Buckling of sandwich wide columns

The paper deals with the theoretical prediction of buckling loads for sandwich columns with metallic and laminated facings and foam or honeycomb core. The loading is a uniform axial compression, applied statically (very slowly) and suddenly with constant magnitude and infinite duration (step loading). The effect of length and boundary conditions is assessed and results are presented for the following cases: for a cantilever column, a simply supported column and a clamped column, for several lengths. Several fiber materials are used in the laminated facings. Two types of core were examined: alloy-foam or hexagonal glass/phenolic honeycomb. The facings are Boron/Epoxy, Graphite/Epoxy and Kevlar/Epoxy laminates with 0° orientation with respect to the column axis and a metallic one made out of aluminum. These various materials are employed to provide comparative data that can be used in design. Results, for the static case are generated by computer codes as well as by the use of closed form theoretical solutions. For the dynamic case, results are generated by the DYNA3D code.     

Carbon–epoxy composites based on fibers coated with nylon 6,6: hygrothermal ageing versus interlaminar shear strength

Carbon fibers were coated in situ with a thin film of polyhexamethylene adipamide by an interfacial polycondensation technique. The modified fibers were used for the preparation of epoxy-based unidirectional composites. Specimens of these materials were immersed in water until equilibrium conditions were attained. The weight gain at equilibrium was determined as a function of the immersion temperature, the fiber volume fraction and the polyamide content deposited on the fibers. Water penetration in specimens made with uncoated carbon fibers increases when the volume fraction decreases. Introduction of the polyamide interlayer initially increases the water absorption, but reduces it at higher immersion temperatures and/or higher polyamide contents. The treated specimens were subjected to the short beam test to determine the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS). The data show that the ILSS decreases with water penetration but increases when the immersion temperature increases from 40 to 70°C. The overall performance encountered is discussed in terms of the possible roles of the polyamide interphase while taking into account mechanisms concerned with matrix plasticization, interphase degradation and residual stress relaxation.     

Creep of composites with a porous fibre/matrix interface under variable loading

A micromechanical model of island-type fibre/matrix interface is described and experimental data are represented and analysed. Changes in the interface strength during a cycle loadings and, correspondingly, changes in the creep resistance of a composite due the island-like scheme of the fibre/matrix interface are described.     

Correlation between Al2O3 particles and interface of Al-Al2O3 coatings by cold spray

Al-Al₂O₃ composite coatings with different Al₂O₃ particle shapes were prepared on Si and Al substrate by cold spray. The powder compositions of metal (Al) and ceramic (Al₂O₃) having different sizes and agglomerations were varied into ratios of 10:1 wt% and 1:1 wt%. Al₂O₃ particles were successfully incorporated into the soft metal matrix of Al. It was found that crater formation between the coatings and substrate, which is typical characteristic signature of cold spray could be affected by initial starting Al₂O₃ particles. In addition, when the large hard particles of fused Al₂O₃ were employed, the deep and big craters were generated at the interface between coatings and hard substrates. In the case of pure soft metal coating such as Al on hard substrate, it is very hard to get proper adhesion due to lack of crater formation. Therefore, the composite coating would have certain advantages.     

Optical and conductive properties of AlSi-alloy/SiCp composites: application in modelling CO2 laser processing of composites

The optical properties—reflectivity, real part of the refractive index, absorption coefficient as well as the thermal and electrical conductivity of AlSi-alloy/SiC_p composite were measured. The optical parameters and both conductivities decreased with the increase of SiC_p particles volume in AlSi-alloy matrix. This decrease was almost linear for the volume fraction of SiC_p particle up to 10 vol% of the total mass of the composite. For the 15 vol% of SiC_p particles, the departure from linearity is connected with the presence of additional phases in AlSi-alloy/SiC_p composite materials. The measured temperature dependencies of optical reflectivity and electrical conductivity for AlSi-alloy/SiC_p 15 vol% are of metallic character. Modelling of the interaction of the CO₂ laser radiation with AlSi-alloy/SiC_p 15 vol% composite should allow to estimate the initiation time at which the surface composite reaches melting temperature.     

Synthesis of poly(arylene disulfide)-vermiculite nanocomposites via in situ ring-opening reaction of cyclic oligomers

An exfoliated poly(4,4^′-oxybis(benzene)disulfide) (POBDS)/vermiculite (VMT) nanocomposite was prepared by using cyclo(4,4^′-oxybis(benzene)disulfide) (COBDS) oligomers and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide exchanged VMT. The POBDS/VMT nanocomposites were fabricated in two steps. First, the COBDS oligomers were used to swell and exfoliate organo VMT to afford COBDS-VMT nanocomposite precursor. Subsequently, the exfoliated POBDS-VMT nanocomposite can be made via in situ and instant melt ring-opening polymerization of the COBDS-VMT nanocomposite precursor. High molecular weight POBDS polymer can be formed in a few minutes. The nano scale dispersion of VMT layers within POBDS polymer was confirmed by both the X-ray diffraction patterns and TEM examinations. This methodology provides a potential approach to synthesize high performance polymer nanocomposite.     

Influence of the preparation procedure on the properties of polyaniline based magnetic composites

A versatile process for the preparation of composite films consisting of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles embedded in a polyaniline (PANI) matrix is reported. Spectroscopic properties of polyaniline matrix (PANI-EB), polyaniline protonated with camphor sulfonic acid (PANI-CSA_0.5) PANI-ES and PANI/Fe₃O₄-CSA_0.5 composites were studied, both in the state of the solutions of m-cresol and in thin films processed from the same solvents. The results of these studies indicate that m-cresol can be used for PANI/Fe₃O₄ composite preparation. Such films show both reasonably high electrical conductivity and magnetic permeability. A controlled application of a magnetic field during the casting process resulted in the formation of the materials with an unusual combination of magnetic and transport properties. The obtained films show the behavior that can be explained by the presence of both ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases. The superparamagnetic contribution, if any, is very small. Application of the external magnetic field during fabrication of the composites stimulates creation of the aggregates of magnetic particles which, although keeps conductivity at a relatively high level, leads to a small decrease of the conductivity value.     

Conduction stability of high-density polyethylene/carbon black composites due to electric field action

Conduction stability of high-density polyethylene/carbon black (HDPE/CB) composites with a CB volume fraction slightly above the percolation threshold is studied in relation to electric field action at various ambient temperatures below the melting point of HDPE. It is found that resistance of the composites shows considerable changes after the electric field is switched off. Influence of irradiation crosslinking of HDPE on the conduction stability is also discussed.     

聚苯胺-富勒烯复合膜的光电响应

通过溶液共混方法制备了聚苯胺（PANI）-富勒烯复合膜, 并用IR、XRD、UV-Vis等技术对其进行表征.红外光谱表明聚苯胺与C60之间存在相互作用且表现为掺杂态聚苯胺红外谱图样.X射线衍射表明复合体材料的结晶性能增强.光致发光谱表明聚苯胺与C60分子之间存在有效光诱导电荷分离现象.光电响应实验表明复合体薄膜的光吸收增强, 光电流增大, 说明聚苯胺-富勒烯复合膜受光照射后发生了光诱导电荷分离现象, C60掺杂聚苯胺有助于改善光伏特性.     

碳纳米管/高分子复合导电材料的研究进展

从碳纳米管的电性质出发,对以它为填料的导电性复合材料的制备方法和研究进展进行了综述,同时简单介绍了导电性复合材料电性质转变现象的理论分析模型,最后对碳纳米管/高分子复合导电材料的研究前景作了一定探讨。