Search

In this study, carbon fiber/epoxy (CF/EP) composites were interleaved with polyamide-6,6 (PA 66) nonwoven veils at two different areal weight densities (17 and 50 gsm) to improve their delamination resistance against Mode-I loading. Mode-I fracture toughness (DCB), tensile, open hole tensile (OHT), flexural, compression, short beam shear (ILSS) and Charpy-impact tests were performed on the reference and PA 66 interleaved composite specimens . The DCB test results showed that the initiation and propagation Mode-I fracture toughness values of the composites were significantly improved by 84 and 171% using PA 66-17 gsm veils respectively, as compared to reference laminates. The use of denser PA 66-50 gsm veils in the interlaminar region led to higher improvement in fracture toughness values (349% for initiation and 718% for propagation) due to the higher amount of veil fibers involved in fiber bridging toughening mechanism. The incorporation of PA 66-50 gsm nonwoven veils also increased the ILSS and Charpy impact strength of the composites by 25 and 15%, respectively. On the other hand, the PA 66 veils reduced in-plane mechanical properties of CF/EP composites due to lower carbon fiber volume fraction and increased thickness.

WOS: 000271556000042, In this study, the cure kinetics of Cycom 977-20. an aerospace grade toughened epoxy resin, and its suspensions containing various amounts (1, 3 and 5 wt.%) of vapor grown carbon nanofibers (VGCNFs) with and without chemical treatment were monitored via dynamic and isothermal dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. For this purpose, VGCNFs were first oxidized in nitric acid and then functionalized with 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxy silane (GPTMS) coupling agent. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was subsequently used to verify the chemical functional groups grafted onto the surfaces of VGCNFs. Sonication technique was conducted to facilitate proper dispersion of as-received, acid treated and silanized VGCNFs within epoxy resin. Dynamic DSC measurements showed that silanized VGCNF modified resin suspensions exhibited higher heat of cure compared to those with as-received VGCNFs. Experimentally obtained isothermal DSC data was then con elated with Kamal phenomenological model. Based on the model predictions, it was found that silanized VGCNFs; maximized the cure reaction rates at the very initial stage of the reaction. Accordingly, an optimized curing cycle was applied to harden resin suspensions. Fracture testing was then carried out on the cured samples in order to relate the curing behavior of VGCNF modified resin suspensions to mechanical response of their resulting nanocomposites With addition of 1 wt % of silanized VGCNFs, the fracture toughness value of neat epoxy was found to be improved by 12%. SEM was further employed to examine the fracture surfaces of the samples, Office of Naval Research [N00014-02-1-0811]; Advanced Materials Intelligent Processing Center at the Center for Composite Materials; University of Delaware, This work was supported by the Office of Naval Research through the project (N00014-02-1-0811)Advanced Materials Intelligent Processing Center at the Center for Composite Materials (CCM), University of Delaware. The authors also wish to thank Abdel Abusafieh and Rick Price from Cytec Industries Inc., for providing the toughened epoxy resin.

Mechanical and thermal properties of non-crimp glass fiber reinforced clay/epoxy nanocomposites were investigated. Clay/epoxy nanocomposite systems were prepared to use as the matrix material for composite laminates. X-ray diffraction results obtained from natural and modified clays indicated that intergallery spacing of the layered clay increases with surface treatment. Tensile tests indicated that clay loading has minor effect on the tensile properties. Flexural properties of laminates were improved by clay addition due to the improved interface between glass fibers and epoxy. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results showed that the modified clay particles affected the glass transition temperatures (T g) of the nanocomposites. Incorporation of surface treated clay particles increased the dynamic mechanical properties of nanocomposite laminates. It was found that the flame resistance of composites was improved significantly by clay addition into the epoxy matrix., TÜBİTAK 104M365

Rheological properties of vinyl ester-polyester resin suspensions containing various amounts (0.05, 0.1 and 0.3 wt.%) of multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with and without amine functional groups (-NH2) were investigated by utilization of oscillatory rheometer with parallel plate geometry. Dispersion of corresponding carbon nanotubes within the resin blend was accomplished employing high shear mixing technique (3-roll milling). Based on the dynamic viscoelastic measurements, it was observed that at 0.3 wt.% of CNT loadings, storage modulus (G′) values of suspensions containing MWCNTs and MWCNT-NH2 exhibited frequency-independent pseudo solid like behavior especially at lower frequencies. Moreover, the loss modulus (G″) values of the resin suspensions with respect to frequency were observed to increase with an increase in contents of CNTs within the resin blend. In addition, steady shear viscosity measurements implied that at each given loading rate, the resin suspensions demonstrated shear thinning behavior regardless of amine functional groups, while the neat resin blend was almost the Newtonian fluid. Furthermore, dynamic mechanical behavior of the nanocomposites achieved by polymerizing the resin blend suspensions with MWCNTs and MWCNT-NH2 was investigated through dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA). It was revealed that storage modulus (E′) and the loss modulus (E″) values of the resulting nanocomposites increased with regard to carbon nanotubes incorporated into the resin blend. In addition, at each given loading rate, nanocomposites containing MWCNT-NH2 possessed larger loss and storage modulus values as well as higher glass transition temperatures (Tg) as compared to those with MWCNTs. These findings were attributed to evidences for contribution of amine functional groups to chemical interactions at the interface between CNTs and the resin blend matrix. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies performed on the cured resin samples approved that the dispersion state of carbon nanotubes with and without amine functional groups within the matrix resin blend was adequate. This implies that 3-roll milling process described herein is very appropriate technique for blending of carbon nanotubes with a liquid thermoset resin to manufacture nanocomposites with enhanced final properties., TÜBİTAK and JULİCH

