Compression Stress Relaxation Test Research Articles

Interaction between eye movements and adhesion of extraocular muscles

The contact and pull-off tests and finite element simulations were used to study the extraocular muscle-sclera adhesion and its variation with eye movement in this research. The effect of the adhesion on the eye movements was also determined using equilibrium equations of eye motion. The contact and pull-off tests were performed using quasi-static and non-quasi-static unloading velocities. Finite element models were developed to simulate these tests in cases with high unloading velocity which could not be achieved experimentally. These velocities range from the eye's fixation to saccade movement. The tests confirmed that the pull-off force is related to the unloading velocity. As the unloading velocity increases, the pull-off force increases, with an insignificant increase at the high ocular saccade velocities. The adhesion moment between the extraocular muscles and the sclera exhibited the same trend, increasing with higher eye movement velocities and higher separation angles between the two interfaces. The adhesion moment ratio to the total moment was calculated by the traditional model and the active pulley model of eye movements to assess the effect of adhesion behavior on eye movements. At the high ocular saccade velocities (about 461 deg/s), the adhesion moment was found to be 0.53% and 0.50% of the total moment based on the traditional and active pulley models, respectively. The results suggest that the adhesion behavior between the extraocular muscles and the sclera has a negligible effect on eye movements. At the same time, this adhesion behavior can be ignored in eye modeling, which simplifies the model reasonably well. Statement of Significance1. Adhesion behavior between the extraocular muscles and the sclera at different indenter unloading velocities determined by contact and pull-off tests. 2. A finite element model was developed to simulate the adhesive contact between the extraocular muscles and the sclera at different indenter unloading velocities. The bilinear cohesive zone model was used for adhesive interactions. 3. The elastic modulus and viscoelastic parameters of the extraocular muscle along the thickness direction were obtained by using compressive stress-relaxation tests. 4. The influence of the adhesion moment between the extraocular muscles and the sclera on eye movement was obtained according to the equation of oculomotor balance. The adhesion moment between the extraocular muscles and the sclera was found to increase with increased eye movement velocity and increased separation angle between the two interfaces.

A Core Damage Constitutive Model for the Time-Dependent Creep and Relaxation Behavior of Coal

The creep and stress relaxation behaviors of coal are common in coal mining. The unified constitutive model is suitable to describe and predict both the creep and relaxation evolution characteristics of rocks. The generalized Kelvin model is the core element for traditional and improved component models to reflect both the nonlinear creep and relaxation. In this paper, an improved core damage model, which could both reflect the creep and stress relaxation in relation to the damage evolution, was established based on a comparison of the traditional and improved component models, and the responding constitutive equations (creep and stress relaxation equation) at constant stress/strain were deduced. Then, the core damage model was validated to the uniaxial compressive multistage creep and stress relaxation test results of coal, showing that the model curves had great accordance with the experimental data. Moreover, the model comparisons on accuracy, parameter meaning, and popularization among the core damage model, hardening-damage model, and the fractional derivative model were further discussed. The results showed that the parameters in the core damage model had clear and brief physical significances. The core damage model was also popularized to depict the time-dependent behaviors of other rocks, showing great accuracy.

Experimental and Numerical Evaluations of Localized Stress Relaxation for Vulcanized Rubber.

Vulcanized rubbers are commonly used to provide the energy absorption under compressive deformation from other engineering components. However, if a constant compressive deformation is maintained on rubber, the load response is not constant but decreases with time; i.e., the stress relaxation. A decrease in force response with time of rubber can be experimentally evaluated by the stress relaxation test. In the present work, the localized stress of vulcanized rubber during a compressive stress relaxation test (i.e., ASTM D6147) was evaluated. Hyperelastic behavior was assumed during rapid application of strain, while the viscoelastic behavior was assumed during stress relaxation. Hyperelastic and viscoelastic parameters were experimentally evaluated using a standard specimen. Finite element analysis (FEA) models were applied for the predictions of stress relaxations of rubbers with various geometries and applied strains. FEA results were in good agreement with results of the stress relaxation tests. Localized stresses in rubber during rapid application of compressive strain and stress relaxation were successfully evaluated. The findings can give the localized phenomena of vulcanized rubber during a stress relaxation test, which can be used as a guideline for the design, usage, and improvement of rubber and viscoelastic polymeric components.

