Smart assembly of polymer fibers: lessons from major ampullate spider silk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Viney, Christopher

1996-02-01

Studies of major ampullate silk (MAS), especially the secretions and fibers produced by the spider Nephila clavipes (golden orb weaver), have yielded several results of potential value to the materials scientist/engineer. There are lessons to be learned about synthesis, processing and microstructural design of high-tensile polymer fibers. The 'smart' aspect of silk production in nature concerns the ability of the spider to rapidly process a concentrated, viscous aqueous solution of silk protein (stored in the gland) into water-insoluble fiber on demand. This process centers on the assembly of a shear-sensitive supramolecular liquid crystalline phase by aggregation of the solubilized globular protein molecules.

3D-Printing of Meso-structurally Ordered Carbon Fiber/Polymer Composites with Unprecedented Orthotropic Physical Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lewicki, James P.; Rodriguez, Jennifer N.; Zhu, Cheng; Worsley, Marcus A.; Wu, Amanda S.; Kanarska, Yuliya; Horn, John D.; Duoss, Eric B.; Ortega, Jason M.; Elmer, William; Hensleigh, Ryan; Fellini, Ryan A.; King, Michael J.

2017-03-01

Here we report the first example of a class of additively manufactured carbon fiber reinforced composite (AMCFRC) materials which have been achieved through the use of a latent thermal cured aromatic thermoset resin system, through an adaptation of direct ink writing (DIW) 3D-printing technology. We have developed a means of printing high performance thermoset carbon fiber composites, which allow the fiber component of a resin and carbon fiber fluid to be aligned in three dimensions via controlled micro-extrusion and subsequently cured into complex geometries. Characterization of our composite systems clearly show that we achieved a high order of fiber alignment within the composite microstructure, which in turn allows these materials to outperform equivalently filled randomly oriented carbon fiber and polymer composites. Furthermore, our AM carbon fiber composite systems exhibit highly orthotropic mechanical and electrical responses as a direct result of the alignment of carbon fiber bundles in the microscale which we predict will ultimately lead to the design of truly tailorable carbon fiber/polymer hybrid materials having locally programmable complex electrical, thermal and mechanical response.

3D-Printing of Meso-structurally Ordered Carbon Fiber/Polymer Composites with Unprecedented Orthotropic Physical Properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lewicki, James P.; Rodriguez, Jennifer N.; Zhu, Cheng

Here we report the first example of a class of additively manufactured carbon fiber reinforced composite (AMCFRC) materials which have been achieved through the use of a latent thermal cured aromatic thermoset resin system, through an adaptation of direct ink writing (DIW) 3D-printing technology. We have developed a means of printing high performance thermoset carbon fiber composites, which allow the fiber component of a resin and carbon fiber fluid to be aligned in three dimensions via controlled micro-extrusion and subsequently cured into complex geometries. Characterization of our composite systems clearly show that we achieved a high order of fiber alignmentmore » within the composite microstructure, which in turn allows these materials to outperform equivalently filled randomly oriented carbon fiber and polymer composites. Moreover, our AM carbon fiber composite systems exhibit highly orthotropic mechanical and electrical responses as a direct result of the alignment of carbon fiber bundles in the microscale which we predict will ultimately lead to the design of truly tailorable carbon fiber/polymer hybrid materials having locally programmable complex electrical, thermal and mechanical response.« less

3D-Printing of Meso-structurally Ordered Carbon Fiber/Polymer Composites with Unprecedented Orthotropic Physical Properties

DOE PAGES

Lewicki, James P.; Rodriguez, Jennifer N.; Zhu, Cheng; ...

2017-03-06

Here we report the first example of a class of additively manufactured carbon fiber reinforced composite (AMCFRC) materials which have been achieved through the use of a latent thermal cured aromatic thermoset resin system, through an adaptation of direct ink writing (DIW) 3D-printing technology. We have developed a means of printing high performance thermoset carbon fiber composites, which allow the fiber component of a resin and carbon fiber fluid to be aligned in three dimensions via controlled micro-extrusion and subsequently cured into complex geometries. Characterization of our composite systems clearly show that we achieved a high order of fiber alignmentmore » within the composite microstructure, which in turn allows these materials to outperform equivalently filled randomly oriented carbon fiber and polymer composites. Moreover, our AM carbon fiber composite systems exhibit highly orthotropic mechanical and electrical responses as a direct result of the alignment of carbon fiber bundles in the microscale which we predict will ultimately lead to the design of truly tailorable carbon fiber/polymer hybrid materials having locally programmable complex electrical, thermal and mechanical response.« less

3D-Printing of Meso-structurally Ordered Carbon Fiber/Polymer Composites with Unprecedented Orthotropic Physical Properties.

PubMed

Lewicki, James P; Rodriguez, Jennifer N; Zhu, Cheng; Worsley, Marcus A; Wu, Amanda S; Kanarska, Yuliya; Horn, John D; Duoss, Eric B; Ortega, Jason M; Elmer, William; Hensleigh, Ryan; Fellini, Ryan A; King, Michael J

2017-03-06

Here we report the first example of a class of additively manufactured carbon fiber reinforced composite (AMCFRC) materials which have been achieved through the use of a latent thermal cured aromatic thermoset resin system, through an adaptation of direct ink writing (DIW) 3D-printing technology. We have developed a means of printing high performance thermoset carbon fiber composites, which allow the fiber component of a resin and carbon fiber fluid to be aligned in three dimensions via controlled micro-extrusion and subsequently cured into complex geometries. Characterization of our composite systems clearly show that we achieved a high order of fiber alignment within the composite microstructure, which in turn allows these materials to outperform equivalently filled randomly oriented carbon fiber and polymer composites. Furthermore, our AM carbon fiber composite systems exhibit highly orthotropic mechanical and electrical responses as a direct result of the alignment of carbon fiber bundles in the microscale which we predict will ultimately lead to the design of truly tailorable carbon fiber/polymer hybrid materials having locally programmable complex electrical, thermal and mechanical response.

3D-Printing of Meso-structurally Ordered Carbon Fiber/Polymer Composites with Unprecedented Orthotropic Physical Properties

PubMed Central

Lewicki, James P.; Rodriguez, Jennifer N.; Zhu, Cheng; Worsley, Marcus A.; Wu, Amanda S.; Kanarska, Yuliya; Horn, John D.; Duoss, Eric B.; Ortega, Jason M.; Elmer, William; Hensleigh, Ryan; Fellini, Ryan A.; King, Michael J.

