Regulation of the mechanical properties of thermoplastic carbon fiber-reinforced plastics by changing their production conditions and surface treatment of the fibers

The effect of technological parameters of processing and surface treatment of carbon fibers on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) was investigated. The copolymer of 1,3,5-trioxane with 1,3-dioxolane was used as the polymer matrix, and medium-modulus hydrated cellulose Ural LO-24 carbon fibers served as the reinforcing filler. The polymer matrix was mixed with the carbon fibers by the method of combined extrusion. The dependence of the mechanical properties of CFRPs on the technological parameters of screw-disk extrusion was studied. It was found that the properties of the composites were greatly affected by the size of the working disk gap, the disk rotation rate, and the temperature in the zone of normal stresses. The surface of the carbon fibers was activated with atmospheric oxygen in the temperature range of 450–600°C, with mass loss of the fibers no greater than 3–4%. A 30–40% increase in the mechanical properties of the CFRPs was achieved. A decrease in the melt index of the 1,3,5-trioxane copolymer with 1,3-dioxolane reinforced with oxidized carbon fibers was observed, which should be taken into account in processing the composites into products. Introduction of carbon fibers in the 1,3,5-trioxane copolymer with 1,3-dioxolane allows us to increase the wear resistance and decrease the friction coefficient, which makes it possibile to use these materials in the friction units of machines and mechanisms, such as plain bearings, gears, and flange packings.Presented at the 10th International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, April 20–23, 1998).Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 34, No. 5, pp. 673–682, September–October, 1998.     

Change of the physicomechanical properties of fibrous polymer composites exposed to moisture and low temperatures

We investigated the cyclic effect of water and the simultaneous effect of water and low temperatures on the properties of fibrous polymer composites. Methods of sorption, thermogravimetry, and mechanical tensile, bending, and interfacial shear tests were used. It was established that for carbon plastic and organite the most aggressive external factor is water, and the vulnerable link is the matrix and the reinforcing fiber. For boron plastic the aggressive factors are water and the joint effect of water and low temperatures; the vulnerable link is the fiber—matrix interface.Paper to be presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, October, 1995).Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 501–508, July–August, 1995.     

Creep simulation in polymer matrix — disperse filler composites

The deformation properties of composites with disperse fillers in close to maximum amounts were investigated. Two types of matrices were selected: epoxy resin with high structural stability in filling, and a crystalline polymer-trioxane-dioxolane copolymer. Materials with a high and low relative surface area-diatomite and ceramic-were used as fillers. The elastic properties were simulated with the Kerner model and creep was simulated with its viscoelastic analog. The model was extended to a matrix-filler-buffer layer model. The possibility of estimating the part of the matrix entering the pores of the filler was examined. Differences in the use of the structural models in predicting elasticity and viscoelasticity were examined. The best results in describing creep were obtained for epoxy resin-ceramic filler composites which have the least interaction between matrix and filler. The possibility of estimating the change in the degree of crystallinity of the matrix and formation of buffer layers in filling with active fillers was examined.Presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, October, 1995).Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 31, No. 6, pp. 754–768, November–December, 1995.     

Prediction of changes in the strength of filled thermoplastics upon aging in an oxidizing atmosphere

Problems related to analyzing specimens with damaged surface layers have been examined using polyamide, trioxane—dioxolane copolymer, and polycarbonate as source materials. A model was developed for the brittle fracture of block specimens with damaged surface layers, which provides an estimate of the restraints to plastic deformation in these layers. Three segments are seen in the strength—time curves featuring 1) increasing strength, 2) decreased strength with brittle fracture, and 3) constant low strength. The strength of filled specimens of a specific period permits us to evaluate the effect of the filler on the fracture resistance of the matrix. A method was proposed for predicting the strength of filled samples using the matrix aging data.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 375–380, May–June, 1993.     

