Properties Of Composite Materials Research Articles

Improvement of the Impact Resistance of Epoxy Prepregs Through the Incorporation of Polyamide Nonwoven Fabric

The impact of introducing a nonwoven polyamide PA 12-E material on the mechanical properties of polymer composite materials based on epoxy autoclave prepreg T107 has been investigated. This study demonstrates that the incorporation of nonwoven fabric does not lead to a decrease in the mechanical properties of the composites. A significant advantage of composites reinforced with nonwoven fabric is their enhanced impact resistance. During a free impact with an energy of 6.67 J per 1 mm of the sample, complete breakdown with fiber destruction occurs in samples without nonwoven material. In contrast, samples containing nonwoven material exhibit damage characterized by stratification without compromising the fibers. The compressive strength after impact increased from 260 to 320 MPa with the addition of nonwoven material. Consequently, the proposed modification of the commercial prepreg will expand the material’s range of applications and enhance safety, particularly in aircraft structures.

Evaluation of properties of outdoor bamboo fiber composite materials prepared by Pseudosasa amabilis and Bambusa textilis

Evaluation of properties of outdoor bamboo fiber composite materials prepared by Pseudosasa amabilis and Bambusa textilis

Preparation of modified epoxy resin with high hydrophobicity, low dielectric constant, toughness, and flame retardant by epoxy-functionalized siloxanes

A series of α, ω-dimethylglycidoxypropyl-terminated PDMS oligomer (PDMS-GE) oligomers with different polymerization degrees were synthesized and used to modify the bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether E51 (DGEBA) / 4,4-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) epoxy resin, resulting in epoxy resins with high hydrophobicity, low dielectric constant, good impact toughness, low combustion heat release rate, and low total heat release. The combustion heat release rate and total heat release of the material decreased with the increase in the loadings of PDMS-GE. Relative to pure epoxy resin, the composite E51/D30–10, which using DGEBA as the matrix, PDMS-GE with a degree of polymerization of 30 as the modifier in an amount of 10 phr relative to the mass sum of DGEBA, PDMS-GE and DDM, exhibited the best comprehensive performance with a water contact angle of 102.42°, a dielectric strength of 6.49 kV/mm, a dielectric constant of 2.93 at 14.2 GHz, the peak rate of heat release (PRHR) and total heat release (THR) are of 378.3 kW/m2 and 134.4 MJ/m2, respectively. These comprehensive performances underscore the potential of PDMS-GE oligomers in significantly improving epoxy resin properties. When the loadings of PDMS-GE oligomers are less than 5 wt%, PDMS-GE with a lower degree of polymerization can improve the toughness of epoxy resins. The impact strength of the composite E51/D24–5, which uses DGEBA as the matrix, PDMS-GE with a degree of polymerization of 24 as the modifier in an amount of 5 phr relative to the mass sum of DGEBA, PDMS-GE, and DDM, reaches 98.1 kJ/m2, which is about 28.9 % higher than that of pure epoxy resin. The results also indicated that the degree of polymerization of PDMS-GE oligomers has less influence on the dielectric properties and mechanical properties of composite materials.

Study of the Thermal Properties of Clay-Straw Composite Material for Thermal Insulation of Buildings

Clay is an environmentally-friendly material available throughout Senegal. To reduce the energy consumption of buildings and the emission of greenhouse gases, clay is often used in construction, and natural insulating materials such as straw are combined with it to improve its thermal properties. An experimental transient parallel hot-wire measurement was used to determine the influence of straw addition on the thermal properties of the composite material. The thermal results showed that adding straw to the clay reduced its thermal conductivity by 61 Parsent. The clay-straw composite could therefore be an alternative to concrete-based materials for ensuring thermal comfort in buildings.