2017-01-01

Here we report the first example of a class of additively manufactured carbon fiber reinforced composite (AMCFRC) materials which have been achieved through the use of a latent thermal cured aromatic thermoset resin system, through an adaptation of direct ink writing (DIW) 3D-printing technology. We have developed a means of printing high performance thermoset carbon fiber composites, which allow the fiber component of a resin and carbon fiber fluid to be aligned in three dimensions via controlled micro-extrusion and subsequently cured into complex geometries. Characterization of our composite systems clearly show that we achieved a high order of fiber alignment within the composite microstructure, which in turn allows these materials to outperform equivalently filled randomly oriented carbon fiber and polymer composites. Furthermore, our AM carbon fiber composite systems exhibit highly orthotropic mechanical and electrical responses as a direct result of the alignment of carbon fiber bundles in the microscale which we predict will ultimately lead to the design of truly tailorable carbon fiber/polymer hybrid materials having locally programmable complex electrical, thermal and mechanical response. PMID:28262669

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huang, Tianyu; Xu, Hongyi; Chen, Wei

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites are strong candidates for structural materials to replace steel and light alloys in lightweight vehicle design because of their low density and relatively high strength. In the integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) development of carbon fiber composites, microstructure reconstruction algorithms are needed to generate material microstructure representative volume element (RVE) based on the material processing information. The microstructure RVE reconstruction enables the material property prediction by finite element analysis (FEA)This paper presents an algorithm to reconstruct the microstructure of a chopped carbon fiber/epoxy laminate material system produced by compression molding, normally known as sheet molding compounds (SMC).more » The algorithm takes the result from material’s manufacturing process as inputs, such as the orientation tensor of fibers, the chopped fiber sheet geometry, and the fiber volume fraction. The chopped fiber sheets are treated as deformable rectangle chips and a random packing algorithm is developed to pack these chips into a square plate. The RVE is built in a layer-by-layer fashion until the desired number of lamina is reached, then a fine tuning process is applied to finalize the reconstruction. Compared to the previous methods, this new approach has the ability to model bended fibers by allowing limited amount of overlaps of rectangle chips. Furthermore, the method does not need SMC microstructure images, for which the image-based characterization techniques have not been mature enough, as inputs. Case studies are performed and the results show that the statistics of the reconstructed microstructures generated by the algorithm matches well with the target input parameters from processing.« less

Laser absorption of carbon fiber reinforced polymer with randomly distributed carbon fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Jun; Xu, Hebing; Li, Chao

2018-03-01

Laser processing of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) is a non-traditional machining method which has many prospective applications. The laser absorption characteristics of CFRP are analyzed in this paper. A ray tracing model describing the interaction of the laser spot with CFRP is established. The material model contains randomly distributed carbon fibers which are generated using an improved carbon fiber placement method. It was found that CFRP has good laser absorption due to multiple reflections of the light rays in the material’s microstructure. The randomly distributed carbon fibers make the absorptivity of the light rays change randomly in the laser spot. Meanwhile, the average absorptivity fluctuation is obvious during movement of the laser. The experimental measurements agree well with the values predicted by the ray tracing model.

Cellulose Nanocrystals vs. Cellulose Nanofibrils: A Comparative study on Their Microstructures and Effects as Polymer Reinforcing Agents

Treesearch

Xuezhu Xu; Fei Liu; Long Jiang; J.Y. Zhu; Darrin Haagenson; Dennis P. Wiesenborn

2013-01-01

Both cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are nanoscale cellulose fibers that have shown reinforcing effects in polymer nanocomposites. CNCs and CNFs are different in shape, size and composition. This study systematically compared their morphologies, crystalline structure, dispersion properties in polyethylene oxide (PEO) matrix, interactions...

In-situ 3D visualization of composite microstructure during polymer-to-ceramic conversion

DOE PAGES

Larson, Natalie M.; Zok, Frank W.

2017-10-31

One route for producing fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites entails repeated impregnation and pyrolysis of a preceramic polymer in a fiber preform. The process relies crucially on the development of networks of contiguous cracks during pyrolysis, thereby allowing further impregnation to attain nearly-full densification. The present study employs in-situ x-ray computed tomography (XCT) to reveal in three dimensions the evolution of matrix structure during pyrolysis of a SiC-based preceramic polymer to 1200 °C. Observations are used to guide the development of a taxonomy of crack geometries and crack structures and to identify the temporal sequence of their formation. A quantitative analysis ismore » employed to characterize effects of local microstructural dimensions on the conditions required to form cracks of various types. Complementary measurements of gas evolution and mass loss of the preceramic polymer during pyrolysis as well as changes in mass density and Young's modulus provide context for the physical changes revealed by XCT. Furthermore, the findings provide a foundation for future development of physics-based models to guide composite fabrication processes.« less

Fibrillar films obtained from sodium soap fibers and polyelectrolyte multilayers.

PubMed

Zawko, Scott A; Schmidt, Christine E

2011-08-01

An objective of tissue engineering is to create synthetic polymer scaffolds with a fibrillar microstructure similar to the extracellular matrix. Here, we present a novel method for creating polymer fibers using the layer-by-layer method and sacrificial templates composed of sodium soap fibers. Soap fibers were prepared from neutralized fatty acids using a sodium chloride crystal dissolution method. Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) of polystyrene sulfonate and polyallylamine hydrochloride were deposited onto the soap fibers, crosslinked with glutaraldehyde, and then the soap fibers were leached with warm water and ethanol. The morphology of the resulting PEM structures was a dense network of fibers surrounded by a nonfibrillar matrix. Microscopy revealed that the PEM fibers were solid structures, presumably composed of polyelectrolytes complexed with residual fatty acids. These fibrillar PEM films were found to support the attachment of human dermal fibroblasts. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Fluorescence hydrogen peroxide probe based on a microstructured polymer optical fiber modified with a titanium dioxide film.

PubMed

Li, Dongdong; Wang, Lili

2010-05-01

A highly sensitive microstructured polymer optical fiber (MPOF) probe for hydrogen peroxide was made by forming a rhodamine 6G-doped titanium dioxide film on the side walls of array holes in an MPOF. It was found that hydrogen peroxide only has a response to the MPOF probe in a certain concentration of potassium iodide in sulfuric acid solution. The calibration graph of fluorescence intensity versus hydrogen peroxide concentration is linear in the range of 1.6 x 10(-7) mol/L to 9.6 x 10(-5) mol/L. The method, with high sensitivity and a wide linear range, has been applied to the determination of trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide in a few real samples, such as rain water and contact lens disinfectant, with satisfactory results.

Dynamic 3D strain measurements with embedded micro-structured optical fiber Bragg grating sensors during impact on a CFRP coupon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goossens, Sidney; Geernaert, Thomas; De Pauw, Ben; Lamberti, Alfredo; Vanlanduit, Steve; Luyckx, Geert; Chiesura, Gabriele; Thienpont, Hugo; Berghmans, Francis

2017-04-01

Composite materials are increasingly used in aerospace applications, owing to their high strength-to-mass ratio. Such materials are nevertheless vulnerable to impact damage. It is therefore important to investigate the effects of impacts on composites. Here we embed specialty microstructured optical fiber Bragg grating based sensors inside a carbon fiber reinforced polymer, providing access to the 3D strain evolution within the composite during impact. We measured a maximum strain of -655 μɛ along the direction of impact, and substantially lower values in the two in-plane directions. Such in-situ characterization can trigger insight in the development of impact damage in composites.

Investigations on birefringence effects in polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, X.; Sáez-Rodríguez, D.; Bang, O.; Webb, D. J.; Caucheteur, C.

