Thermal Analysis Of Composites Research Articles

TG and DSC Analyses of Equi-Channel Angular Processed Red Mud Particle Reinforced 5083 Aluminum Alloy Matrix Composites Synthesized by Stir Casting

TG and DSC analyses were performed to study thermal stability and specific heat capacity of red mud (RM) particle reinforced Al5083 alloy matrix composites. Metal matrix composites of different weight percentages of RM were blended by stir casting. The composites were processed by equi-channel angular extrusion using a die with an angle of 105° between channels and 30° at the outer curvature. The structural and mechanical behaviors of composites processed by ECAE were evaluated by SEM and hardness studies. Thermal analysis of composites before and after ECAP was performed by using DSC and TG–DTA. From the TG analysis, it was observed that the mass loss of the composites reduced with an increase in RM fraction. Thermal stability before ECAP was observed high up to a temperature of 250 °C and after ECAP high thermal stability retained up to a temperature of 350 °C. It was also observed that at higher fractions of RM, enthalpy and specific heat capacity of composites significantly reduced due to the reduction in the enrichment of RM particles with a matrix material of the composite.

The Influence of Vertical Wind Shear on Moist Thermals

AbstractAlthough it is well established that vertical wind shear helps to organize and maintain convective systems, there is a longstanding colloquial notion that it inhibits the development of deep convection. To investigate this idea, the vertical momentum budgets of sheared and unsheared moist thermals were compared in idealized cloud model simulations. Consistent with the idea of vertical wind shear inhibiting convective development, convection generally deepened at a slower rate in sheared simulations than in unsheared simulations, and the termination heights of thermals in sheared runs were correspondingly lower. These differences in deepening rates resulted from weaker vertical acceleration of thermals in the sheared compared to the unsheared runs. Downward-oriented dynamic pressure acceleration was enhanced by vertical wind shear, which was the primary reason for relatively weak upward acceleration of sheared thermals. This result contrasts with previous ideas that entrainment or buoyant perturbation pressure accelerations are the primary factors inhibiting the growth of sheared convection. A composite thermal analysis indicates that enhancement of dynamic pressure acceleration in the sheared runs is caused by asymmetric aerodynamic lift forces associated with shear-driven cross flow perpendicular to the direction of the thermals’ ascent. These results provide a plausible explanation for why convection is slower to deepen in sheared environments and why slanted convection tends to be weaker than upright convection in squall lines.

Thermal Prestress in Composite Compliant Shell Mechanisms

This paper explores the ability to tailor the mechanical properties of composite compliant shell mechanisms, by exploiting the thermal prestress introduced during the composite laminate cure. An extension of an analytical tape spring model with composite thermal analysis is presented, and the effect of the thermal prestress is studied by means of energy landscapes for the cylindrical composite shells. Tape springs that would otherwise be monostable structures become bistable and exhibit greater ranges of low-energy twisting with thermally induced prestress. Predicted shell geometries are compared with finite element (FE) results and manufactured samples, showing good agreement between all approaches. Wider challenges around the manufacture of prestressed composite compliant mechanisms are discussed.

The effect of beta-tricalcium phosphate on mechanical and thermal performances of poly(lactic acid)

Orthophosphates are bioactive crystals with similar structure, in terms of elemental composition and crystal nature, to human bone. In this work, biocomposite materials were prepared with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) as matrix, and beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) as osteoconductive filler by extrusion-compounding followed by conventional injection molding. The β-TCP load content was varied in the 10–40 wt% range and the influence of the β-TCP load on mechanical performance of PLA/β-TCP composites was evaluated. Mechanical properties of composites were obtained by standardized tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness tests. Thermal analysis of composites was carried out by means of differential scanning calorimetry; degradation at high temperatures was studied by thermogravimetric analysis; and the effect of the β-TCP load on dynamical response of composites was studied by mechanical thermal analysis in torsion mode. The best-balanced properties were obtained for PLA composites containing 30 wt% β-TCP with a remarkable increase in the Young’s modulus. These materials offer interesting properties to be used as base materials for medical applications such as interference screws due to high stiffness and mechanical resistance.

