Modeling and prediction of bulk properties of open-cell carbon foam

The emerging ultralightweight material, carbon foam, was modeled with three-dimensional microstructures to develop a basic understanding in correlating microstructural configuration with bulk performance of open-cell foam materials. Because of the randomness and complexity of the microstructure of the carbon foam, representative cell ligaments were first characterized in detail at the microstructural level. The salient microstructural characteristics (or properties) were then correlated with the bulk properties through the present model. In order to implement the varying anisotropic nature of material properties in the foam ligaments, we made an attempt to use a finite element method to implement such variation along the ligaments as well as at a nodal point where the ligaments meet. The model was expected to provide a basis for establishing a process-property relationship and optimizing foam properties.The present model yielded a fairly reasonable prediction of the effective bulk properties of the foams. We observed that the effective elastic properties of the foams were dominated by the bending mode associated with shear deformation. The effective Young's modulus of the foam was strongly influenced by the ligament moduli, but was not influenced by the ligament Poisson's ratio. The effective Poisson's ratio of the foam was practically independent of the ligament Young's modulus, but dependent on the ligament Poisson's ratio. The effective Young's modulus of the carbon foam was dependent more on the transverse Young's modulus and the shear moduli of the foam ligaments, but less significantly on the ligament longitudinal Young's modulus. A parametric study indicated that the effective Young's modulus was significantly improved by increasing the solid modulus in the middle of the foam ligaments, but nearly invariant with that at the nodal point where the ligaments meet. Therefore, appropriate processing schemes toward improving the transverse and shear properties of the foam ligaments in the middle section of the ligaments rather than at the nodal points are highly desirable for enhancing the bulk moduli of the carbon foam.     

Simultaneous measurement of viscoelastic changes and cell opening during processing of flexible polyurethane foam

A parallel-plate rheomete was constructed and used to study the development of dynamic shear modulus and cell opening under forced adiabatic conditions for a series of flexible slabstock polyurethane foams. Typical industrial formulations were used. The plates were heated to follow the adiabatic temperature profile of a real foam bun during foaming. The rheometer overcomes difficulties encountered in other methods such as heat loss and bubble damage caused by the probe.A four-stage modulus development profile was observed: initial bubble growth, bubble network, polymer stiffening and final curing. Chemical structure development was also studied under forced adiabatic conditions, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Polymer stiffening coincided with bidentate (hydrogen-bonded) urea formation.The normal force exerted by the expanding foam on the plates was found to be a function of the rate of foam expansion and the foam modulus. A sudden drop in the normal force typically coincides with the visually observed blow-off in the reacting foam bun, thus the normal force profile is a new and accurate indicator of cell opening. The normal force profile clearly shows that cell opening occurs just after the onset of polymer stiffening, thus illustrating the role of polymer rheology in the cell opening mechanism.Dedicated to the memory of Professor Tasos C. PapanastasiouPortions presented at the SPI Polyurethanes Technical/Marketing Conference, October 9–12, 1994, Boston, massachusetts, USA (Best paper award) and at the XIIth International Congress on Rheology, August 18–23, 1996, Québec City, Québec, Canada.     

玻璃纤维增强聚氨酯泡沫塑料的压缩力学性能研究

本文研究了两种不同密度的玻璃纤维增强聚氨酯泡沫塑料在准静态压缩下的力学性能。给出了与相应密度的普通泡沫塑料力学性能的比较，实验结果表明：两种增强泡沫塑料在压缩载荷作用下，具有不同于普通泡沫塑料的应力－应变特性，压缩模量和强度一般均有不同程度的提高，而且对相同纤维含量的增强泡沫塑料来说，密度较高的材料增强效果较好。     

低密度开孔泡沫材料力学模型的理论研究进展

开孔泡沫材料主要用于隔音、减振和填充方面，对其力学行为进行理论描述，探讨力学性能与密度及复杂微结构的关系具有十分重要的学术价值和工程意义．为了促进国内泡沫材料力学的发展和交流，文中对低密度开孔泡沫材料力学模型的研究历史进行了简要回顾，重点介绍了能较好地反映开孔泡沫材料真实胞体结构特点的十四面体胞体模型和随机胞体模型，并报道了近年来基于十四面体胞体模型和随机胞体模型研究低密度开孔泡沫材料力学行为的一些理论工作、同时，也对国内的一些相关研究情况进行了简要评述，指出了该领域今后的一些研究方向．     

Electron Spin Resonance Study on Grafting of Tetrafluoroethylene onto Polyethylene

An ESR study has been made on the course of grafting of tetrafluoroethylene onto polyethylene. Alkyl and allyl radicals trapped in the polymers were measured under various grafting conditions. It was observed that alkyl radicals decay very rapidly when monomers are in contact with the irradiated polymer, while allyl radicals decay very slowly even in the presence of monomers as in the decay of radicals in irradiated polymers without monomers. The effect of pre-irradiation temperature on grafting was also studied, and the rate of grafting was found to be much faster for lower pre-irradiation temperatures. From these experimental results it was concluded that alkyl radicals play an important Tole in the initiation reaction of grafting.     