2014-05-01

Step-index polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings (POFBGs) and microstructured polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings (mPOFBGs) present several attractive features, especially for sensing purposes. In comparison to FBGs written in silica fibers, they are more sensitive to temperature and pressure because of the larger thermo-optic coefficient and smaller Young's modulus of polymer materials. (M)POFBGs are most often photowritten in poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) materials using a continuous-wave 325 nm HeCd laser. For the first time to the best of our knowledge, we study photoinduced birefringence effects in (m)POFBGs. To achieve this, highly reflective gratings were inscribed with the phase mask technique. They were then monitored in transmission with polarized light. For this, (m)POF sections a few cm in length containing the gratings were glued to angled silica fibers. Polarization dependent loss (PDL) and differential group delay (DGD) were computed from the Jones matrix eigenanalysis using an optical vector analyser. Maximum values exceeding several dB and a few picoseconds were obtained for the PDL and DGD, respectively. The response to lateral force was finally investigated. As it induces birefringence in addition to the photo-induced one, an increase of the PDL and DGD values were noticed.

Monitoring Damage Propagation in Glass Fiber Composites Using Carbon Nanofibers.

PubMed

Al-Sabagh, Ahmed; Taha, Eman; Kandil, Usama; Nasr, Gamal-Abdelnaser; Reda Taha, Mahmoud

2016-09-10

In this work, we report the potential use of novel carbon nanofibers (CNFs), dispersed during fabrication of glass fiber composites to monitor damage propagation under static loading. The use of CNFs enables a transformation of the typically non-conductive glass fiber composites into new fiber composites with appreciable electrical conductivity. The percolation limit of CNFs/epoxy nanocomposites was first quantified. The electromechanical responses of glass fiber composites fabricated using CNFs/epoxy nanocomposite were examined under static tension loads. The experimental observations showed a nonlinear change of electrical conductivity of glass fiber composites incorporating CNFs versus the stress level under static load. Microstructural investigations proved the ability of CNFs to alter the polymer matrix and to produce a new polymer nanocomposite with a connected nanofiber network with improved electrical properties and different mechanical properties compared with the neat epoxy. It is concluded that incorporating CNFs during fabrication of glass fiber composites can provide an innovative means of self-sensing that will allow damage propagation to be monitored in glass fiber composites.

Method and apparatus for measuring micro structures, anisotropy and birefringence in polymers using laser scattered light

DOEpatents

Grek, Boris; Bartolick, Joseph; Kennedy, Alan D.

2000-01-01

A method and apparatus for measuring microstructures, anistropy and birefringence in polymers using laser scattered light includes a laser which provides a beam that can be conditioned and is directed at a fiber or film which causes the beam to scatter. Backscatter light is received and processed with detectors and beam splitters to obtain data. The data is directed to a computer where it is processed to obtain information about the fiber or film, such as the birefringence and diameter. This information provides a basis for modifications to the production process to enhance the process.

Structural Polymer-Based Carbon Nanotube Composite Fibers: Understanding the Processing–Structure–Performance Relationship

PubMed Central

Song, Kenan; Zhang, Yiying; Meng, Jiangsha; Green, Emily C.; Tajaddod, Navid; Li, Heng; Minus, Marilyn L.

2013-01-01

Among the many potential applications of carbon nanotubes (CNT), its usage to strengthen polymers has been paid considerable attention due to the exceptional stiffness, excellent strength, and the low density of CNT. This has provided numerous opportunities for the invention of new material systems for applications requiring high strength and high modulus. Precise control over processing factors, including preserving intact CNT structure, uniform dispersion of CNT within the polymer matrix, effective filler–matrix interfacial interactions, and alignment/orientation of polymer chains/CNT, contribute to the composite fibers’ superior properties. For this reason, fabrication methods play an important role in determining the composite fibers’ microstructure and ultimate mechanical behavior. The current state-of-the-art polymer/CNT high-performance composite fibers, especially in regards to processing–structure–performance, are reviewed in this contribution. Future needs for material by design approaches for processing these nano-composite systems are also discussed. PMID:28809290

Multi-length Scale Material Model Development for Armorgrade Composites

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-02

various microstructural features and processes , at different length- scales, to the macroscopic-level ballistic-penetration resistance of PPTA-based...fabric or PPTA-fiber-reinforced polymer-matrix composites. Specifically, the role of various material-synthesis-/fiber- processing -induced defects, as...well as defects induced during the weaving process , was investigated. The results obtained clearly revealed that 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) 4. TITLE

Microstructural aspects in steel fiber reinforced acrylic emulsion polymer modified concrete

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hazimmah, Dayang; Ayob, Afizah; Sie Yee, Lau; Chee Cung, Wong

2018-03-01

Scanning electron microscope observations of polymer-free and polymer-modified cements have shown that the polymer particles are partitioned between the inside of hydrates and the surface of anhydrous cement grains. For optimum dosage of acrylic emulsion polymer with 2.5%, the C-S-H gel in this structure is finer and more acicular. Some polymer adheres or deposit on the surface of the C-S-H gel. The presence of acrylic emulsion polymer confines the ionic diffusion so that the Ca(OH)2 crystallized locally to form fine crystals. The void in the structures seems to be smaller but no polymer films appears to be bridging the walls of pores although many polymer bonds or C-S-H spread into the pore spaces. In addition to porosity reduction, acrylic emulsion polymer modified the hydration products in the steel fiber -matrix ITZ. The hydration product C-S-H appeared as a needle like shape. The needle-shaped C-S-H increases and gradually formed the gel, with needles growing into the pore space. The phenomenon is more obvious as curing age increased.

A Combined Experimental and Numerical Approach to the Laser Joining of Hybrid Polymer - Metal Parts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodríguez-Vidal, E.; Lambarri, J.; Soriano, C.; Sanz, C.; Verhaeghe, G.

A two-step method for the joining of opaque polymer to metal is presented. Firstly, the metal is structured locally on a micro-scale level, to ensure adhesion with the polymeric counterpart. In a second step, the opposite side of the micro-structured metal is irradiated by means of a laser source. The heat thereby created is conducted by the metal and results in the melting of the polymer at the interface. The polymer thereby adheres to the metal and flows into the previously engraved structures, creating an additional mechanical interlock between the two materials. The welding parameters are fine-tuned with the assistance of a finite element model, to ensure the required interface temperature. The method is illustrated using a dual phase steel joined to a fiber-reinforced polyamide. The effect of different microstructures, in particular geometry and cavity aspect ratio, on the joint's tensile-shear mechanical performance is discussed.

Achieving ICME with Multiscale Modeling: The Effects of Constituent Properties and Processing on the Performance of Laminated Polymer Matrix Composite Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pineda, Evan Jorge; Bednarcyk, Brett A.; Arnold, Steven M.

2014-01-01

Integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) is a useful approach for tailoring the performance of a material. For fiber-reinforced composites, not only do the properties of the constituents of the composite affect the performance, but so does the architecture (or microstructure) of the constituents. The generalized method of cells is demonstrated to be a viable micromechanics tool for determining the effects of the microstructure on the performance of laminates. The micromechanics is used to predict the inputs for a macroscale model for a variety of different fiber volume fractions, and fiber architectures. Using this technique, the material performance can be tailored for specific applications by judicious selection of constituents, volume fraction, and architectural arrangement given a particular manufacturing scenario

Effect of polymer properties and adherend surfaces on adhesion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dwight, D. W.; Wightman, J. P.