Mechanical response of polyacrylamide breast tissue phantoms: Formulation, characterization and modeling

In the context of breast cancer detection, mechanical imaging is an emerging technique for screening breast cancer. In view of its promise, it deserves a detailed investigation. Development of material that can emulate tissue behavior is essential for research. This work is concerned with the fabrication of polymeric specimens to capture the mechanical behavior of human breast tissues. Three types of tissue phantoms are fabricated: fat, glandular and ductal carcinoma tissues. The fabricated phantoms are compared to available human breast tissue data obtained through compression tests and stress relaxation tests. Further, the fabricated tissue phantoms are subjected to stress relaxation tests to characterize their viscoelastic response. A finite strain viscoelastic constitute model is proposed to describe the mechanical response of the breast tissue phantoms. The model is calibrated using experimental data for phantom tissue specimens. Both phantom tissue specimens and model predictions show reasonable trends. The phantom tissues and model may be of utility in developing mechanical imaging setups.

Comparison Between Different Composite Resins Used for Clear Aligner Attachments: An In-Vitro Study

Attachments are specific features of clear aligner treatment designed to ensure the aligner’s retention and the predictability of tooth movements. The properties of composite resin used for their reproduction play a relevant role to preserve their integrity and shape over the time. Thus, the aim of the present evaluation was to compare the mechanical properties and the wear performance of two nanocomposite by means of mechanical and tribological tests. Twelve samples for both flowable nanocomposite (FNC) and conventional nanocomposite (CNC) were created. The two nanocomposites differ in terms of filler volume and viscosity of the mixture. The following tests were performed: thermal analysis and burning test; flat instrumented indentation test and a compression stress relaxation test; tribological analysis. Wear evaluation was performed by means of a contact probe surface profiler and a TayMap software for the 3D analysis. A customized step-sliding test was conducted to simulate the clinical application of materials with a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) ball used as counterpart. Wear evaluation of both resin surfaces and PMMA ball was performed. No differences were found in terms of polymeric nature and quantity of nanoparticles in the matrix. FNC showed lower density values (1.62 g/cm3 ± 0.02) and inorganic percentage residue (41%) than the CNC (respectively 1.95 g/cm3 ± 0.01 and 23%). Significant differences in terms of decrement of stress values, elastic modulus (1,114.12 ± 91.39 MPa), and stress relaxation rate (24.39% ± 3.23) were observed for the CNC when compared to the FNC (respectively, 835.04 ± 184.73 MPa and 40.19% ± 4.65). FNC showed higher values of dynamic friction coefficient (0.72 ± 0.017) and more worn and deeper profiles than the conventional ones. The step-sliding test with a PMMA ball confirmed a higher friction coefficient for FNC and a greater wear of the PMMA surfaces when used against flowable samples. Lower viscosity of FNC ensures a better adaptation during clinical attachment fabrication, whereas it has a negative impact on mechanical properties. CNC showed greater performance and resistance under mechanical stresses than the flowable ones, resulting in being more suitable for clinical needs.

