Crack tip superblunting: experiment,theory and numerical simulation

Experimental revelation ofsuperblunting along plane strain predominant crack tip segment is reported here for modified polyproplene. As elucidated by a heuristic model of progressive circumferential cold-draw, the formation of superblunting crack tip depends critically on the ratio between the cold-draw propagation speed and the loading speed, and contributes significantly to the material toughening, especially for the improvement in impact toughness. Detailed numerical calculations are conducted based on a hyperelastic-viscoplastic and anisotropic damage constitutive model at finite deformation. The simulated results recapitulate the essential features of crack tip superblunting. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Ce-TZP和Ce-TZP/Al_2O_3层状复合材料受载裂尖的相变特性

用云纹干涉法研究了带直通切口的Ｃｅ ＴＺＰ（Ｔｅｔｒａｇｏｎａｌ ＺｉｒｃｏｎｉａＰｏｌｙｃｒｙｓｔａｌ）和Ｃｅ ＴＺＰ／Ａｌ２Ｏ３层状复合材料三点弯曲梁的相变过程．实验发现１６００°Ｃ／３ｈ烧结１２％ｍｏｌＣｅＯ２稳定的Ｃｅ ＴＺＰ在室温下就具有强烈的自催化效应，直通切口前缘的相变区呈树枝状，Ｃｅ ＴＺＰ／Ａｌ２Ｏ３层状复合材料的自催化相变被Ａｌ２Ｏ３层抑制，切口前缘的相变区变短，且相变区的覆盖面积减小．文中最后对Ａｌ２Ｏ３层改变Ｃｅ ＴＺＰ相变区及力学性能的原因进行了讨论．     

On the effect of nano-particle clustering on toughening of nano-composite ceramics

In this paper, two and three-dimensional clustering models are developed to characterize the effect of nano-particle clustering on toughening of nanocomposite ceramics. It is found that crack pinning toughens the nano-composite ceramics because a higher stress intensity factor is needed for crack to propagate around or to pull-out the nano-particle. The nano-particle along the grain boundary steers the crack into the matrix grain due to the strong cohesion between the nanoparticle and the matrix. Since the fracture resistance of the grain boundary is lower than that of the grain lattice, the higher the probability of transgranular fracture induced by nano-particles, the tougher is the nano-composite. However, both crack pinning and transgranular fracture are affected by nano-particle clustering. Nanoparticle clustering, which increases with increasing volume fraction of nano-particles, leads to reduction of both the strength and toughness of the nano-composite ceramics. The larger the size of the clustered particle, and the more defects it contains, the easier it is for the crack to pass through the clustered particle, which means that the nano-particle clustering can reduce toughening induced by crack pinning and transgranular fracture. The theoretical prediction, based on the combination of the three mechanisms of nano-particles, is in agreement with the experimental data. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (19891180) and the Research Grants Council of the HKSAR, China(HKU7081/00E)     

ASYMPTOTIC ANALYSIS OF PLANE-STRAIN MODE I STEADY-STATE CRACK GROWTH IN TRANSFORMATION TOUGHENING CERAMICS(Ⅱ)

Based on a constitutive law which includes the shear components of transformation plasticity, the asymptotic solutions to near-tip fields of plane-strain mode I steadity propagating cracks in transformed ceramics are obtained for the case of linear isotropic hardening. The stress singularity, the distributions of stresses and velocities at the crack tip are determined for various material parameters. The factors influencing the near-tip fields are discussed in detail.Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Crystallization behavior and toughening mechanism of poly(ethylene oxide) in polyoxymethylene/poly(ethylene oxide) crystalline/crystalline blends

