A Comparative Study on the Post-Buckling Behavior of Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipes(RTPs)Under External Pressure Considering Progressive Failure

The collapse pressure is a key parameter when RTPs are applied in harsh deep-water environments.To investigate the collapse of RTPs,numerical simulations and hydrostatic pressure tests are conducted.For the numerical simulations,the eigenvalue analysis and Riks analysis are combined,in which the Hashin failure criterion and fracture energy stiffness degradation model are used to simulate the progressive failure of composites,and the“infinite”boundary conditions are applied to eliminate the boundary effects.As for the hydrostatic pressure tests,RTP specimens were placed in a hydrostatic chamber after filled with water.It has been observed that the cross-section of the middle part collapses when it reaches the maximum pressure.The collapse pressure obtained from the numerical simulations agrees well with that in the experiment.Meanwhile,the applicability of NASA SP-8007 formula on the collapse pressure prediction was also discussed.It has a relatively greater difference because of the ignorance of the progressive failure of composites.For the parametric study,it is found that RTPs have much higher first-ply-failure pressure when the winding angles are between 50°and 70°.Besides,the effect of debonding and initial ovality,and the contribution of the liner and coating are also discussed.

Synthesis of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Aluminum Hypophosphite Microspheres Flame Retardant and Its Flame Retardant Research on Thermoplastic Polyurethane

Aluminum hypophosphite microspheres(AHP) were synthesized by hydrothermal method using NaH2PO2·H2O and AlCl3·6H2O as raw materials, and then the AHP microspheres were polymerized by surface polymerization of micro-nanospheres with cyclic cross-linked poly(cyclotriphosphazene-co-4,4'-sulfonyldiphenol)(PZS). A new organic-inorganic poly(phosphonitrile)-modified aluminum hypophosphite microspheres(PZS-AHP) were synthesized by encapsulation and applied to flame retardant thermoplastic polyurethane(TPU). The microstructure and chemical composition of the PZS-AHP microsphere were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray spectroscopy. The thermal stability of PZS-AHP microsphere was explored with thermogravimetric analysis. Thermogravimetric data indicate that the PZS-AHP microspheres have excellent thermal stability. The thermal and flame-retarding properties of the TPU composites were evaluated by thermogravimetric(TG), limited oxygen index tests(LOI), and cone calorimeter test(CCT). The TPU composite achieved vertical burning(UL-94) V-0 grade and LOI value reached 29.2% when 10 wt% PZS-AHP was incorporated. Compared with those of pure TPU, the peak heat release rate(pHRR) and total heat release(THR) of TPU/10%PZS-AHP decreased by 82.2% and 42.5%, respectively. The results of CCT indicated that PZS-AHP microsphere could improve the flame retardancy of TPU composites.

Sustainable, thermoplastic and hydrophobic coating from natural cellulose and cinnamon to fabricate eco-friendly catering packaging

Non-degradable polymers cause serious environmental pollution problem,such as the widely-used while unrecyclable coatings which significantly affect the overall degradation performance of products.It is imperative and attractive to develop biodegradable functional coatings.Herein,we proposed a novel strategy to successfully prepare biodegradable,thermoplastic and hydrophobic coatings with high transparence and biosafety by weakening the interchain interactions between cellulose chain.The natural cellulose and cinnamic acid were as raw materials.Via reducing the degree of polymerization(DP)of cellulose and regulating the degree of substitution(DS)of cinnamate moiety,the obtained cellulose cinnamate(CC)exhibited not only the thermalflow behavior but also good biodegradability,which solves the conflict between the thermoplasticity and biodegradability in cellulose-based materials.The glass transition temperature(T_(g))and thermalflow temperature(T_(f))of the CC could be adjusted in a range of 150–200℃ and 180–210℃,respectively.The CC with DS<1.2 and DP≤100 degraded more than 60%after an enzyme treatment for 7 days,and degraded more than 80%after a composting treatment for 42 days.Furthermore,CC had no toxicity to human epidermal cells even at a high concentration(0.5 mg mL^(-1)).In addition,CC could be easily fabricated into multifunctional coating with high hydrophobicity,thermal adhesion and high transparence.Therefore,after combining with cellophane and paperboard,CC coating with low DP and DS could be used to prepare fully-biodegradable heat-sealing packaging,art paper,paper cups,paper straws and food packaging boxes.