1976-01-01

High temperature polymer surface characteristics associated with joint strength were evaluated. Selected samples represented composite adherends, aluminum filler and fiber glass carrier cloth. Detailed analysis of fractured joint surfaces revealed unique characteristics typical of the specific adhesive formulations and test conditions. A fracture mechanism model was developed for correlating macroscopic shear strength and microstructure of fracture surfaces. Applications were made to unpublished data on polyimides and fluoropolymers.

Piezoelectric Micro- and Nanostructured Fibers Fabricated from Thermoplastic Nanocomposites Using a Fiber Drawing Technique: Comparative Study and Potential Applications.

PubMed

Lu, Xin; Qu, Hang; Skorobogatiy, Maksim

2017-02-28

We report an all-polymer flexible piezoelectric fiber that uses both judiciously chosen geometry and advanced materials in order to enhance fiber piezoelectric response. The microstructured/nanostructured fiber features a soft hollow polycarbonate core surrounded by a spiral multilayer cladding consisting of alternating layers of piezoelectric nanocomposites (polyvinylidene enhanced with BaTiO 3 , PZT, or CNT) and conductive polymer (carbon-filled polyethylene). The conductive polymer layers serve as two electrodes, and they also form two spatially offset electric connectors on the fiber surface designed for the ease of connectorization. Kilometer-long piezoelectric fibers of sub-millimeter diameters are thermally drawn from a macroscopic preform. The fibers exhibit high output voltage of up to 6 V under moderate bending, and they show excellent mechanical and electrical durability in a cyclic bend-release test. The micron/nanosize multilayer structure enhances in-fiber poling efficiency due to the small distance between the conducting electrodes sandwiching the piezoelectric composite layers. Additionally, the spiral structure greatly increases the active area of the piezoelectric composite, thus promoting higher voltage generation and resulting in 10-100 higher power generation efficiency over the existing piezoelectric cables. Finally, we weave the fabricated piezoelectric fibers into technical textiles and demonstrate their potential applications in power generation when used as a sound detector, smart car seat upholstery, or wearable materials.

Microstructural characterization of PAN based carbon fiber reinforced nylon 6 polymer composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Munirathnamma, L. M.; Ningaraju, S.; Kumar, K. V. Aneesh; Ravikumar, H. B.

2018-04-01

Microstructural characterization of nylon 6/polyacrolonitrile based carbon fibers (PAN-CFs) of 10 to 40 wt% has been performed by positron lifetime technique (PLT). The positron lifetime parameters viz., o-Ps lifetime (τ3), o-Ps intensity (I3) and fractional free volume (Fv) of nylon 6/PAN-CF composites are correlated with the mechanical properties viz., Tensile strength and Young's modulus. The Fv show negative deviation with the reinforcement of 10 to 40 wt% of PAN-CF from the linear additivity relation. The negative deviation in nylon 6/PAN-CF composite suggests the induced molecular packing due to the chemical interaction between the polymeric chains of nylon 6 and PAN-CF. This is evident from Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) studies. The FTIR results suggests that observed negative deviation in PALS results of nylon 6/PAN-CF reinforced polymer composites is due to the induced chemical interaction at N-H-O sites. The improved tensile strength (TS) and Young's modulus (YM) in nylon 6/PAN-CF reinforced polymer composites is due to AS4C (surface treated and epoxy coated) PAN-CF has shown highest adhesion level due to better stress transfer between nylon 6 and PAN-CF.

An Investigation of Fiber Reinforced Chemically Bonded Phosphate Ceramic Composites at Room Temperature.

PubMed

Ding, Zhu; Li, Yu-Yu; Lu, Can; Liu, Jian

2018-05-21

In this study, chemically bonded phosphate ceramic (CBPC) fiber reinforced composites were made at indoor temperatures. The mechanical properties and microstructure of the CBPC composites were studied. The CBPC matrix of aluminum phosphate binder, metakaolin, and magnesia with different Si/P ratios was prepared. The results show that when the Si/P ratio was 1.2, and magnesia content in the CBPC was 15%, CBPC reached its maximum flexural strength. The fiber reinforced CBPC composites were prepared by mixing short polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers or unidirectional continuous carbon fiber sheets. Flexural strength and dynamic mechanical properties of the composites were determined, and the microstructures of specimens were analyzed by scanning electron micrography, X-ray diffraction, and micro X-ray computed tomography. The flexural performance of continuous carbon fiber reinforced CBPC composites was better than that of PVA fiber composites. The elastic modulus, loss modulus, and loss factor of the fiber composites were measured through dynamic mechanical analysis. The results showed that fiber reinforced CBPC composites are an inorganic polymer viscoelastic material with excellent damping properties. The reaction of magnesia and phosphate in the matrix of CBPC formed a different mineral, newberyite, which was beneficial to the development of the CBPC.

Local mechanical properties of LFT injection molded parts: Numerical simulations versus experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desplentere, F.; Soete, K.; Bonte, H.; Debrabandere, E.

2014-05-01

In predictive engineering for polymer processes, the proper prediction of material microstructure from known processing conditions and constituent material properties is a critical step forward properly predicting bulk properties in the finished composite. Operating within the context of long-fiber thermoplastics (LFT, length < 15mm) this investigation concentrates on the prediction of the local mechanical properties of an injection molded part. To realize this, the Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Insight 2014 software has been used. In this software, a fiber breakage algorithm for the polymer flow inside the mold is available. Using well known micro mechanic formulas allow to combine the local fiber length with the local orientation into local mechanical properties. Different experiments were performed using a commercially available glass fiber filled compound to compare the measured data with the numerical simulation results. In this investigation, tensile tests and 3 point bending tests are considered. To characterize the fiber length distribution of the polymer melt entering the mold (necessary for the numerical simulations), air shots were performed. For those air shots, similar homogenization conditions were used as during the injection molding tests. The fiber length distribution is characterized using automated optical method on samples for which the matrix material is burned away. Using the appropriate settings for the different experiments, good predictions of the local mechanical properties are obtained.

Processing and characterization of epoxy composites reinforced with short human hair

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prasad Nanda, Bishnu; Satapathy, Alok

2017-02-01

Human hair is a biological fiber with well characterized microstructure. It has many unique properties like high tensile strength, thermal insulation, unique chemical composition, elastic recovery, scaly surface etc. But due to its slow decomposition, it creates many environmental problems. Although a number of utilization avenues are already in place, hair is still considered as a biological waste. In view of this, the present work makes an attempt to explore the possibility of fabricating a class of polymer composites reinforced with short human hair fibers. Epoxy composites with different proportions of hair fiber (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 wt.%) are prepared by simple hand lay-up technique. Mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural and compressive strengths were evaluated by conducting tests as per ASTM standards. It was found out that with the increase in fiber content, the tensile and flexural strength of the composite were increasing significantly while the compressive strength improved marginally. Scanning electron microscopy was done on these samples to observe the microstructural features.