Microstructure, microhardness and wear properties investigation in friction stir processing of stir cast Mg/B4C metal matrix composite

Abstract Friction Stir Processing (FSP) has emerged as an excellent processing approach to tailor the microstructural and other properties of cast alloys and composite materials. In the current investigation, a stir-cast magnesium metal matrix composite (MMMC) reinforced with 12 wt% B4C particles was processed using single-pass FSP. FSP was carried out with a simple cylindrical tool pin using different tool rotational speeds of 800, 1000, 1200 rpm and transverse speed of 60 mm min−1. Severe deformation occurred during FSP which helped to refine the distribution of the B4C particles and grain refinement of as-cast composites. Microstructural examination showed an appreciable grain refinement from 98 to 5 μm because of dynamic recrystallization during FSP. The maximum microhardness of the friction stir processed (FSPed) composites increased from 73 Hv to 105.4 Hv. Pin-on-disk wear tests were conducted under dry sliding conditions in the load range of 1 kg to 5 kg at a 1 m s−1 sliding velocity. The wear results indicated an enhancement of wear properties of FSPed composites in comparison to as-cast magnesium metal matrix composites. The improved hardness and wear resistance results were pertaining to the remarkable refinement in grain size coupled with refined B4C particulates and uniform distribution. The best results for hardness and wear resistance of the FSPed composite were obtained for a sample processed at a tool rotation speed of 1000 rpm. SEM/EDS of the worn samples was carried out. The wear mechanism was found as slight abrasion and oxidation. After single pass FSP, the surface of Mg/12 wt% B4C cast composite showed remarkable changes in worn surface morphology.

Optical properties of repaired additively manufactured resin composites and zirconia and subtractively manufactured ceramics: a comparative study of composite resins

ObjectiveThis study aims to examine color properties of repairs made with various composites on restorations produced through additive-manufactured resin composites (AM-RC) and zirconia (AM-Z) or subtractive manufacturing (SM) after coffee thermocycling (CTC).Materials and methodsDisk-shaped specimens (Ø10 × 2 mm; N = 120) were fabricated using six different material groups: additively manufactured resin composite (AM-RC) materials (Crowntec [C], NextDent [ND]), additively manufactured zirconia (AM-Z) materials (Lithoz [LI], INNI-Cera [IN]), and subtractively manufactured (SM) materials (CEREC Tessera [ALD], Vita Enamic [EN]). Subsequently, each group was further subdivided into two subgroups (n = 10) based on the type of repair using two different composites resins: Clearfil Majesty Posterior (CL) (n = 60) and Filtek Z350 (FZ) (n = 60). Specimens underwent thermal cycling (CTC), consisting of 10,000 cycles between 5 °C and 55 °C. Color measurements were performed both before and after thermal cycling for all materials. Color discrepancies (ΔE00) and relative translucency parameters (RTPs) were calculated. Statistical analyses were conducted at a significance level of α = 0.05.ResultsA one-way ANOVA of ΔE00 values between CL and FZ revealed a significant difference (P = 0.007), with FZ exhibiting higher ΔE00 values. Significant differences in ΔE00 values were also observed among IN, C, and ND after CTC (P < 0.05). ALD demonstrated the lowest amount color change (P < 0.05). LI and EN colors showed no significant difference (P = 0.75). Following CTC, C, ND, and IN colors matched CL. In contrast, ALD, EN, and L colors exhibited significant differences (P ≤ 0.050). FZ showed a poor color match with all AM and SM materials. Furthermore, significant differences in RTP values were identified for all specimens (P < 0.001), with LI having the highest RTP and IN the lowest (P < 0.001).ConclusionThe optical properties of composite and ceramic materials, as well as their stability over time, are crucial for their durability. ALD demonstrated the most consistent color stability. While the CL repair composites experienced some color changes, these changes remained within acceptable limits. Additionally, the LI (AM-Z) material exhibited the highest level of translucency.

Study on the mechanics and self-sensing properties of ultrahigh-performance shotcrete containing waste glass aggregates

To promote the recycling of waste glass and satisfy the demands of environmental sustainability for ultrahigh performance concrete (UHPC), in this study, glass sand was employed to partially or entirely replace machine-made sand, and steel fibres were incorporated to fabricate ultrahigh performance shotcrete (UHPS). The effects of glass sand and steel fibres on the mechanical and electrical properties of composite materials were analysed in this study. Furthermore, alkali‒silica reaction (ASR) tests and microstructural analyses were conducted. The results indicate that at higher steel fibre contents, the incorporation of glass sand does not reduce the compressive strength of the UHPS and that glass sand has no significant effect on the split tensile or flexural strength. When the steel fibre content is 2% and the replacement ratio of glass sand reaches 100%, the mechanical properties of the UHPS reach their maximum. The addition of glass sand negatively affects the electrical properties, whereas the use of steel fibres improves them. The results of the alkali‒silica reaction tests confirm that the use of glass sand does not induce harmful expansion reactions. The study revealed the trends in the mechanical and electrical properties of concrete from a microstructural perspective and provided explanations for the alkali‒silica reaction outcomes. This study provides technical support for the application of UHPS to tunnel linings.