Water absorption and swelling of glass/epoxy syntactic foams

The results of experimental and theoretical investigation of glass/epoxy syntactic foams at a long-term (10 years) exposure in water are presented. Specimens for experimental investigation were made from EDT-10 epoxy filled with MSO-779 hollow glass spheres. Seven types of specimens with filler volume fraction varying from 0 to 0.6 were tested. The curves of long-term water absorption and swelling were determined. It was expected that the addition of hollow glass spheres must substantially reduce the sorptional capacity of material because of the reduction of the volume content of the matrix and, therefore, because of reduction of the part of the volume where the molecules of water can diffuse. However, the water absorption process in syntactic foams was found to continue during the total term of the experiments without a tendency to stop. After ten years the limiting equilibrium state was not achieved and the concentration of water in composite specimens became higher than the equilibrium concentration of water in unfilled EDT-10 epoxy. In long-term tests the swelling strain was found to be a nonlinear function of water content. The degree of nonlinearity increased when the volume content of the filler was increased. The calculational prediction of absorption and swelling curves of syntactic foams with different volume contents of the filler was done using the experimentally determined characteristics of absorption of the matrix. The water transport process in the matrix was considered to obey Fick's law. It was found that the initial parts of the experimental curves (during the first year of exposure) show a good enough agreement with calculated data for engineering applications. Subsequently, the discrepancy between the experimental results and calculated data increased and reached such large values that the predicted results became unacceptable. The possible reasons of such discrepancy (breaking of adhesion bonds between the matrix and the filler with subsequent sorption of water at the glass sphere surface, and diffusional filling by water of the inner parts of the damaged glass spheres, etc.) are discussed.Presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials, Riga, October, 1995. University of Colima, Colima City, Colima, Mexico. Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Latvian Academy of Sciences, Riga, LV-1006, Latvia. Published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, No. 1, pp. 83–97, January–February, 1996.     

Study of the effect of the dressing of carbon fibers on the properties of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics based on polyacetals

Studies are made of the mechanical and friction engineering properties of a copolymer of trioxane-1,3,5 with dioxolan-1,3 reinforced with dressed carbon fibers based on hydrated cellulose. Polyalkyloxysilanes are used as the finishes. The optimum concentrations of the finishes on the fibrous filler are determined. Relations are obtained to describe the dependence of the mechanical properties of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics on the type of finish and its effect on the condition of the phase boundary between filler and the polymer matrix. The effect of adhesion of the polymer to the fibrous filler on the properties of a randomly reinforced thermoplastic composite is also determined. The dependences of the friction engineering properties of polyacetal-based carbon-plastics on the loading parameters of the friction-loading unit are examined. The material that is developed has high values of strength, elastic modulus, and notch toughness and low values of the friction coefficient and shrinkage. The material can be used as structural and anti-friction elements in rocketry, aviation, and the automobile industry.Ukrainian State Chemical Engineering University, Dnepropetrovsk. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, No. 1, pp. 90–97, January–February, 1997.     

Viscoelasticity of liquid-crystalline copolymer/poly(methyl methacrylate) blends. Effect of reinforcement by aluminum borate whiskers

The elastic moduli and mechanical losses for blends of liquid-crystalline copolyester (LCP) and PMMA have been determined at various temperatures. The specimens were produced by the extrusion of preliminary mixed components. In the course of extrusion, a system is formed where the LCP forms thin fibers imbedded into a PMMA matrix. The greatest effect of the reinforcement of the thermoplastic matrix with LCP was found for a 7/3 ratio of components. The effect of fillers (whiskers) was also investigated. It is shown that the reinforcing action of the filler is much higher for the 7/3 blends as compared with the reinforced pure components. The effects observed are explained by features of the interphase formation in the reinforced systems and the surface segregation of an LCP-component.Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Kiev, Ukraine. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 33, No. 5, pp. 681–689, September–October, 1997.     

Physico-mechanical properties of polymer materials and the friction problem

Aspects of the friction behavior of polymer materials associated with their molecular structure and responsible for the relatively small value of the modulus of elasticity as compared with the ultimate strength are examined. It is shown that, in view of the important influence of hydrostatic pressure on the mechanical properties of polymer materials, the mechanical characteristics obtained from uniaxial testing cannot be used in calculating the contact area and the forces of friction. Formulas are presented for calculating the mechanical characteristics under these conditions. The results of indentation experiments designed to simulate contact processes are discussed. It is shown that the resistance to deformation of the asperities on the surface of polymer materials is of the order of the yield stress, and not two or three times greater, as with metals. The results of contact creep studies are described and evaluated. The results of investigations of the mechanical and antifriction properties of filled polymer materials show that the forces of friction are inversely proportional to the modulus of elasticity, while the thermophysical characteristics are a function not only of the thermophysical characteristics of the filler and the base, but also depend to a great extent on the shape of the filler particles; thus, when a fibrous filler with a low coefficient of linear expansion is used, the thermal stability of the friction material can be considerably improved. The results of a study of the adhesion interaction of polymer materials under conditions of omnidirectional nonuniform compression and simultaneous deformation are presented. It is shown that the adhesion interaction is strong even at room temperature. Aspects of the mechanical properties of lubricants that determine their effectiveness in polymer friction are considered.Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, Riga. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 303–314, March–April, 1969.     