Blood clot behaves as a poro-visco-elastic material

Mechanical properties of blood clots play a crucial role in hemostasis and embolization. They are time-dependent and often described with viscoelastic models. But blood clots also exhibit some hallmark features of poroelasticity, as most biological tissues exhibit concurrent viscoelasticity and poroelasticity. In this study, we characterized the time-dependent behavior of blood clots, and developed an experimental-computational framework to decouple and model poroelastic and viscoelastic responses. Compression stress relaxation tests were conducted on bovine blood clots with different diameters to evaluate the influence of sample size on the relaxation time. In the compression tests, the mass of blood clots was measured to estimate fluid migration. To capture pure viscoelastic responses, rheological shear stress relaxation tests were carried out. A poroviscoelastic model was also proposed and calibrated to capture the complex multiaxial (compression and shear) relaxation behavior of blood clots. In unconfined compression tests, stresses relaxed markedly (average: 83%; range: 76–90%), and samples with larger diameters showed longer relaxation time. Blood clots lost about 24% of their initial masses, and the mass transport took place gradually in compression tests. Under shear deformation, blood clots relaxed in average 37% (range: 32–39%) which was much less than those under unconfined compression tests (in average 37% versus 83%). Unlike poroelastic and viscoelastic theories, the poroviscoelastic model accurately predicted multiaxial responses of blood clots under compression and shear; additionally, the estimated Darcy's coefficient (4.4×10−9 cm2) was found within the reported physiological range (0.1×10−9 to 36 × 10−9 cm2). The combination of size-dependent stress relaxation and mass loss under compression (due to poroelasticity) as well as substantial stress relaxation under shear deformation (due to viscoelasticity) demonstrate that blood clot behaves as a poroviscoelastic material; therefore, accurate interpretation of transient responses of blood clots requires a validated poroviscoelastic model. This work provides understanding and methodology on blood clot mechanics and will further motivate the development of clot-like biomaterials.

Linear and Nonlinear Biphasic Mechanical Properties of Goat IVDs Under Different Swelling Conditions in Confined Compression.

To define technical specifications for artificial substitutes, it is necessary to model their mechanical behaviour. Here we studied the linear and nonlinear biphasic models for Nucleus Pulposus (NP) and Annulus Fibrosus (AF). The associated material parameters were obtained using confined compression stress relaxation tests on goat intervertebral disc (IVD) samples. The first parameter, aggregate modulus HA0, which essentially describes load-bearing capacity of the solid phase, was larger for AF (HA0 = 0.53±0.06 MPa) than for NP (HA0 = 0.26±0.04 MPa). For hydraulic permeability, which quantifies the ability to transmit interstitial fluid, it was the opposite (k0 = (0.20±0.07) × 10-15 m4/Ns for AF and k0 = (0.67±0.08)×10-15 m4/Ns for NP). The values of nonlinearity coefficients, nonlinear stiffening coefficientβ and non-dimensional nonlinear permeability coefficient M, reflected that these tissues had nonlinear elastic behaviour and permeability. Also, investigating the effect of swelling conditions in sample preparation showed that for both AF and NP, confined-swollen samples had higher aggregate modulus and lower permeability values compared to the free-swollen ones. The quantitative description of the nonlinear properties of AF and NP provided a better understanding of IVD behaviour as well as technical specifications for their artificial substitutes.

Characterization and comparison of hyper-viscoelastic properties of normal and osteoporotic bone using stress-relaxation experiment

Bone tissue behavior under various loads is nonlinear elastic due to irreversible energy absorption. Also, viscoelasticity is one of the most important properties of bone which is very important in dynamic analyses and helps a lot in making artificial bone. In this study, rat tibia bone specimens were subjected to compression stress-relaxation test for normal (n = 5) and osteoporotic (n = 5) groups in order to characterize their mechanical properties using finite element modeling coupled with an optimization algorithm. Using this method, the structural equation parameters for the Neo-Hookean model and the Prony series coefficients were used to describe the hyper-elastic and the viscoelastic behavior of specimens, respectively; moreover, the properties of materials including the bulk, shear and Young's moduli for both groups were obtained and compared. The shear modulus was also gained as a function of time. In addition, the percentage of stress reduction and its relation to the initial stress were investigated for specimens. Finally, the effect of changes in each of the parameters of the hyper-viscoelastic structural equation on the force response was determined. Results of this study can be used in predicting the transient response and dynamic analysis of the bone.

