Search results for "composites"
showing 10 items of 1905 documents
Progressive cracking mastercurves of the transverse ply in a laminate
2009
In this study, progressive cracking of a transverse layer in a cross-ply composite laminate subjected to tensile loading is considered. Using the results of a probabilistic cracking model, approximate relations for crack density as a function of stress are derived for initiation-controlled and propagation-controlled cracking. It is shown that the crack density evolution in the transverse ply can be represented by a mastercurve in suitably normalized coordinates. The mastercurve approach is applied to progressive cracking in glass/epoxy laminates. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
Reprocessing of PLA/graphene nanoplatelets nanocomposites
2017
This work reports a study on the effect of multiple reprocessing on the properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) filled with graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) compared to the melt reprocessed neat polymeric matrix. In particular, morphological, X-Ray Diffraction and Micro-Raman analyses, intrinsic viscosity measurements, thermal, rheological and mechanical tests were carried out on materials reprocessed up five times by means of a single screw extruder. The results indicated that the presence of GnP decreased the degradation rate as a function of the reprocessing cycles in comparison with the neat PLA that, on the contrary, showed a more drastic reduction of the molecular weight. Moreover, the repr…
Model of delamination propagation in brittle-matrix composites under cyclic loading
2001
A model of interlaminar fatigue crack growth based on damage accumulation ahead of the crack is proposed. Linear cumulative assumption is used for damage estimation, and a quadratic failure criterion is applied for complex interlaminar loading. Model parameters are determined from mode I and mode II fatigue tests, and used to predict mixed-mode delamination propagation rate. Comparison of theoretical prediction with mixed-mode test results for different brittle graphite FRP at several mode- and load ratios show reasonable agreement.
Mechanical properties of pultruded glass fiber reinforced plastic after freeze–thaw cycling
2012
The use of pultruded fiber-reinforced plastics in civil infrastructure requires the long-term prediction of their mechanical properties, which should be based on understanding and estimating the processes in the structure under action of aggressive environmental factors: humidity and freeze–thaw cycles. This article reports on results of short-term exposure to severe freeze–thaw cycling in the temperature range from –30°C to 20°C of polyester-based glass fiber reinforced plastic both dry and wet. The effect of freeze–thaw cycling of flat specimens cut from I-beam pultruded profile was estimated by use of three-point-bending tests and dilatometric investigation in the temperature range from…
Size effects in micro- and nanoscale indentation
2006
Abstract The indentation size effect (ISE) has been studied in single crystals, polycrystals and amorphous solids using the Vickers microhardness test. The ISE is clearly present in single crystals but is absent in fine-grained polycrystals. A size-dependent hardness for amorphous solids is observed only in the sub-micrometre surface layer. The behaviour of the ISE in single crystals for micro- and nanoindentation is compared. Estimates of the surface hardness are made by the extrapolation of the experimental hardness–indentation depth curves. The extrapolated hardness in the surface region reaches values corresponding to the theoretical shear strength. The results confirm the multifarious …
Smart hydrogels for novel optical functions
2007
Nanocomposites of inherently conductive polyaniline (PANT) within a highly hydrophilic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) based hydrogel have been produced by coupling a conventional dispersion chemical oxidative polymerization to a subsequent high energy irradiation step, in order to convert the polymer stabilizing the aqueous dispersion, namely the PVA, into a highly water swollen hydrogel incorporating the PANT particles. The incorporation of the electroactive and "pH-sensitive" polymer into a transparent and highly permeable hydrogel matrix has been pursued as a route to the development of a novel class of potentially biocompatible, smart hydrogels that can respond to changes of the surrounding en…
Thermo-oxidative resistant nanocomposites containing novel hybrid-nanoparticles based on natural polyphenol and carbon nanotubes
2015
Abstract Quercetin (Q), a natural antioxidant molecule, is physically immobilized onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) bearing covalently-linked long-chain alkyl functional groups, and the so obtained hybrid-nanoparticles are used to prepare Ultra High Molecular Weight PolyEthylene-based nanocomposite films with enhanced thermo-oxidation resistance. The effective immobilization of the Q molecules is confirmed by spectroscopic (micro-Raman, ATR-FTIR, and FTIR) and thermo-gravimetric analyses, and the influence of the nanoparticles on the rheological behaviour and thermo-oxidative stability of the nanocomposites are investigated. Rheological analyses (linear viscoelasticity and stress re…
Investigation on the Properties and on the Photo-Oxidation Behaviour of Polypropylene/Fumed Silica Nanocomposites
2021
This work investigates the effects of very small amounts of fumed silica on the morphology and on the rheological and mechanical behaviour of polypropylene nanocomposites and on their photo-oxidation behaviour. Polypropylene nanocomposites were prepared using a twin-screw corotating extruder with 0, 1 and 2 wt/wt% of SiO2. Morphological, mechanical, thermomechanical and rheological properties were examined. It was found that the viscosity of the matrix is reduced by the presence of the silica nanoparticles, suggesting a poor adhesion between the two phases and probably some lubricating effect. On the contrary, the mechanical and, in particular, the thermomechanical properties of the matrix …
Monitoring molecular dynamics of bacterial cellulose composites reinforced with graphene oxide by carboxymethyl cellulose addition
2017
[EN] Broadband Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy was performed to study the molecular dynamics of dried Bacterial Cellulose/Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Graphene Oxide (BC/CMC-GO) composites as a function of the concentration of CMC in the culture media. At low temperature the dielectric spectra are dominated by a dipolar process labelled as a beta -relaxation, whereas electrode polarization and the contribution of dc-conductivity dominate the spectra at high temperatures and low frequency. The CMC concentration affects the morphological structure of cellulose and subsequently alters its physical properties. X-ray diffractometry measurements show that increasing the concentration of CMC promote…
Accelerated weathering of PP based nanocomposites: Effect of the presence of maleic anhydryde grafted polypropylene
2013
Polymer nanocomposites are currently a topic of great interest. The increasing importance they are gaining also in the standpoint of industrial applications, is giving concerns regarding their environmental stability and, in general, their behaviour in outdoor applications, under direct solar irradiation. Papers available in the literature have highlighted the different influences of different nanosized fillers, in particular clay-based nanofillers; however, few data are available regarding other nanosized fillers. Furthermore, the research on polymer nanocomposites has clearly pointed out that the use of compatibilizers is required to improve the mechanical performance and the dispersion o…