高斯链网络模型与橡胶交联网络的差异

“橡胶弹性”是《高分子物理》中联系长链分子构象统计和高分子材料力学性能的重要章节之一。现行《高分子物理》教科书中有关内容多以Rehner-Flory“四链模型”为基础,从Gaussian单链熵、单链熵加和恒体积仿射形变角度推导Gaussian链网络构象熵和收缩力,而很少提及Gaussian链网络模型化过程所涉及的诸多近似,更不提及有关学术争议。基于现行《高分子物理》教程,不少学生认为硫化胶具有类似Gaussian链网络的交联结构,不少技术人员基于所谓理想网络结构来设计所谓大应变可逆变形柔性电子等前瞻性器件,在理论和实践上走了不少弯路,得出不少误导性结论。本文回顾Gaussian链网络模型化所涉及的基本理论、近似和争议,以便让读者认识到Gaussian链网络模型仅是具有一系列约束条件的“模型”,而与橡胶交联结构相差甚远。     

橡胶动态生热数值模拟与实验研究

为提高橡胶动态生热数值模拟的计算精度,基于时温等效原理给出了一种同时考虑温度和应变率来确定拉伸测试条件的方法,它可同时满足设备测试条件和制品使用工况.此外,为获得更准确的超弹性本构方程参数,采用了一种用应力松弛实验得到橡胶完全松弛状态下的一组应力来拟合黏弹性算法中超弹性部分的方法 .采用上述测试方法并借助ABAQUS软件建立橡胶圆柱的动态生热有限元模型,在考虑温度、应变率和动应变幅值对橡胶力学性能影响的基础上,本研究用基于损耗角正切和超弹性模型的生热计算方法和基于频域Prony级数的黏弹性生热计算方法分别计算了橡胶圆柱的压缩生热.结果表明,2种方法计算的温升均与压缩生热实验结果吻合较好,但黏弹性算法精度更高,预测的升温历程与实验结果吻合很好,更好地描述了橡胶滞后生热现象,从而验证了本文提出的确定材料测试条件方法的正确性.     

橡胶弹性模型的新进展

传统橡胶弹性模型存在一定的局限性,例如不能真实地反映橡胶的交联网络结构,不能解释多个网络结构参数对橡胶力学性能的影响,也不能很好地描述大变形条件下橡胶的弹性.为了解决上述科学问题,崔树勋等提出了一个新的模型(TCQMG模型),在该模型中橡胶交联网络同时包含顺-1,4-聚异戊二烯和聚硫,并且高分子链的弹性同时包含了熵弹性和焓弹性.研究表明,新的模型不仅可以很好地描述硫化橡胶的弹性,还可以解释硫含量等参数对橡胶性能的影响.考虑到天然橡胶与其他橡胶甚至超分子水凝胶在网络结构上的相似性,新模型也可能用于描述这些材料的力学性能.     

自增强高性能聚合物的成型工艺同力学性能间相关性研究——1.超高分子量聚乙烯的应力诱导结晶理论和其自增强作用

本文发展了一种高分子量聚合物熔融体的应力诱导结晶结构形态模型,它是由微晶聚集体(以下简称微区)-高分子链组网和缠结网的网络结构组成。基于上述模型,把二种网中的单个链组作为独立的统计单元和形变单元,计算了二种网中单个链组的末端距分布函数,进一步计算了二种网和总网的形变自由能。在此基础上,讨论了诱导结晶结晶机理和自增强聚合物网络自由能的依赖性,并着重地研究了超拉伸高聚物的起始熔点拉伸比间的关系。用超高分子量聚乙烯膜和超取向高密度聚乙烯纤维的起始熔点和拉伸比的实验数据进行处理,得到理论予期的近似直线关系,初步验证了聚合物网应力诱导结晶理论。     

填充橡胶本构模型研究进展

填充橡胶材料是由纳米粒子增强的复合多相材料。由于橡胶交联网络和填充粒子所形成的二级网络并存,填充橡胶呈现出复杂的力学行为,如大变形黏超弹性、动态应力软化效应,自生热效应等。如何构建合理的本构模型准确描述其力学行为一直是橡胶材料研究的热点和难点。而近年来数值仿真技术的发展对填充橡胶本构关系的可靠性,准确性和数值稳定性提出了更高的要求。本文综合前人工作,总结了填充橡胶超弹性、黏弹性、流变本构研究的进展。特别从本构关系与有限元分析相容性的角度,分析了各常用模型的精度、使用范围和参数化性能,为橡胶力学仿真提供指导,并指出了目前橡胶本构模型研究中所存在的问题,探讨了改进的方向。     