Structure and properties of ceramic composites based on ZrO2

Monodisperse fine powders of high purity obtained by sol-gel method are used for production of high technical data ceramics. The fiber reinforcement is used for hardening of composite materials. It was of interest to study production possibility of reinforced composite material based on ZrO₂ obtained by sol-gel method with filler from fibers of partially stabilized zirconia. ZrO₂ powders were obtained by precipitation of its hydrated gel from aqueous zirconium oxychloride solution by ammonium hydroxide followed by thermal treatment. For composite reinforcement ceramic partially stabilized (8 mole Y₂O₃) ZrO₂ fibers 0.16–0.67 mm in length and 5–7 m in diameter were used. Content of the fibers in composite was 20 wt.%. From powders and their mixtures with fibers, the samples were pressed as disks, beams and cylinders, and anneal in air at 1100–1600°C temperature range. The investigation has shown that the fibers of partially stabilized zirconia change the composite structure, increase the content of tetragonal modification that promotes its hardening. Treatment temperature of precursor determines physical chemical properties of compositions with fibers. Their high specific surface and reaction ability provides a workability of forming and sintering processes into strong composite material. The ceramics was increased by 2.5–3 times as strength after fibrous filler introduction into ZrO₂ hydrogel matrix.Presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, October 1995).Presented at the Ninth International conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, October 1995). Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the Academy Sciences of the Belarus. Minsk. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 418–427, May–June. 1996.     

Antifriction basalt-plastics based on polypropylene

A study is made of the dependence of the mechanical and friction-engineering properties of polypropylene reinforced with basalt fibers on the viscosity of the polymer matrix. It is established that the main factors that determine the mechanical properties of the plastics are the quality of impregnation of the fibers by the binder and the residual length of the reinforcing filler in the composite after extrusion and injection molding. The material that was developed has a low friction coefficient and low rate of wear within a relatively brood range of friction conditions. The basalt-plastics can be used in the rubbing parts of machines and mechanisms subjected to dry friction.Ukrainian State Chemicotechnical University, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov,33, No. 3, pp. 417–421, May–June, 1997.     

Effect of mineral fillers on properties of composite matrix material

The influence of mineral fillers on thermomechanical properties of matrix material of composites is investigated. Different methods to determine elastic properties and thermal expansion coefficients of composite materials have been considered and compared. Injection moulded polyester samples containing varying concentrations of talc filler are tested and properties such as Young 's modulus, thermal expansion coefficients, and volumetric shrinkage during cure are measured. Results obtained by theoretical models and from experiments are compared and discussed.To be presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, October 1995).Published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 435–445, July–August, 1995.     

Scale factor in an experimental model of a highly reinforced composite

Formation of shrinkage defects during isothermal curing of network polymers is considered. The cure was carried out under conditions of adhesive interaction of the polymer matrix with the rigid filler present in the composite. The dependence of the relative mean distance between cohesive defects on the tube diameter in the tube model developed earlier was investigated over more than two orders of magnitude of tube diameters. This distance was found to be constant in the range considered. A similar process of shrinkage defect formation was observed for a plate model.Presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, October 1995).Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 163–168, March–April, 1995.The work was financed by the Russian Fund for Basic Research (Project 94-03-09253).     

The nature of polymer friction

The evolution of views on the nature of friction in polymers is examined, commencing at 1940 with the publications of Kragel'skii, Tirion, Tabor, Tanaka Kunichiro, Schallamach. The Bartenev molecular-kinetic theory of friction is analyzed in more detail, and the results obtained by its adherents are also presented. Studies on the mechanochemical changes taking place at the frictional contact are discussed. The deduction of formulas is shown for calculating the mechanical and molecular components of the frictional force. To account for the molecular component the concepts of Frenkel as well as Glasstone, Eyring and Polyani have been enlisted.Presented at the Second All-Union Conference on the Mechanics of Polymers, Riga, November, 1971.State Scientific-Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Moscow. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 5, pp. 797–808, September–October, 1972.     

Effect of aging creep of polyestermalein resin/mineral filler composites

Long-term (More than 20 years) creep under compression of two polymer concretes, polyestermalein resin/mineral filler composites, was studied. The concretes differ with diabase filler size (d=5–10 mm and d=10–20 mm). It was shown that nonlinearity of viscoelastic properties of concrete increases as the size of filler particle decreases. Aging of the polymer concretes reduces their viscoelastic compliance and shortens the time interval necessary to reach equilibrium conditions under stable loading state.Presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials, Riga, October, 1995.Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the AS CR, Prague 9, Prosecká 74, Czech Republic. Central Laboratory of Physical-Chemical Mechanics of the BAS, Sofia 1113 Acad. Bontchev Street, IV km, Bl. 1. Published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 190–194, March–April, 1995.     

