Composites from a forest biorefinery byproduct and agrofibers: Lignosulfonate-phenolic type matrices reinforced with sisal fibers

The replacement of phenol with sodium lignosulfonate and formaldehyde with glutaraldehyde in the preparation of resins resulted in a new resol-type phenolic resin, sodium lignosulfonate-glutaraldehyde resin, in addition to sodium lignosulfonate-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde resins. These resins were then used to prepare thermosets and composites reinforced with sisal fibers. Different techniques were used to characterize raw materials and/or thermosets and composites, including inverse gas chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, and mechanical impact and flexural tests. The substitution of phenol by sodium lignosulfonate in the formulation of the composite matrices increased the impact strength of the respective composites from approximately 400 Jm(-1) to 800 J m(-1) and 1000 J m(-1), showing a considerable enhancement from the replacement of phenol with sodium lignosulfonate. The wettability of the sisal fibers increased when the resins were prepared from sodium lignosulfonate, generating composites in which the adhesion at the fiber-matrix interface was stronger and favored the transference of load from the matrix to the fiber during impact. Results suggested that the composites experienced a different mechanism of load transfer from the matrix to the fiber when a bending load was applied, compared to that experienced during impact. The thermogravimetric analysis results demonstrated that the thermal stability of the composites was not affected by the use of sodium lignosulfonate as a phenolic-type reagent during the preparation of the matrices.

Model to describe the mode I fracture of steel fiber reinforced ultra-high performance concrete

Ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) has arisen from the implementation of a variety of concrete engineering and materials science concepts developed over the last century. This material offers superior strength, serviceability, and durability over its conventional counterparts. One of the most important differences for UHPFRC over other concrete materials is its ability to resist fracture through the use of randomly dispersed discontinuous fibers and improvements to the fiber-matrix bond. Of particular interest is the materials ability to achieve higher loads after first crack, as well as its high fracture toughness. In this research, a study of the fracture behavior of UHPFRC with steel fibers was conducted to look at the effect of several parameters related to the fracture behavior and to develop a fracture model based on a non-linear curve fit of the data. To determine this, a series of three-point bending tests were performed on various single edge notched prisms (SENPs). Compression tests were also performed for quality assurance. Testing was conducted on specimens of different cross-sections, span/depth (S/D) ratios, curing regimes, ages, and fiber contents. By comparing the results from prisms of different sizes this study examines the weakening mechanism due to the size effect. Furthermore, by employing the concept of fracture energy it was possible to obtain a comparison of the fracture toughness and ductility. The model was determined based on a fit to P-w fracture curves, which was cross referenced for comparability to the results. Once obtained the model was then compared to the models proposed by the AFGC in the 2003 and to the ACI 544 model for conventional fiber reinforced concretes.

Mechanical signals regulating extracellular matrix gene expression in fibroblasts

Mechanical forces are essential for connective tissue homeostasis. The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a key role in the transmission of forces generated by the organism (e.g. muscle contraction) and externally applied (e.g. gravity). The expression of specific ECM proteins such as collagens and tenascin-C, as well as of matrix metalloproteinases, involved in their turnover, is influenced by mechanical stimuli. The precise mechanisms by which mechanical strains are translated into chemical signals and lead to differential gene expression are however not fully understood. Cell-matrix adhesion sites are good candidates for hosting a "mechanosensory switch", as they transmit forces from the ECM to the cytoskeleton and vice versa by physically linking the cytoskeleton to the ECM. Integrins, transmembrane proteins located to these adhesion sites, have been shown to trigger a set of internal signaling cascades after mechanical stimulation. We have shown that the expression level of tenascin-C directly correlates with externally applied mechanical stress, as well as with RhoA/RhoA-dependent kinase-mediated cytoskeletal tension. Presumably other genes are regulated in a similar manner. The changes in ECM composition and mechanical properties derived from mechanical stress are relevant in medical intervention after ligament and tendon injury.

A methodology to measure the interface shear strength by means of the fiber push-in test

A methodology is presented to measure the fiber/matrix interface shear strength in composites. The strategy is based on performing a fiber push-in test at the central fiber of highly-packed fiber clusters with hexagonal symmetry which are often found in unidirectional composites with a high volume fraction of fibers. The mechanics of this test was analyzed in detail by means of three-dimensional finite element simulations. In particular, the influence of different parameters (interface shear strength, toughness and friction as well as fiber longitudinal elastic modulus and curing stresses) on the critical load at the onset of debonding was established. From the results of the numerical simulations, a simple relationship between the critical load and the interface shear strength is proposed. The methodology was validated in an unidirectional C/epoxy composite and the advantages and limitations of the proposed methodology are indicated.

