Characterizing fracture energy of proton exchange membranes using a knife slit test

Pinhole formation in proton exchange membranes (PEM) may be caused by a process of flaw formation and crack propagation within membranes exposed to cyclic hygrothermal loading. Fracture mechanics can be used to characterize the propagation process, which is thought to occur in a slow, time‐dependent manner under cyclic loading conditions, and believed to be associated with limited plasticity. The intrinsic fracture energy has been used to characterize the fracture resistance of polymeric material with limited viscoelastic and plastic dissipation, and has been found to be associated with long‐term durability of polymeric materials. Insight into this limiting value of fracture energy may be useful in characterizing the durability of proton exchange membranes, including the formation of pinhole defects. In an effort to collect fracture data with limited plasticity, a knife slit test was adapted to measure fracture energies of PEMs, resulting in fracture energies that were two orders of magnitude smaller than those obtained with other fracture test methods. The presence of a sharp knife blade reduces crack tip plasticity, providing fracture energies that may be more representative of the intrinsic fracture energies of the thin membranes. Three commercial PEMs were tested to evaluate their fracture energies (G_c) at temperatures ranging from 40 to 90 °C and humidity levels varying from dry to 90% relative humidity (RH). Experiments were also conducted with membrane specimens immersed in water at various temperatures. The time temperature moisture superposition principle was applied to generate fracture energy master curves plotted as a function of reduced cutting rate based on the humidity and temperature conditions of the tests. The shift with respect to temperature and humidity suggests that the slitting process is viscoelastic in nature. Also such shifts were found to be consistent with those obtained from constitutive tests such as stress relaxation. The fracture energy is more sensitive to temperature than on humidity. The master curves converge at the lowest reduced cutting rates, suggesting similar intrinsic fracture energies; but diverge at higher reduced cutting rates to significantly different fracture energies. Although the relationship between G_c and ultimate mechanical durability has not been established, the test method may hold promise for investigating and comparing membrane resistance to failure in fuel cell environments. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 333–343, 2010     

Thermal decomposition kinetic evaluation and its thermal hazards prediction of AIBN

AIBN (2,2′-azobis (isobutyronitrile)), widely used for blowing agent and initiator, is a typical self-reactive material, being capable of undergoing runaway reaction due to its self-heating during storage or transportation. In this study, the thermal decomposition process of AIBN was studied by differential scanning calorimetry at different heating rates. The kinetic parameters including the activation energy and pre-exponential factor at different stages were calculated, and the laws of parameter variation were analyzed using the software, named as Advanced Kinetics and Technology Solutions, which can also predict the thermal stability of decomposition process at actual situations, such as ton and kg scale. The results show that heating rate can influence evidently the thermal behavior of AIBN, which can decompose in liquid phase or in liquid–solid co-existing phase, or, even decomposes in solid phase; according to Friedman method, the value of the calculated activation energy is 122 kJ mol^?1; according to Ozawa method, the value decreases gradually with the reaction process, and the smallest one is 124 kJ mol^?1. By mg-scale prediction under isothermal condition, it is known that AIBN decomposes at 30 °C (room temperature), very slowly; by ton-scale prediction under adiabatic condition, the safety diagram of AIBN is acquired, which shows how the time to the maximum rate changes with the initial temperature under ideal adiabatic condition (Φ = 1), for example, for TMR_ad = 24 h, the corresponding mean temperature (i.e., TD₂₄) is 71.23 °C, and for the initial temperature 71.23 °C, the lower and upper limits of the confidence intervals (95 % probability) are 18.5 and 31 h; by kg-scale prediction, it is obtained that the self-accelerating decomposition temperature of 50 kg AIBN with standard package is 63 °C, which is close to that of ARC.     

Electron and photon emission accompanying deformation and fracture of polycarbonate

Electron and photon emission accompanying tensile loading and failure of polycarbonate show weak emissions during the onset of neck formation and intense emissions during the fracture event itself. These results are interpreted in terms of formation of active species by bond breaking followed by emission driven by energy released by recombination. Fast time scale measurements during fracture show that intense electron and photon emission typically begins about 50 μs prior to the completion of fracture and is most intense at the completion of fracture. The gradual onset reflects the final stages of growth of the failure-initiating defect. Defect growth was monitored by measuring the intensity of a light beam transmitted through the gauge length of the sample; the transmission is sensitive to scattering by surface and bulk defects. A marked decrease in transmission begins some tens of ms prior to fracture due to scattering from the fracture-initiating defect. These measurements allow accurate correlations of defect growth with the onset of the electron and photon signals. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Colorimetric analysis of thermal degradation of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride): Potentials and limitations

