Ionomer composites based on sepiolite/hydrogenated poly(styrene butadiene) block copolymer systems

Ionomeric composites based on sepiolite and hydrogenated poly(styrene butadiene) block copolymer were obtained and characterized from a microstructural and electrical point of view. Before blending, because of the high silanol group concentration in the sepiolite, the latter could be organophilized with suitable coupling agents. The resulting materials were easily processed into thin films or membranes 0.2–0.4 mm thick, their conductivity in some cases approaching 10^?1 S/cm. Their suitability for film formation and good electrical properties indicate potential applications as electrolytes in polymer fuel cells. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3512–3519, 2002     

Finite element micromechanical modelling of unidirectional fibre-reinforced metal-matrix composites

Typical finite element formulations and models for unidirectional composite materials are reviewed. The application of micromechanical finite element analysis to the modelling of unidirectional fibre-reinforced metal-matrix composites is demonstrated by presenting some studies from recent publications. It is shown that while analytical models offer a simple tool for obtaining the overall response of composites, finite element analysis provides more accurate and detailed characterisation of composite properties for complicated geometries and constituent property variations. Various effects that influence the stress/strain response and fibre/matrix deformation of composites are studied through modelling. These effects include the fibre coating and reaction layer, fibre shape and distribution, metallurgical and environmental factors, stress distributions and damage. It is demonstrated that the properties and constituent phase interaction of metal-matrix composites are best modelled by finite element analysis. It is emphasized that in order to obtain good predictions, the models must be coupled with first-hand characterisations of the constituent phases and their interactions, including the thermal history of the specimens.     

The combined effects of curing and environmental exposure on fracture properties of woven carbon/epoxy laminates

This paper concerns a study of the combined effects of curing conditions and environmental exposure on the ultimate properties of two commercial woven carbon/epoxy laminates. Curing parameters (heating rate and applied pressure) were varied so as to obtain six different conditions for each material. Moisture saturation was also achieved by exposing some of the cured samples to environmental conditions of 70°C and 95% relative humidity. Four different tests (tensile, impact, Mode I and Mode II interlaminar fracture resistance) were therefore performed, and the results obtained on the different materials before and after moisture saturation compared. Neither curing pressure nor heating rate nor moisture absorption were observed to have any practical effect on tensile and impact properties. On the contrary, one noticeable effect was the interlaminar fracture resistance of the laminates. The results are discussed and interpreted in terms of damage formation and stress intensification mechanisms.     

Effect of the polymer matrices on the dielectric behavior of a percolative high-k polymer composite for embedded capacitor applications

High dielectric constant (high-k) polymer composites are of great interest for embedded capacitor applications. Previously, we demonstrated that epoxy—aluminum composites are promising for embedded capacitor applications, because they have a high dielectric constant and a low dielectric loss due to the core—shell structure of the self-passivated aluminum particles. In this work, to further understand the dielectric behavior of aluminum composites, lower-loss polymers such as silicone, polyimide, polynorbornene, and benzocyclobutene were explored as matrices for the aluminum composites. It is found that the polymer matrices can significantly change the dielectric properties of the aluminum composites. A polymer matrix with a lower dielectric constant generally results in a lower dielectric constant of its aluminum composites. In this regard, polymer—aluminum composites have a similar dielectric characteristic as polymer—ceramic composites. Thermomechanical properties of aluminum composites were characterized by a thermomechanical analyzer.     

Chemical Interactions in Diboride-Reinforced Oxide-Matrix Composites

Thermochemical analyses of interfacial reactions in titanium, zirconium, and hafnium diboride reinforced oxidematrix composites have been carried out to evaluate the chemical compatibility. The chemical reactivity of these diborides with oxygen and the high volatility of B₂O₃( l ) at reduced oxygen pressures are concerns during processing and operating conditions. The thermochemical stability and the vaporization behavior of B₂O₃( l ) are discussed in terms of partial pressures of dominant gaseous species of the boron-oxygen system at 1700 and 2300 K. The TiB₂/ZrO₂ and TiB₂/HfO₂ systems are thermodynamically stable in a limited oxygen pressure range. The TiB₂/Al₂O₃ system is stable, but the reactions in this system may apparently be accompanied by formation of gaseous products (B₂O₃, AlO, Al₂O, and lower boron oxides) in the presence of elemental oxygen. These thermochemical considerations are very useful in evaluating the effectiveness of oxides as diffusion barrier coatings on diboride reinforcements.     