Overview of Jute Fibre as Thermoplastic Matrix Polymer Reinforcement

Recent decades have seen a substantial increase in interest in research on natural fibres that is aligned with sustainable development goals(SDGs).Due to their renewable resources and biodegradability,natural fiberreinforced composites have been investigated as a sustainable alternative to synthetic materials to reduce the usage of hazardous waste and environmental pollution.Among the natural fibre,jute fibre obtained from a bast plant has an increasing trend in the application,especially as a reinforcement material.Numerous research works have been performed on jute fibre with regard to reinforced thermoset and thermoplastic composites.Nevertheless,current demands on sustainable materials have required new developments in thermoplastic composites.In this paper,the author reviews jute plants as reinforcement materials for thermoplastic matrix polymers.This review provides an overview of the sustainability of jute plants as reinforcement material for thermoplastic matrix polymers.The overview on jute based thermoplastic composites focused on the thermal behavior and mechanical properties.Apart from physical,chemical,and mechanical properties,the study also covers the current and perspectives for future research challenges faced by the researchers on jute fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites.

Effects of different modifiers on the properties of wood-polymer composites

Wood-polymer composites (WPC) were prepared from wood fiber and four kinds of plastics such as PE, PS, ABS, and SAN. The effects of different modifiers on the mechanical properties of the composites were studied. The results showed modifiers could raise the bonding strength of wood fiber with polymer and improve the mechanical properties of the composites. Different modifiers had different effects on the properties of wood-polymer composites, and comparatively the modifier of isocyanate produced a better result. Wood-polymer composite takes not only the advantages of both wood fiber and polymer, but waterproof, dimensional stability and dynamic strength are also significantly improved. Key word Wood fiber - Thermoplastic polyester - Wood-polymer composites - Modifier - Mechanical properties CLC number TB332 Document code A Foundation item: This study was supported by the Harbin Technology Tackle Key Plan (Development Research of Wood-Polymer Composites with High Wood Matrix) and by Heilongjing Nature Science Fund (Composite Mechanism Study of the Wood Polymer).Biography: XU Min (1963-), Female, Associate professor in Material Science and Engineering College, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, P. R. China.Responsible editor: Chai Ruihai

PROPERTIES OF BIODEGRADABLE THERMOPLASTIC STARCH

Thermoplastic starch is a kind of modified starch produced by mixing starch with additives and processing the mixture in an extruder. The mechanical properties, including tensile strength and elongation at break, biodegradability and rheological properties were studied. Glycerol and urea, to some extent, can both decrease the tensile strength and increase percentage elongation at break, because the former acts as a plasticizer and the latter can break down interactions among starch macromolecules. Thermoplastic starch shows thermoplasticity and its melt behaves as a pseudoplastic liquid at a low shear rate. Its biodegrading extent is slightly higher than that of native starch. The molecular weight of starch displays a decreasing tendency after thermoplastic modification.

Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry for Microstructure and Pyrolysis Pathway of Polyester-Polyether Multiblock Copolymer

The composition and sequence distribution of monomeric units in polyester polyether multiblock copolymer were studied by pyrolysis? gas chromatography (PGC) and pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (PGC/MS). PGC was applied to study the F t curve of the multiblock copolymer and PGC/MS was used to separate and identify the pyrolyzates. DTA experiment was used to study the decomposition temperature. The results show that the beginning point of elastomer’s decomposition was about 300?℃ and the decomposition temperature of most of the sample was 550?℃. Many pyrolyzates were produced because of the breaking of weak bonds in the sample. The possible microstructure was verified and the pyrolysis pathway of the copolymer was investigated.