The kinetics of formation and consumption of polyenes is studied by measuring the change in color coordinates and color difference during the thermal aging of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) at a temperature of 60–130°С under vented conditions and in a closed volume. It is shown that the initial rate of accumulation and the quasi-stationary concentration of polyenes at 100–130°С grow with temperature. The energy of activation of dehydrochlorination is 70 ± 3 kJ/mol. At a lower temperature (60–80°С), the intensity of color of the samples that are preliminarily aged at increased temperatures decreases. The reduction in the rate of this process with temperature in the range of 60–80°С and the presence of the quasi-stationary level at 100–130°С are related to competition of the processes of formation and oxidation of polyenes.     

Sintering of hydroxyapatite lath-like powders

Hydroxyapatite powders, which consisted of lath-like single-crystalline particles, were calcined at two different temperatures. Green and calcined powders were used for sintering HAp ceramic samples under uniaxial pressing. Powders and sintered samples were studied using various analytical techniques in order to determine how calcination affects the particle properties and the sintering behavior of HAp powders. It was found that calcination decreases the particles length and changes the particles morphology from lath-like to spherical shape. The relative density increases with increasing calcination temperature and aging time. It was found that long aging time favor the formation of thermally stable HAp particles, whereas a shorter one results in the formation of β-calcium phosphate during thermal treatment. Sintering of compacted powders begins at temperatures greater than 900°C, with a trend to increase the onset temperature as the calcination temperature is increased.     

Thermal reactive hazards of 1,1-bis(tert-butylperoxy)cyclohexane with nitric acid contaminants by DSC

With two active O?CO peroxide groups, 1,1-bis(tert-butylperoxy)cyclohexane (BTBPC) has a certain degree of thermal instability. It is usually used as an initiator in chemical processes, and therefore reckless operation may result in serious thermal accidents. This study focused on the runaway reactions of BTBPC alone and mixed with various concentrations of nitric acid (1, 2, 4, and 8?N). The essential thermokinetic parameters, such as exothermic onset temperature (T _o), activation energy (E _a), frequency factor (A), time to maximum rate under adiabatic condition (TMR_ad) and time to conversion limit (TCL), were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry at the heating rate of 4?°C min^?1, and a kinetics-based curve fitting method was used to assess the thermokinetic parameters. All the results indicated that BTBPC mixed with one more than 4?N nitric acid dramatically increased the degree of thermal hazard in the exothermic peak and became more dangerous. However, it was relatively safe for BTBPC mixed with less than 1?N nitric acid under 34.5?°C.     

Accelerating rate calorimeter studies of water-induced thermal hazards of fireworks tip mixture

The objective of this article is to generate thermal decomposition data on fireworks tip mixture, a mixture used to coat the tip of fireworks, for easy ignition. This mixture has reportedly involved in triggering many accidents in fireworks industry. Different quantities of water were added to the mixture and its thermal characteristics were studied. Differential scanning calorimeter was used for screening tests and accelerating rate calorimeter was used for detailed studies in adiabatic and isothermal modes. The self-heat rate data obtained showed onset temperature for different quantity of water, at a range of 80–170 °C. The mixture with 40 % water wt/wt had onset at 80 °C in adiabatic mode. The same mixture on isoaging at 40 °C exhibited exothermic characteristics with a substantial rise in system pressure (57 bar). The heats of exothermic decomposition and Arrhenius kinetics were also computed.     

Ultrasonic and IR study of molecular association process through hydrogen bonding in ternary liquid mixtures

Complex formation in ternary liquid mixtures of heterocyclic compounds, viz. pyridine and quinoline with phenol in benzene has been studied through ultrasonic velocity measurements (at 2 MHz) in the concentration range of 0.010–0.090 at varying temperatures of 35, 45 and 55 °C. The ultrasonic velocity and density data are used to estimate adiabatic compressibility, intermolecular free length, molar sound velocity, molar compressibility and specific acoustic impedance. These acoustical parameters, in turn, are used to study the solute–solute interactions in these systems. The ultrasonic velocity shows a maxima and adiabatic compressibility a corresponding minima as a function of concentration for these mixtures. The results indicate the possible occurrence of complex formation between unlike molecules through intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the nitrogen atom of pyridine and quinoline molecules and the hydrogen atom of phenol molecule. Further, the excess values of adiabatic compressibility and intermolecular free length have also been evaluated and discussed in relation to complex formation. The infrared spectra of both the systems, pyridine–phenol and quinoline–phenol, have been also recorded for various concentrations at room temperature (35 °C) and found to be useful for understanding the presence of N⋯HO bond complexes and the strength of molecular association at specific concentrations.     

