Elastic and viscoelastic properties of sugarcane bagasse-filled poly(vinyl chloride) composites

Elastic and viscoelastic properties of sugarcane bagasse-filled poly(vinyl chloride) were determined by means of three-point bending flexural tests and dynamic mechanical and thermal analysis. The elastic modulus, storage modulus, loss modulus, and damping parameter of the composites at fibre contents of 10, 20, 30, and 40% in mass were determined, as well as those of the unfilled matrix. There was a correlation between the elastic modulus and storage modulus of the composites. Moreover, the elastic and viscoelastic properties of the composites were highly influenced by fibre content.     

Rheological Behavior of the Melts for Polyethylene-based Montmorillonite Nanocomposites

IntroductionOwing to their special structures or morphologies,polymer-based montmorillonite nanocomposites exhibitsome particular characteristics,such as,physical,thermal,and mechanical properties,induced by theaddition of very small amounts of inorganic …     

Nonlinear viscoelasticity, percolation and particles dispersibility of PVA/aluminum hydroxide composite gels

We investigated the rheological properties of a composite gel consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol) and aluminum hydroxide particles, and discussed the relation among nonlinear viscoelasticity, percolation and particles dispersibility. The dynamic viscoelastic measurements revealed that the storage modulus at volume fractions ? < 0.04 satisfied with the Krieger-Dougherty equation representing random dispersion of particles. The storage modulus did not show any nonlinear viscoelastic response at ? < 0.04. However, the storage modulus at ? > 0.06 took a value which is far larger than that expected by the equation, indicating heterogeneous distribution of particles. Additionally, the nonlinear viscoelastic response was recognized clearly at ? > 0.06, suggesting a partial contact between particles. The storage modulus at ? > 0.18 showed a further increase satisfied with the percolation theory, therefore, the volume fraction is considered to be the percolation threshold of 3-dimension. Microscopic observations of the gel showed a clear network with a mesh size of few μm that is considered to be a partial network of particles.     

Artificial ageing of double base rocket propellant

The ageing of double base rocket propellants (DB rocket propellants), which is a consequence of chemical reactions and physical processes that take place over time, has significant effect on their relevant properties (e.g. chemical composition, mechanical properties, ballistic properties, etc.). The changes of relevant properties limit the safe and reliable service life of DB rocket propellants. This is the reason why numerous research efforts are devoted to finding out reliable methods to measure the changes caused by ageing, to assess the quality at a given moment of time, and to predict remaining life-time of DB rocket propellants. In this work we studied dynamic mechanical properties of DB rocket propellant artificially aged at elevated temperatures, in order to detect and quantify changes in dynamic mechanical properties caused by the ageing. Dynamic mechanical properties were studied using dynamic mechanical analyser (DMA). The results obtained have shown that the ageing causes significant changes of DMA curve’s shape and positions. These changes are quantified by following some characteristic points on DMA curves (e.g. glass transition temperatures; storage modulus, loss modulus and tanδ at characteristic temperatures, etc.). It has been found out that the most sensitive parameters to the ageing process are: storage modulus at viscoelastic and softening region, peak width and height on loss modulus curve, glass transition and softening temperature, and tanδ at viscoelastic region.     

Viscoelastic properties of ionic polymer composites reinforced by soy protein isolate

Both linear and nonlinear viscoelastic properties of ionic polymer composites reinforced by soy protein isolate (SPI) were studied. Viscoelastic properties were related to the aggregate structure of fillers. The aggregate structure of SPI is consisted of submicron size of globule protein particles that form an open aggregate structure. SPI and carbon black (CB) aggregates characterized by scanning electron microscope and particle size analyzer indicate that CB aggregates have a smaller primary particle and aggregate size than SPI aggregates, but the SPI composites have a slightly greater elastic modulus in the linear viscoelastic region than the CB composites. The composite containing 3–40 wt % of SPI has a transition in the shear elastic modulus between 6 and 8 vol % filler, indicating a percolation threshold. CB composites also showed a modulus transition at <6 vol %. The change of fractional free volume with filler concentration as estimated from WLF fit of frequency shift factor also supports the existence of a percolation threshold. Nonlinear viscoelastic properties of filler, matrix, and composites suggested that the filler‐immobilized rubber network generated a G′ maximum in the modulus‐strain curves and the SPI formed a stronger filler network than the CB in these composites. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 3503–3518, 2005     