In-situ reactive compatibilization of HDPE/GTR blends by dicumyl peroxide and phenolic resin without catalyst

In-situ reactive compatibilization of high-density polyethylene （HDPE）/ground tire rubber （GTR） blends by dicumyl peroxide （DCP） and HY-2045 - a kind of thermoplastic phenolic resin without catalyst was investigated by studying the mor-phology, stress and strain behavior, dynamic mechanical properties and crystallization performance of the blends. Scanning e-lectron microscopy （SEM） results show that there are a lot of fibrous materials distributing in the interface, which connects the dispersed phase with the matrix and obtains better interfacial strength for prominent mechanical properties. The addition of compatibilizers results in the decrease of crystallinity of the blends and the disappearance of an obvious yield phenomenon, which was proved by the differential scanning calorimeter （DSC） test and X-ray diffraction （XRD） characterization Although the crystallinity of the blends decreases,the tensile strength and tensile strain of the blends significantly increases, especially for the HDPE/GTR/DCP/HY-2045 blends, which is possibly attributed to the good compatibility of the blends owing to the in-situ interface crosslinking. In addition, it is found that the compatibilizing HDPE/GTR blends shows a higher tan^ peak temperature and a broaden transition peak for GTR phase.

THE STRUCTURE OF THERMOPLASTIC STARCH

The granular structure, crystal structure and gelatinization temp. of thermoplastic starch were studied with a polarized light microscope and a scanning electron microscope, and the crystallinity and crystalline patterns were determined through X ray diffraction. The results indicate that the original granular structure and spherical crystalline structure of starch were disrupted by the action of pressure, heat and shear force with the help of additives. The starch can be melted during extrusion, and part of the spheric crystal was destroyed and changed into a continual amorphous with a few crystalline fractions dispersed in it. The configuration of starch molecules changed from double helices to single helix, which indicated the formation of the complex.

Interfacial Bonding Mechanism and Mechanical Performance of Continuous Fiber Reinforced Composites in Additive Manufacturing

The additive manufacturing of continuous fiber composites has the advantage of a high-precision and efficient forming process,which can realize the lightweight and integrated manufacturing of complex structures.However,many void defects exist between layers in the printing process of additive manufacturing;consequently,the bonding performance between layers is poor.The bonding neck is considered a key parameter for representing the quality of interfacial bonding.In this study,the formation mechanism of the bonding neck was comprehensively analyzed.First,the influence of the nozzle and basement temperatures on the printing performance and bonding neck size was measured.Second,CT scanning was used to realize the quantitative characterization of bonding neck parameters,and the reason behind the deviation of actual measurements from theoretical calculations was analyzed.When the nozzle temperature increased from 180 to 220℃,CT measurement showed that the bonding neck diameter increased from 0.29 to 0.34 mm,and the cross-sectional porosity reduced from 5.48%to 3.22%.Finally,the fracture mechanism was studied,and the influence of the interfacial bonding quality on the destruction process of the materials was determined.In conclusion,this study can assist in optimizing the process parameters,which improves the precision of the printing parts and performance between the layers.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON PEK -C MODIFIED EPOXIES AND THE CARBON FIBER COMPOSITES FOR AEROSPACE APPLICATION

The morphological structure of various epoxies toughened with a special amorphous thermoplastic PEK-C and their carbon fiber composites were studied by using SEM. For both cases, phase separation and inversion took place to form fine epoxy-rich globules dispersing in the PEK-C matrix, in which the epoxy-rich phase had the absolutely higher volume fraction. The phase structure and the interfacial properties were also studied by means of FTIR, DSC, and DMTA as well. An accompanying mechanical determination revealed that an improved toughness was achieved both in the blend casts and in the carbon fiber composites. A composite structural model was hence suggested.