可描述硅橡胶弹性的理论模型

硅橡胶是一类应用广泛的弹性体材料.然而由于其复杂的三维网络结构,难以实现硅橡胶的理性设计.本研究尝试从单分子弹性入手来建立从硅橡胶微观力学性质到宏观性能之间的关联.首先,通过基于原子力显微镜的单分子力谱实验测量了甲基乙烯基硅橡胶中2个主成分(硅氧烷链和碳-碳链)的单链弹性(包含熵弹性和焓弹性).随后,利用量子力学计算得出上述2种分子链的理论单链弹性.硅氧烷链和碳-碳链的实验曲线均能与理论曲线很好地重合,表明已成功获取了这2种分子链在准无扰环境中的基准弹性.然后,2个主成分的基准弹性同时被整合到传统的橡胶统计学模型中.最终,通过参数可调的新橡胶弹性模型(称作TCQMG模型)描述了3种不同硅橡胶在整个形变范围内的力学性能.此外,借助TCQMG模型模拟了多个交联网络参数对于硅橡胶力学性能的影响,且模拟结果符合实验结果.该模型不仅有助于理解硅橡胶的复杂交联网络结构,还能够为新型硅橡胶的理性设计提供指导.考虑到硅橡胶与其他弹性体在交联网络结构上的相似之处,TCQMG模型有望用于描述这些弹性体的宏观力学性能.     

聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯非晶态膜片单轴热——拉伸中的结晶与松弛

用动态力学损耗温度谱作为测试手段,研究了非晶态PET膜片在78—112℃温度范围内的单轴拉伸。实验结果说明,在较低温度下所得结晶的拉伸试样,完全由于应变诱发结晶,发生在应力-应变曲线的屈服后应力开始上升的阶段。在较高温度下(90℃或更高)拉伸可得非晶态而且光学各向同性的试样,是由于分子链的小尺度取向在拉伸过程中已完全热松弛所致,而分子链的大尺度取向要通过高弹态流动而松弛,其速率较慢,用拉伸后试样两端固定时的应力松弛进行了观察。在较低温度下应力松弛后仍为非晶态,在较高温度下应力松弛到起始应力的1O％下才开始结晶。FTIR研究表明在这种状态下的结晶有一结晶诱导期,其时间尺度与应力松弛阶段相当。     

拉伸温度对α’-型聚乳酸结构与性能的影响

α’-晶型聚乳酸(PLA)膜被制备和单轴拉伸.通过凝胶渗透色谱仪(GPC)、全反射红外光谱(ATR-IR)、差示扫描量热仪(DSC),X射线衍射(XRD)及Raman光谱等测试技术研究了拉伸温度梯度变化对α’-晶型PLA膜的分子量及其分布、分子链构象、结晶度、晶型转变和取向行为的影响.在恒定拉伸速度与应变下,拉伸温度对PLA膜的应力-应变曲线,特别是屈服强度、拉伸模量产生了较大的影响,其值随拉伸温度的增加而降低.GPC测试结果表明,在不同的温度下拉伸后,PLA会发生一定程度的降解,分子量降低;ATR-IR,XRD,DSC和Raman光谱测试结果表明,在不同的温度下拉伸后α’-型PLA没有发生晶型的转变,即没有由α’-晶体转变为α-或β-晶体.结果表明PLA的结晶度、分子链取向程度强烈依赖于拉伸温度:当拉伸温度低于100℃时,α’-型PLA膜的结晶度与沿着拉伸方向的变形程度随拉伸温度的增加而增加,分子链的高度取向诱导了PLA结晶;当拉伸温度超过100℃后,PLA的分子链沿着拉伸方向上的有序度与结晶度将降低.     