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have outstanding mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. As a result, particular interest has been recently given in exploiting these properties by incorporating carbon nanotubes into some form of matrix. Although unsaturated polyesters with styrene have widespread use in the industrial applications, surprisingly there is no study in the literature about CNT/thermoset polyester nanocomposite systems. In the present paper, we underline some important issues and limitations during the processing of unsaturated polyester resins with different types of carbon nanotubes. In that manner, 3-roll mill and sonication techniques were comparatively evaluated to process nanocomposites made of CNTs with and without amine (NH2) functional groups and polyesters. It was found that styrene evaporation from the polyester resin system was a critical issue for nanocomposite processing. Rheological behaviour of the suspensions containing CNTs and tensile strengths of their resulting nanocomposites were characterized. CNT/polyester suspensions exhibited a shear thinning behaviour, while polyester resin blends act as a Newtonian fluid. It was also found that nanotubes with amine functional groups have better tensile strength, as compared to those with untreated CNTs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was also employed to reveal the degree of dispersion of CNTs in the matrix., TÜBİTAK-JULİCH 5 Project

The effect of Al closed-cell foam filling on the quasi-static crushing behavior of an E-glass woven fabric polyester composite tube and thin-walled Al/polyester composite hybrid tube was experimentally investigated. For comparison, empty Al, empty composite and empty hybrid tubes were also tested. Empty composite and empty hybrid tubes crushed predominantly in progressive crushing mode, without applying any triggering mechanism. Foam filling was found to be ineffective in increasing the crushing loads of the composite tubes over the sum of the crushing loads of empty composite tube and foam. However, foam filling stabilized the composite progressive crushing mode. In empty hybrid tubes, the deformation mode of the inner Al tube was found to be a more complex form of the diamond mode of deformation of empty Al tube, leading to higher crushing load values than the sum of the crushing load values of empty composite tube and empty metal tube. The foam filling of hybrid tubes however resulted in axial splitting of the outer composite tube due to the resistance imposed by the foam filler to Al tube inward folding and hence it was ineffective in increasing crushing load and SAE values over those of empty hybrid tubes., TÜBİTAK for the grant #MISAG-227

Phenyl (PPS) and methyl (PMS) containing polysiloxanes were pyrolyzed at elevated temperatures (900-1500 °C) under argon atmosphere to investigate the phase developments within the polymers. It was found that pyrolysis of the polymers under inert atmosphere up to 1300 °C leads to amorphous silicon oxycarbide (SiOxCy) ceramics. Conversions at higher temperatures results in the transformations into the crystalline β-SiC phases. Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) were developed based on the active filler controlled pyrolysis (AFCOP) of polysiloxanes with active Ti filler additions. CMC monoliths were prepared with 60-80 wt.% of active Ti particulates blended into polymer precursors. Green bodies of the composites were made by warm pressing under 15 MPa pressure and ceramics were obtained by pyrolysis at elevated temperatures between 900 and 1500 °C under argon atmosphere. The results showed that due to the incorporation of active Ti fillers, formation of crystalline phases such as TiC, TiSi, and TiO occured within the amorphous matrix due to the reactions between the Ti and the polymer decomposition products. The microstructural and mechanical characterization results of the composites are presented within the paper., TÜBİTAK MİSAG 215

Compressive mechanical behaviour and failure modes of E (electrical)-glass/polyester composite laminates tailored with a thermoplastic preforming polyester binder were investigated under ply-lay up and in-plane loading directions. Fiber preforms with various amount of the binder were consolidated under heat and pressure. The preform compaction experiments were performed by applying compressive pressure to the preforms, and the average thickness as a function of pressure was measured. It was found that the highest compaction of the preforms and therefore the highest fiber volume fraction can be obtained with 3 wt.% of the binder. Further increase of the amount of binder decreases the degree of compaction. Composite panels were fabricated by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding using fabric preforms with various binder concentrations. The present investigation reveals that there are considerable effects of the binder on the compressive mechanical behaviour of the composites. Compression testing of the composites showed that the average strength values are in the range of 400-600 and 150-300 MPa for ply-lay up and in-plane directions, respectively. Also, both the strength and modulus values increase up to 3 wt.% of the binder, and these values decrease with further addition of the binder. Scanning electron microscopy showed that failure modes of the composites are altered significantly by the presence of the binder. Furthermore, the interaction between the binder and the reacting resin was followed to determine the extent of the binder dissolution and its effects on the viscosity of the resin and the mechanical behaviour of the matrix polymer. The results indicate that there is a partial dissolution of the binder within the matrix resin., Izmir Institute of Technology of Turkey under contract 2002 IYTE 06 project