Effect of a Nanoclay on the Mechanical,Thermal and Flame Retardant Properties of Rigid Polyurethane Foam

Water blown rigid polyurethane foams (PUF) with organoclay/organically modified nanoclay (ONC) were prepared and their properties such as density, mechanical, morphological, insulation, thermal and flame retardant properties were studied. In this investigation, the ONC content was varied from 1 to 10 parts per hundred of polyol (php) by weight. It was observed that the compressive strength of ONC filled PUF increased up to 3 php of ONC loading and then it decreased. Wide angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies indicated the exfoliated dispersion of ONC in PUF. The thermal conductivity of ONC filled PUF decreases up to 5 php and then increases. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of PUF decreases on loading of ONC. The TGA analysis shows that there is slight increase in degradation temperature with increase in ONC loading. The flame retardant properties (LOI and flame spread rate) are improved slightly on addition (3 php) of ONC filled PUF.     

Tailoring the morphology and properties of waterborne polyurethanes by the procedure of cellulose nanocrystal incorporation

Polyurethane waterborne synthesis was performed using a two-step method, commonly referred to as a prepolymer method. Nanocomposites based on waterborne polyurethane and cellulose nanocrystals were prepared by the prepolymer method by altering the mode and step in which the nanofillers were incorporated during the polyurethane formation. The morphology, structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of the resulting nanocomposite films were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and tensile tests. FTIR results indicated that the degree of interaction between the nanofillers and the WPU through hydrogen bonds could be controlled by the method of cellulose nanocrystal incorporation. Data obtained from SAXS experiments showed that the cellulose nanocrystals as well as the step of the reaction in which they are added influenced the morphology of the polyurethane. The reinforcing effect of CNCs on the nanocomposites depends on their morphology.     

PPy modified titanium foam electrode with high performance for supercapacitor

Pyrrole was polymerized on the surface of titanium foam using FeCl₃ as oxidant and the as-synthesized product could be directly used as electrode for supercapacitor. The globular polypyrrole (PPy) particles were firmly loaded on the substrate with high density. The morphology study of PPy film is observed in SEM images, the XRD, FTIR and UV–vis spectra reveal the structure and crystalline of PPy nanoparticles. The electrochemical properties of PPy modified electrode are investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) and cycle life techniques. The electrochemical measurements showed such a PPy–Ti electrode had a wide working potential window, a high specific capacitance of 855 F g⁻¹ and excellent cycle stability at a discharge current density of 1 A g⁻¹.     

Lattice Boltzmann simulation on thermal performance of composite phase change material based on Voronoi models

Phase change materials(PCMs) are important for sustaining energy development. For the thermal performance enhancement, the composite PCM with metal foam reconstructed by the Voronoi method is investigated in this work. The lattice Boltzmann method(LBM) is used to analyze the melting process on a pore scale. The melting interface evolution and temperature contour of the composite PCM are explored and compared with those of pure PCM. Moreover, structure parameters including the pore density, porosity and irregularity are investigated comprehensively, indicating that the additive of metal foam strengthens the melting performance of PCM obviously. Compared with pure PCM, the composite PCM has quick rates of the melting front evolution and heat transfer. The heat conduction plays a great role in the whole melting process since the convection is weakened for the composite PCM. To improve the melting efficiency, a larger pore density and smaller irregularity are recommended in general. More significantly, a suitable porosity is determined based on the requirement for the balance between the melting rate and heat storage capacity in practical engineering.     

镓铟锡液滴撞击泡沫金属表面的运动学特性研究

常温下为液态的镓铟锡合金以其优异的导热性能在具有特殊要求的传热领域有着重要的应用价值,与传统流动介质相比较大的表面张力使得其产生的流动现象必有所区别.本文研究镓铟锡所形成的液滴撞击泡沫金属表面后所产生的铺展、回缩及回弹现象.采用高速相机拍摄液滴投影轮廓随液滴运动的变化过程,并通过图像处理获得不同撞击速度、底板表面孔径下的液滴铺展系数、中心位置轮廓高度以及液滴回弹后在空中的振动特性.研究结果表明:具有较高表面张力的镓铟锡液滴的铺展系数随无量纲时间的变化在铺展初始阶段仍满足常规流体的1/2次幂关系,只在铺展后期与底板的无量纲孔径有关系;液滴的最大铺展系数在较小无量纲孔径底板大于在光滑镍板,且随底板无量纲孔径增大而逐渐减小;在回弹过程,由于底板孔隙结构的存在使得液滴回弹后在空中的振动呈现3种形态:规则的横向和纵向振动、带旋转的横向和纵向振动以及旋转振动;最后,通过对振动频率的拟合和分析,进一步拓展了传统振动频率理论公式在非规则振动过程预测中的应用.