Study on the constitutive model and thermal deformation behavior of Incoloy825/P110 bimetallic composite material

To further investigate the properties of Incoloy825/P110 bimetallic composite seamless pipes, thermal deformation analysis was conducted on their billets. The thermal deformation and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behavior of Incoloy825/P110 bimetallic composite materials were studied through hot compression tests at deformation temperatures (850–1150 °C) and strain rates (0.01–10 s−1). A constitutive relationship was established, and compensation and correction were made based on the differences in materials corresponding to different strain states. The hot processing map was established based on the thermal deformation behavior of bimetallic materials. In addition, the evolution of microstructure was also studied to verify the feasibility of the established hot processing map. The results show that the strain compensated Arrhenius can accurately predict the flow stress. By analyzing the microstructure using EBSD, it can be found that DRX behavior has a significant impact on the thermal processing properties of composite materials. This study provides an important theoretical basis for the production of Incoloy825/P110 bimetallic composite seamless pipes in the future.

The Influence of Two Spinning Processes of T800 Grade Carbon Fibers on the Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Composite Material

Two types of T800 grade carbon fibers, produced using distinct spinning processes, were utilized to fabricate thermoplastic prepregs via the hot melt method. These prepregs were subsequently employed to produce thermoplastic composites. A universal testing machine was used to assess the tensile, bending, and interlaminar shear properties of the composites, evaluating the impact of the two different spinning processes on their mechanical characteristics. The experimental results indicate that the dry spray wet spinning carbon fiber (T800-DJWS) exhibits a smoother surface, more regular cross-section, and more uniform distribution compared to the wet spinning carbon fiber (T800-WS), enhancing the prepreg preparation via the hot melt method. The T800-DJWS/PAEK composite demonstrates a tensile strength that is 706 MPa higher than the T800-WS/PAEK composite, while the latter exhibits a bending modulus 31 GPa higher than the former.

Mechanical Properties of TWILL Carbon Fiber Fabric-Reinforced Single-Layer Thermoplastic Polyamide and Polybutylene Terephthalate-Based Composite Materials Manufactured by Hot Pressing.

This study investigates carbon fabric-reinforced thermoplastic composites produced via hot pressing, using Polyamide PA6 and Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) as matrix materials. These materials are increasingly utilized in the development of lightweight, high-performance, multilayer structures, such as aluminum-reinforced laminates, for automotive and aerospace applications. The mechanical properties, including tensile strength and stiffness, were systematically evaluated under varying loading conditions. The PBT-CF composite exhibited a 17% higher tensile strength and stiffness compared to the PA6-CF composite, despite the low carbon fiber content. This highlights the critical role of uniform fiber distribution in enhancing material performance. Slower loading speeds (1 mm/min) resulted in higher strength, emphasizing the influence of process parameters on mechanical behavior. Cyclic loading tests showed a gradual reduction in stiffness with increasing strain range, particularly for the CF-45° configuration. The warp and weft arrangement of the carbon fabric contributed to structural inhomogeneity but did not significantly affect the global mechanical properties. These findings demonstrate the suitability of PBT as a matrix material alongside PA6 for carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastics, offering new possibilities for the design of advanced composite materials with tailored properties.

Microstructure, microhardness and wear properties Investigation in Friction Stir Processing of Stir Cast Mg/B4C metal matrix composite