The influence of alkaline treatment on the mechanical and structural properties of bacterial cellulose

The unique mechanical properties of hydrated bacterial cellulose make it suitable for biomedical applications. This study evaluates the effect of concentrated sodium hydroxide treatment on the structural and mechanical properties of bacterial cellulose hydrogels using rheological, tensile, and compression tests combined with mathematical modelling. Bacterial cellulose hydrogels show a concentration-dependent and irreversible reduction in shear moduli, compression, and tensile strength after alkaline treatment. Applying a poroelastic biphasic model to through-thickness compressive stress-relaxation tests showed the alkaline treatment to induce no significant change in axial compression, an effect was observed in the radial direction, potentially due to the escape of water from within the hydrogel. Scanning electron microscopy showed a more porous structure of bacterial cellulose. These results show how concentration-dependent alkaline treatment induces selective weakening of intramolecular interactions between cellulose fibres, allowing the opportunity to precisely tune the mechanical properties for specific biomedical application, e.g., faster-degradable materials.

Metadynamic recrystallization behavior of 5083 aluminum alloy under double-pass compression and stress relaxation tests

The static softening behavior of A5083 aluminum alloy was studied through two thermomechanical tests, namely double-pass compression test and stress relaxation test. Metadynamic recrystallization and the further conventional static recrystallization cannot achieve complete recrystallization, which means that in the stress relaxation test, the traditional method used to determine the recrystallized fraction is no longer applicable. Hence, a new method is proposed based on the sigmoidal relationship between the relaxation stress and the recrystallized fraction. The order of the effects of the forming parameters on the metadynamic recrystallization, from strong to weak, is as follows: strain rate, temperature, and first-pass strain. External stress plays a significant role in retarding metadynamic recrystallization, thereby amplifying the effects of the forming parameters on the metadynamic recrystallization. Interestingly, metadynamic recrystallization, which is considered to occur immediately, has an incubation time of approximately 1 s in the studied aluminum alloy. The evolution of the microhardness and microstructure studied through microhardness tests and electron backscatter diffraction confirmed these conclusions. In addition, the phenomena of stress hardening and yield stress drop, caused by strain aging, were observed only under special experimental conditions.

Viscoelastic Properties of Cell Structures Manufactured Using a Photo-Curable Additive Technology-PJM.

This research paper reviews the test results involving viscoelastic properties of cellular structure models made with the PolyJet Matrix—PJM additive technology. The designed test specimens were of complex cellular structure and made of three various photo-curable polymer resin types. Materials were selected taking into account the so-called “soft” and “tough” material groups. Compressive stress relaxation tests were conducted in accordance with the recommendations of standard ISO 3384, and the impact of the geometric structure shape and material selection on viscoelastic properties, as well as the most favorable geometric variants of the tested cellular structure models were determined. Mathematica and Origin software was used to conduct a statistical analysis of the test results and determine five-parameter functions approximating relaxation curves. The most favorable rheological was adopted and its mean parameters determined, which enables to match both printed model materials and their geometry in the future, to make a component with a specific rheological response. Furthermore, the test results indicated that there was a possibility of modelling cellular structures within the PJM technology, using support material as well.

Enhanced strain hardening by bimodal grain structure in carbon nanotube reinforced Al–Mg composites

Abstract The uniform distribution of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can lead to severe grain refinement to ultrafine-grained (UFG) regime of Al matrix, resulting in low strain hardening ability, thereby low ductility in CNT/Al composites. To evade this dilemma, CNT/Al–Mg composites with bimodal microstructures were prepared by a powder assembly process in this study. The effects of weight/volume fraction of coarse grains on microstructure evolution, plastic deformation behavior and micro-strain distribution were investigated. The elongation improved from 4.2% of the uniform microstructure to 5.2% for the bimodal CNT/Al–Mg composites with 25 wt% (CG25) coarse grains. The compression stress relaxation test revealed the enhanced effective stress and activation of multiple dislocation-mediated mechanisms during plastic deformation in the CG25 sample, which lead to sustainably higher strain hardening ability. The uniform micro-strain distribution was revealed in the CG25 sample by Kernel average misorientation analysis, attributed to the constrained deformation of soft coarse-grain phase by hard CNT-enriched UFG Al–Mg phase.