Processing of continuous fiber reinforced ceramic composites for ultra high temperature applications using organosilicon polymer precursors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicholas, James Robert

The current work is on the development of continuous fiber reinforced ceramic materials (CFCCs) for use in ultra high temperature applications. These applications subject materials to extremely high temperatures(> 2000°C). Monolithic ceramics are currently being used for these applications, but the tendency to fail catastrophically has driven the need for the next generation of material. Reinforcing with continuous fibers significantly improves the toughness of the monolithic materials; however, this is a manufacturing challenge. The development of commercial, low-viscosity preceramic polymers provides new opportunities to fabricate CFCCs. Preceramic polymers behave as polymers at low temperatures and are transformed into ceramics upon heating to high temperatures. The polymer precursors enable the adaptation of well-established polymer processing techniques to produce high quality materials at relatively low cost. In the present work, SMP-10 from Starfire Systems, and PURS from KiON Corp. were used to manufacture ZrB2-SiC/SiC CFCCs using low cost vacuum bagging process in conjunction with the polymer infiltration and pyrolysis process. The microstructure was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and it was determined that the initial greenbody cure produced porosity of both closed and open pores. The open pores were found to be more successfully re-infiltrated using neat resin compared to slurry reinfiltrate; however, the closed pores were found to be impenetrable during subsequent reinfiltrations. The mechanical performance of the manufactured samples was evaluated using flexure tests and found the fiber reinforcement prevented catastrophic failure behavior by increasing fracture toughness. Wedge sample were fabricated and evaluated to demonstrate the ability to produce CFCC of complex geometry.

Rotational 3D printing of damage-tolerant composites with programmable mechanics

PubMed Central

Raney, Jordan R.; Compton, Brett G.; Ober, Thomas J.; Shea, Kristina; Lewis, Jennifer A.

2018-01-01

Natural composites exhibit exceptional mechanical performance that often arises from complex fiber arrangements within continuous matrices. Inspired by these natural systems, we developed a rotational 3D printing method that enables spatially controlled orientation of short fibers in polymer matrices solely by varying the nozzle rotation speed relative to the printing speed. Using this method, we fabricated carbon fiber–epoxy composites composed of volume elements (voxels) with programmably defined fiber arrangements, including adjacent regions with orthogonally and helically oriented fibers that lead to nonuniform strain and failure as well as those with purely helical fiber orientations akin to natural composites that exhibit enhanced damage tolerance. Our approach broadens the design, microstructural complexity, and performance space for fiber-reinforced composites through site-specific optimization of their fiber orientation, strain, failure, and damage tolerance. PMID:29348206

Rotational 3D printing of damage-tolerant composites with programmable mechanics.

PubMed

Raney, Jordan R; Compton, Brett G; Mueller, Jochen; Ober, Thomas J; Shea, Kristina; Lewis, Jennifer A

2018-02-06

Natural composites exhibit exceptional mechanical performance that often arises from complex fiber arrangements within continuous matrices. Inspired by these natural systems, we developed a rotational 3D printing method that enables spatially controlled orientation of short fibers in polymer matrices solely by varying the nozzle rotation speed relative to the printing speed. Using this method, we fabricated carbon fiber-epoxy composites composed of volume elements (voxels) with programmably defined fiber arrangements, including adjacent regions with orthogonally and helically oriented fibers that lead to nonuniform strain and failure as well as those with purely helical fiber orientations akin to natural composites that exhibit enhanced damage tolerance. Our approach broadens the design, microstructural complexity, and performance space for fiber-reinforced composites through site-specific optimization of their fiber orientation, strain, failure, and damage tolerance. Copyright © 2018 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.

A petrographic thin sectioning technique for evaluating composite materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parker, D. S.; Yee, A. F.

1989-01-01

Petrographic thin sectioning by a low-speed diamond saw has been used in conjunction with transmission polarized light microscopy for the characterization of the microstructure and deformation mechanisms of a variety of polymer systems. It has proven possible by these means to study three types of thermoplastic matrices for composite applications: PEEK, BPA-based polycarbonate (PC), and a rubber-modified PC. The reinforcing fibers for these matrices were in all cases AS4 carbon fibers, unidirectionally arrayed. Superior analyzability of matrix morphology and subsurface fracture processes is achieved by thin sectioning.

Active origami by 4D printing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ge, Qi; Dunn, Conner K.; Qi, H. Jerry; Dunn, Martin L.

2014-09-01

Recent advances in three dimensional (3D) printing technology that allow multiple materials to be printed within each layer enable the creation of materials and components with precisely controlled heterogeneous microstructures. In addition, active materials, such as shape memory polymers, can be printed to create an active microstructure within a solid. These active materials can subsequently be activated in a controlled manner to change the shape or configuration of the solid in response to an environmental stimulus. This has been termed 4D printing, with the 4th dimension being the time-dependent shape change after the printing. In this paper, we advance the 4D printing concept to the design and fabrication of active origami, where a flat sheet automatically folds into a complicated 3D component. Here we print active composites with shape memory polymer fibers precisely printed in an elastomeric matrix and use them as intelligent active hinges to enable origami folding patterns. We develop a theoretical model to provide guidance in selecting design parameters such as fiber dimensions, hinge length, and programming strains and temperature. Using the model, we design and fabricate several active origami components that assemble from flat polymer sheets, including a box, a pyramid, and two origami airplanes. In addition, we directly print a 3D box with active composite hinges and program it to assume a temporary flat shape that subsequently recovers to the 3D box shape on demand.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Larson, Natalie M.; Zok, Frank W.

One route for producing fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites entails repeated impregnation and pyrolysis of a preceramic polymer in a fiber preform. The process relies crucially on the development of networks of contiguous cracks during pyrolysis, thereby allowing further impregnation to attain nearly-full densification. The present study employs in-situ x-ray computed tomography (XCT) to reveal in three dimensions the evolution of matrix structure during pyrolysis of a SiC-based preceramic polymer to 1200 °C. Observations are used to guide the development of a taxonomy of crack geometries and crack structures and to identify the temporal sequence of their formation. A quantitative analysis ismore » employed to characterize effects of local microstructural dimensions on the conditions required to form cracks of various types. Complementary measurements of gas evolution and mass loss of the preceramic polymer during pyrolysis as well as changes in mass density and Young's modulus provide context for the physical changes revealed by XCT. Furthermore, the findings provide a foundation for future development of physics-based models to guide composite fabrication processes.« less

Fiber Orientation Effects in Fused Filament Fabrication of Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mulholland, T.; Goris, S.; Boxleitner, J.; Osswald, T. A.; Rudolph, N.

2018-03-01

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is a type of additive manufacturing based on material extrusion that has long been considered a prototyping technology. However, the right application of material, process, and product can be used for manufacturing of end-use products, such as air-cooled heat exchangers made by adding fillers to the base polymer, enhancing the thermal conductivity. Fiber fillers lead to anisotropic thermal conductivity, which is governed by the process-induced fiber orientation. This article presents an experimental study on the microstructure-property relationship for carbon fiber-filled polyamide used in FFF. The fiber orientation is measured by micro-computed tomography, and the thermal conductivity of manufactured samples is measured. Although the thermal conductivity is raised by more than three times in the fiber orientation direction at a load of only 12 vol.%, the enhancement is low in the other directions, and this anisotropy, along with certain manufacturing restrictions, influences the final part performance.