Cell-Matrix Adhesions Differentially Regulate Fascin Phosphorylation

Cell adhesion to individual macromolecules of the extracellular matrix has dramatic effects on the subcellular localization of the actin-bundling protein fascin and on the ability of cells to form stable fascin microspikes. The actin-binding activity of fascin is down-regulated by phosphorylation, and we used two differentiated cell types, C2C12 skeletal myoblasts and LLC-PK1 kidney epithelial cells, to examine the hypothesis that cell adhesion to the matrix components fibronectin, laminin-1, and thrombospondin-1 differentially regulates fascin phosphorylation. In both cell types, treatment with the PKC activator 12-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) or adhesion to fibronectin led to a diffuse distribution of fascin after 1 h. C2C12 cells contain the PKC family members α, γ, and λ, and PKCα localization was altered upon cell adhesion to fibronectin. Two-dimensional isoelectric focusing/SDS-polyacrylamide gels were used to determine that fascin became phosphorylated in cells adherent to fibronectin and was inhibited by the PKC inhibitors calphostin C and chelerythrine chloride. Phosphorylation of fascin was not detected in cells adherent to thrombospondin-1 or to laminin-1. LLC-PK1 cells expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fascin also displayed similar regulation of fascin phosphorylation. LLC-PK1 cells expressing GFP-fascin S39A, a nonphosphorylatable mutant, did not undergo spreading and focal contact organization on fibronectin, whereas cells expressing a GFP-fascin S39D mutant with constitutive negative charge spread more extensively than wild-type cells. In contrast, C2C12 cells coexpressing S39A fascin with endogenous fascin remained competent to form microspikes on thrombospondin-1, and cells that expressed fascin S39D attached to thrombospondin-1 but did not form microspikes. Blockade of PKCα activity by TPA-induced down-regulation led to actin association of wild-type fascin in fibronectin-adherent C2C12 and LLC-PK1 cells but did not alter the distribution of S39A or S39D fascins. The association of fascin with actin in fibronectin-adherent cells was also evident in the presence of an inhibitory antibody to integrin α5 subunit. These novel results establish matrix-initiated PKC-dependent regulation of fascin phosphorylation at serine 39 as a mechanism whereby matrix adhesion is coupled to the organization of cytoskeletal structure.

Matrix-free mass spectrometric imaging using laser desorption ionisation Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a powerful tool in metabolomics and proteomics for the spatial localization and identification of pharmaceuticals, metabolites, lipids, peptides and proteins in biological tissues. However, sample preparation remains a crucial variable in obtaining the most accurate distributions. Common washing steps used to remove salts, and solvent-based matrix application, allow analyte spreading to occur. Solvent-free matrix applications can reduce this risk, but increase the possibility of ionisation bias due to matrix adhesion to tissue sections. We report here the use of matrix-free MSI using laser desorption ionisation performed on a 12 T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer. We used unprocessed tissue with no post-processing following thaw-mounting on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation (MALDI) indium-tin oxide (ITO) target plates. The identification and distribution of a range of phospholipids in mouse brain and kidney sections are presented and compared with previously published MALDI time-of-flight (TOF) MSI distributions.

Wrought aluminum-nickel alloys for high strength-high conductivity applications

Aluminum-Nickel alloys ranging from 0.06 pct to 6.1 pct (by wt) Ni have been developed for high strength-high conductivity applications. These alloys were produced by solidification in a permanent mold followed by homogenization, hot extrusion or hot rolling and cold drawing to wire form. This sequence of fabrication a) led to the production of fine fibrous dispersoids of NiAl3 as part of the Al-NiAl3 eutectic during the initial casting operation, b) permitted the retention of fine fibrous dispersiods of NiAl3 produced during casting without any significant coarsening during processing and c) led to uniform dispersion and general alignment of these fibrous dispersoids along a given direction in the product without any measurable fiber-matrix separation, extensive fiber-fragmentation or crack production in the matrix. These alloys can be processed to wire form as easily as aluminum and when processed by the above sequence, possess very attractive combination of high strength-high electrical conductivity. Tensile strengths range from 173 N/mm2 (at 0.6 pct Ni) to 241 N/mm2 (at 6.1 pct Ni) in combination with corresponding conductivity values between 62 pct IACS and 55.5 pct IACS. The wires also possess attractive yield strength; for instance, the 0.2 pct off-set strength of Al-6.1 pct Ni wire is 213 N/mm2. Using simple composite rules, the estimated strength and the conductivity of NiAl3 fibers were found to be 1380 N/mm2 and 18 pct IACS respectively, in these wires.