Thermal dependence of electric conductivity in thermoplastic composites

Thermal dependence of the electric conductivity of thermoplastic composites based on both amorphous (hiPS) and crystallized (PP) polymers is investigated in this study. Two types of carbon black fillers with different values of BET surface area were used as charge conductors. Composites based on crystallized polymer matrices indicate the sharp growth of electric resistivity just before the melting range. This maximum is followed by substantial decrease of resistance at T > T_melt. With the decrease of carbon black concentration both relative growth of resistance at the T T_melt and further dropping resistance at T > T_melt increase. Composites filled with particles of higher surface area are characterized by less pronounced matrix influence on thermal dependence of electric conductivity than composites filled with particles of lower surface area; this can be caused by more pronounced matrix/filler interaction in the first case. The range of temperatures at which the resistance increase occurs does not depend on the type of carbon filler and its concentration. Composites with amorphous matrices are characterized by distinct increase of resistance above glass transition. Thermal treatment of the sample significantly affects the initial values and intensity of the temperature dependence of the resistance.To be presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials, Riga, October, 1995.Published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 526–532, July–August, 1995.     

Pressure pulse from a laser pulse acting on a composite

Conclusions These tests on quasistationary irradiated for polyethylene-matrix powder-filled composites show that the filler composition and content have marked effects on the damage.There are ranges where the specific loss, the pressure, and the integral recoil pulse decrease as the power density increases because of changes in the damage mechanism, which are most prominent for zirconium oxide as filler. Bulk absorption contributes considerably, and causes various types of defect. Estimates have been made of the pressures arising in explosive matrix decomposition in the bulk together with the specific damage energies.These measurements are useful in modeling laser effects on composites.Translated from Mekhanika Kompositnykh Materialov, No. 5, pp. 868–872, September–October, 1988.     

Investigation of polytetrafluorethylene surface texture

Results are given of an X-ray investigation of the formation of a textured surface layer on polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) film and its dependence on external mechanical factors — unit load and sliding speed. It is established that the thickness of the surface texture of PTFE is determined by the relation between the processes of texture formation under the influence of frictional forces and its destruction by wear. These processes, in turn, are determined by the working parameters of the moving joint. Data on the kinetics of polymer surface texture formation in the presence of friction are extremely useful in relation to the design of efficient antifriction materials.Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 129–132, 1965     

Model of a layered plate considering nonideal contact between layers

We propose a mathematical model for doing calculations for layered plates, allowing for both rigid and sliding contact in the presence of frictional forces between the sliding layers. The model takes into account the distribution of tangential and normal displacements across the thickness of the sliding layered stack, and also the distribution of transverse normal stresses. The strain tensor is obtained using the Cauchy relations; the stress tensor is obtained based on Hooke's law. Tne Lagrange variational principle allows us to obtain the resolvent system of differential equations and the corresponding boundary conditions. The spatial model for deformation of a layered plate has a number of special features compared with familiar models. The system of differential equations has operators no higher than second order. It is described relative to displacements on the faces of the stack. This is convenient in solving problems involving sliding of layers with and without friction.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 31, No. 5, pp. 671–676, September–October 1995.     

Effect of fillers on the viscosity and viscoelasticity of low-density polyethylene melts. Communication 1

An investigation of low-density polyethylenes filled with up to 30% by volume dispersed particles, has shown that for both the matrix and the composites the apparent viscous flow activation energy does not depend on the shear stresses and increases starting from a certain filler concentration at which the conformation range in the matrix is depleted. The dependence of the relative viscosity of the compositions on the volume filler content is satisfactorily described by an equation that contains the reduced filler concentration, defined as the ratio of the nominal filler concentration to the limiting concentration at which the adsorption layers on the particles extend throughout the matrix. The thickness of the polymer layer adsorbed on the particles must be determined from the specific exterior particle surface, with allowance for the volume of the polymer in the sorption space of the porous filler.Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, Riga. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 3, pp. 478–486, May–June, 1976.     

Effect of fillers on the structure and properties of cured resins

It is shown for the first time that the increased strength of filled plastics is associated with an increase of the internal pressure in the resin determined by the nature of the filler surface and the curing conditions.For communication 1, see [1].Moscow. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 1, pp. 54–58, January–February, 1970.