Abstract Friction Stir Processing (FSP) has emerged as an excellent processing approach to tailor the microstructural and other properties of cast alloys and composite materials. In the current investigation, a stir-cast magnesium metal matrix composite (MMMC) reinforced with 12 wt% B4C particles was processed using single-pass FSP. FSP was carried out with a simple cylindrical tool pin using different tool rotational speeds of 800, 1000, 1200 rpm and transverse speed of 60 mm/min. Severe deformation occurred during FSP which helped to refine the distribution of the B4C particles and grain refinement of as-cast composites. Microstructural examination showed an appreciable grain refinement from 98 to 5μm because of dynamic recrystallization during FSP. The maximum microhardness of the friction stir processed (FSPed) composites increased from 73 Hv to 105.4 Hv. Pin-on-disk wear tests were conducted under dry sliding conditions in the load range of 1 kg to 5 kg at a 1 m/s sliding velocity. The wear results indicated an enhancement of wear properties of FSPed composites in comparison to as-cast magnesium metal matrix composites. The improved hardness and wear resistance results were pertaining to the remarkable refinement in grain size coupled with refined B4C particulates and uniform distribution. The best results for hardness and wear resistance of the FSPed composite were obtained for a sample processed at a tool rotation speed of 1000 rpm. SEM/EDS of the worn samples was carried out. The wear mechanism was found as slight abrasion and oxidation. After single pass FSP, the surface of Mg/12wt% B4C cast composite showed remarkable changes in worn surface morphology.

Correlation between interlaminar shear strength of CFRP and joint strength of aluminium-CFRP hybrid joints

ABSTRACT Fibre-reinforced polymers are increasingly used due to their high specific strength, making them suitable for local sheet metal reinforcement. This allows improved overall mechanical properties with reduced wall thickness of the sheet metal part and, thus, lower weight of the components. One of the main focuses of research into such hybrid structures is on the adhesive properties and the respective failure behaviour of the interfaces. Generally, the failure behaviour under the influence of mechanical loads can be divided into adhesive, cohesive and mixed-mode failure. The correlation between observed failure behaviour and adhesion properties of the hybrid composite materials is analysed in detail in this work. The hybrid composite consists of an aluminium sheet of the alloy EN AW‑6082 T6 and thermoset carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) prepreg. The aluminium sheet was laser pretreated before hybrid production to improve the adhesion properties. The specimens studied were produced by the prepreg pressing process, in which the components are cured and joined simultaneously. The influences of the thickness of the CFRP part, the layup, the fibre orientation at the boundary layer, and the laser pretreatment parameters on the properties of the hybrid joints were investigated.

Characterization of Fatigue Properties of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites Based on a Multiscale Approach.

This study presents a methodology for characterizing the constituent properties of composite materials by back-calculating from the laminate behavior under fatigue loading. Composite materials consist of fiber reinforcements and a polymer matrix, with the fatigue performance of the laminate governed by the interaction between these constituents. Due to the challenges in directly measuring the properties of individual fibers and the polymer matrix, a reverse-engineering approach was employed. Using the micro-mechanics of fatigue (MMFatigue), we predicted the laminate's fatigue behavior based on assumed constituent properties and compared these predictions with experimental data from fatigue tests. The properties of the fiber and polymer matrix were iteratively adjusted to minimize the differences between predictions and experimental results, enabling accurate fatigue characterization. To ensure robustness, three laminate angles-0°, 30°, and 60°-were evaluated at three temperatures: low temperature (LT: -40 °C), room temperature (RT: 25 °C), and high temperature (HT: 85 °C). The error, defined as the fatigue life difference between the prediction and the experimental results, were obtained as 2.48% at LT, 7.18% at RT, and 1.25% at HT for a laminate angle of 45°. Finally, the applicability of the multiscale-based fatigue life prediction method was demonstrated through studies on laminates with various angles under tension-compression, and compression-compression cyclic loads, as well as composite pressure vessels under cyclic loading.

Influence of compression ratio in compressed extended graphite on thermo-physical properties of composite phase change material: An experimental investigation

Influence of compression ratio in compressed extended graphite on thermo-physical properties of composite phase change material: An experimental investigation

Preparation and properties of sodium sulfate decahydrate shape-stabilized composite phase change material for solar greenhouse

Preparation and properties of sodium sulfate decahydrate shape-stabilized composite phase change material for solar greenhouse

Adhesive damage of class V restorations under shrinkage stress and occlusal forces using cohesive zone modeling.

