Relation between interfacial shear strength and compressive strength of carbon fiber/epoxy resin composite strands

The mechanism with which the fiber-matrix interfacial strength exerts its influence on the compressive strength of fiber reinforced composites has been studied by measuring the axial compressive strength of carbon fiber/epoxy resin unidirectional composite strands having different levels of interfacial shear strength. The composite strands are used for experiments in order to investigate the compressive strength which is not affected by the delamination taking place at a weak interlayer of the laminated composites. The interfacial strength is varied by applying various degrees of liquid-phase surface treatment to the fibers. The efficiency of the compressive strength of the fibers utilized in the strength of the composite strands is estimated by measuring the compressive strength of the single carbon filaments with a micro-compression test. The compressive strength of the composite strands does not increase monotonically with increasing interfacial shear strength but showes lower values at higher interfacial shear strengths. With increasing interfacial shear strength, the suppression of the interfacial failure in the misaligned fiber region increases the compressive strength, while at higher interfacial shear strengths, the enhancement of the crack sensitivity decreases the compressive strength.     

MRI investigation of granular interface rheology using a new cylinder shear apparatus

The rheology of granular materials near an interface is investigated through proton magnetic resonance imaging. A new cylinder shear apparatus has been inserted in the magnetic resonance imaging device, which allows the control of the radial confining pressure exerted by the outer wall on the grains and the measurement of the torque on the inner shearing cylinder. A multi-layer velocimetry sequence has been developed for the simultaneous measurement of velocity profiles in different sample zones, while the measurement of the solid fraction profile is based on static imaging of the sample. This study describes the influence of the roughness of the shearing interface and of the transverse confining walls on the granular interface rheology.     

Rheological Behavior of Dope Solutions of Poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐itaconic acid) in N,N‐dimethylformamide: Effect of Polymer Molar Mass

The rheological behavior of dope solutions of poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐itaconic acid) or poly(AN‐co‐IA) is important from the point of view of deriving the spinning conditions for good quality special acrylic fibers. The viscosity of the resin dope is dictated by the polymer concentration, molar mass, temperature and shear force. The dynamic shear rheology of concentrated poly(AN‐co‐IA) polymer dope solutions in N, N‐dimethylformamide, in the molar mass (M¯_v) range of 1×10⁵ to 1×10⁶ g/mol, was investigated in the shear rate (γ′) range of 1×10¹ to 5×10⁴ min^?1. An empirical relation between η and M¯_v was found to exist at constant shear rate. The dope viscosity was dependent on the molar mass and the shear rate at a given temperature (T) and concentration. The polymer molar mass index of dope viscosity (m) was calculated as functions of concentration (c), shear rate and temperature. The m values increased with shear rate and temperature. A master equation relating m, with shear rate and temperature was derived for a given dope concentration. At higher shear rates, m tends to the value of 3.4, which is close to the molar mass index of viscosity reported for molten thermoplastics. m increased significantly with shear rate and nominally with temperature, while an increase in concentration decreased it. The onset of shear thinning of the dope shifted to a lower shear rate regime with an increase in polymer concentration and the molar mass. For a given value of molar mass, the increase in viscosity of the dope solution with polymer concentration was dependent on the shear rate.     

Volumetric behaviour of the (2,2,4-trimethylpentane + methylbenzene + butan-1-ol) ternary system and its binary sub-systems within the temperature range (298.15–328.15) K

Densities and speeds of sound of the (2,2,4-trimethylpentane + methylbenzene + butan-1-ol) ternary system as well as all its binary sub-systems were measured at four temperatures, namely 298.15 K, 308.15 K, 318.15 K, and 328.15 K at atmospheric pressure by a vibrating-tube densimeter DSA 5000. The binary (isooctane + toluene) system was studied previously. Excess quantities (molar volume, adiabatic compressibility, and isobaric thermal expansivity) of the mixtures studied were calculated from the experimental densities and speed of sounds. The excess molar volume data were correlated using the Redlich–Kister equation. Both the positive and S-shaped excess molar volume curves were found for the systems studied. The excess molar volumes versus concentration of binary systems differed in the shape and temperature dependence. The experimental binary data were compared with literature data. The experimental excess molar volumes were analyzed by means of the Extended Real Associated Solution (ERAS) model. The experimental data and the ERAS model can help to estimate real behaviour of the systems studied.     

Investigation on the Stability of the Dispersion System of Cross-Linked Polyacrylamide Microspheres

The salt resistance, temperature resistance, and shear stability of a cross-linked polyacrylamide microsphere system are studied by microfiltration, light diffraction analysis, and optical microscopy. The results show that other conditions being equal, the particle diameter of cross-linked polyacrylamide microspheres decreases with increased NaCl concentration. When NaCl concentration is lower than 10,000 mg/L, its effect on the plugging performance of a cross-linked polyacrylamide microsphere system in regard to the nuclear pore membrane is weak in comparison with a linked polymer solution, but the former system has better salt tolerance. Particle diameter decreases with increased swelling temperature. When the swelling temperature is below 90°C, its effect on the plugging performance of the cross-linked polyacrylamide microsphere system in regard to nuclear pore membrane is weak in comparison with the linked polymer solution, but has better temperature tolerance. Particle size shows little change, with shearing rate being increased, while the shape remains about the same and the effect of shearing on the plugging performance of the cross-linked polyacrylamide microsphere dispersion system in regard to the nuclear pore membrane is weak in comparison with the linked polymer solution, but has better shear stability. The salt tolerance, temperature tolerance, and shear stability of microspheres are associated with a particular cross-linked structure.     