The effect of fiber orientation and stacking sequence on carbon/E-glass/epoxy intraply hybrid composites under dynamic loading conditions

This study investigated the dynamic mechanical properties of hybrid intraply carbon/E-glass epoxy composites with different orientations and stacking sequences under different loading conditions with increasing temperature. A neat epoxy and five various hybrid composites such as Carbon (0°)/E-glass (90°), Carbon (45°)/E-glass (135°), Carbon (90°)/E-glass (0°), Carbon/E-glass (alternating layer), and Carbon/E-glass (alternating layer 45°) were manufactured. Three-point bending test and dynamic mechanical test were conducted to understand the flexural modulus and viscoelastic behavior (storage modulus, loss modulus, and loss tangent) of the composites. Dynamic mechanical test was performed with the dual cantilever method, at four different frequencies (1, 5, 10, and 20 Hz) and temperatures ranging from 30 to 150°C. The experimental results of storage modulus, loss modulus, and loss tangents were compared with the theoretical findings of neat epoxy and various hybrid composites. The glass transition temperature (T_g) increased with the increase in frequency. A linear fit of the natural log of frequency to the inverse of absolute temperature was plotted in the activation energy estimation. The interphase damping (tanδ_i) between plies and the strength indicator (S_i) of the hybrid composites were estimated. It was observed that the neat epoxy had more insufficient storage and loss modulus and a high loss tangent at all the frequencies whereas hybrid composites had high storage and loss modulus and a low loss tangent for all the frequencies. Compared with other hybrid composites, Carbon (90°)/E-glass (0°) had higher strength and activation energy. The result of reinforcement of hybrid fiber in neat epoxy significantly increases the material's strength and stability at higher temperatures whereas decreasing free molecular movement.     

Mechanical and dynamic viscoelastic properties of hydroxyapatite reinforced poly(ε-caprolactone)

Poly(ε-caprolactone)/hydroxyapatite (PCL/HA) composites as potential bone substitutes were prepared by melt-blending. The melting, crystallization and glass transition temperatures deduced from differential scanning calorimetery and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) were all changed by the addition of HA, suggesting an interaction at the interface of these two phases. Quasi-static mechanical testing shows that the yield strength and Young's modulus of PCL were increased by the addition of the reinforcement filler, HA. Dynamic viscoelastic properties were investigated using DMTA and an advanced rheometric expansion system. The results show that both the storage modulus and viscous modulus are enhanced by HA, and the PCL composite melts still behave like pseudo-plastic liquid.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of aluminum nitride/cyanate ester composites for high performance electronic packaging

Viscoelastic ature is one of the key features of polymeric composites. A series of cyanate ester (CE)‐based composites with different aluminum nitride (AlN) contents for high performance electronic packaging, coded as AlN/CE, were developed; the viscoelastic nature of AlN/CE composites was intensively investigated by employing dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Results show that the AlN content has a great effect on dynamic mechanical properties of AlN/CE composites. The storage modulus in the glassy region increases linearly with the addition of AlN as well as the increase of AlN content. Meanwhile, all composites also exhibit notably higher loss modulus than cured CE resin due to the appearance of new energy dissipation forms. In addition, the incorporation of AlN has a significant effect on damping factor peak. All reasons leading to these phenomena are analyzed from the view of structure–property relationship. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Linear Viscoelastic Behavior of Multiphase Dispersions