This study aims to investigate adhesive damage caused by the synergistic effects of polymerization shrinkage and occlusal forces via finite element analysis (FEA), based on damage mechanics with the cohesive zone model (CZM). The objective is to obtain the adhesive damage distribution and investigate how the material properties of resin composite impact adhesive damage. A 3D reconstruction model of an mandibular first molar was constructed through CBCT imaging, and a Class V cavity was prepared using computer-aided engineering (CAE) software. Common clinical resin composite and an universal adhesive were selected for restorative filling. A 3D FEA was performed, incorporating the pre-stress induced by polymerization shrinkage of the resin composite, followed by occlusal forces. The cohesive zone model (CZM) was employed to represent the adhesive damage. To emphasize the impact of synergistic loading on adhesive damage, three types of loads were separately applied to the model: polymerization shrinkage, occlusal forces, and combined loading. Subsequently, three clinical resin composites with varying polymerization shrinkage and elastic modulus were used as restorative materials. Sensitivity analysis was conducted on dozens of hypothetical materials to provide definitive results. Polymerization shrinkage was undergone by the cured resin composite, resulting in extensive adhesive damage. Occlusal forces induced microdamage in regions already damaged by shrinkage stress, especially in the gingival wall. Predictably, the regions with severe adhesive damage were prone to marginal microleakage. The properties of the resin composite can affect adhesive damage. The adhesive damage with bulk-fill resin composite was milder than that with flowable and conventional resin composite. The extent of adhesive damage correlated markedly positively with the polymerization shrinkage of the resin composite and mildly positively with its elastic modulus. Adhesive damage has been directly implicated in marginal microleakage. The cohesive zone model (CZM) can effectively elucidate the distribution of adhesive damage and provide a clear representation of the impact of varying material properties of resin composite on adhesive damage.

Effect of Si powder on the phase composition,microstructure and properties of MgAl2O4-SiC composite materials

Effect of Si powder on the phase composition,microstructure and properties of MgAl2O4-SiC composite materials

Glass fiber treated with a glycine bridged silane coupling agent reinforcing polyamide 6(PA6): effect of hydrogen bonding.

Silane coupling agents play an indispensable role in improving interfacial adhesion of composite materials, but their interaction mechanism is often unclear. This article combines experiments and theoretical calculations to reveal the importance of hydrogen bonds between silane coupling agents and the matrix polyamide 6 in improving the mechanical properties of composite materials. Firstly, glycine bridged silane (GBSilane) was synthesized and the structure was confirmed by FT-IR, 1H NMR and HRMS. Secondly, with glass fiber treated using GBSilane as a filler, the mechanical properties of glass fiber/PA6 composite materials were studied. Compared with untreated glass fiber/PA6 composites, under the optimal treatment concentration of 1.5%, the tensile strength of glass fiber/PA6 composites treated with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) and GBSilane increased by 41% and 67%, respectively, and the notch impact strength increased by 55% and 96.5%, respectively. Lastly, density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that stronger hydrogen bonds have formed between GBSilane and PA6 than APTES, which have induced the stronger PA6-GBSilane binding energy of 58.20 kJ mol-1. By comparison, the binding energy of PA6-APTES is only 30.91 kJ mol-1. These results demonstrated that the as-synthesized GBSilane could improve the mechanical properties of PA6 composites through an enhanced hydrogen bonding mechanism.

Study of iron-based composite materials using modelling and simulation

Composite materials are materials composed of two or more components that have different physical and chemical properties. These properties complement each other to create a material with unique properties that cannot be achieved by using the individual components alone. Modelling the effect of preparation processes on the properties of composite materials is an important tool to predict the properties of a material prior to its manufacture. This can help in optimizing the preparation technology and obtaining the desired material properties. In the present work the topicality of the problem of iron-based composite materials and the possibilities of modelling and simulation of selected models are presented.

Rheo-NMR velocimetry of nanocrystalline cellulose suspensions

Abstract The velocity data presented demonstrate the complicated flow behavior of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) suspensions even when standard rheometry shows only subtle effects. Rheo-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) velocimetry with spatial and temporal resolution indicates that NCC suspensions undergo varying flow behavior, which correlates with bulk rheology and includes wall-slip, shear banding, and yielding. Large-velocity fluctuations in a chiral nematic liquid crystal-phase suspension (5% w/v) indicate particle director orientation tumbling and flow. The results provide details of the mesoscale velocity distributions in space and time, which can be used to inform the interpretation of rheology data, as well as processing flow conditions to control NCC suspension microstructure and impact properties of composite and other materials.