Microfabrication of a spider-silk analogue through the liquid rope coiling instability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gosselin, Frederick P.; Therriault, Daniel; Levesque, Martin

2012-02-01

Spider capture silk outperforms most synthetic materials in terms of specific toughness. We developed a technique to fabricate tough microstructured fibers inspired by the molecular structure of the spider silk protein. To fabricate microfibers (with diameter ˜30μm) with various mechanical properties, we yield the control of their exact geometry to the liquid rope coiling instability. This instability causes a thread of honey to wiggle as it buckles when hitting a surface. Similarly, we flow a filament of viscous polymer solution towards a substrate moving perpendicularly at a slower velocity than the filament flows. The filament buckles repetitively giving rise to periodic meanders and stitch patterns. As the solvent evaporates, the filament solidifies into a fiber with a geometry bestowed by the instability. Microtraction tests performed on fibers show interesting links between the mechanical properties and the instability patterns. Some coiling patterns give rise to high toughness due to the sacrificial bonds created when the viscous filament loops over itself and fuse. The sacrificial bonds in the microstructured fiber play an analogous role to that of the hydrogen bonds present in the molecular structure of the silk protein which give its toughness to spider silk.

Three-Dimensional Imaging and Numerical Reconstruction of Graphite/Epoxy Composite Microstructure Based on Ultra-High Resolution X-Ray Computed Tomography

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Czabaj, M. W.; Riccio, M. L.; Whitacre, W. W.

2014-01-01

A combined experimental and computational study aimed at high-resolution 3D imaging, visualization, and numerical reconstruction of fiber-reinforced polymer microstructures at the fiber length scale is presented. To this end, a sample of graphite/epoxy composite was imaged at sub-micron resolution using a 3D X-ray computed tomography microscope. Next, a novel segmentation algorithm was developed, based on concepts adopted from computer vision and multi-target tracking, to detect and estimate, with high accuracy, the position of individual fibers in a volume of the imaged composite. In the current implementation, the segmentation algorithm was based on Global Nearest Neighbor data-association architecture, a Kalman filter estimator, and several novel algorithms for virtualfiber stitching, smoothing, and overlap removal. The segmentation algorithm was used on a sub-volume of the imaged composite, detecting 508 individual fibers. The segmentation data were qualitatively compared to the tomographic data, demonstrating high accuracy of the numerical reconstruction. Moreover, the data were used to quantify a) the relative distribution of individual-fiber cross sections within the imaged sub-volume, and b) the local fiber misorientation relative to the global fiber axis. Finally, the segmentation data were converted using commercially available finite element (FE) software to generate a detailed FE mesh of the composite volume. The methodology described herein demonstrates the feasibility of realizing an FE-based, virtual-testing framework for graphite/fiber composites at the constituent level.

Physics of the gut: How polymers dynamically structure the gut environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Preska Steinberg, Asher; Datta, Sujit; Bogatyrev, Said; Ismagilov, Rustem

While the gut microbiome and biological regulation of the gut environment is being exhaustively studied by the microbiology community, little is known about the rich physics that governs the macro- and microstructure of the gut environment. The mammalian gut abounds in soft materials; ranging from soluble polymers (e.g. dietary fibers, therapeutic polymers and mucins) to colloidal matter (e.g. bacteria, viruses and nanoparticles carrying drugs). We have found experimentally that soluble polymers can dynamically re-structure the colonic mucus hydrogel by modulating its degree of swelling. We implemented a mean-field Flory-Huggins model to reveal that these polymer-mucus interactions can be captured using a simple, first principles thermodynamics model. In this model, the amount of deswelling increases with polymer concentration and size. We then used these physical principles to make predictions about how different polymer solutions affect the structure of mucus. Lastly, we explore applying this framework and similar physical principles to a variety of biological problems in the gut.

Optical fibers and their applications 2012

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romaniuk, Ryszard S.; Wójcik, Waldemar

2013-01-01

XIVth Conference on Optical Fibers and Their Applications, Nałęczów 2012, which has been organized since more than 35 years, has summarized the achievements of the local optical fiber technology community, for the last year and a half. The conference specializes in developments of optical fiber technology, glass and polymer, classical and microstructured, passive and active. The event gathered around 100 participants. There were shown 60 presentations from 20 research and application groups active in fiber photonics, originating from academia and industry. Topical tracks of the Conference were: photonic materials, planar waveguides, passive and active optical fibers, propagation theory in nonstandard optical fibers, and new constructions of optical fibers. A panel discussion concerned teaching in fiber photonics. The conference was accompanied by a school on Optical Fiber Technology. The paper summarizes the chosen main topical tracks of the conference on Optical Fibers and Their Applications, Nałęczów 2012. The papers from the conference presentations will be published in Proc.SPIE. The next conference from this series is scheduled for January 2014 in Białowieża.

Rapid constructions of microstructures for optical fiber sensors using a commercial CO2 laser system.

PubMed

Irawan, Rudi; Chuan, Tjin Swee; Meng, Tay Chia; Ming, Tan Khay

2008-06-27

Exposing an optical fiber core to the measurand surrounding the fiber is often used to enhance the sensitivity of an optical fiber sensor. This paper reports on the rapid fabrication of microstructures in an optical fiber using a CO₂ laser system which help exposing the optical fiber core to the measurand. The direct-write CO₂ laser system used is originally designed for engraving the polymeric material. Fabrications of microstructures such as in-fiber microhole, D-shaped fiber, in-fiber microchannel, side-sliced fiber and tapered fiber were attempted. The microstructures in the fibers were examined using a SEM and an optical microscope. Quality of microstructures shown by the SEM images and promising results from fluorescence sensor tests using in-fiber microchannels of 100μm width, 210μm depth and 10mm length show the prospect of this method for use in optical fiber sensor development. The direct-write CO₂ laser system is a flexible and fast machining tool for fabricating microstructures in an optical fiber, and can possibly be a replacement of the time consuming chemical etching and polishing methods used for microstructure fabrications of optical the fiber sensors reported in other literatures.

Rapid Constructions of Microstructures for Optical Fiber Sensors Using a Commercial CO2 Laser System

PubMed Central

Irawan, Rudi; Chuan, Tjin Swee; Meng, Tay Chia; Ming, Tan Khay

2008-01-01

Exposing an optical fiber core to the measurand surrounding the fiber is often used to enhance the sensitivity of an optical fiber sensor. This paper reports on the rapid fabrication of microstructures in an optical fiber using a CO2 laser system which help exposing the optical fiber core to the measurand. The direct-write CO2 laser system used is originally designed for engraving the polymeric material. Fabrications of microstructures such as in-fiber microhole, D-shaped fiber, in-fiber microchannel, side-sliced fiber and tapered fiber were attempted. The microstructures in the fibers were examined using a SEM and an optical microscope. Quality of microstructures shown by the SEM images and promising results from fluorescence sensor tests using in-fiber microchannels of 100μm width, 210μm depth and 10mm length show the prospect of this method for use in optical fiber sensor development. The direct-write CO2 laser system is a flexible and fast machining tool for fabricating microstructures in an optical fiber, and can possibly be a replacement of the time consuming chemical etching and polishing methods used for microstructure fabrications of optical the fiber sensors reported in other literatures. PMID:19662114

Formation of anisotropic hollow-fiber membranes via thermally induced phase separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Batarseh, Melanie Turkett