硅橡胶动态压缩性能SHPB测试方法及其本构模型研究

为了采用分离式霍普金森压杆测试硅橡胶的动态力学性能,首先实验分析波形整形器厚度对入射波形的影响,根据柔性粘弹性试样的应力应变均匀化条件,确定合适的波形整形器厚度。然后采用实验与数值模拟相结合的方法,分析试样厚度对其变形特征和动态力学性能测试结果的影响。结果表明,厚度超过3mm的试样在冲击测试过程中难以达到力平衡状态,试样的非均匀变形会导致应力应变曲线上出现应力平台甚至是应力软化现象。最后测试了硅橡胶在不同应变率条件下的力学性能,采用超-粘弹性本构模型表征其动态力学性能,并提出新的粘弹性参数拟合方法,能很好地拟合所测试柔性硅橡胶的粘弹性参数。     

基于弹性统计理论的硅橡胶纳米复合材料本构关系的建立

基于考虑了悬垂链的橡胶弹性统计模型,通过引入应变放大因子,建立了硅橡胶纳米复合材料的基于微观机制的本构关系,其中利用硅橡胶分子信息(分子量M、乙烯基含量wt_(Vi)%)、乙烯基反应程度(q)估算获得本构方程中的交联点间链段分子量(Mc),网络链(network strands)体积分数(Φ)等参数,通过拟合确定了与纳米粒子相关的部分参数(初始应变放大因子X_0,极限应变放大因子X_∞,衰减因子z),对掺杂白炭黑的单组分及长短链配合硅橡胶拉伸应力-应变数据进行拟合,在采用相同X_∞,z值情形下,拟合曲线仍能与实测值符合较好(拟合的Adj.R-Square值分别为0.99576、0.99596)。基于微观物理机制的本构关系能够成为联系微观分子结构参数与宏观应力的桥梁,本文工作有望为更有针对性地改进和优化硅橡胶的性能提供依据。     

Structure and properties of nanosized coatings deposited onto polymers

Results of studies aimed at developing a new approach to measuring stress-strain properties of nanosized solids (strength, yield stress, and the value of plastic deformation at uniaxial tension) are generalized. This approach is based on the analysis of the parameters of microrelief arising upon the deformation of polymer films with thin coatings. It is demonstrated for the first time that the stress-strain properties of aluminum coatings deposited onto Lavsan substrates depend on the level of stresses in the substrate, the value of its deformation, and the thickness of the coating. The evolution of these parameters is related to the strain hardening of metal and the effect of nanostructuring of crystalline materials in the range of small thicknesses. When precious metal (Au, Pt) nanosized films are deposited onto polymers by ion-plasma sputtering, in the course of metal deposition, polymer surface layers interact with cold plasma. Stress-strain properties of polymer surface layers modified by plasma are quantitatively estimated for the first time. The model is proposed that makes it possible to take into account the contribution of the properties of precious metal and plasma-modified polymer surface layer to the strength of the coating.     

Rheo-optical FT-IR Spectroscopy of LLDPE: Effect of Comonomer and Composite Materials

Summary: In order to further evaluate the potential of FT-IR spectroscopic investigations on molecular processes during tensile testing experiments, the behavior of monolayer LLDPE films, made with ethylene-butene and ethylene-octene copolymers, was studied. Additionally, multilayer LLDPE films based on the same C4 and C8 copolymers were investigated. The stress-strain data obtained from the monolayer films indicate differences in the strain hardening region. It seems that the film samples PE 469-30-2 (C4-gas phase process) and PE 469-30-5 (C8 solution process) behave similarly whereas the strain hardening for the PE 469-30-3 (C4 solution process) requires lower stress values. The orientation function changes during the stretching of the films indicating that unfolding of the polymer chains occurs at lower strain for PE 469-30-5 (C8) than in the C4 materials. In the multilayer systems the Primplast 44 material (C8) shows a lower tendency for reorientation in the strain hardening region than the Coex 82 (C4) material. In this region of the stress-strain curve the lamellar structure is already transformed into the fibrillar arrangement. Regarding the orientation behavior of the material above 200% strain, a small increase in f_b was observed, which led to a decrease of f_c. In the octene product possibly the bulky side chains influence the unfolding significantly, producing a higher resistance to unfolding and alignment along the stretching direction. In part, this is potentially caused by the more perfect lamellae in the octene copolymer, which do not include the side chains, while the butene copolymer may have weaker lamellae because they contain a fraction of the side chains which create defects. Consequently, the octene copolymer requires higher stress values to be stretched and finally results in a lower stretchability of this material, as observed on an industrial scale during pallet wrapping tests. Based on the ratio of the structural absorbance parameters of the signals at 729 and 719 cm⁻¹ changes in the crystallinity were studied. For the continuous stretching experiment, no monoclinic phase was detected even after Fourier self-deconvolution and peak fitting approaches. Literature data, however, describe that this crystalline transformation takes place as a result of mechanical deformation. Therefore, stepwise stretching experiments which allow an improvement of the spectral resolution to 1 cm⁻¹ were carried out. In the deconvoluted spectra the monoclinic, orthorhombic and amorphous LLDPE modifications could be assigned. Ultimate stretchability and stretching force of the films, both monolayer and multilayer, was well correlated to the development of crystalline orientation in the films upon stretching. Other mechanical properties like Elmendorf tear and dart impact can also be better understood with these results.     

