Glassy Transition Temperature Tg Research Articles

Real-time polymerization monitoring of a thermosetting resin around its glassy transition temperature

Real-time ultrasonic monitoring is investigated to quantify changes in physical and mechanical properties during the manufacture of composite structures. In this context, an experimental transmission was developed with the aim to characterize a high temperature polymerization reaction and post-curing properties using an ultrasonic method. First, the monitoring of ultrasonic parameters of a thermosetting resin is carried out in an isothermal polymerization process at 160°C. During this curing, the resin is changing from its initial viscous liquid state to its final viscous solid state. Between those states, a glassy transition stage is observed, during which the physical properties are strongly changing, i.e., an increase of the ultrasonic velocity up to its steady value and a transient increase of the ultrasonic attenuation. Second, the ultrasonic inspection of the thermosetting resin is performed during a heating and cooling process to study the temperature sensitivity after curing. This type of characterization lead to identify the ultrasonic properties dependence before, during, and after the glassy transition temperature Tg. This study is composed of two complementary parts: the first is useful for the curing optimization, while the second one is fruitful for the post-processing characterization in a temperature range including the glassy transition temperature.

Heredity of icosahedrons: a kinetic parameter related to glass-forming abilities of rapidly solidified Cu56Zr44 alloys

To explore the origin of glassy transition and glass-forming abilities (GFAs) of transition metal-transition metal (TM-TM) alloys from the microstructural point of view, a series of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation for the rapid solidification processes of liquid Cu56Zr44alloys at various cooling rates and pressures P are performed by using a LAMPS program. On the basis of Honeycutt-Andersen (H-A) bond-type index (ijkl), we propose an extended cluster-type index (Z, n/(ijkl)) method to characterize and analyze the microstructures of the alloy melts as well as their evolution in the rapid solidification. It is found that the majority of local atomic configurations in the rapidly solidified alloy are (12 12/1551) icosahedra, as well as (12 8/1551 2/1541 2/1431) and (12 2/1441 8/1551 2/1661) defective icosahedra, but no relationship can be seen between their number N(300 m K) and the glassy transition temperature Tg of rapidly solidified Cu56Zr44alloys. By an inverse tracking of atom trajectories from low temperatures to high temperatures the configuration heredity of icosahedral clusters in liquid is discovered to be an intrinsic feature of rapidly solidified alloys; the onset of heredity merely emerges in the super-cooled liquid rather than the initial alloy melt. Among these the (12 12/1551) standard icosahedra inherited from the super-cooled liquids at Tm-Tg is demonstrated to play a key role in the formation of Cu56Zr44 glassy alloys. Not only is their number N300 KTgP inherited from Tg to 300 K closely related to the GFA of rapidly solidified Cu56Zr44alloys, but a good correspondence of the onset temperatures of heredity (Tonset) with the reduced glass transition temperature (Trg= Tg/Tm) can be also observed. As for the influence of and P on the glassy transition, a continuous tracking of descendible icosahedra reveals that the high GFA of rapidly solidified Cu56Zr44 alloys caused by big and P can be attributed to their elevated inheritable fraction (fp and ftotal) above Tg.

Changes in Fracture Micromechanism with Increasing Reinforcement Volume Fraction in Glass Matrix Composite

Fracture behaviour and mechanical properties are the key features when a material for given application is supposed to be selected. Advanced glass ceramics composites are perspective structural materials for many applications due to their low production expenses and satisfactory properties even at elevated temperatures. Borosilicate glass matrix composite reinforced by alumina platelets was investigated to describe toughening mechanisms and their changes in a wide range of temperatures (from room temperature up to glassy transition temperature Tg). The dissipation of energy by bridging and/or deflection of propagating crack by alumina platelets uniformly dispersed in the glass matrix were the main toughening mechanisms observed. The alumina platelets have a higher ability to deflect propagating crack in comparison with spherical or rectangular particles having the same volume. Three and four point bend test for Young’s modulus and flexural strength determination was used. Fracture toughness determination was conducted using chevron notch technique. More than 100% increase of fracture toughness was observed when 30% of alumina platelets were added in to borosilicate matrix.

Au nanolayers deposited on polyethyleneterephtalate and polytetrafluorethylene degraded by plasma discharge

AbstractPolyethyleneterephtalate (PET) and polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) foils were modified by plasma discharge. The effect of plasma modification on polymer surface wettability and on properties of gold coatings were studied as a function of time from plasma exposure (aging time) and polymer substrate temperature. Thickness, sheet resistance, and surface topology of gold layers were studied. Aging of the plasma‐exposed samples is accompanied by increase in contact angle, which is explained by rearrangement of the polymer segments in the polymer surface monolayer, and a decrease in the concentration of polar groups. The aging also leads to a decline in surface roughness Ra measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Under deposition conditions, comparable thicknesses of deposited Au layers were prepared on pristine PET and plasma‐treated PET and PTFE samples. The thinnest Au layers were evaporated onto pristine PTFE. The sheet resistance decreases with increasing thickness of Au layer. Plasma treatment leads to an increase of PTFE surface roughness, which becomes even more pronounced after Au deposition. A higher roughness shows that the PET samples are deposited with the Au layer at temperatures above the glassy transition temperature Tg. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.