Search results for "Elasticity"

Nematic elastomers: From a microscopic model to macroscopic elasticity theory

2008

A Landau theory is constructed for the gelation transition in cross-linked polymer systems possessing spontaneous nematic ordering, based on symmetry principles and the concept of an order parameter for the amorphous solid state. This theory is substantiated with help of a simple microscopic model of cross-linked dimers. Minimization of the Landau free energy in the presence of nematic order yields the neoclassical theory of the elasticity of nematic elastomers and, in the isotropic limit, the classical theory of isotropic elasticity. These phenomenological theories of elasticity are thereby derived from a microscopic model, and it is furthermore demonstrated that they are universal mean-fi…

Estimation of the elastic constants of highly porous cellular plastics reinforced with fibres embedded in foam struts

2015

In order to enhance the mechanical properties of polymer foams, fillers of different materials and sizes are being applied. Fibrous fillers shorter than the characteristic foam cell dimensions have the potential of efficient reinforcement, due to their high aspect ratio, without detrimentally interfering with foam structure. A theoretical model is developed for evaluation of the effect of filler on foam stiffness. The elastic response of rigid polymer foams filled with short fibres, of length commensurable with that of foam struts, is modelled by using the orientational averaging technique. Explicit expressions for components of the stiffness tensor of composite foams are derived in terms …

Disentangling the Role of Chain Conformation on the Mechanics of Polymer Tethered Particle Materials

2019

[Image: see text] The linear elastic properties of isotropic materials of polymer tethered nanoparticles (NPs) are evaluated using noncontact Brillouin light spectroscopy. While the mechanical properties of dense brush materials follow predicted trends with NP composition, a surprising increase in elastic moduli is observed in the case of sparsely grafted particle systems at approximately equal NP filling ratio. Complementary molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the stiffening is caused by the coil-like conformations of the grafted chains, which lead to stronger polymer–polymer interactions compared to densely grafted NPs with short chains. Our results point to novel opportunities to …

Effects of inhomogeneities of cross-links on a microphase separation of polymer mixtures

1994

We generalize de Gennes' theory of the microphase separation of cross-linked polymer mixtures to take into account the spatial fluctuations of the elasticity constant c, preventing the mixture from complete segregation. Within a mean-field analysis we found that the spatial fluctuations of c(r), which are assumed to obey the Poisson distribution, enlarge the size of the domains. The latter is obtained to be temperature dependent.


Accurately evaluating Young’s modulus of polymers through nanoindentations: a phenomenological correction factor to the Oliver and Pharr procedure

2006

The Oliver and Pharr [J. Mater. Res. 7, 1564 (1992)] procedure is a widely used tool to analyze nanoindentation force curves obtained on metals or ceramics. Its application to polymers is, however, difficult, as Young’s moduli are commonly overestimated mainly because of viscoelastic effects and pileup. However, polymers spanning a large range of morphologies have been used in this work to introduce a phenomenological correction factor. It depends on indenter geometry: sets of calibration indentations have to be performed on some polymers with known elastic moduli to characterize each indenter.

Limits of the linear viscoelastic behaviour of polyamide 66 filled with TiO2 nanoparticles: Effect of strain rate, temperature, and moisture

2008

Abstract Limits of linear viscoelastic behaviour of TiO 2 nanoparticle-filled polyamides are estimated quantitatively by the results of uniaxial tension tests. The stress limit of the filled polymer is higher than that of the un-filled one. Their values are the lower, the higher the temperature and moisture content of test specimens, and the lower, the lower the strain rate. The concept of an energy threshold for the linear viscoelastic behaviour is used to comprehensively characterize the limits over a wide range of test conditions. The energy limit is not affected by the strain rate, temperature, or moisture, and its value for the filled polymer is higher than that for the un-filled one. …

Strain rate effect in the single-fiber-fragmentation test

2001

The single fiber fragmentation test (SFFT) has been widely used to characterize the interface in fiber-reinforced polymers. The purpose of the work reported here was to determine the effect of strain rate on the fiber fragment lengths obtained in the SFFT. Three materials systems were used to make single-fiber-composite specimens: E-glass fiber/polycarbonate matrix, AS4-carbon fiber/polycarbonate matrix, and AU4-carbon fiber/polycarbonate matrix. The fiber-matrix adhesion in all three systems is based on physisorption rather than chemisorption. Each system was tested at strain rates ranging over four orders of magnitude. Results are reported in terms of fragment length, the dependent variab…

Effect of cooling rate on the viscoelastic properties in the plastic zone of solid polymers

1979

PMMA and PC samples were subjected to several cooling rates from the glass transition temperature.

A simplified description of viscoelastic behavior of polymers as illustrated with biaxially-oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate)

1978

A rheological model of solid polymers is proposed. Its mechanical analog is a parallel of a linear spring and a Maxwell element with variable viscosity. The viscosity of the dashpot is allowed to change with stress both directly, by an Eyring-type mechanism, and through free volume changes according to the Doolittle equation. Predictions of the model reproduce many of the features shown, especially after yielding, by constant velocity stress-strain, stress-relaxation and creep data taken at room temperature on biaxially-oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate) over a wide range of loading rates.

2018

Star-shaped polymers show a continuous change of properties from flexible linear chains to soft colloids, as the number of arms is increased. To investigate the effect of macromolecular architecture on the flow properties, we employ computer simulations of single chain and star polymers as well as of their mixtures under Poiseuille flow. Hydrodynamic interactions are incorporated through the multi-particle collision dynamics (MPCD) technique, while a bead-spring model is used to describe the polymers. For the ultradilute systems at rest, the polymers are distributed uniformly in the slit channel, with a weak dependence on their number of arms. Once flow is applied, however, we find that the…