Properties of ultrahighly filled composites based on polymers and ground rubber

The stress-strain and strength properties of ultrahighly filled composites based on thermoplastic polymers and ground rubber wastes are studied. The content of the elastic filler is higher than 70 wt%. As is shown, introduction of minor amounts of the plastic polymer, which serves as the binder for the filler particles, makes it possible to improve the strength properties of ultrahighly filled composites and to prepare materials of a desired thickness. A correlation between the stress-strain properties of the plastic polymer-rubber systems and the effective viscosity of the matrix polymer is established. When a polymer with homogeneous deformation and good adhesion to the elastic filler is used as the matrix, the resultant composites are characterized by properties close to those of vulcanized rubbers. A new method is proposed for processing of ground rubber wastes and preparation of materials that are similar to hard rubbers.     

Constitutive modeling of polymers accounting for their hyperelasticity,plasticity, creep and viscoelastic relaxation

The hyperelastic Yeoh model has been generalized to account for creep, plasticity and viscoelasticity of polymers. The general tensorial model developed is applied to several rheometric situations: the tensile test used to measure the stress-strain curve in tension, as well as the creep and recovery tests. The resulting equations are compared to the experimental results acquired in the present work for several monolithic synthetic fibers used as specimens. The comparison revealed that the proposed phenomenological rheological constitutive equation is capable of reproducing the experimental data with a uniformly valid set of physical parameters. Moreover, it was possible to accurately predict the residual plastic deformation of the fibers.     

Understanding mechanical characteristics of cellulose nanocrystals reinforced PHEMA nanocomposite hydrogel: in aqueous cyclic test

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) can be embedded within hydrogels to form tough and strong nanocomposite materials, which possess biomimetic properties from hydrogels including good biocompatibility, permeability and flexible mechanical characteristics. There are many potential applications for these strong nanocomposite hydrogels in medical devices, such as wound dressing or super absorbents. Whereas, the research on the mechanical properties of CNC reinforced nanocomposite remains at superficial level, and their nonlinear mechanical responses are rarely investigated in previous reports. Mechanical characteristics of CNC reinforced poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) nanocomposite hydrogels, in terms of stress–strain correlations, fracture mechanism, and cyclic stretching responses, have been investigated in this work. Experimental results show that the modulus of the nanocomposite hydrogel tends to increase with increasing CNC content. Theoretical foundation for analysing the mechanical properties of hydrogels based on Mooney–Rivlin hyperelastic model, Voigt model and Reuss model has been developed and validated, which provides the prediction of the mechanical responses of CNC reinforced nanocomposite hydrogel to tension, especially the nonlinear responding behaviour.     

Modeling hyperelastic behavior of rubber: A novel invariant‐based and a review of constitutive models

A constitutive phenomenological model completing the Gent‐Thomas concept is carried out to formulate laws governing the hyperelastic behavior of incompressible rubber materials. It is shown that the phenomenological Gent‐Thomas model (1958) and the constrained chain model (1992) give similar precise results at small to moderate deformation. On the other hand, comparisons of the outcome of the proposed model with that of the molecular model from the combined concepts of Flory‐Erman and Boyce‐Arruda (2000), and with those of the phenomenological models of Ogden (1982), Yeoh‐Fleming (1997), Pucci‐Saccomandi (2002) and Beda (2005) are made. Residual inconveniences raised by attractive continuum models in rubber elasticity literature have been successfully overcome. Results from both the statistical and phenomenological mechanics concepts are compared with the data of some useful classical materials (rubbers of Treloar, Rivlin‐Saunders, Pak‐Flory and Yeoh‐Fleming). The results permit one to see salient equivalence of the two theories for a more reliable prediction of stress‐stretch response for all states of any mode of deformation. A complete and exhaustive analysis of the Mooney plot that combines small and very large extension‐compression has been quite essential in assessing the validity of models. A method of identification of material parameters is presented and data of the simple tension suffice for the determination of the parameter values. It is shown that the ordinary identification procedures, such as the usual least squares, a very much used numerical method in materials investigation, can be unsuitable in some cases of hyperelastic modeling. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1713–1732, 2007     

