Search results for "Ultima"
showing 10 items of 396 documents
Rheological Behaviour, Mechanical Properties and Processability of Biodegradable Polymer Systems for Film Blowing
2017
Films for agricultural or packaging applications are typically made of low density polyethylene (LDPE). They are produced through the film blowing process, which requires the use of polymers with suitable rheological properties. Furthermore, the short shelf-life which is often related to many packed products leads to huge amounts of plastic-based wastes. This suggests the use of biodegradable and/or compostable polymers in replacement for traditional ones. To this regard, only few data exist on the rheological properties of biodegradable polymers undergoing film blowing processing. In this work, a detailed investigation on the rheological, mechanical and processability behaviour of some bio…
Compression-induced anti-nematic order in glassy and semicrystalline polymers
2020
We provide new insights into the molecular origin of the asymmetry between uniaxial tensile and compressive deformation of glassy and semicrystalline polymers using molecular dynamics simulations. The difference between the two responses strongly depends on the chain length and is the largest at intermediate chain lengths. Irrespective of chain length, the intra- and interchain organization of polymers under extension and compression are remarkably distinct. The chains align along the tensile axis leading to a global nematic order of the bonds and end-to-end vectors, whereas compression reorganizes polymers to lie in planes perpendicular to the compressive axis resulting in the emergence of…
Synthesis, properties and processability of a new class of semirigid liquid crystalline copolyesteramides
1995
Abstract A new family of semirigid main chain liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs), referred to as SBAN, characterized by fairly good processability and mechanical properties, and improved thermal resistance, have been synthesized by the melt polycondensation of sebacic acid (S), 4,4′-dihyhxybiphenyl (B), 4-aminobenzoic acid (A), and 2-hydroxy-6-naphthoic acid (N), in a wide range of compositions. The molar concentration of the A ahd N units, in these LCPs must be kept lower than ca 40 and 60%, respectively, in order to avoid the formation of homopolymeric blocks, which impair spinnability. The presence of A units grants the formation of hydrogen bonds between neighboring macromolecules, and …
Role of the Intercrystalline Tie Chains Network in the Mechanical Response of Semicrystalline Polymers
2017
We examine the microscopic origin of the tensile response in semicrystalline polymers by performing large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of various chain lengths. We investigate the microscopic rearrangements of the polymers during tensile deformation and show that the intercrystalline chain connections known as tie chains contribute significantly to the elastic and plastic response. These results suggest that the mechanical behavior of semicrystalline polymers is controlled by two interpenetrated networks of entanglements and tie chains.
A Quantitative Analysis of the Thermoelastic Effect in CFRP Composite Materials
2010
: In this study the thermoelastic signal from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminates is investigated. A comparison between the theoretical and experimental values of the thermoelastic signal is reported, with the theoretical predictions obtained from two different quantitative models. These models are based on the classic thermoelastic effect law extended to the case of orthotropic materials (by using the mesomechanical or bulk approach), and the modified law assuming that the surface resin-rich layer behaves as a strain witness of the laminate. It is found that the theoretical predictions of the two models can be strongly and differently influenced by the intrinsic orthotropy of…
Modeling and stress-strain characteristics of the mechanical properties of carbon-nanotube-reinforced poly(vinyl acetate) nanocomposites
2011
Polymer/carbon nanotube (CNT) composites are one of the most perspective advanced materials developed in recent years. The properties of CNT-reinforced polymer composites, however, strongly depend on structural aspects of the nanostructured filler and on its dispersion quality in a polymer matrix. Consequently, this research was devoted to the investigation of multiwalled-CNT-modified poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) composites with respect to the mechanical property dependence on some structural characteristics of CNTs. PVAc/CNT nanocomposites were obtained with a solution casting technique. The amount of CNTs was changed from 0.01 up to 2 wt %. The stress–strain characteristics of PVAc/CNT nano…
Methylcellulose-Based Edible Films and Coatings: 2. Mechanical and Thermal Properties as a Function of Plasticizer Content
1997
Several edible films based on methylcellulose and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400) were prepared and stored until equilibration at different relative humidities. Tensile stress−strain curves show very different behaviors as a function of PEG400 and relative humidity. Tensile strength strongly depends on relative humidity and then on water content, more than on PEG400 content. On the contrary, elongation is dependent both on water and PEG400. These differences correspond to the glass transition of the polymer, which affects the elongation more than the tensile strength. However, from DSC measurements, it appears that the PEG400 has no or a very low compatibility with the methylcellulose matr…
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…
Macro-oriented network of liquid-crystalline polyesters: crosslinking induced by g-irradiation and thermally activated reaction.
2000
Abstract The synthesis of a macro-oriented network from liquid-crystalline polymers, bearing pendant groups with unsaturations, is reported. Virgin polymers are processable to obtain oriented samples, e.g. fibres, which may be crosslinked through thermal activation and/or exposure to γ-radiation. The liquid-crystalline state is “frozen” and the macroscopic anisotropy is preserved even at high temperatures. Compared to virgin fibres, irradiated samples show an enhancement of tensile performances, thus indicating that the main effect of irradiation is crosslinking without significant degradation phenomena.
Melt spinning and mechanical properties of semirigid liquid-crystal copolyesters
1993
Melt-spinning and mechanical properties of fibers of a new class of semirigid thermotropic liquid-crystal polymers are presented. These copolyesters are synthesized from 4-4′-dihydroxybiphenyl (B), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (H), and flexible units provided by aliphatic diacids. The flexible units depress the melting temperature without strongly depressing the mechanical properties. These liquid-crystal polymers can be easily spun at high draw ratios. Indeed, unlike rigid liquid-crystal polymers, relatively high draw ratios are needed to attain high mechanical strength. Tensile moduli of about 28 GPa and tensile strengths of about 350 MPa are obtained. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.