Shear‐induced lamellar phase of an ionic liquid crystal at room temperature

The phase behaviour of a number of N‐alkylimidazolium salts was studied using polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X‐ray diffraction. Two of these compounds exhibit lamellar mesophases at temperatures above 50°C. In these systems, the liquid crystalline behaviour may be induced at room temperature by shear. Sheared films of these materials, observed between crossed polarisers, have a morphology that is typical of (wet) liquid foams: they partition into dark domains separated by brighter (birefringent) walls, which are approximately arcs of circle and meet at “Plateau borders” with three or more sides. Where walls meet three at a time, they do so at approximately 120° angles. These patterns coarsen with time and both T1 and T2 processes have been observed, as in foams. The time evolution of domains is also consistent with von Neumann's law. We conjecture that the bright walls are regions of high concentration of defects produced by shear, and that the system is dominated by the interfacial tension between these walls and the uniform domains. The control of self‐organised monodomains, as observed in these systems, is expected to play an important role in potential applications.     

Blue phase III widening in CE6-dispersed surface-functionalised CdSe nanoparticles

The phase transition behaviour of the chiral liquid crystal CE6 doped with spherical surface-functionalised CdSe nanoparticles has been examined by means of high-resolution adiabatic scanning calorimetry and polarising microscopy. The addition of nanoparticles results in an essentially stabilised blue phase III. The phase diagram is displayed upon heating and cooling and the enthalpy changes involved in the conversion between the blue phases are determined. The dispersion of functionalised nanoparticles is prominent for the stabilisation of blue phase III, which is potentially useful for applications, especially if applied on liquid crystals that exhibit blue phases close to room temperature.     

Concerted effect of boron and porosity on shear thickening behavior of hybrid mesoporous silica dispersions

In the present work, the influence of porosity and boron on shear thickening behavior of hybrid mesoporous silica has been studied. Three different levels of boron modification were performed by varying the molar composition of boric acid viz., 1.5 mmol, 2.5 mmol, and 3.5 mmol in a co-condensation approach. The incorporation of boron in mesoporous silica network was confirmed by various techniques such as Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), and ¹¹B solid- state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The morphology and particle size were confirmed by using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. To evaluate the effect of boron and porosity on the shear thickening behavior, dispersions were prepared from mesoporous boron- modified silica (MSiB), control mesoporous silica (MSi), non-porous boron-modified silica (SiB), and control non-porous silica (Si) in polyethylene glycol. The shear thickening behavior was studied using steady shear rheology. The dispersion prepared from different loadings of synthesized MSiB containing 1.5 mmol boron showed more than 16 times increase in viscosity (657.7 Pa.s) compared to that of MSi (39.2 Pa.s) at a fairly low volume fraction (φ = 0.15) of silica. It is expected that the highly ordered mesoporous architecture of hybrid silica has improved the interaction between the particle and the dispersing medium through hydrogen bonding. The porous morphology of the hybrid mesoporous silica as well as the incorporation of boron in the silica network favors the formation of a frictional contact network, and a transition from continuous shear thickening (CST) to discontinuous shear thickening (DST) behavior was observed. Therefore, silica prepared via incorporation of boron as well as porosity can be material of interest in variety of applications, for example, soft body armors, sporting goods, and shear thickening electrolytes for high impact resistant batteries.     

Surface modification of PBO fibers with 2,2-Bis (3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane in supercritical carbon dioxide for enhancing interfacial strength

PBO fiber is one of the most promising reinforcements in resin matrix composite because of its excellent mechanical properties. However, the inert and smooth surfaces make it the poor interface adhesion with resin matrix, which seriously limits the application in composites. In this article, we report a method to modify the surface of PBO fibers with 2,2-Bis (3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane（BisAPAF）in supercritical CO₂ to enhance interfacial properties. Chemical structures, surface elemental composition and functional groups, and surface morphology were characterized by FT-IR spectrometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The mechanical properties of the samples were tested by a tensile tester. Static contact angle and microdebonding tests were used to characterize the wetting ability and interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the fiber and epoxy resin. The results showed that the BisAPAF could be solved in scCO₂ and introduced more groups, –NH₂, –OH, and –CF₃ on the fiber surface, resulting in the mechanical properties and the wettability of PBO fiber slightly improved. Moreover, the fiber surface roughness was also increased obviously. The IFSS between the modified PBO fiber and epoxy resin increased from 8.18 MPa to 31.4 MPa when the treating pressure was 14 MPa. In general, the method to modify PBO fibers surface using BisAPAF in scCO₂ can effectively improve their interfacial properties.