Nuclear magnetic relaxation in crosslinked elastomers subjected to uniaxial tensile drawing

For samples of crosslinked polyisoprene rubber subjected to stretching at different tensile strains λ, transverse magnetization decay is measured by NMR spectroscopy at a proton frequency of 25 MHz and second moment M ₂ of the residual dipole-dipole interaction is estimated. Theoretical dependence M ₂(λ) is constructed on the basis of the classical theory of rubber elasticity, which predicts that the distribution of distances between the junctions of chemical crosslinks is Gaussian and that deformation is affine. This theoretical dependence is substantially different from the experimental curve. Agreement between the theoretical and experimental data can be attained if the nonaffine character of deformation that is the consequence of the density distribution of chemical crosslinks within the volume of the sample is taken into account and when the Gaussian chain model is replaced with the Langevin model.     

New approach to evaluation of the stress-strain properties of nanolayers of solid materials

The review focuses on results obtained in the development of a new approach to determination of the stress-strain properties (tensile strength, yield point, plastic deformation under uniaxial stretching) of nanolayers of solid materials. The approach is based on analysis of parameters of the microrelief generated by strains in polymer films with hard thin coatings. A significant increase in the tensile strength and ductility of noble metal coatings under uniaxial stretching at the metal layer thickness less than 30 nm is demonstrated for the first time. This substantiates the assumption of a specific state of nanolayers of solid materials. The developed method also enables evaluation of the effect of characteristic defects in solids on their stress-strain behavior. It was found that the stress-strain properties of nanocoatings depend on the physical state of the polymer substrate. A possible mechanism of the revealed phenomena is suggested.     

A non-Gaussian model for the chemo-mechanical coupling behavior of largely deformed hydrogels

A non-Gaussian model is developed to precisely describe the chemo-mechanical coupled large deformation of responsive hydrogels. In this model, the free-energy density is composed of two parts, including the elastic energy due to stretching of cross-linked polymer networks described by Gent hyperelastic model, and the mixture energy of polymer network and described by Flory–Huggins theory. The effects of junction functionality and chain entanglements are investigated by analyzing free swelling of a cubic hydrogel and constrained swelling of a blanket layer of the gel. The present model is found to exhibit obvious hardening characteristic during large deformation of the hydrogel, and the considerations of functionality of junctions and chain entanglements are essential in the coupled chemo-mechanical deformation analysis of hydrogels.     

炭黑在异戊橡胶中的分散及其对动静态性能的影响北大核心CSCD

橡胶在使用时往往需要在生胶中加入填料颗粒以提高其力学强度,填料在橡胶中的分散状态对其使用性能有显著影响。为了明晰填料分散状态对橡胶动静态性能的影响规律,设计了不同的胶料混炼工艺,进而获得具有不同分散程度的橡胶材料,并对其分散等级、颗粒聚集体尺寸分布、胶料硫化性质、橡胶拉伸以及疲劳等性质进行了系统研究。结果表明,在所研究的密炼时间4~16 min范围内,随着密炼时间的延长,填料在基体中的分散度等级有较大程度的提高,密炼时间为16 min时填料分散等级达到了8.1级,胶料的门尼粘度下降显著,但胶料的拉伸性能变化不明显,而动态疲劳性能得以显著改善。随着开炼包辊时间的延长,填料在基体中的分散度等级呈先升高后降低的趋势,橡胶的动态疲劳性能也先升高后降低,当开炼包辊时间为20 min时,硫化胶的伸张疲劳寿命达到4×10~4次,继续延长包辊时间硫化胶的伸张疲劳寿命下降至2.3×10~4次;但是胶料整体的拉伸性能变化不明显。由此可见,通过调整混炼工艺可以改善填料在橡胶基体中的分散状态,进而提高胶料的疲劳性能。