In this study, the unique crystallization behavior of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in polyoxymethylene (POM)/PEO crystalline/crystalline blends was examined in detail. This study was the first to report the typical fractionated crystallization of PEO in POM/PEO blends when PEO is fewer than 30 wt.%. The delayed crystallization temperature of PEO was confirmed at about 5°C to 14°C by using differential scanning calorimetry and perturbation–correlation moving‐window 2D correlation IR spectroscopy. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction indicates that no new crystal structures or co‐crystals were generated in POM/PEO. The statistical calculations of scanning electron microscopy photos show that the average diameter of PEO particles is 0.227 µm to 1.235 µm and that the number of small particles is as many as 10⁹ magnitudes per cm³. Theory analysis establishes that the delayed crystallization of PEO is a heterogeneous nucleation process and not a homogeneous nucleation process. A significant toughening effect of PEO to POM was also observed. The impact strength of POM/PEO acquires a maximum of 10.5 kJ/m² when PEO content is 5%. The impact strength of the blend increases by 78.0% compared with pure POM. To improve the toughening effect, the best particle size is established between 0.352 and 0.718 µm, with a PEO particle spacing of 0.351 µm to 0.323 µm. The number of corresponding particles was 0.887 × 10⁹ per cm3 to 3.240 × 10⁹ per cm³. A PEO toughening model for POM was proposed to provide a new and effective way to solve the problem of POM toughening. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

层间短纤维的桥联和增韧分析

根据短纤维在层间杂乱分布和接近裂纹表面的特点，考虑基体剥落和纤维拉出耦合，本文建立了一个层间短纤维桥联模型，分析短纤维的层间增韧机理和主要影响因素。计算结果表明，纤维增强树脂层板在层间加入少量的Kevlar短纤维时，裂纹张开位移导致短纤维从基体中剥离和拉出，在纤维相互干扰下，拉出过程中产生大的能量耗散，从而明显地提高层间断裂韧性。纤维界面性质对△G1c有重要影响，纤维杂乱分布引起的相互干扰及纤维初始弯曲，使层间断裂韧性显著增加。比较表明，△G1c的理论预测与实验结果相符合。     

TPU共混增韧POM的研究

通过机械共混的方法制备了聚甲醛(POM)和热塑性聚氨酯弹性体(TPU)复合材料.考察了不同硬度TPU及其含量对共混材料韧性的影响.结果表明,TPU硬度的变化对共混材料的力学性能起着非常重要的作用,硬度为65HA的TPU对POM的增韧效果较好,对POM的相形态和结晶性能影响更为显著.     

增韧环氧树脂的微结构和力学性能的正电子湮没

用正电子湮没方法（PALS）和动态力学分析（DMA）方法研究了增韧剂和温度对环氧树脂的自由体积和力学性能的影响．根据正电子素（o-Ps）湮没寿命τ3随温度的变化，玻璃化转变温度Tg和次级转变温度Tβ被确定．实验结果表明，在稀释环氧树脂基体中加入增韧剂会使样品中产生较强界面相互作用，并且明显地改变了材料的结构转变温度Tg和Tβ，使得增韧样品比稀释样品具有更高的玻璃化转变温度Tg．一个很有意义的发现是，低温下力学性能的改变明显地大于室温下力学性能的改变．文中从原子尺度自由体积特性和界面相互作用的角度探讨了温度对样品力学性能影响的机理．     

β成核剂改性聚丙烯的研究

研究了β晶型成核剂对聚丙烯力学性能和热学性能的影响,并对其进行了DSC、正交偏光显微镜和电镜观察.研究表明:添加β成核剂后,聚丙烯晶型由α晶型向β晶型转变,韧性大大增强.β成核剂用量在0.2%时,冲击强度比未加成核剂时提高了3倍左右,其拉伸强度几乎没有变化,其软化点提高了15~20℃.     

钇对陶瓷刀具材料Al2O3/TiCN的强韧化效应

在已 研制的含烯土Ａｌ２Ｏ３／ＴｉＣＮ陶瓷刀具材料的基础上，采用ＳＥＭ，ＴＥＭ和能谱分析等方法探讨了Ｙ的强韧化效应。稀土增强Ａｌ２Ｏ３／ＴｉＣＮ陶瓷刀具材料力学性能改善的原因在于，Ｙ的添加能在一定程度上积聚杂质，Ｗ，Ｆｅ和Ｃｒ等，从而起到清洁界面、提高界面结合强度的作用。