An eigenfunction expansion-variational method in prediction of the transverse thermal conductivity of fiber reinforced composites considering interfacial characteristics

An eigenfunction expansion-variational method based on a unit cell is developed to deal with the steady-state heat conduction problem of doubly-periodic fiber reinforced composites with interfacial thermal contact resistance or coating. The numerical results show a rapid convergence of the present method. The present solution provides a unified first-order approximation formula of the effective thermal conductivity for different interfacial characteristics and fiber distributions. A comparison with the present high-order results, available experimental data and micromechanical estimations demonstrates that the first-order approximation formula is a good engineering closed-form formula. An engineering equivalent parameter reflecting the overall influence of the thermal conductivities of the matrix and fibers and the interfacial characteristic on the effective thermal conductivity, is found. The equivalent parameter can greatly simplify the complicated relation of the effective thermal conductivity to the internal structure of a composite. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of Inter-Fiber Spacing and Interfacial Adhesion on Failure of Multi-Fiber Model Composites: Experiment and Numerical Analysis

The uniaxial tension experiments on glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy matrix composites reveal that the fragmentations of fibers display vertically aligned fracture, clustered fracture, coordinated fracture, and random fracture with the increase of inter-fiber spacing. The finite element analysis indicates that the fragmentations of fibers displaying different phenomena are due to the stress concentration as well as the inherent randomness of fiber defects, which is the dominant factor. The experimental results show that matrices adjacent to the fiber breakpoints all exhibit birefringent-whitening patterns for the composites with different interfacial adhesion strengths. The larger the extent of the interfacial debonding, the less the domain of the birefringent-whitening patterns. The numerical analysis indicates that the orientation of the matrix adjacent to a fiber breakpoint is caused by the interfacial shear stress, resulting in the birefringent-whitening patterns. The area of shear stress concentrations decides on the domain of the birefringent-whitening patterns.

Explanation for Micromorphologies Around Broken Fibers in Fiber-Reinforced Composites

Experimental observations on micromorphologies around broken fibers in glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy matrix composites reveal different kinds of highly oriented patches at the circumambience of broken fibers, whereas the bulk of the matrix has been observed to be largely isotropic. These patches are interpreted to correlated areas where the stress gradients of the matrix are formed after fiber breaking, but the underlying cause for the orientation is still unknown. The authors have modified an embedded cell model to explain the experimental phenomena. The finite element simulation indicates that the surfaces around broken fibers display a change from an extension micromorphology to a mixed tension and shear micromorphology with the increase of applied strain.

Online study of the formation of PA6 droplets in PP matrix under shear flow

Breakup process of polyamide 6 (PA6) in polypropylene (PP) matrix under shear flow was online studied by using a Linkam CSS 450 stage equipped with optical microscopy. Both tip streaming and fracture breakup modes of PA6 droplets were observed in this study. It was reported that the droplet would break up by tip streaming model when the radio of the droplet phase viscosity to the matrix phase viscosity (n(r) = n(d)/n(m)) is smaller than 0.1 (Taylor, Proc R Soc London A 1934, 146, 501; Grace, Chem Eng Commun 1982, 14, 225; Bartok and Mason, J Colloid Sci 1959, 14, 13; Rumscheidt and Mason, J Colloid Sci 1961, 16, 238; de Bruijn, Chem Eng Sci 1993, 48, 277). However, the tip streaming model was observed even when the viscosity ratio was much greater than 0.1 (n(r) = 1.9). In this study for the tip streaming mode, small droplets were ruptured from the tip of the mother droplet. On the other hand, the mother droplet was broken into two or more daughter droplets with one or several satellite droplets between them for the fracture mode. It was found that PA6 droplet was much elongated at first, and then broke up via tip streaming or fracture to form daughter droplets or small satellite droplets with the shape of fiber or ellipse.

Analysis of micro-failure behaviors in hybrid fiber model composites

Micro-failure modes and statistical fragment lengths in the hybrid fiber and non-hybrid reference composites in the uniaxial tension were investigated. Similiar to the reference experiments, fibers in hybrid strong interface/medium interface fiber composites display a decrease in aspect ratio and an increase in interfacial shear stress (IFSS) with the increase of inter-fiber spacing. While for the fibers with weak interfaces in the hybrid strong interface/weak interface fiber composites, the aspect ratio increases and IFSS decreases with enlargement of inter-fiber spacing, which is contrary to other systems. Finite element numerical analysis was used to interpret the special phenomena.

Studies on fracture morphology of short carbon fiber reinforced poly(phenylene ether ketone)(SCF/PEK-C) composites

The shear fracture morphology of SCF/PEK-C composite with carbon fibers treated for different times was studied carefully by SEM. The result shows that the adhesion between fiber and matrix was improved and fractured model also changed from interface fracture to brittle fracture with increasing treatment time of carbon fiber. The fracture mechanism was discussed preliminary.