Direct Osmotic Pressure Measurements in Articular Cartilage Demonstrate Nonideal and Concentration-Dependent Phenomena.

The osmotic pressure in articular cartilage serves an important mechanical function in healthy tissue. Its magnitude is thought to play a role in advancing osteoarthritis. The aims of this study were to: (1) isolate and quantify the magnitude of cartilage swelling pressure in situ; and (2) identify the effect of salt concentration on material parameters. Confined compression stress-relaxation testing was performed on 18 immature bovine and six mature human cartilage samples in solutions of varying osmolarities. Direct measurements of osmotic pressure revealed nonideal and concentration-dependent osmotic behavior, with magnitudes approximately 1/3 those predicted by ideal Donnan law. A modified Donnan constitutive behavior was able to capture the aggregate behavior of all samples with a single adjustable parameter. Results of curve-fitting transient stress-relaxation data with triphasic theory in febio demonstrated concentration-dependent material properties. The aggregate modulus HA increased threefold as the external concentration decreased from hypertonic 2 M to hypotonic 0.001 M NaCl (bovine: HA=0.420±0.109 MPa to 1.266±0.438 MPa; human: HA=0.499±0.208 MPa to 1.597±0.455 MPa), within a triphasic theory inclusive of osmotic effects. This study provides a novel and simple analytical model for cartilage osmotic pressure which may be used in computational simulations, validated with direct in situ measurements. A key finding is the simultaneous existence of Donnan osmotic and Poisson-Boltzmann electrostatic interactions within cartilage.

Texture and rheological evaluation of aerated confectionery

Abstract Confectionery industry represents a field that uses a large number of ingredients and techniques to develop unique sweet products. To produce aerated confectionery samples two different procedures were used to incorporate the ingredients in the beating vegetable or dairy cream. The objective of this research was to determine the texture parameters and the viscoelastic properties of aerated confections using compression stress-relaxation test and applying a modified Maxwell model. The highest fat content was presented by dairy cream aerated samples (20.04-20.25%), while the samples based on vegetable cream displayed a lower fat content. By applying the modified Maxwell mechanical model to the relaxation curves the equilibrium stress, σe, relaxation time, λrel, viscosity, η, and modulus of elasticity, G0, were determined. The aerated samples’ viscosity was greater than 137.96 kPa·s and less than 451.793 kPa·s; furthermore, Pearson correlation showed that density influences positively this rheological parameter (r = 0.955*). Fixing air into the product structure causes a decrease in density (0.388-0.788 g/cm3), leading to a lower equilibrium stress, a lower elasticity modulus and also a decrease of viscosity and relaxation time.

In-situ viscoelastic characterization and modeling of ice cream

Hard ice cream has been mechanically characterized in-situ by using compression stress relaxation tests. However, the main challenge in the study of ice cream mechanics is the need to perform analyses at low temperatures (−20 °C). Therefore, in this study, a customized compression test device was developed, which can be used for experimental analysis at low temperatures (−20 °C) inside a freezer. The viscoelastic behavior of hard ice cream was analyzed using the test device, as observed from the reduction of stress at holding deformation. Viscoelastic modeling was then performed using the finite element method by using user material subroutine. The model agreed to the tests results at small deformation (1 mm deformation), but it required the use of a softening function at large deformation. The findings of this study suggest the non-linear viscoelastic behavior of hard ice cream under low temperatures.