Asbestos replacement aspects: Modification of the fibre-matrix interphase in lonomer based composites

Asbestos fibres, of the chrysotile variety, and chopped carbon fibres were pretreated by an in-situ polycondensation technique eventually resulting in a polyamide coating on the fibre surface. Ionomer based composites containing either carbon or asbestos fibres in random in plane fibre orientation were prepared, and the influence of this coating process on the tensile properties was investigated. It was found that for the asbestos-filled composites the presence of the nylon 6,6 interlayer improves the tensile performance, especially at moderate polyamide depositions. This is not the case with the pretreated carbon-filled composites for which carbon fibres with higher polyamide contents are preferred. Combinations of the treated asbestos fibres with carbon and/or aramid fibres may be used to reduce the asbestos content in asbestos-only based engineering plastics.     

X-ray structure analysis and elastic properties of a fabric reinforced carbon/carbon composite

The effect of heat treatment on microstructure of a plain-weave carbon fabric reinforced carbon-carbon composite with phenolformaldehyde-derived carbon matrix was investigated by X-ray diffraction. The diffraction patterns were analysed by the least-square fitting program Carbonxs. After heat treatment from 1000 to 2800 °C the interplanar distance of (002) planes decreased from 3.488 to 3.420 Å and the lattice parameter in basal plane increased from 2.440 to 2.464 Å, respectively. Simultaneously, the coherent block size in the basal plane directions increased from 18 to 54 Å, which was accompanied by an increase of the fraction of organised carbon atoms from 0.50 to 0.85. The 002 diffraction profile of the composite was much narrower than the sum of peaks of the matrix and fabric alone. This can probably be caused by a better crystallographic ordering (or by a partial graphitisation) of the matrix in the composite. On the other hand, the composite Young’s modulus slightly decreased with the treatment temperature increasing from 2200 to 2800 °C in spite of the established strong improvement of fibre crystallinity and, therefore, fibre modulus. The mechanisms diminishing the modulus of composite (e.g. partial matrix graphitisation at the fibre/matrix interface and decreasing fibre/matrix contact area) probably prevailed over the increasing contribution of the fibre modulus.     

Preparation of core–shell structured alumina–polyaniline particles and their application for corrosion protection

Polyaniline (PANI) was synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline (ANI) in the presence of alumina (Al₂O₃) particles. The polymerization of ANI occurred preferentially on the surfaces of the particles, resulting core–shell structured alumina–polyaniline (Al₂O₃‐PANI) particles. Morphology examination showed that with decreasing of the weight ratio of Al₂O₃/ANI in the reactants, the thickness of the PANI layer increased and changed from an even surface morphology to a particulate morphology. UV–vis and Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectra indicated that there is no chemical interaction between the PANI layer and the Al₂O₃ surfaces. The PANI layer adhered well to the particles and can be used as anticorrosive fillers for polymer coatings. Enhanced corrosion protection performance was achieved for the emeraldine base (EB) form of PANI deposited Al₂O₃ particles (Al₂O₃‐EB) filled epoxy coating on carbon steel in 3.0 wt % aqueous NaCl solution. The particles demonstrate both excellent corrosion protection performance and lower cost, which will be of great importance in practical applications. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 4372–4377, 2006     

Structure evolution of conductive polymer composites revealed by solvent vapor induced time-dependent percolation

The authors of this paper synthesized a series of amphiphilic triblock copolymers of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-polystyrene (PS-PEG-PS) having different PEG/PS ratios with nearly identical molecular weights of the entire copolymers. The interfacial interactions in the composites consisting of carbon black and the copolymers can thus be tailored. When these conducting composites are exposed to certain solvent vapors, their electrical resistances greatly increase, showing the gas sensitivity. The present work indicated that this switching behavior is controlled by the structural relaxation of the composites because matrix swelling acts as the main mechanism. The response time has been correlated with absolute temperature by Arrhenius equation, and the estimated activation energy reflects mobility of the fillers involved in the solvent induced expansion of the surrounding polymer. Therefore, by using the gas sensibility of the conductive composites, the structure evolution of the composite materials in solid state and the effect of filler/matrix interfacial interaction on the relaxation property of the matrix polymer has been inspected. It was found that lower activation energy represents stronger interfacial interaction in case good solvent of the matrix was used for the test.     

Electromagnetic properties of ferroelectric-ferrite ceramic composites

The NiFe₂O₄ and Pb(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)O₃ ceramic composites are prepared by conventional solid state reaction method. The microstructural and morphological properties of the composites are studied by X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Results indicate that the ferrite and piezoelectric phases can co-exist in the composites. The relationship between the dielectric constant and frequency (40 Hz–40 MHz) as well as temperature is also investigated. It is noted that the transition temperature of the composites is about 380 °C. A double electric hysteresis loop is observed in our composites. The magnetic properties are relatively weak according to the magnetic hysteresis loop. With increase in the content of the ferrite phase, the permeability increases. The electromagnetic properties of the as-prepared composites are tunable according to the content of the NiFe₂O₄ phase.