A micromechanics approach for damage modeling of polymer matrix composites

A new model for damage evolution in polymer matrix composites is presented. The model is based on a combination of two constituent-level models and an interphase model. This approach reduces the number of empirical parameters since the two constituent- level models are formulated for isotropic materials, namely fiber and matrix. Decomposition of the state variables down to the micro-scale is accomplished by micromechanics. Phenomenological damage evolution models are then postulated for each constituent. Determination of material parameters is made from available experimental data. The required experimental data can be obtained with standard tests. Comparison between model predictions and additional experimental data is presented.

Recycled carbon fiber filled polyethylene composites

Composites of recycled carbon fiber (CF) with up to 30 wt % loading with polyethylene (PE) were prepared via melt compounding. The morphology of the composites and the degree of dispersion of the CF in the PE matrix was examined using scanning electron microscopy, and revealed the CF to be highly dispersed at all loadings and strong interfacial adhesion to exist between the CF and PE. Raman and FTIR spectroscopy were used to characterize the surface chemistry and potential bonding sites of recycled CF. Both the Young's modulus and ultimate tensile stress increased with increasing CF loading, but the percentage stress at break was unchanged up to 5 wt % loading, then decreased with further successive addition of CF. The effect of CF on the elastic modulus of PE was examined using the Halpin-Tsai and modified Cox models, the former giving a better fit with the values determined experimentally. The electrical conductivity of the PE matrix was enhanced by about 11 orders of magnitude on addition of recycled CF with a percolation threshold of 7 and 15 wt % for 500-mu m and 3-mm thick samples. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Detection of Incipient Thermal Damage Of Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Composites Using Fluorescent Thermal Damage Probes

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2013

Scanning Electron Microscopy Studies on Tear and Wear Failure of Short Kevlar Fiber-Thermoplastic- Polyurethane Composite

Tear and wear properties of short kevlar fiber, thermoplastic polcurethane (TPU) composite with respect to fiber loading-and fiber onentation has been studied and the fracture surfaces were examined under scanning electron microscope (SEM). Tear strength first decreased up to 20 phr fiber loading and then gradually increased with increasing fiber loading. Anisotropy in tear strength was evident beyond a fiber loading of 20 phr. Tear fracture surface of unfilled TPU showed sinusoidal folding characteristics of high strength matrix. At low fiber loading the tear failure was mainly due to fibermatrix failure whereas at higher fiber loading the failure occurred by fiber breakage. Abrasion loss shows a continuous rise with increasing fiber loading, the loss in the transverse orientation of fibers being higher than that in the longitudinal orientation. The abraded surface showed lone cracks and ridges parallel to the direction of abrasion indicating an abrasive wear mechanism. In the presence of fber the abrasion loss was mainly due to fiber low.

Rheology of Short Nylon -6 Fiber Reinforced Styrene-Butadiene Rubber

The rheological characteristics of short Nylon-6 fiber reinforced styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) were studied using a capillary rheometer. The study was done with respect to the effect of shear rate, fiber concentration, and temperature on shear viscosity and die swell. All the melts showed pseudoplastic nature, which decreased with increasing temperature. Shear viscosity increased in the presence of fibers. Introduction of fiber reduces the temperature sensitivity of the rubber matrix. A reduction in die swell was found in presence of fibers.

Studies on Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber - Short Nylon Fiber Composites

Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) matrix was reinforced with different levels of short nylon fiber loading. Cure characteristics and mechanical properties of composites in longitudinal and transverse directions have been studied. Cure time was reduced while processability, as indicated by the minimum torque, was marginally reduced with increase in fiber loading. Tensile and tear properties improved with fiber concentration and the values were higher in longitudinal direction of fiber orientation. Abrasion resistance, resilience and compression set were increased in presence of fibers. Elongation at break values showed a drastic drop on introduction of fibers. Heat build up was higher for composites.

Cure Characteristics of Short Polyester Fiber-PolyurethaneElastomer Composite with Interfacial Bonding Agents Based on Polymeric 4,4'-Diphenylmethanediisocyanate

Cure characteristics of short polyester fiber-polyurethane composites with respect to different bonding agents (MD resins) based on 4, 4' diphenylmethanediisocyanate (MDI) and various diols like propyleneglycol (PG), polypropyleneglycol (PPG) and glycerol (GL) were studied. Tmax. - Tmin. of composites having MD resin were found to be higher than the composite without MD resin. Minimum torque and Tmax. - Tmin., scorch time and optimum cure time were increased with the increase of MDI equivalence. Optimum ratio of MDI / -of in the resin was found to be within the range of 1-1.5. It was observed from the cure characteristics that for getting better adhesion between short polyester fiber and the polyurethane matrix the best choice of MD resin was one based on MDI and 1:1 equivalent mixture of polypropyleneglycol and glycerol.

Thermal degradation of short polyester fiber polyurethane elastomer composite

The thermal degradation of short polyester fiber reinforced polyurethane composites with and without different bonding agents has been studied by thermogravimetric analysis . It was found that degradation of the polyurethane takes place in two steps and that of the composites takes place in three steps. With the incorporation of 30 phr of fiber in the matrix , the onset of degradation was shifted from 230 to 238 ° C. The presence of bonding agents in the virgin elastomer and the composite gave an improved thermal stability . Results of kinetic studies showed that the degradation of polyurethane and the reinforced composites with and without bonding agents follows first -order reaction kinetics