The linear viscoelastic behavior of polymer-thickened oil-in-water emulsions, polymer-thickened solids-in-liquid suspensions, and their blends is investigated using a controlled-stress rheometer. The emulsions exhibit a predominantly viscous behaviour at low values of oil concentration in that the loss modulus (G") exceeds the storage modulus (G') over most of the frequency range. At high values of oil concentration, the emulsions exhibit a predominantly elastic behavior. The ratio of storage modulus to loss modulus (G'/G") increases with the increase in oil concentration. Emulsions follow the theoretical model of J. F. Palierne (1990, Rheol. Acta 29, 204) only at low values of oil volume fraction (/=G' over most of the frequency range. The ratio G'/G" varies only slightly with the increase in solids volume fraction. The Palierne model describes the linear viscoelastic properties of suspensions accurately only at low values of solids volume fraction. At high values of solids concentration, the Parlierne model underpredicts the linear viscoelastic properties of suspensions and the deviation increases with the increase in solids concentration. The blends of emulsions and suspensions exhibit strong synergistic effects at low to moderate values of frequencies; the plots of blend modulus versus emulsion content exhibit a minimum. However, at high values of frequency, the blend modulus generally falls between the moduli of pure suspension and pure emulsion. The high-frequency modulus data of blends of emulsions and suspensions are successfully correlated in terms of the modulus ratio versus volume fraction of solids, where modulus ratio is defined as the ratio of blend modulus to pure emulsion modulus at the same frequency. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

PMVS/SiO2复合体系中粒子表面处理对动态粘弹特性的影响

粘弹性是高分子材料最本质的特征,其与高分子结构的关系一直是多组分高分子材料研究的热点。目前,对于填料增强聚硅氧烷体系的研究主要集中于填料在聚合物中的分散以及增强机理等方面,而有关不同填料表面特性体系的粘弹响应的研究报道尚不多见．在前文报道未经表面处理的超细SiO2填充聚甲基乙烯基硅氧烷(Polymethylvinylsiloxane,PMVS)的粘弹性研究的基础上,本文采用双(γ-三乙氧基硅基丙基)四硫化物IBis(3-triethoxysilyl)tetrasul{ane,TESPT]对SiO2进行表面处理,并采用溶液共混法制备样品,研究了经表面处理的SiO2填充PMVS体系的动态粘弹行为,并探讨了其结构变化与粘弹响应的关系。     

Mechanical and viscoelastic properties of chitin fiber reinforced poly(ε-caprolactone)

Poly(ε-caprolactone)/chitin fiber (PCL-CF) composites as potential bone substitutes were prepared using a simple melt-processing method. The results from differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) showed that there was interaction between PCL and CF. Static mechanical testing showed that tensile strength, Young’s modulus and flexural strength were increased by the addition of CF. The measurements from DMTA and an advanced rheometric expansion system showed that both the storage modulus and loss modulus were enhanced by CF. The PCL-CF composite with CF of 45% by mass had the best properties among all the tested composites.     

CB/HDPE导电复合体系中Kerner-Nielson方程修正及电渗流与粘弹渗流的相关性

随着导电填料含量的增加,聚合物导电复合材料的电导率呈现非连续的递增.当填料含量达到渗流阈值并导致渗流现象出现时,导电填料相互聚集并形成网络,体系电导率急剧增大,关于此类电渗流现象已有很多报道^[1～4].填充类导电复合材料的结构和性能与其粘弹性密切相关.近年来,由于炭黑填充使得许多光学方法失效,流变学方法受到了广泛重视.最新的研究发现,非均相结构的出现和演化对浓度的依赖性有着特征流变响应,是一种粘弹渗流现象^[5～7].     

