Structure and properties of injection molded blends of liquid crystal polymer (40 PET/60 PHB) with poly(butylene terephthalate)

Blends of a poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and a liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) were prepared in a single screw extruder. The LCP used was a liquid crystalline copolyester of 40% polyethylene terephthalate with 60% p-hydroxybenzoic acid (40 PET/60 PHB). Specimens for mechanical testing were prepared by injection molding. Rheological, morphological, microstructural, and mechanical properties were investigated by capillary rheometry, polarized light microscopy, x-ray diffractometry, and a tensile tester, respectively. For the LCP content higher than 5 wt. % a significant decrease of the viscosity was noted. The morphology of the dispersed LCP phase varies between droplets and oriented fibrils. The degree of cystallinity of PBT and the crystal sizes were found to be affected by LCP addition. The tensile mechanical behavior of the PBT + LCP blends was also found to be affected by their compositions. The elasticity modulus and the parameter of elasticity anisotropy monotonically increase with the LCP content. The strain at break shows a drastic decrease for the blends containing more than 10 wt. % LCP. The long-term creep test shows that the creep compliance decreases noticeably when the LCP content increases. Institute of Polymer Mechanics of the Latvian Academy of Science, Riga, LV-1006, Latvia. Ecole Europeénne de Chimie des Polymeres et des Matériaux, Université Louis Pasteur, F-67000 Strasbourg, France. Poznan University of Technology, Laboratory of Crystallography and Polymer Physics, PL-60-965 Poznan, Poland. Published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 32, No. 5, pp. 676–689, September–October, 1996.     

Mechanical Properties of Blends of Low-Density Polyethylene with Chlorinated Polyethylene

The results of experimental investigation into the mechanical properties of blends of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) in tension are presented. The specimens of pure LDPE, CPE, and nine types of LDPE/CPE blends, with different content of components at 10 wt.% intervals, were examined. Data on the influence of blend composition on the tensile stress-strain diagram, elastic modulus, yield stress, breaking stress, and ultimate elongation are obtained. The results of investigations of creep are also reported. It is found that the creep compliance (the total current compliance minus the elastic compliance) obeys the power law of creep.__________Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 391–404, May–June, 2005.     

Mechanical Properties of High-Density Polyethylene/Chlorinated Polyethylene Blends

Results of experimental investigation of mechanical properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) blends in tension are reported. The specimens of pure HDPE, CPE, and nine types of HDPE/CPE blends, with different component ratios at 10 wt.% intervals, are examined. The features of the stress-strain curves obtained are discussed. Data on the influence of blend composition on the elastic modulus, yield stress, breaking stress, and ultimate elongation are obtained. The results of investigations into the creep behavior are also presented. It is found that the creep compliance obeys the power law of creep with coefficients depending on blend composition.     

Analitical Description of the Creep of Expanded Polystyrene under Compressive Loading

Data obtained in testing the creep of expanded polystyrene plates in compression are discussed. Power-type and exponential regression equations are used for describing the compression creep curves. Within the limits of data spread, both these equations represent experimental results equally well. A correlation between the creep strain and density, the compressive stress at a 10% strain, and the elastic modulus in compression is revealed for the material investigated.__________Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 41, No. 4, pp. 525–534, July–August, 2005     

Method of determining the volume and shear characteristics of elastico-viscous hereditary media from uniaxial-tension (compression) experiments

A method is proposed for determining the elastic constants — instantaneous modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio, shear modulus, bulk modulus, and the shear and volume influence functions — the shear creep kernel, the shear creep rate kernel, and the corresponding relaxation kernels from the data of creep or relaxation tests.Moscow. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 4, pp. 754–758, July–August, 1969.     

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.     

Features of thermomechanical properties of radiation-modified blends of high-density polyethylene with liquid-crystalline copolyester

The present paper surveys the investigation results of gamma-irradiated blends of high-density polyethylene (PE) with thermotropic liquid-crystalline polymer (LCP). The LCP used was a liquid crystalline copolyester of 40% poly(ethyleneterephthalate) with 60% p-(hydroxybenzoic acid). The LCP content in the blends was 0,5, and 10 wt.%. The constituents were blended with the use of a single-screw extruder. The samples were prepared by compression molding and irradiated by a Co⁶⁰ -radiation source in an inert atmosphere (argon) to relatively low absorbed doses (up to 200 kGy; 1 Mrad=10 kGy). Morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties in a wide temperature range were investigated for the irradiated and nonirradiated samples. The effects of gamma-irradiation and LCP addition on the thermomechanical behavior of PE are discussed. It was found that the LCP addition affected significantly the stress-strain behavior of PE at temperatures above the melting point. The features of thermorelaxation properties of the PE/LCP blends previously irradiated and oriented, particularly thermorelaxation and residual shrinkage stresses at isometric heating and cooling, were also established. The results obtained testify that the LCP addition makes it possible to improve considerably the thermosetting properties of irradiated PE.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 124–139, January–February, 1998.     