Water ingression and the role of interface on the compressive properties of epoxy filled with treated fly ash

Polymer composites are generally filled with either fibrous or particulate materials to improve the mechanical properties. In choosing the fillers one looks for materials that are inexpensive and available in abundance, in order to realize a cost reduction also. Also, often these fibres/fillers are treated to improve the matrix adhesion and thereby mechanical properties. The present study is focussed on the influence of water ingression in such filler-modified composites and the attendant changes in the compressive properties. The changes in property effected following exposure to aqueous media and the influence interface modification has on the scenario is emphasized in the work. It is seen that for plain epoxy and fly ash filled systems the strengths are increased following exposure to aqueous media. The composites with surface-treated ash particles, on the other hand, record a drop in the values. Modulus values show are increased to varying degree in unfilled and filled systems. The study also includes a fractographic analysis of the tested samples with and without exposure to water.

Ultrasonic evaluation of delamination in quasi-isotropic CFRP laminates subjected to low-velocity impact

Ultrasonic C-Scan is used very often to detect flaws and defects in the composite components resulted during fabrication and damages resulting from service conditions. Evaluation and characterization of defects and damages of composites require experience and good understanding of the material as they are distinctly different in composition and behavior as compared to conventional metallic materials. The failure mechanisms in composite materials are quite complex. They involve the interaction of matrix cracking, fiber matrix interface debonding, fiber pullout, fiber fracture and delamination. Generally all of them occur making the stress and failure analysis very complex. Under low-velocity impact loading delamination is observed to be a major failure mode. In composite materials the ultrasonic waves suffer high acoustic attenuation and scattering effect, thus making data interpretation difficult. However these difficulties can be overcome to a greater extent by proper selection of probe, probe parameter settings like pulse width, pulse amplitude, pulse repetition rate, delay, blanking, gain etc., and data processing which includes image processing done on the image obtained by the C-Scan.

Closed-form nonlinear sectional analysis of pretwisted anisotropic beam with multiple delaminations

Fiber reinforced laminated composite open-section beams are widely used as bearingless rotor flex beams because of their high specific strength and stiffness as well as fatigue life. These laminated composite structures exhibit a number of different failure modes, including fiber-matrix debonding within individual layers, delamination or separation of the layers, transverse cracks through one or more layers and fiber fracture. Delamination is a predominant failure mode in continuous fiber reinforced laminated composites and often initiate near the free edges of the structure. The appearance of delaminations in the composite rotorcraft flexbeams can lead to deterioration of the mechanical properties and, in turn, the helicopter performance as well as safety. Understanding and predicting the influence of free-edge delamination on the overall behavior of the laminates will provide quantitative measures of the extent of the damage and help ensure their damage tolerance.

AN INVESTIGATION OF CUTTING MECHANISMS AND STRAIN FIELDS DURING ORTHOGONAL CUTTING IN CFRPs

Fiber-reinforced plastics (FRPs) are typically difficult to machine due to their highly heterogeneous and anisotropic nature and the presence of two phases (fiber and matrix) with vastly different strengths and stiffnesses. Typical machining damage mechanisms in FRPs include series of brittle fractures (especially for thermosets) due to shearing and cracking of matrix material, fiber pull-outs, burring, fuzzing, fiber-matrix debonding, etc. With the aim of understanding the influence of the pronounced heterogeneity and anisotropy observed in FRPs, ``Idealized'' Carbon FRP (I-CFRP) plates were prepared using epoxy resin with embedded equispaced tows of carbon fibers. Orthogonal cutting of these I-CFRPs was carried out, and the chip formation characteristics, cutting force signals and strain distributions obtained during machining were analyzed using the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique. In addition, the same procedure was repeated on Uni-Directional CFRPs (UD-CFRPs). Chip formation mechanisms in FRPs were found to depend on the depth of cut and fiber orientation with pure epoxy showing a pronounced ``size effect.'' Experimental results indicate that in-situ full field strain measurements from DIC coupled with force measurements using dynamometry provide an adequate measure of anisotropy and heterogeneity during orthogonal cutting.