Highly Ordered Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Aramid Nanofiber Conductive Foams Modulated by Kevlar Polyanion for Piezoresistive Sensing and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Highly ordered and uniformly porous structure of conductive foams is a vital issue for various functional purposes such as piezoresistive sensing and electromagnetic interference(EMI) shielding. With the aids of Kevlar polyanionic chains, thermoplastic polyurethane(TPU) foams reinforced by aramid nanofibers(ANF) with adjustable pore-size distribution were successfully obtained via a nonsolvent-induced phase separation. In this regard, the most outstanding result is the in situ formation of ANF in TPU foams after protonation of Kevlar polyanion during the NIPS process. Furthermore, in situ growth of copper nanoparticles(Cu NPs) on TPU/ANF foams was performed according to the electroless deposition by using the tiny amount of pre-blended Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) MXene as reducing agents. Particularly, the existence of Cu NPs layers significantly promoted the storage modulus in 2,932% increments, and the well-designed TPU/ANF/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) MXene(PAM-Cu) composite foams showed distinguished compressive cycle stability. Taking virtues of the highly ordered and elastic porous architectures, the PAM-Cu foams were utilized as piezoresistive sensor exhibiting board compressive interval of 0–344.5 kPa(50% strain) with good sensitivity at 0.46 kPa^(-1). Meanwhile,the PAM-Cu foams displayed remarkable EMI shielding effectiveness at 79.09 dB in X band. This work provides an ideal strategy to fabricate highly ordered TPU foams with outstanding elastic recovery and excellent EMI shielding performance, which can be used as a promising candidate in integration of satisfactory piezoresistive sensor and EMI shielding applications for human–machine interfaces.

Physical and damping properties of kenaf fibre filled natural rubber/thermoplastic polyurethane composites

The paper presents the investigation of the effect of alkaline treatment of sodium hydroxide(NaOH) on physical and dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA) viscoelastic properties of kenaf fibre filled natural rubber(NR)/thermoplastic polyurethane(TPU) composites.The treated kenaf fiber,NR and TPU were weighed and proportioned according to the required compositions and were blended using hot mixed Brabender machine.The polymer composites were then fabricated using the hot press to form a sample board.The sample was cut and prepared and water absorption,density,thickness swelling and DMA tests were performed.As far as physical properties are concerned,composites with the highest NR amount of shows the best results,which indicates good fiber bonding adhesion.The polymer composites with the highest amount of TPU shows the highest damping properties at high temperature.

Synthesis of aliphatic amidediol and used as a novel mixed plasticizer for thermoplastic starch

In this paper,aliphatic amidediol was synthesized and mixed with glycerol used as a plasticizer for preparing thermoplastic starch（AGPTPS）.The yield of aliphatic amidediol was 91%.FF-IR expressed that the mixture of aliphatic amidediol and glycerol formed stronger and stable hydrogen bond with starch molecules compared to the native cornstarch.By scanning electron microscope（SEM）native cornstarch granules were proved to transfer to a homogeneous continuous system.After being stored for a period time at room temperature,the mechanical properties of AGPTPS were also studied.As a mixed plasticizer,aliphatic amidediol and glycerol would be practical to extend TPS application scopes.

Carbon and carbon composites for thermoelectric applications

The urgent need for consistent,reliable,ecofriendly,and stable power sources drives the development of new green energy materials.Thermoelectric(TE)materials receive increasing attention due to their unique capability of realizing the direct energy conversion between heat and electricity,showing diverse applications in harvesting waste heat and low-grade heat.Carbon materials such as carbon nanotubes(CNTs)and graphene have experienced a rapid development as TE materials because of their intrinsic ultrahigh electrical conductivity and light weight.Besides,polymer-based carbon composites are particularly fascinating as the combination of the merits of polymers and filler materials leads to high TE performance and superior flexibility.Herein,the recent TE advances are systematically summarized in the studied popularity of carbon materials(ie,CNTs and graphene)and the category of polymers.The conducting polymer-based carbon materials are particularly highlighted.Finally,the remaining challenges and some tentative suggestions possibly guiding future developments are proposed,which may pave a way for a bright future of carbon and carbon composites in the energy market.

Effect of microwave treatment on tensile properties of sugar palm fibre reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane composites

The effect of microwave treatment on the tensile properties of treated sugar palm fibre with 6% NaOH reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane composites was investigated. Firstly, the sugar palm fibres were treated by 6% alkali solution. Then, microwave treatment was used to treat the alkali treated sugar palm fibres. Three types of temperatures(i.e. 70, 80 and 90℃) were applied in microwave treatment. The extruder and hot press machines were used to mixing the sugar palm fibres and polyurethane resin, and fabricate the composites. Tensile properties(i.e. tensile strength, tensile modulus and elongation at break) were studied by following the ASTM D-638 standard. The highest tensile strength was recorded 18.42 MPa with microwave temperature at 70℃ and 6% alkali pre-treatment. Therefore, the temperature 70℃ of microwave treatment may consider the best degree cent grate.