On the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of low-density polyethylene/ethylene-α-octene copolymer blends

Blends of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and ethylene-octene copolymer (EOC) were obtained. The effect of EOC content and absorbed radiation dose on the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of LDPE/EOC blends are investigated. Particular attention is given to a tensile stress-strain analysis and the “form-memory” effect of the blends. With growing LDPE content, the elastic modulus, the yield stress, and the thermorelaxation and residual stresses of the blends increase, but the ultimate elongation at break decreases, which is caused by the higher crystallinity of polyethylene. As a result of radiation-induced cross-linking, the elastic modulus, the yield stress (at a 1% strain), the ultimate yield strength, and the thermorelaxation and residual stresses increase, while the ultimate elongation at break and the melt flow-behavior index decrease, which is confirmed by the growing gel fraction in the blend. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 2, pp. 279–286, March–April, 2008.     

Calculation of elastic characteristics and creep functions of hollow-sphere plastics by the effective medium method

Conclusion Solutions for the elastic characteristics and the creep functions of a composite containing hollow spherical fillers as applies to the four-phase nucleus/jacket/binder/equivalent-homogeneous-material model are obtained in the study when the method of self-correspondence is used. It is demonstrated that if the two-stage approach (when the elastic characteristics of the nucleus + jacket system, and the composite are calculated in the first and second stages, respectively) yields an exact solution for the bulk modulus K_* of the composite, it is highly approximate when the shear modulus G_* of the composite is determined. The error of determination of G_* increases considerably (by a factor of 2–2.5 when = 0.4) when Kerner's approximate solution (2) is used in lieu of solution (8) for the three-phase model within the framework of the two stage approach. Dzenis and Maksimov [5] establish by comparison with experimental data that the four-phase model provides a rather exact solution for the elastic modulus of a composite when the bulk content of hollow spheres 0.4. It is also demonstrated that use of Kerner's approximate solution (2) within the framework of the two-stage approach in predicting the creep of a composite yields an inadmissibly high error in the region of the principal relaxation transition of the binder from the glassy to the highly elastic state.This work was sponsored at the Iberoamericana University in 1993 by the Mexican National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT).Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 177–188, March–April, 1994.     

Effect of hot-drawing conditions on the orientation characteristics of carbon-chain fibers determined by the acoustic method

The orientation characteristics of polypropylene, polyacrylonitrile, and chlorinated PVC fibers, determined by the acoustic method, have been investigated in relation to the fiber drawing conditions (draw ratio, speed, and temperature). It is shown that there is a correlation between the mechanical characteristics and the degree of acoustic anisotropy.Tashkent Institute of the Textile and Light Industries. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 3, pp. 552–554, May–June, 1971.     

Properties of fiberglass-plastics reinforced with high-modulus fibers

The question of reinforcement of unidirectional fiberglass-plastic with boron or carbon fibers is considered. Static fatigue curves for the Poisson coefficient and the elastic modulus as functions of the volume content of the glass and the high-modulus fibers have been constructed. The theoretical dependences are compared with the experimental data.Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, Riga. Moscow. Translated from Mekhabika Polimerov, No. 1, pp. 68–74, January–February, 1972.     

Creep and long-time strength of unidirectional reinforced plastics in compression

An attempt is made to predict the creep and long-time strength of unidirectional reinforced plastics in compression in the direction of the reinforcement from the properties of the components. The reinforcement is assumed to be elastic, while the resin is described by a Boltzmann-Volterraintegral equation with fractional-exponential Rabotnov kernel. Experimentally obtained creep and long-time strength curves are presented for unidirectional reinforced plastics.Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, Riga. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 5, pp. 830–835, September–October, 1970.     

Determination of coupled creep functions from experimental creep curves

A method is given for constructing the coupled creep functions g(t) from the experimental longitudinal creep curves and the known Poisson's ratio. It is shown that for this purpose it is sufficient to substitute for one of the parameters of the singular kernel a quantity containing the Poisson's ratio and the parameter determined from the solution of the elastic problem.I. M. Gubkin Moscow Institute of the Petrochemical and Gas Industry. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 2, pp. 216–220, March–April, 1974.     