Linear viscoelastic characteristics of in situ compatiblized binary polymer blends with viscoelastic properties of components variable

By Friedel‐Crafts alkylation reaction, catalyzed by a Lewis acid of anhydrous aluminum chloride (AlCl₃), binary polymer blends of polypropylene (PP)/polystyrene (PS) with volume proportion of 80/20 were in situ compatiblized and prepared in an XSS‐30 melt mixer at 210 °C. The linear viscoelastic characteristics of the blends were investigated by checking the variations of storage modulus, loss modulus, complex modulus, and complex viscosity of the in situ compatiblized blends, which were dependent on AlCl₃ content. In addition, Han plots of the in situ compatiblized blends with different AlCl₃ content were also used to characterize the linear viscoelastic properties of the blends. The results showed that both the dynamic rheological parameters and the Han plots were obviously influenced by the rheological properties of the matrix and slightly influenced by the rheological properties of the dispersed phase. Further investigations revealed that phase geometry contributions to the dynamic rheological parameters of the blends could be ignored in comparison with the contributions of the components and the interfacial modification, which were defined and obtained according to log‐linear‐additivity rule. The linear viscoelastic characteristics of the blends were mainly controlled by the combination of the effects of interfacial modification between phases and the rheological properties of the matrix. Storage modulus is the most sensitive dynamic rheological parameter to characterize the interfacial compatiblization effects in the in situ compatiblized binary polymer blends with rheological properties of components variable. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1349–1362, 2010     

New strategy to reinforce and toughen composites via introducing thorns-like micro/nanofibers

In this work, we report a new strategy of introducing thorns-like fiber into composites, so that the resultant composites substantially benefit from strong fiber–matrix interface adhesion. Specifically, the “thorns” could increase in interlocking molecules chains and entangle with the surrounding matrix resin, which could impede the mobility of polymer chains, as like the roots with uplift capacity. Strong interfacial adhesion between fibers and matrices is suggested by the SEM images and the DMA studies. After the thorns-like fibers are embedded into epoxy resin, the glass transition temperature (T_g) and the storage modulus (E′) are higher than these of neat epoxy and untreated fibers-reinforced epoxy, respectively, and the flexural properties of the composites reinforced with thorns-like fibers are significantly increased. Therefore these novel three dimensional thorns-like fibers will be applicable for composite materials based upon its unique architecture, making it an attractive alternative to increase the performance of any matrix resin.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene/nitrile rubber blends: Effects of blend ratio,reactive compatibilization,and dynamic vulcanization

The effect of blend ratio and compatibilization on dynamic mechanical properties of PP/NBR blends was investigated at different temperatures. The storage modulus of the blend decreased with increase in rubber content and shows two T_g's indicating the incompatibility of the system. Various composite models have been used to predict the experimental viscoelastic data. The Takayanagi model fit well with the experimental values. The addition of phenolic modified polypropylene (Ph-PP) and maleic modified polypropylene (MA-PP) improved the storage modulus of the blend at lower temperatures. The enhancement in storage modulus was correlated with the change in domain size of dispersed NBR particles. The effect of dynamic vulcanization using sulfur, peroxide, and mixed system on viscoelastic behavior was also studied. Among these peroxide system shows the highest modulus. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35 : 2309–2327, 1997     

Comparative rheological study of ionic semi-IPN composite hydrogels based on polyacrylamide and dextran sulphate and of polyacrylamide hydrogels

Ionic semi-interpenetrating polymer networks composite hydrogels were synthesized by free-radical polymerization using dextran sulphate (DxS), acrylamide as monomer and N,N′-methylene(bis)acrylamide as cross-linking agent. The viscoelastic properties of these composite hydrogels were investigated by oscillatory shear measurements under small deformation conditions comparative with those of polyacrylamide gels. Changes of the rheological properties of composite hydrogels have been studied in terms of polymerization temperature, cross-linker ratio, initial monomer concentration and molar mass of DxS. The results showed that the stability of the composite hydrogels obtained at room temperature (22?°C) was relatively low because the storage modulus (G′) was only eight times higher than the loss modulus (G″), while for those obtained by cryopolymerization (?18?°C), the stability was improved, the G′ values being about 30 times higher than those of G″. This behaviour indicated that, by conducting the synthesis of hydrogels below the freezing point of the reaction solutions, an enhancement of the hydrogels elasticity was achieved. The network parameters, i.e. the average molecular weight between two cross-links and the cross-link density of the composite hydrogels prepared at ?18?°C, were estimated from rheological data.     