Temperature independence of the photoinduced electron injection in dye-sensitized TiO2 rationalized by ab initio time-domain density functional theory

Time-domain density functional theory simulations resolve the apparent conflict between the central role that thermal fluctuations play in the photoinduced chromophore-TiO 2 electron transfer (ET) in dye-sensitized semiconductor solar cells [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 18234; Isr. J. Chem. 2003, 42, 213] and the temperature independence of the ET rate [e.g., Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem. 2005, 56, 119]. The study, performed on the alizarin-TiO 2 interface at a range of temperatures, demonstrates that the ET dynamics, both adiabatic and nonadiabatic (NA), are dependent on the temperature, but only slightly. The adiabatic rate increases with temperature because a fluctuation toward a transition state (TS) becomes more likely. A classical TS theory analysis of the adiabatic ET gives a Gibbs energy of activation that is equal to k B T at approximately 50 K, and a prefactor that corresponds to multiple ET pathways. The NA rate increases as a result of changes in the distribution of photoexcited-state energies and, hence, in the density of accessible TiO 2 levels, as expressed in the Fermi Golden Rule. In the system under investigation, the photoexcited state lies close to the bottom of the TiO 2 conduction band (CB), and the chromophore-semiconductor coupling is strong, resulting in primarily adiabatic ET. By extrapolating the simulation results to chromophores with excited states deeper inside the CB and weaker donor-acceptor coupling, we conclude that the interfacial ET is essentially independent of temperature, even though thermal ionic motions create a widespread of initial conditions, determine the distribution of injected electron energy, and drive both adiabatic and NA ET.     

Heating of polymers during neck propagation

The heating of polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide-66, and polyamide-6 during tensile drawing at room temperature was studied theoretically and experimentally. At a low draw rate, the necking temperature was close to the temperature of the surrounding air. An increase in the rate results in the transition to the adiabatic conditions of drawing. A necking temperature of 140°C was experimentally recorded in polyethylene terephthalate at a draw rate of 1000 mm/min and during the approach to the adiabatic conditions of drawing. A formula describing the dependence of the necking temperature on the draw rate was derived. The resulting value agreed fairly well with the theoretical estimation of the temperature. The drawing (strain) ratio in the neck and the draw stress are the crucial parameters determining the temperature. The rate of the transition to the adiabatic conditions of drawing was determined. The temperatures of adiabatic heating for various polymers were calculated. The increases in the temperatures of polycarbonate and low- and high-density polyethylene are relatively low. The increases in temperature can be regarded as moderate for polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride, while they attain the highest values in polyamide-6 and polyethylene terephthalate owing to the high draw ratios in the neck and the high draw-stress values.     

Transcrystallization of PTFE fiber/PP composites. II. Effect of transcrystallinity on the interfacial strength

It has been found that transcrystallinity of polypropylene (PP) develops easily on the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fiber surface in spite of the low surface energy of the fiber. Effect of the transcrystallinity on the interfacial strength has been extensively investigated using a single-fiber pull-out test. By controlling the crystallization temperature, range 25–130°C, the thickness of the transcrystalline layer varied from 0 to 175 μm for thick specimens, ca. 1 mm thick. Measurements of the adhesive fracture energy, the interfacial shear strength and the frictional stress were carried out for specimens with different embedded fiber lengths. Results show that interfacial strength and fracture energy are independent of the transcrystalline thickness. The calculated value of interfacial shear strength is 3.6 MPa, and the fracture energy for debonding is 2.1 J/m². The presence of transcrystallinity does not promote the level of adhesion in PTFE/PP composites. However, the frictional stresses at the debonded fiber/matrix interface increase with transcrystalline thickness. It is attributed to the residual stresses which arise from shrinkage when specimens are cooled from crystallization temperature to room temperature. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

3,4-二硝基呋咱基氧化呋咱的比热容、热力学性质、绝热至爆时间及热感度概率密度分布

应用Micro-DSCⅢ微热量仪对3,4-二硝基呋咱基氧化呋咱(DNTF)进行比热容测定, 得到了DNTF比热容随温度变化的线性方程定压cp=0.31064＋2.109×10-3T (285 K相似文献   

Effect of temperature on the stress-strain behavior of a polypropylene-particulate rubber composite

Composites based on polypropylene and rubber particles were studied at different temperatures. It was found that, as the temperature is elevated, the type of defects that are formed near large filler particles changes from a crack to a diamond-shaped void and, next, to an elliptical or slit-type void. The change in the defect type predetermines the change of the composite failure mechanism at a constant particulate-filler content from brittle fracture before the yield point to fracture during neck formation or propagation and, finally, to non-uniform plastic drawing with a stable neck growth.     