Determination of the mechanical characteristics of a glass-reinforced plastic during winding

Problems associated with the determination of the transverse modulus of the material under compression during winding are examined. The rheological characteristics of the material are investigated on the basis of the short-time and long-time creep curves for winding processes conducted at normal and elevated temperatures.Ordzhonikidze Moscow Aviation Institute. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 1, pp. 162–164, January–February, 1973.     

Choice of kernels in solving problems involving creep and relaxation

For the memory theory analysis of creep and relaxation processes whose rates have a singularity at the beginning of the process it is proposed to employ a kernel and the corresponding resolvent in the form of a series whose convergence is proved. An estimate of the convergence and an asymptotic formula for large times are also presented. The kernel, the resolvent and their integrals have been tabulated. Theoretical curves are constructed for certain parameters, and it is shown how they can be used in analyzing creep problems when the object is to find relaxation (creep) curves from experimental creep (relaxation) curves. It is noted that, given a suitable choice of parameters, it is possible to use the proposed functions to describe both finite and unlimited creep.Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 483–497, 1966     

Dependence of the rheological characteristics of filled polypropylene on filler concentration,loading regime and temperature

The rheological characteristics of polypropylene have been investigated in relation to filler concentration, loading rate in the =wt regime, creep stress and time interval and temperature. A study has been made of the relationship between the changes in the rheological characteristics of the material, determined from - curves obtained from tensile tests at different constant loading rates, creep tests and by acoustical methods, with variation in filler concentration and temperature.Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, Riga. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 853–858, September–October, 1968.     

泥质盐岩单轴蠕变寿命研究

岩石流变力学的研究中，蠕变寿命是一个重要问题.由于长期蠕变试验资料的缺乏，难以估计蠕变破坏时间.该文进行了泥质盐岩单轴全应力 应变压缩试验，并采用陈氏加载法进行了单轴蠕变试验.对蠕变曲线进行了处理，获得了不同应力水平下的蠕变曲线簇，进而得到了等时应力-应变曲线簇.通过拟合分析，建立了等时应力-应变曲线割线模量随时间变化关系模型和等时应力 应变曲线的数学模型.对等时应力 应变曲线与全应力-应变曲线之间的关系进行了分析，获得了蠕变破坏强度和破坏应变分别与蠕变寿命之间的数学表达式.该文研究成果可以估计泥质盐岩的蠕变寿命、长期强度、长期模量、蠕变破坏线和蠕变终止线，对相关岩石流变寿命的估计具有借鉴意义.     

Effect of water sorption on some mechanical parameters of composite systems based on low-density polyethylene and microcrystalline cellulose

Strength-deformation characteristics of low-density polyethylene filled with microcrystalline cellulose Thermocell as a function of the TC content (up to 0.7 parts by weight) are studied. Characteristics such as elastic modulus, relative elongation at break, ultimate strength, and work of failure are determined. Water sorption and change in the size and strength-deformation characteristics of composite specimens during exposure to boiling water (560 min) are also studied. It is shown that with greater filler content it is possible to increase the strength-deformation characteristics of LDPE, such as elastic modulus and tensile strength. The growth of the ultimate strength is associated with the formation of a specific filler framework with increasing filler content. It is found that the main factors which cause a decrease in the elastic modulus and softening of the composite are failure of the filler framework as well as formation of stresses and voids during water sorption by the composite. It is demonstrated that the steady reproducibility of the composition, attainable high filling degrees, and ecological safety make Thermocell a promising filler for polyethylene.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 79–90, January–February, 1999.     

Effect of the composition and concentration of fibrous wastes from linen yarn production on the physicomechanical properties of polyolefin composites

An analysis is made of the feasibility of using wastes from the production of linen yarm (scutch, spinning and carding refuse) to modify low-density polyethylene. The effect of the composition and concentration of wastes on the processing properties (melt index), physicomechanical indices (tensile strength, elastic modulus in bending), and water resistance of composites based on low-density polyethylene is studied. It is found that the melt index decreases with an increase in the content of filler and that even a composite with a high filler content (40–50% by weight) maintains values of 0.2–0.3 g/10 min. The elastic modulus in bending increases with an increase in the content of waste, regardless of the nature of the latter. Tensile strength increases slightly and depends on the choice of filler. This result, combined with the reducation in the scatter of values of elastic modulus with an increase in filler concentration, is an indicator of the relatively high degree of heterogeneity of the systems that were studied. The water resistance of the composites decreases with an increase in filleer content. To reduce the heterogeneity of the systems, mixing should be intensified and modifiers such as stearic acid and polyisocyanates should be added.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 408–416, May–June, 1997.