The goal of this research project was to study the formation of anisotropic hollow fiber membranes via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). This objective included developing a fundamental knowledge of the factors that contribute to anisotropy and studying how anisotropy can be controlled via operational parameters in hollow fiber spinning. The objective was met by creating a model to simulate the mass and heat transfer in the fiber wall during spinning and by experimentally varying spinning parameters and observing the affect on the membrane microstructure. The TIPS membrane formation process consists of forming a homogeneous solution of polymer and diluent and extruding the solution through a spinneret to form a hollow fiber. The fiber is cooled in an air gap followed by a quench bath, which results in phase separation of the solution into a diluent-rich phase dispersed in a continuous polymer-rich liquid phase. The diluent-rich domains grow in size until the polymer-rich phase crystallizes. Then the diluent is removed, and the spaces left behind become the pores of the microporous membrane. Therefore, the size of the diluent-rich domains when the polymer solidifies is related to the size of the pores in the finished membrane. Increasing the polymer concentration of the homogeneous solution or increasing the cooling rate of the phase separated solution decreases the domain size, and thus decreases pore size. An anisotropic membrane, which has a gradation of pore size from small pores at the feed-side to large pores at the permeate-side, can be formed by creating a concentration gradient or a cooling rate gradient across the membrane. In hollow fiber spinning, a concentration gradient can be created by allowing diluent to evaporate from the outside wall of the fiber in the air gap, and a cooling rate gradient can be created by quenching the fiber in a liquid bath. The spinning model calculates concentration and temperature profiles across the hollow fiber wall over time. The model results indicate that spinning temperature, air velocity, and air gap length have a significant effect on the concentration profile in the wall, and spinning temperature and quench temperature have a significant effect on the cooling rate profile. Experimental results indicate that increasing the air gap length from 5 to 50 cm. or increasing the quench temperature from 298 to 323 K has a significant effect on the anisotropic structure of the hollow fiber.

High-temperature viscoelastic creep constitutive equations for polymer composites: Homogenization theory and experiments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Skontorp, A.; Wang, S.S.; Shibuya, Y.

1994-12-31

In this paper, a homogenization theory is developed to determine high-temperature effective viscoelastic constitutive equations for fiber-reinforced polymer composites. The homogenization theory approximates the microstructure of a fiber composite, and determine simultaneously effective macroscopic constitutive properties of the composite and the associated microscopic strain and stress in the heterogeneous material. The time-temperature dependent homogenization theory requires that the viscoelastic constituent properties of the matrix phase at elevated temperatures, the governing equations for the composites, and the boundary conditions of the problem be Laplace transformed to a conjugate problem. The homogenized effective properties in the transformed domain are determined, using amore » two-scale asymptotic expansion of field variables and an averaging procedure. Field solutions in the unit cell are determined from basic and first-order governing equations with the aid of a boundary integral method (BIM). Effective viscoelastic constitutive properties of the composite at elevated temperatures are determined by an inverse transformation, as are the microscopic stress and deformation in the composite. Using this method, interactions among fibers and between the fibers and the matrix can be evaluated explicitly, resulting in accurate solutions for composites with high-volume fraction of reinforcing fibers. Examples are given for the case of a carbon-fiber reinforced thermoplastic polyamide composite in an elevated temperature environment. The homogenization predictions are in good agreement with experimental data available for the composite.« less

Pressure effects on the thermal stability of SiC fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jaskowiak, Martha H.; Dicarlo, James A.

1986-01-01

Commercially available polymer derived SiC fibers were treated at temperatures from 1000 to 2200 C in vacuum and argon gas pressure of 1 and 1360 atm. Effects of gas pressure on the thermal stability of the fibers were determined through property comparison between the pressure treated fibers and vacuum treated fibers. Investigation of the thermal stability included studies of the fiber microstructure, weight loss, grain growth, and tensile strength. The 1360 atm argon gas treatment was found to shift the onset of fiber weight loss from 1200 to above 1500 C. Grain growth and tensile strength degradation were correlated with weight loss and were thus also inhibited by high pressure treatments. Additional heat treatment in 1 atm argon of the fibers initially treated at 1360 atm argon caused further weight loss and tensile strength degradation, thus indicating that high pressure inert gas conditions would be effective only in delaying fiber strength degradation. However, if the high gas pressure could be maintained throughout composite fabrication, then the composites could be processed at higher temperatures.

Molecular-Level Study of the Effect of Prior Axial Compression/Torsion on the Axial-Tensile Strength of PPTA Fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grujicic, M.; Yavari, R.; Ramaswami, S.; Snipes, J. S.; Yen, C.-F.; Cheeseman, B. A.

2013-11-01

A comprehensive all-atom molecular-level computational investigation is carried out in order to identify and quantify: (i) the effect of prior longitudinal-compressive or axial-torsional loading on the longitudinal-tensile behavior of p-phenylene terephthalamide (PPTA) fibrils/fibers; and (ii) the role various microstructural/topological defects play in affecting this behavior. Experimental and computational results available in the relevant open literature were utilized to construct various defects within the molecular-level model and to assign the concentration to these defects consistent with the values generally encountered under "prototypical" PPTA-polymer synthesis and fiber fabrication conditions. When quantifying the effect of the prior longitudinal-compressive/axial-torsional loading on the longitudinal-tensile behavior of PPTA fibrils, the stochastic nature of the size/potency of these defects was taken into account. The results obtained revealed that: (a) due to the stochastic nature of the defect type, concentration/number density and size/potency, the PPTA fibril/fiber longitudinal-tensile strength is a statistical quantity possessing a characteristic probability density function; (b) application of the prior axial compression or axial torsion to the PPTA imperfect single-crystalline fibrils degrades their longitudinal-tensile strength and only slightly modifies the associated probability density function; and (c) introduction of the fibril/fiber interfaces into the computational analyses showed that prior axial torsion can induce major changes in the material microstructure, causing significant reductions in the PPTA-fiber longitudinal-tensile strength and appreciable changes in the associated probability density function.

Enhanced gas separation factors of microporous polymer constrained in the channels of anodic alumina membranes

PubMed Central

Chernova, Ekaterina; Petukhov, Dmitrii; Boytsova, Olga; Alentiev, Alexander; Budd, Peter; Yampolskii, Yuri; Eliseev, Andrei

2016-01-01

New composite membranes based on porous anodic alumina films and polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) have been prepared using a spin-coating technique. According to scanning electron microscopy, partial penetration of polymer into the pores of alumina supports takes place giving rise to selective polymeric layers with fiber-like microstructure. Geometric confinement of rigid PIM-1 in the channels of anodic alumina causes reduction of small-scale mobility in polymeric chains. As a result, transport of permanent gases, such as CH4, becomes significantly hindered across composite membranes. Contrary, the transport of condensable gases (CO2, С4H10), did not significantly suffer from the confinement due to high solubility in the polymer matrix. This strategy enables enhancement of selectivity towards CO2 and C4H10 without significant loss of the membrane performance and seems to be prospective for drain and sweetening of natural gas. PMID:27498607

Enhanced gas separation factors of microporous polymer constrained in the channels of anodic alumina membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chernova, Ekaterina; Petukhov, Dmitrii; Boytsova, Olga; Alentiev, Alexander; Budd, Peter; Yampolskii, Yuri; Eliseev, Andrei

2016-08-01

New composite membranes based on porous anodic alumina films and polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) have been prepared using a spin-coating technique. According to scanning electron microscopy, partial penetration of polymer into the pores of alumina supports takes place giving rise to selective polymeric layers with fiber-like microstructure. Geometric confinement of rigid PIM-1 in the channels of anodic alumina causes reduction of small-scale mobility in polymeric chains. As a result, transport of permanent gases, such as CH4, becomes significantly hindered across composite membranes. Contrary, the transport of condensable gases (CO2, С4H10), did not significantly suffer from the confinement due to high solubility in the polymer matrix. This strategy enables enhancement of selectivity towards CO2 and C4H10 without significant loss of the membrane performance and seems to be prospective for drain and sweetening of natural gas.

