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.     

Photosensitivity,substituent and solvent-induced shifts in UV-visible absorption bands of naphthyl-ester liquid crystals: a comparative theoretical approach

The substituent- and solvent-induced shifts in UV-visible absorption bands of naphthyl-ester nematic liquid crystals, viz., 4-octylphenyl-6-octyloxy-2-naphthoate (NAPHE1) and 6-octyloxy-2-naphthylyl-4-octyloxybenzoate (NAPHE2), have been investigated using the DFT, CNDO/S and INDO/S methods. A correlation has been made between molecular charge distribution and phase stability based on Mulliken, Loewdin, AM1, PM3, MNDO, CNDO/S and INDO/S methods. The observed π→π* and n→π* electronic transitions have been reported. The substituent- and solvent-induced shifts in absorption bands, transition energies and energy gaps have been discussed. The photosensitivity of the molecules has been analysed based on these shifts. It has been observed that the substituent has a dominant role on both absorption maxima and energy band gap, whereas the solvent has a dominant role only on absorption maxima, and no effect has been observed on the energy gap. These shifts may provide beneficial consequences in determining the end use of compounds.     

Enhanced chemical reworkability of DGEBA thermosets cured with rare earth triflates using aromatic hyperbranched polyesters (HBP) and multiarm star HBP‐b‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) as modifiers

A hyperbranched aromatic polyester (HBPOH) has been synthesized, and poly(ε‐caprolactone) arms have been grown on some of its end hydroxyl groups (HBPCL). These modifiers have been used in cationic diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A formulations cured with ytterbium triflate as cationic initiator. The effect of HBPOH and HBPCL on the curing kinetics has been studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The obtained materials have been characterized by dynamomechanical analysis, DSC, thermogravimetric analysis and mechanical tests. The modifiers are incorporated into the thermosetting network because of the participation of the end hydroxyl groups in the cationic curing of epoxides by the activated monomer mechanism. Homogeneous thermosets have been obtained with a remarkable increase in impact strength without sacrificing elastic modulus or hardness. A compromise between the rigid structure of the aromatic hyperbranched core and the flexibilizing effect of the poly(ε‐caprolactone) arms is believed to be responsible for the overall thermal and mechanical properties of the materials. The use of these polymeric modifiers increases the thermal stability of the resulting materials because of the low degradability of the aromatic ester groups in the hyperbranched core and the incorporation of the modifier into the network structure. However, the presence of such ester groups makes them reworkable by hydrolysis or alcoholysis in an alkaline medium, thus opening a way for recovery of valuable substrates. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phase-Separation Phenomena of Copolymer Solutions and Fractionation of Copolymers by Chemical Composition

Precipitation temperature-total polymer concentration diagrams for toluene solutions of two styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers different in chemical composition and their mixtures were determined and then triangular phase diagrams of this system were constructed from these diagrams. It is speculated from the triangular phase diagrams and experimentally shown that the copolymer may be effectively fractionated by chemical composition in this system.     

Hexaphenylditetrels – When Longer Bonds Provide Higher Stability

We present a computational analysis of hexaphenylethane derivatives with heavier tetrels comprising the central bond. In stark contrast to parent hexaphenylethane, the heavier tetrel derivatives can readily be prepared. In order to determine the origin of their apparent thermodynamic stability against dissociation as compared to the carbon case, we employed local energy decomposition analysis (LED) and symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) at the DLPNO-CCSD(T)/def2-TZVP and sSAPT0/def2-TZVP levels of theory. We identified London dispersion (LD) interactions as the decisive factor for the molecular stability of heavier tetrel derivatives. This stability is made possible owing to the longer (than C−C) central bonds that move the phenyl groups out of the heavily repulsive regime so they can optimally benefit from LD interactions.     

Experimental investigation of the effect of temperature on the strength of polyimide contact structures

A new photogrammetry based measurement technique for contact areas in line contact structures is developed. From the data collected by this technique, a method for measuring the contact strength of contact structures in high temperature applications is proposed. The contact strength of a line contact structure of polyimide at different temperatures is measured; the results show that the increase in temperature decreases the contact strength of the structure. The effect of temperature on the contact strength is studied by investigating the occurrence and evolution of yielding core within the structure at different temperatures. The decrease in the yield strength and elastic modulus of the polyimide material at high temperature induces core yielding at lower loads and eases the propagation of core yielding to the surface.     

An Investigation into the Migration of Segments in Crosslinked Fluorinated Polyimide Adhesive

Crosslinked fluorinated polyimides (CFPI) were successfully synthesized to study and explore the effect of cross-linkage on the migration of fluorinated segments and on the adhesion strength. Characterization by dynamic thermomechanical analysis (DMA) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed good thermal properties of CFPI. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results showed that the ratio of fluorinated component (6FDA-ODA) concentration of the surface to the bulk decreased with the crosslink density. The water contact angle of CFPI was lower than that of non-crosslinked fluorinated polyimide, indicating that the migration of fluorinated groups to the surface was reduced by the presence of cross-linkage. Therefore, CFPI, with no fluorine segregation on the surface, exhibited excellent wetting of adherent surfaces and adhesion strength, which was proved by lap shear strength (LSS) measurements and scanning electron microscopy.     

Dislocation density crystalline plasticity modeling of lath martensitic microstructures in steel alloys

A three-dimensional multiple-slip dislocation density-based crystalline formulation, specialized finite-element formulations and Voronoi tessellations adapted to martensitic orientations were used to investigate large strain inelastic deformation modes and dislocation density evolution in martensitic microstructures. The formulation is based on accounting for variant morphologies and orientations, retained austenite and initial dislocation densities that are uniquely inherent to martensitic microstructures. The effects of parent austenite orientation and retained austenite were also investigated for heterogeneous fcc/bcc crystalline structures. Furthermore, the formulation was used to investigate microstructures mapped directly from SEM/EBSD images of martensitic steel alloys. The analysis indicates that variant morphology and orientations have a direct effect on dislocation density accumulation and inelastic localization in martensitic microstructures, and that lath directions, orientations and arrangements are critical characteristics of high strength martensitic deformation and behavior.     

Nanoporous polyimide film from poly(ethylene glycol-co-imide) using a one-step heat calcination process

Polyamic acid (PAA) made from 3,3, 4,4-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and 4,4-diaminodiphenyl ether was synthesized and used as the backbone of nanoporous polyimide. Thermally labile polyethylene glycol (PEG) at 10, 20 or 30 wt% was introduced to the end group of PAA. Self-assembled PAA-b-PEG micelle-like nanoparticles could be formed as a result of amphiphilic characteristics of hydrophobic PAA and hydrophilic PEG. Thermal imidization and degradation of spin-coated amphiphilic PAA-b-PEG film were performed sequentially through one-step heat treatment to obtain polyimide film with nanopores. Pore sizes decreased with increasing amount of PEG block and their dielectric constants decreased from 2.71 ± 0.13 to 2.38 ± 0.11.