An exact solution for the three-phase piezoelectric cylinder model under antiplane shear and its applications to piezoelectric composites

A three-phase piezoelectric cylinder model is proposed and an exact solution is obtained for the model under a farfield antiplane mechanical load and a far-field inplane electrical load. The three-phase model can serve as a fiber/interphase layer/matrix model, in terms of which a lot of interesting mechanical and electrical coupling phenomena induced by the interphase layer are revealed. It is found that much more serious stress and electrical field concentrations occur in the model with the interphase layer than those without any interphase layer. The three-phase model can also serve as a fiber/matrix/composite model, in terms of which a generalized self-consistent approach is developed for predicting the effective electroelastic moduli of piezoelectric composites. Numerical examples are given and discussed in detail.

Estudo da adesão de pinos endodônticos modificados superficialmente por plasma de oxigênio

The work presents the effect of plasma treatment when applied in fibers or carbon/glass posts in the adhesion fiber/resin and posts/cement. This has for objective the modification of the surface of the fibers, as well as the wettability of the posts, seeking the improvement of the adhesion and of the connection fiber/resin in the processing of polymeric composites reinforced with the same ones. 120 posts (Reforpost) were used and 30 meters of fibers of carbon and of glass (Fibrex), of the company Angelus. The samples were divided in three groups of 40 specimens: GROUP I - 20 posts of glass fiber and 20 of carbon without treatment to it shapes, GROUP II -20 posts of glass fiber and 20 of carbon treated to it shapes in the surface and GROUP III - 20 posts of glass fiber and 20 of carbon make with fibers in natura after plasma treatment. The plasma treatment was accomplished with oxygen and with temperature in the camera fixed at 200°C, for one hour of exhibition. The posts and the fibers were characterized before and after the treatment. The wettability was measure by pendent drop method, and interface fiber/resin and posts/cement were observed by optical and electronic microscopy. It was observed that both wettability and texture were increased with plasma treatment

Tratamentos de fibras de carnaúba [copernicia prunífera (miller) h. e. moore] para o desenvolvimento de compósito biodegradável com matriz de polihidroxibutirato

The use of raw materials from renewable sources for production of materials has been the subject of several studies and researches, because of its potential to substitute petrochemical-based materials. The addition of natural fibers to polymers represents an alternative in the partial or total replacement of glass fibers in composites. In this work, carnauba leaf fibers were used in the production of biodegradable composites with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) matrix. To improve the interfacial properties fiber / matrix were studied four chemical treatments to the fibers..The effect of the different chemical treatments on the morphological, physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the fibers and composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, tensile and flexural tests, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetry (TGA) and diferential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results of tensile tests indicated an increase in tensile strength of the composites after the chemical treatment of the fibers, with best results for the hydrogen peroxide treated fibers, even though the tensile strength of fibers was slightly reduced. This suggests a better interaction fiber/matrix which was also observed by SEM fractographs. The glass transition temperature (Tg) was reduced for all composites compared to the pure polymer which can be attributed to the absorption of solvents, moisture and other low molecular weight molecules by the fibers

Fibras de licuri: um reforço vegetal alternativo de compósitos poliméricos

This research is based, at first, on the seeking of alternatives naturals reinforced in place of polymeric composites, also named reinforced plastics. Therein, this work starts with a whole licuri fiber micro structural characterization, as alternative proposal to polymeric composites. Licuri fiber is abundant on the Bahia state flora, native from a palm tree called Syagrus Coronata (Martius) Beccari. After, it was done only licuri fiber laminar composite developing studies, in order to know its behavior when impregnated with thermofix resin. The composite was developed in laminar structure shape (plate with a single layer of reinforcement) and produced industrially. The layer of reinforcement is a fabric-fiber unidirectional of licuri up in a manual loom. Their structure was made of polyester resin ortofitálica (unsaturated) only reinforced with licuri fibers. Fiber characterization studies were based on physical chemistry properties and their constitution. It was made by tension, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (RDX) and thermal analyses (TG and DTA) tests, besides fiber chemistry analyses. Relating their mechanical properties of strength and hardness testing, they were determined through unit axial tension test and flexion in three points. A study in order to know fiber/matrix interface effects, in the final composites results, was required. To better understand the mechanical behavior of the composite, macroscopic and microscopic optical analysis of the fracture was performed