Mechanical, material, and biological study of a PCL/bioactive glass bone scaffold: Importance of viscoelasticity

Microsphere sintering method was used to fabricate bone tissue engineering scaffolds made of polycaprolactone (PCL)/bioactive glass 58S5Z (58S modified with 5 wt% Zinc). First, the effect of PCL/58S5Z ratio on the mechanical properties (elastic modulus and yield strength) was investigated. It was found that samples with 5 wt% 58S5Z (named 5%BG) had the highest elastic modulus and yield strength among all samples, i.e., with 0, 5, 10, and 20 wt% bioactive glass. Then, considering the importance of viscoelastic properties of bone, the viscoelastic behavior of 0%BG (scaffold with only PCL) and 5%BG samples was determined by performing compressive stress relaxation test and subsequently a Generalized Maxwell model was developed. Findings indicated a similar amount and pattern of predicted storage and loss moduli and loss factor of the composite scaffolds to those of the bone. In the next step, the analysis of biological behavior of the scaffolds using MTT assay, DAPI and Alizarin red staining demonstrated that 5%BG scaffolds had higher in vitro cell viability and bone formation compared to 0%BG ones. Furthermore, in vivo study employing H&E staining of the scaffolds implanted in rats' calvarium for 50 days, confirmed the earlier findings and showed that 5%BG-filled defects had higher and more uniform bone formation compared to both 0%BG-filled and empty defects.

Strain rate sensitivities of deformation mechanisms in magnesium alloys

Strain rate sensitivity (SRS) is an important material property that governs the rate dependent mechanical behaviors associated with deformation rate changes, creep, stress relaxation, formability, etc. The variety of activated deformation mechanisms of magnesium alloys under different loading paths, e.g. tension vs. compression, implies that SRS of magnesium alloys obviously depends on loading paths, and each deformation mechanism has its own SRS. However, a single SRS scheme is commonly employed in numerical modeling to describe the rate dependent behaviors of magnesium alloys, which disregards the distinction of SRSs among different deformation mechanisms. The implementation of the constitutive model that works for a wide range of values of SRSs has been a challenge to crystal plasticity modeling for metals with multiple deformation mechanisms like magnesium. Especially, very small values of SRS, corresponding to low rate-sensitivity, generally lead to high nonlinearity involved in the governing equations, and then computational failure. In this paper, the elasto-viscoplastic self-consistent (EVPSC) crystal plasticity model is improved to enhance its numerical robustness for very small SRS values. Taking advantage of this improvement, different SRSs for various deformation mechanisms are employed to investigate the strain rate dependent behaviors of magnesium alloys at room temperature. First, the SRSs for various deformation mechanisms are determined based on the compressive stress relaxation tests on an AZ31 alloy plate; secondly, the obtained SRSs are applied to interpret internal elastic strain evolution of the same magnesium alloy under in-plane compression; finally, the determined SRSs are applied to investigate the deformation of another AZ31 alloy under various deformation paths and strain rates. The present work is the first effort on studying effects of strain rate-sensitivity on mechanical behavior of Mg alloys under wide range of applied strain rates by using an improved self-consistent polycrystal plasticity model. Good agreement between the experiments and simulations reveals the importance and necessity of using different SRSs for the deformation mechanisms involved. The rate dependent behaviors of magnesium alloys can be better described by using multiple SRSs associated to each operative deformation mechanism.

Time-Dependent Testing Evaluation and Modeling for Rubber Stopper Seal Performance.