Synthesis and Characterization of Epoxy Resin Reinforced with Luffa Fiber Composites for Sound Absorption

Now a day’s sustainable development becomes an increasingly significant goal in the evaluation and promotion of Industries. There is currently considerable interest in developing sustainable acoustic absorbers. This research aims to develop and characterize composite materials made of Epoxy resin reinforced with luffa fibres as sustainable acoustic absorbers. The fibres where chemically modified by alkaline treatment and its effects on the fibre-matrix interaction were also evaluated. The effect of chemical modification on fibre morphology was studied by Scanning electron microscope (SEM). Likewise, the sound absorption coefficient of composites were studied using 2 types of Impedance tube methods namely Two microphone transfer function and standing wave method. The thermal analyses of composites were made using Thermogravimetric analysis. The sound absorption coefficient of untreated and treated composites across a range of frequencies was very similar. To be more specific, untreated composites appeared to perform better than those of treated ones. After chemical modifications, the SEM characterization showed that the alkaline treatment changed the morphology of fibers, resulting in decrease in sound absorption coefficients of composites. This is probably due to the new morphological aspect. The thermal characterization of composites shows that dehydration and degradation of lignin occurred around 40 - 260°C and maximum percentage cellulose was found to decompose at 380°C.

Processing and Characterization of Epoxy/Luffa Composites: Investigation on Chemical Treatment of Fibers on Mechanical and Acoustical Properties

This study focuses on the development of epoxy/luffa composites and the investigation of their mechanical and acoustical properties. The fibers underwent an alkalization treatment, and its effects on the mechanical and sound absorption properties of the composites were measured utilizing a universal testing machine and two-microphone transfer function impedance tube methods. The effects of chemical modifications on the fibers were studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The thermal analyses of composites were conducted using thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). The composite’s functional group was identified and evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The sound absorption coefficient of untreated and treated composites across a range of frequencies was very similar. Untreated composites appeared to perform better than those that were treated. Compared with untreated fiber composites, there was an improvement in the tensile strength of the treated fiber composites. The SEM characterization showed that the alkaline treatment changed the morphology of the fibers, resulting in a decrease in the sound absorption coefficients of the composites. The thermal characterization of composites showed that dehydration and degradation of lignin occurred in a temperature range of 40 to 260 °C, and the maximum percentage of cellulose was found to decompose at 380 °C.

Investigation of Fiber Surface Treatment on Mechanical, Acoustical and Thermal Properties of Betelnut Fiber Polyester Composites

This research work is concerned with the development of unsaturated polyester composites reinforced with betelnut fibers. Moreover, the fibers were chemically modified by sodium hydroxide and its effects on the fiber/matrix interaction were also evaluated. Raw and chemically modified fibers have been used in different proportions for the preparation of these composites. The optimization of fiber proportions has been done in term of their tensile strength. The sodium hydroxide treatment effect of fibers was verified by FTIR analysis and the fibers morphological aspects of fibers by SEM. Likewise, the sound absorption coefficient of composites were studied using impedance tube method. The thermal analyses of composites were made using Thermogravimetric analysis. Compared with untreated fiber composites, there was an improvement in the tensile strength of the treated fiber composites. SEM micrographs of betelnut fiber surface revealed the rough and perforated surface of fibers. Whereas, the cross sectional of the betelnut fibers showed the bigger lumen structures. The sound absorption coefficients of composites increased as the frequency increased and thicker composites appeared to perform better than those of thinner ones. The thermal stability of the treated fiber composites was found to be higher than that of untreated fiber composites.

