pure components. The effects observed are explained by features of the interphase formation in the reinforced systems and the surface segregation of an LCP-component.Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Kiev, Ukraine. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 33, No. 5, pp. 681–689, September–October, 1997.     

Deformative characteristics of plastics reinforced with high-modulus anisotropic fibers

The independent elastic constants of plastics unidirectionally reinforced with transversely isotropic fibers have been determined. It has been assumed that the distribution of reinforcement in a transverse section of the plastic is regularly rectangular or hexagonal. To determine the transverse elastic modulus and the shear modulus in the plane of reinforcement, a constancy-of-plane-sections hypothesis was used. Values of deformative characteristics determined by the assumed calculational dependences have been compared with the experimental ones for plastics reinforced with graphite fibers.Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, Riga. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 4, pp. 631–639, July–August, 1972.     

Strength and deformability of reinforced polymers in tension normal to the fibers

The strength and deformability of reinforced polymers in tension across the fibers is investigated. It is assumed that the polymer deforms as an ideal elastoplastic body. Relations are obtained for the nature of the deformation of the polymer between the fibers and the strength and deformability of the composite with allowance for the structural distribution of the components. Theoretical stress-strain diagrams are presented for composites with different reinforcement densities and resin elasticities. The theoretical values of the strength and deformation of reinforced polymers with the load applied across the fibers are compared with the results of experiments on model specimens of epoxy-Thiokol polymers.Leningrad Mechanical Institute. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 4, pp. 682–687, July–August, 1970.     

Effect of stress ratio on the fatigue strength of organic plastics

Conclusions Experimental fatigue curves of a unidirectional organic plastic are obtained for a number of asymmetry factors and diagrams of the limiting cycle stresses are constructed for a load in the direction of the fibers and across the fibers, and for in-plane shear of a layer. The simplest methods of approximating the calculated diagrams are tested. It is shown that the method of layer-by-layer analysis of fatigue failure makes it possible to construct limiting-stress diagrams for a laminar oblique-ply composite with an accuracy acceptable for engineering calculations, proceeding from the same analysis as for an individual layer.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, No. 3, pp. 421–429, May–June, 1991.     

An interphase layer in organic fibrous composites

Conclusions In this work, it was attempted to demonstrate the special features of polymer fibers manifested primarily in a special mechanism of formation of the interphase layer during formation of the composite material. The role of the interphase layer in this case is not reduced just to dissipation of the energy generated during rupture of a fiber. It can also play the role of an element of the structure of the composite acting as a possible source of initial cracks. From this viewpoint it would be useful to re-examine the micromechanics of failure of the composite and attempt to take into account the role of the interphase layer in a real system of many fibers, not just in the fiber-interphase layer-matrix triad.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 10–18, January–February, 1993.     

Rationalization of the shape of wound membrane shells of revolution composed of high-modulus material

A method of designing composite membrane shells of revolution under axisymmetric loading is described. The properties of the shell material are analyzed. It is shown that for shells of high-modulus material in the presence of tensile membrane stresses the fibers fail in the matrix. A fiber arrangement and shell geometry ensuring isotensoid properties are proposed for this case. A technological and weight analysis is presented.S. Ordzhonikidze Moscow Aviation Institute. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 5, pp. 822–828, September–October, 1975.     

Effect of parameters of the distribution of the length and orientation of short fibers on characteristics of the dynamic viscoelasticity of a polymer composite

Conclusion An algorithm for calculating the dynamic viscoelastic characteristics of a composite reinforced with short fibers was developed and realized in the form of a computer program. An analysis was made of the dependence of the characteristics of the composite on the volume content and length of its fibers, as well as on statistical distributions of fiber length and orientation in the material. It was shown that a change in the parameters of the statistical distributions has a significant effect on both the elastic and the dissi-pative properties of the composite. It was found that ignoring the statistical fiber-length distribution might lead to overestimation of the real component of the complex modulus and underestimation of the mechanical loss tangent.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, No. 1, pp. 13–17, January–February, 1990.     

Stress state of thermosensitive thick cylinders made of anisotropic composites

The class of problems on the axially symmetric stress state of thick cylinders made of anisotropic materials is considered. The problems are solved numerically. The temperature and mechanical fields in the composite cylinders are investigated taking into account the temperature dependence of the matrix and reinforcement characteristics, as well as the variability of density and angle of reinforcement across the thickness.Institute of Mechanics, Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, Kiev, Ukraine. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 367–374, May–June, 1999.     

Analysis of elastomeric composites based on fiber-reinforced systems 3. Two-directional composites

Results of investigation of deformation of elastomeric composite materials with a two-directional reinforcement scheme are presented. The study is performed on the basis of a structural macroscopic theory. The matrix of the composites analyzed is of a poorly compressible material. The fibers of both reinforcing systems are simulated as compressible bodies. Dependences of the parameters of tensile and shear strains on the strain values for different geometries of fiber arrangement are obtained.State Metallurgical Academy of Ukraine, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 479–492, May–June, 1999.     