Sufficient rubber stopper sealing performance throughout the entire sealed product life cycle is essential for maintaining container closure integrity in the parenteral packaging industry. However, prior publications have lacked systematic considerations for the time-dependent influence on sealing performance that results from the viscoelastic characteristics of the rubber stoppers. In this paper, we report results of an effort to study these effects by applying both compression stress relaxation testing and residual seal force testing for time-dependent experimental data collection. These experiments were followed by modeling fit calculations based on the Maxwell-Wiechert theory modified with the Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts stretched exponential function, resulting in a nonlinear, time-dependent sealing force model. By employing both testing evaluations and modeling calculations, an in-depth understanding of the time-dependent effects on rubber stopper sealing force was developed. Both testing and modeling data show good consistency, demonstrating that the sealing force decays exponentially over time and eventually levels off because of the viscoelastic nature of the rubber stoppers. The nonlinearity of stress relaxation derives from the viscoelastic characteristics of the rubber stoppers coupled with the large stopper compression deformation into restrained geometry conditions. The modeling fit with capability to handle actual testing data can be employed as a tool to calculate the compression stress relaxation and residual seal force throughout the entire sealed product life cycle. In addition to being time-dependent, stress relaxation is also experimentally shown to be temperature-dependent. The present work provides a new, integrated methodology framework and some fresh insights to the parenteral packaging industry for practically and proactively considering, designing, setting up, controlling, and managing stopper sealing performance throughout the entire sealed product life cycle.LAY ABSTRACT: Historical publications in the parenteral packaging industry have lacked systematic considerations for the time-dependent influence on the sealing performance that results from effects of viscoelastic characteristic of the rubber stoppers. This study applied compression stress relaxation testing and residual seal force testing for time-dependent experimental data collection. These experiments were followed by modeling fit calculations based on the Maxwell-Wiechert theory modified with the Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts stretched exponential function, resulting in a nonlinear, time-dependent sealing force model. Experimental and modeling data show good consistency, demonstrating that sealing force decays exponentially over time and eventually levels off. The nonlinearity of stress relaxation derives from the viscoelastic characteristics of the rubber stoppers coupled with the large stopper compression deformation into restrained geometry conditions. In addition to being time-dependent stress relaxation, it is also experimentally shown to be temperature-dependent. The present work provides a new, integrated methodology framework and some fresh insights to the industry for practically and proactively considering, designing, setting up, controlling, and managing of the stopper sealing performance throughout the entire sealed product life cycle.

Effect of freezing storage time on the elastic and viscous properties of the porcine TMJ disc

The correct characterisation of the articular disc of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is key to study the masticatory biomechanics. For the interval from extraction until testing, freezing is the most used preservation technique for biological tissues, but its influence on their behaviour is still unclear. An important error can be committed in the characterisation of such tissues if freezing has any effect on their mechanical properties. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether the freezing storage time causes any change in the mechanical properties of the TMJ discs. To check that, the specimens were stored in a −20°C freezer during different time intervals: 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months. Fresh specimens, tested right after extraction, were used as the control group. Compressive stress relaxation tests were carried out on the specimens and a quasi-linear viscoelastic (QLV) model was used to fit the experimental curves. A statistical analysis detected significant differences among the groups. Post-hoc tests determined that freezing the specimens more than 30 days may lead to changes in the viscoelastic properties of the tissue.

Improvement of hardness and compression set properties of EPDM seals with alternating multilayered structure for PEM fuel cells

In Proton Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells, seals are used to keep intimate contact between all components as well as to keep the reactant gases and liquid within their respective regions. Suitable seal materials should be chosen and designed to sustain the long term operation. In this paper, EPDM seal materials with soft and hard alternating multilayered structure are fabricated through the multilayered co-extrusion system. The structure and morphology of multilayered and blended EPDM vulcanizates were observed by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of tensile, hardness, compression set and compression stress relaxation test show that multilayered vulcanizates have lower tensile strength and compression set but higher hardness than blended one. The hardness of multilayered vulcanizates increases with the increase of the layer number, leading to higher sealing force and better dimensional stability. The compression set of multilayered vulcanizates decreases with the increase of the layer number, indicating better sealing capacity and longer working life. The permeability test shows that multilayered materials have nearly same gas permeability property as blended one. The results of aging test reveal that the mechanical properties of EPDM seal materials decrease with time, but multilayered vulcanizates still have lower compression set than blended one after aging.