Titanium production in a plasma reactor: A feasibility investigation

The feasibility of producing titanium metal from titanium tetrachloride in a thermal plasma under equilibrium and adiabatic expansion conditions has been theoretically investigated. Free energy minimization and adiabatic expansion calculations to simulate a nozzle expansion were used to study the practicality of production. The crucial requirements for the production of titanium powder from TiCl₄ and H₂ appear to be rapid quenching of the plasma gas at high temperature (e.g., 3700 K) and appropriate reactant concentrations. Quenching of tire plasma gas and production of titanium powder can be achieved by adiabatic expansion through a nozzle. Preliminary experimental data indicate that titanium powder of approximately 5 nm in size can be produced in an argon plasma rising a nozzle expansion approach.     

Plastic deformation of polypropylene VII. Long period as function of temperature and rate of drawing

Polypropylene fibers prepared by quenching in ice-water were drawn at 25, 80, 120, and 140°C to a draw ratio between 6 and 8 at draw rates 0.05, 0.5, 5, and 50 cm/min. The long period increases almost linearly with the draw rate for drawing at 25°C and decreases for drawing at higher temperatures. The effect in the latter cases is an annealing effect. As a consequence of the shorter exposure of the drawn fibers to the high temperature at higher draw rate, the long-period growth proceeds for a shorter time and hence results in a smaller increase of long period. At 25°C, however, the long-period growth is negligible. The increase of long period with draw rate is the consequence of higher adiabatic heating as calculated from the energy input during the plastic deformation which transforms the spherulitic into the fibrous structure. One concludes that the long period established during this transformation depends on the maximum temperature reached in the micronecking zone and not on the macroscopically observed temperature of the sample in the neck.     

Thermal degradation and fire performance of intumescent silicone‐based coatings

This paper deals with the thermal degradation and fire performance of silicone‐based coatings for protecting steel. In this study, the fire performance of silicone coatings as virgin or formulated materials is evaluated using two homemade fire testing methodologies: one similar to the “torch test” fire testing method and the other using a heat radiator test. It was shown that the performance of the silicone‐based coating used as thermal barrier can be improved incorporating a modifier (a mixture of polydimethylsiloxane and silica coated by a silane). In this case, silicone‐based coating swells and exhibits same fire performance as commercial intumescent coating at the torch test. It is shown that the incorporation of modifier in the silicone makes it to swell upon heating resulting in the formation of expanded material exhibiting low heat conductivity. Thermal degradation of the coating is also investigated: it occurs in three main steps leading to the formation of a tridimensional network characterized by the formation of Q⁴ structure at high temperature. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The thermodynamic properties of magnesium uranoborate

The standard enthalpy of formation of crystalline Mg(BUO₅)₂ at 298.15 K (?4347.5 ± 8.0 kJ/mol) was determined by reaction calorimetry. The heat capacity of magnesium uranoborate was studied by adiabatic vacuum calorimetry over the temperature range 8–330 K. The thermodynamic functions of the compound were calculated. The standard entropy and Gibbs energy of formation at 298.15 K were found to be ?903.0 ± 2.1 J/(mol K) and ?4078.5 ± 9.0 kJ/mol, respectively.     

Effect of ultrasound on the thermal behavior of the mixtures for the LTA zeolite synthesis based on metakaolin

The effect of ultrasonic treatment on the thermal behavior of the mixtures from metakaolin, sodium hydroxide and alumina designed for LTA zeolites synthesis was studied. X-ray diffraction analysis, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and synchronous thermal analysis have been used. It was shown that after evaporation of the suspension, LTA zeolite (24 mass%) is contained in the samples. It was established that the new phase (sodium aluminum silicate) is formed at a calcination temperature of about 600 °C. It was demonstrated that at a calcination temperature over 800 °C, nepheline is synthesized. The reaction of nepheline formation has been described by the topochemical equation of four-dimensional nucleation/nucleus growth according to Avrami/Erofeev. Using the Ozawa–Flynn–Wall analysis for non-isothermal data, the values of the activation energy and the pre-exponential factor have been calculated. It is shown that after the ultrasonic treatment the activation energy of the nepheline synthesis reaction has smaller values than in the sample without pretreatment. These phenomena have been explained by differences between the structural parameters of the particles (dimension of the coherent scattering region, the value of microdeformations).