Material properties of epoxy-reinforced biocomposites with lignin from empty fruit bunch as curing agent

Lignin was obtained from black liquor samples from soda-AQ pulping of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fiber. Oil palm EFB reinforced epoxy composite samples with varying lignin content of 15, 20, 25, and 30% as curing agent were prepared. The chemical structures of lignin were characterized by FT-IR, and CHN analysis. FT-IR and CHN analysis confirmed structural changes of epoxy resin after use of EFB-lignin as curing agent in epoxy resin. Thermal analysis of composites was carried out by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The TGA graphs showed that crosslinking of epoxy and lignin as curing agent may induce relatively high-chain rigidity in the polymer and may result in an enhanced thermal stability of the EFB/lignin-epoxy composite systems. The mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, and impact behavior) and physical properties (water absorption) of the composite samples were evaluated. Mechanical properties of epoxy composites cured with 25% lignin were found to be higher than that of the composite prepared from a commercial curing agent. Scanning electron micrographs showing tensile fracture of the composites showed evidence of good fiber–matrix interaction, induced by the curing agent.

Performance of polypropylene–wood fiber composites

Polypropylene–wood fiber composites were prepared in the optimal mixture conditions determined in a previous work (180°C, 60rpm, 10min). Tensile, impact and three-point bending tests were performed in order to evaluate the adhesion between matrix and wood fibers. Other than mixture conditions, drying temperature of treated wood fiber is also an important factor to obtain good performance composites as shown in this work. Tensile properties of composites submitted to two extreme conditions (immersion in water at ambient temperature for 90days and immersion in boiling water for 1h) were determined. Heat deflection temperature and thermal analysis of composites were evaluated.

Effect of Fiber Orientation and Sample Geometry on the Effective Thermal Conductivity of a Uniaxial Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Glass Matrix Composite

From solutions for the thermal conductivity of anisotropic solids, it is pre dicted that the effect of fiber angle on the thermal conductivity of uniaxial fiber-reinforced composites is a function of sample geometry. Experimental data for the effect of fiber an gle on the thermal conductivity of a uniaxial carbon fiber-reinforced aluminoborosilicate glass matrix composite taken from three different sample geometries are presented in sup port of this conclusion. The thermal conductivity of the center portion of samples with a thickness in the direction of heat flow much smaller than their width agreed very well with the corresponding effect predicted for a composite plate of infinite extent. Similar results were obtained for "angled" samples, with a geometry such that the net direction of heat flow was parallel to the fiber direction. In contrast, for samples of rectangular geometry with a thickness of the order of the width, the thermal conductivity data for fiber angles greater than about 45° agreed very well with those predicted for a narrow composite strip with thermally insulated sides. At lower fiber angles, the data for these latter samples were intermediate to those predicted for the infinite composite plate and the insulated strip. The results of this study imply that care needs to be taken in the selection of specimen geom etry when measuring the effect of fiber orientation on thermal conductivity of uniaxial composites, and when using such data in the thermal analysis of composites with different shape and boundary conditions.

Use of natural raw material for the production of photochromic glasses

The authors investigated the possibility of using natural raw materials as replacements for soda and alumina for obtaining photochromic glasses and to determine their properties. Glasses of the sodium aluminoborosilicate system were studied. The characteristics of the batches and some of the properties of the glasses are given in a table. Sodium oxide was added to batches Nos. 1 and 2 as soda or borax. Composition Nos. 3, 4, and 5 were prepared using acid, basic, and neutral rocks by means of which the oxides of sodium and aluminum were added. The glasses were synthesized in SiC-heater furnaces. The differential thermal analysis of compositions Nos. 1 and 5 showed that the presence of natural materials leads to the formation of a liquid phase at lower temperatures which helps to intensify the processes of silicate- and glass-formation.

Thermal analysis of composites based on crystalline polymers and metals

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy have been used to examine the chemical and physical changes (crystallinity, accumulation of oxygen-containing groups, etc.) during thermal oxidation of polyethylene, polypropylene and Penton contained in coatings and metalfilled films, taking into account the thickness of the polymer layer and catalytic activity of the metal.