Study on the viscoelastic properties of the epoxy surface by means of nanodynamic mechanical analysis

The viscoelastic properties of the epoxy surface have been investigated by nanodynamic mechanical analysis (nano‐DMA). Both a Berkovich tip and a conospherical tip were used under the condition of different forces (i.e., different penetration depths) in the frequency range of 10–200 Hz. Loss tangent and storage modulus are characteristics that describe the viscoelastic properties. The effect of force frequency, penetration depth, and tip shape on the viscoelastic properties is studied and discussed according to the features of microstructures and mobility of molecular chains. The experimental results show important variations when the penetration depth is shallow (<30 nm). As the depth becomes deeper, the results tend to be stable and become almost constant over 120 nm. The two kinds of indenter tip can cause a slight difference of the storage modulus. A “master curve” of the storage modulus as a function of force frequency is established. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 281–288, 2008     

Determination of dynamic properties of flax fibres reinforced laminate using vibration measurements

Experimental and numerical methods to identify the linear viscoelastic properties of flax fibre reinforced polymer (FFRP) composite are presented in this study. The method relies on the evolution of storage modulus and loss factor as observed through the frequency response. Free-free symmetrically guided beams were excited in the dynamic range of 10 Hz to 4 kHz with a swept sine excitation focused around their first modes. A fractional derivative Zener model has been identified to predict the complex moduli. A modified ply constitutive law has been then implemented in a classical laminates theory calculation (CLT) routine. Overall, the Zener model fitted the experimental results well. The storage modulus was not frequency dependant, while the loss factor increased with frequency and reached a maximum value for a fibre orientation of 70°. The damping of FFRP was, respectively, 5 and 2 times higher than for equivalent carbon and glass fibres reinforced epoxy composites.     

Study on the influence of ageing on chemical and mechanical properties of N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-diphenylcarbamide stabilized propellants

Double-base propellants undergo chemical, physical and mechanical changes upon ageing, leading to changes in ballistic performance and presenting explosive hazards. This report studies the variation of chemical and mechanical properties of aged N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-diphenylcarbamide (methyl centralite) stabilized propellants in order to simulate and evaluate the natural ageing throughout the artificial one. Therefore, a comparative study of stabilizer depletion, plasticizers content, heat of combustion and mechanical properties such as storage modulus, loss modulus and damping of naturally and artificially aged propellants has been carried out by the following techniques: high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thermogravimetric analyzer (TG), calorimeter of combustion and dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), respectively. The results obtained show that all properties are closely connected. In addition, the determination of stabilizer depletion, plasticizers evaporation, decrease of heat of combustion and mechanical properties are very useful for a better understanding of the decomposition and ageing behaviour of propellants. The HPLC investigation of stabilizer has shown good stability of the propellants. The results obtained for DMA have shown that some considerable changes of the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the propellants occurred during ageing. These results confirm the results obtained by TG for the reduction of the nitroglycerine amount and the decrease of the heat of combustion.     

Glutaraldehyde treatment of bacterial cellulose/fibrin composites: impact on morphology, tensile and viscoelastic properties

Bacterial cellulose/fibrin composites were treated with glutaraldehyde in order to crosslink the polymers and allow better match of the mechanical properties with those of native small-diameter blood vessels. Tensile and viscoelastic properties of the glutaraldehyde treated composites were determined from tensile static tests and cyclic creep tests, respectively. Glutaraldehyde-treated (bacterial cellulose) BC/fibrin composites exhibited tensile strength and modulus comparable to a reference small-diameter blood vessel; namely a bovine coronary artery. However, the breaking strain of the glutaraldehyde-treated composites was still well below that of the native blood vessel. Yet a long strain hardening plateau was induced by glutaraldehyde treatment which resembled the stress–strain response of the native blood vessel. Tensile cyclic creep test indicated that the time-dependent viscoelastic behavior of glutaraldehyde-treated BC/fibrin composites was comparable to that of the native blood vessel. Covalent bonding between BC and fibrin occurred via glutaraldehyde, affording mechanical properties comparable to that of the native small blood vessel.