A Stiffness Surface Method to Analyze the Cross-Sectional Mechanical Properties of Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipes Subjected to Axisymmetric Loads

Axial and hoop stiffness can describe the elastic responses of reinforced thermoplastic pipes(RTPs)subjected to axisymmetric loads,such as tension,compression,pressure,and crushing loads.However,an accurate analytical prediction cannot be provided because of the anisotropy of RTP laminates.In the present study,a stiffness surface method,in which the analytical expressions of the axial and hoop stiffness are derived as two concise formulas,is proposed.The axial stiffness formula is obtained by solving the equilibrium equations of RTPs under a uniaxial stress state based on the homogenization assumption,whereas the hoop stiffness formula is derived from the combination of the elastic stability theory,the classical lamination theory,and NASA SP-8007 formula.To verify the proposed method,three types of RTPs are modeled to conduct the quasi-static analyses of the tension and crushing cases.The consistency between numerical and analytical results verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method on the prediction of the axial and hoop stiffness of RTPs,which also proves the existence of stiffness surfaces.As the axial stiffness is proportional to the radii,the axial stiffness surface consists of a series of straight lines,which can be used to predict both thin-walled and thick-walled RTPs.Meanwhile,the hoop stiffness is more applicable for thin-walled RTPs because the proposed method ignores the proportional relationship between the homogenized hoop elastic moduli and the reciprocal radii in helical structures.

Fabrication of micro gear wheels by micropowder injection molding

The micropowder injection molding technology was investigated to fabricate the microsized gear wheels on a conventional injection molding machine. The feedstock comprised of carbonyl ferrum powder and a wax-based thermoplastic binder. Microinjection molding was fulfilled at about 423 K under 100 MPa. The heating system was applied to the die to improve the fluidity of the feedstock and subsequently the cooling system was used to enhance the strength of the green compacts after injection by decreasing the temperature of the die. The gear wheels were realized successfully with their addendum circle diameter ranging from 800 to 200 um and with the center hole as small as 60 um.

THERMAL DECOMPOSITION AND FLAMMABILITY OF ACRYLONITRILEBUTADIENE-STYRENE/MULTI-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES COMPOSITES

Thermal and flammability properties of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) with the addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were studied.ABS/MWNTs composites were prepared via melt blending with the MWNTs content varied from 0.2% to 4.0% by mass.Thermogravimetry results showed that the addition of MWNTs accelerated the degradation of ABS during the whole process under air atmosphere,and both onset and maximum degradation temperature were lower than those of pure ABS.The destabilization...

Inherent relationship between process parameters,crystallization and mechanical properties of continuous carbon fiber reinforced PEEK composites

High-performance thermoplastic composites have been developed as significant structural materials for cutting-edge equipment in the aerospace and defence fields.However,the internal mechanism of processing parameters on mechanical properties in the manufacturing process of thermoplastic composite structures is still a serious challenge.The purpose of this study is to investigate the process/crystallization/property relationships for continuous carbon fiber(CF)reinforced polyether-ether-ketone(PEEK)composites.The composite laminates are fabricated according to orthogonal experiments via the thermoforming method.The mechanical performance is investigated in terms of crystallization properties and fracture morphology characterizations.Experimental results show that the mechanical performance and crystallization properties of thermoplastic composites are significantly affected by the coupling of processing parameters.The increased molding temperature,pressure,and holding time improve the degree of fiber/matrix infiltration and affect the crystallinity and crystalline morphology of the matrix,which further influences the mechanical properties of the composites.This is reflected in the test results that crystallinity has an approximately linear effect on mode-I interlaminar fracture toughness and transverse flexural modulus.As well as the higher molding temperature can destroy the pre-existent crystals to improve the toughness of the matrix,and the well-defined crystalline structures can be observed when fabricated at higher temperatures and longer periods of holding time.