Abstract
Abstract A one-step ultrasonic film casting process to manufacture nanocomposite films was developed, in which polycarbonate (PC) was mixed with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) and cast into films in one process. Numerical and experimental investigations of necking phenomenon were carried out for film casting of PC/CNT composites. Experimental results revealed that the necking along film line decreased with imposition of ultrasound and increasing CNT content, indicating that incorporation of CNT and imposition of ultrasound restrained the elongational flow behavior of melt, resulting in film of a larger width. Isothermal and nonisothermal numerical simulations of the process were performed. In isothermal simulations, the polymer melt was assumed to be maintained at the die temperature. In nonisothermal simulations, the temperature change along the film line was determined from heat transfer calculations with the WLF temperature-dependent viscosity. The simulated and experimental results on normalized film width, defined as a ratio of cast film width to die width, as a function of the distance from the die at various extension ratios were compared. The comparison indicated that changes in film width and thickness along the stretching direction in the nonisothermal process were in better agreement with experimental results than that in the isothermal process. Both experimental and simulated results showed a decrease of film width with take-up speed. Due to the presence of edge effect, the film width in experiment was lower than the simulated one. With incorporation of CNT, a better agreement between experimental and simulated results was obtained, due to a reduced edge effect in the film.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.