Structural approach to calculation of the effect of moisture on elastic characteristics of organoplastics

Data have been obtained for the structural calculation of the effect of moisture on the elastic characteristics of organoplastics from the properties of components. The distribution of moisture between the fiber and matrix — the components of a unidirectional composite — is considered. The elastic properties of the fiber are determined by an inverse calculation using the experimental dependences of the composite and matrix on moisture. The moisture effect on the properties of the materials is taken into account with influence functions, which differ by more than 25% for various characteristics. The results can be used for calculating the elastic properties of composites with various reinforcement schemes and at the nonequilibrium distribution of the moisture concentration in an actual environment.Presented at the 10th International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, April 20–23, 1998).Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Riga, LV-1006, Latvia. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 525–530, July–August, 1998.     

Regulation of the mechanical properties of thermoplastic carbon fiber-reinforced plastics by changing their production conditions and surface treatment of the fibers

The effect of technological parameters of processing and surface treatment of carbon fibers on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) was investigated. The copolymer of 1,3,5-trioxane with 1,3-dioxolane was used as the polymer matrix, and medium-modulus hydrated cellulose Ural LO-24 carbon fibers served as the reinforcing filler. The polymer matrix was mixed with the carbon fibers by the method of combined extrusion. The dependence of the mechanical properties of CFRPs on the technological parameters of screw-disk extrusion was studied. It was found that the properties of the composites were greatly affected by the size of the working disk gap, the disk rotation rate, and the temperature in the zone of normal stresses. The surface of the carbon fibers was activated with atmospheric oxygen in the temperature range of 450–600°C, with mass loss of the fibers no greater than 3–4%. A 30–40% increase in the mechanical properties of the CFRPs was achieved. A decrease in the melt index of the 1,3,5-trioxane copolymer with 1,3-dioxolane reinforced with oxidized carbon fibers was observed, which should be taken into account in processing the composites into products. Introduction of carbon fibers in the 1,3,5-trioxane copolymer with 1,3-dioxolane allows us to increase the wear resistance and decrease the friction coefficient, which makes it possibile to use these materials in the friction units of machines and mechanisms, such as plain bearings, gears, and flange packings.Presented at the 10th International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, April 20–23, 1998).Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 34, No. 5, pp. 673–682, September–October, 1998.     

Main features of the viscoelastic behavior of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics with a polymer matrix: Model study and calculation

It was shown that below the glass transition temperature of the amorphous matrix, its viscoelastic behavior in a composite is described by the Halpin-Tsao equation for composites, as modified by Nielsen, with a sufficient degree of reliability. However, when the matrix passes into the highly elastic and especially the viscous flow state characteristics of thermoplastic matrices, a significant difference is observed in the experimental and calculated temperature curves of the elastic and matrix loss moduli. It is possible to hypothesize that this is due to hindrance of plastic deformation of the matrix in the composite not accounted for in the Halpin-Tsao model. Using simple models of the one-sided coating and sandwich type, it was shown that consideration of the stress state of a matrix in contact with a rigid coating can result in the same kind of effects as in a composite, namely, apparent toughening of the matrix in the highly elastic region and shifting of the maximum of the mechanical loss modulus to the high-temperature region.Institute of Macromolecular Compounds. Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 33, No. 5, 690–703, September–October, 1997.     

Effect of residual stresses on the strength of oriented glass-reinforced plastics

The effect of structural residual stresses on the strength of a glass-reinforced plastic loaded along and across the fibers is investigated. It is established that the residual stresses lead to an increase in the strength of the glass-reinforced plastic across the fibers and to cracking of the polymer matrix in tension along the fibers, but have practically no effect on the combined deformation of the matrix and the fibers in compression.Moscow Ordzhonikidze Aviation Institute. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 3, pp. 475–480, May–June, 1969.     

Influence of technological processing parameters on the properties of carbon filled thermoplastics

The effect of processing parameters of injection molding on the mechanical and tribotechnical properties of carbon plastics based on polyacetals is investigated. The copolymer of 1,3,5-trioxane with 1,3-dioxolane is used as the polymer matrix. Hydrated cellulose Ural LO-24 carbon fibers are used as the reinforcing filler. The effect of molding temperature, pressing time, and temperature of the casting mould on the properties of carbon plastics is investigated. It has been found that for improving the mechanical properties of carbon plastics it is necessary to raise the molding temperature up to 200–210°C. Prolongation of the technological cycle leads to thermal degradation of the polymer in the cylinder of a casting machine. The mould temperature only slightly affects the composite strength properties, but lower temperatures create better conditions for polymer crystallization. As a result of our investigations, the optimal processing parameters of the above carbon plastics are determined.Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 385–392, 1999.     

Polypropylene reinforced with aramid and glass fibers

The effect of the chemical nature of the aramid fibers Phenylone, Terlon, Armos, and SVM on the mechanical, thermophysical, and antifriction properties of reinforced polypropylene was investigated. It was found that the composite filled with SVM fibers based on a stiff-chain polymer has high tensile strength and bending modulus. Reinforcement of polypropylene with Phenylone stiff-chain fibers produces a composite with a high impact viscosity. Organoplastics based on polypropylene and aramid fibers have a low density and friction coefficient and high durability. Reinforcement of polypropylene with aramid (SVM) and glass fibers increases the technological properties of the composites. The glass-filled organoplastics developed can be used in instrument making, radio engineering, and machine building as antifriction and construction materials.Ukrainian State Chemical Technological University, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, No. 1, pp. 106–110, January–February, 1996.