Physio-Microstructural Properties of Aerated Cement Slurry for Lightweight Structures

PubMed Central

Salem, Talal; Hamadna, Sameer; Darsanasiri, A. G. N. D.; Soroushian, Parviz; Balchandra, Anagi; Al-Chaar, Ghassan

2018-01-01

Cementitious composites, including ferrocement and continuous fiber reinforced cement, are increasingly considered for building construction and repair. One alternative in processing of these composites is to infiltrate the reinforcement (continuous fibers or chicken mesh) with a flowable cementitious slurry. The relatively high density of cementitious binders, when compared with polymeric binders, are a setback in efforts to introduce cementitious composites as lower-cost, fire-resistant, and durable alternatives to polymer composites. Aeration of the slurry is an effective means of reducing the density of cementitious composites. This approach, however, compromises the mechanical properties of cementitious binders. An experimental program was undertaken in order to assess the potential for production of aerated slurry with a desired balance of density, mechanical performance, and barrier qualities. The potential for nondestructive monitoring of strength development in aerated cementitious slurry was also investigated. This research produced aerated slurries with densities as low as 0.9 g/cm3 with viable mechanical and barrier qualities for production of composites. The microstructure of these composites was also investigated. PMID:29649163

Physio-Microstructural Properties of Aerated Cement Slurry for Lightweight Structures.

PubMed

Almalkawi, Areej T; Salem, Talal; Hamadna, Sameer; Darsanasiri, A G N D; Soroushian, Parviz; Balchandra, Anagi; Al-Chaar, Ghassan

2018-04-12

Cementitious composites, including ferrocement and continuous fiber reinforced cement, are increasingly considered for building construction and repair. One alternative in processing of these composites is to infiltrate the reinforcement (continuous fibers or chicken mesh) with a flowable cementitious slurry. The relatively high density of cementitious binders, when compared with polymeric binders, are a setback in efforts to introduce cementitious composites as lower-cost, fire-resistant, and durable alternatives to polymer composites. Aeration of the slurry is an effective means of reducing the density of cementitious composites. This approach, however, compromises the mechanical properties of cementitious binders. An experimental program was undertaken in order to assess the potential for production of aerated slurry with a desired balance of density, mechanical performance, and barrier qualities. The potential for nondestructive monitoring of strength development in aerated cementitious slurry was also investigated. This research produced aerated slurries with densities as low as 0.9 g/cm³ with viable mechanical and barrier qualities for production of composites. The microstructure of these composites was also investigated.

Micro- and macrostructural characterization of polyvinylpirrolidone rotary-spun fibers.

PubMed

Sebe, István; Kállai-Szabó, Barnabás; Kovács, Krisztián Norbert; Szabadi, Enikő; Zelkó, Romána

2015-01-01

The application of high-speed rotary spinning can offer a useful mean for either preparation of fibrous intermediate for conventional dosage forms or drug delivery systems. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone-vinylacetate) (PVP VA) micro- and nanofibers of different polymer concentrations and solvent ratios were prepared with a high-speed rotary spinning technique. In order to study the influence of parameters that enable successful fiber production from polymeric viscous solutions, a complex micro- and macrostructural screening method was implemented. The obtained fiber mats were subjected to detailed morphological analysis using scanning electron microscope (SEM), and rheological measurements while the microstructural changes of fiber samples, based on the free volume changes, was analyzed by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and compared with their mechanical characteristics. The plasticizing effect of water tracked by ortho-positronium lifetime changes in relation to the mechanical properties of fibers. A concentration range of polyvinylpyrrolidone solutions was defined for the preparation of fibers of optimum fiber morphology and mechanical properties. The method enabled fiber formulation of advantageous functionality-related properties for further formulation of solid dosage forms.

Scaling up the Single Transducer Thickness-Independent Ultrasonic Imaging Method for Accurate Characterization of Microstructural Gradients in Monolithic and Composite Tubular Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, Don J.; Carney, Dorothy V.; Baaklini, George Y.; Bodis, James R.; Rauser, Richard W.

1998-01-01

Ultrasonic velocity/time-of-flight imaging that uses back surface reflections to gauge volumetric material quality is highly suited for quantitative characterization of microstructural gradients including those due to pore fraction, density, fiber fraction, and chemical composition variations. However, a weakness of conventional pulse-echo ultrasonic velocity/time-of-flight imaging is that the image shows the effects of thickness as well as microstructural variations unless the part is uniformly thick. This limits this imaging method's usefulness in practical applications. Prior studies have described a pulse-echo time-of-flight-based ultrasonic imaging method that requires using a single transducer in combination with a reflector plate placed behind samples that eliminates the effect of thickness variation in the image. In those studies, this method was successful at isolating ultrasonic variations due to material microstructure in plate-like samples of silicon nitride, metal matrix composite, and polymer matrix composite. In this study, the method is engineered for inspection of more complex-shaped structures-those having (hollow) tubular/curved geometry. The experimental inspection technique and results are described as applied to (1) monolithic mullite ceramic and polymer matrix composite 'proof-of-concept' tubular structures that contain machined patches of various depths and (2) as-manufactured monolithic silicon nitride ceramic and silicon carbide/silicon carbide composite tubular structures that might be used in 'real world' applications.

Microstructured optical fiber-based luminescent biosensing: Is there any light at the end of the tunnel? - A review.

PubMed

Pidenko, Sergey A; Burmistrova, Natalia A; Shuvalov, Andrey A; Chibrova, Anastasiya A; Skibina, Yulia S; Goryacheva, Irina Y

2018-08-17

This review covers the current state of the art of luminescent biosensors based on various types of microstructured optical fiber. The unique optical and structural properties of this type of optical fiber make them one of the most promising integrated platforms for bioassays. The individual sections of this review are devoted to a) classification of microstructured optical fibers, b) microstructured optical fiber materials, c) aspects of biosensing based on the biomolecules incorporated into the microstructured optical fibers, and d) development of models for prediction of the efficiency of luminescent signal processing. The authors' views on current trends and limitations of microstructured optical fibers for biosensing as well as the most promising areas and technologies for application in analytical practice are presented. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Deformation behavior of carbon-fiber reinforced shape-memory-polymer composites used for deployable structures (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lan, Xin; Liu, Liwu; Li, Fengfeng; Pan, Chengtong; Liu, Yanju; Leng, Jinsong

2017-04-01

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are a new type of smart material, they perform large reversible deformation with a certain external stimulus (e.g., heat and electricity). The properties (e.g., stiffness, strength and other mechanically static or quasi-static load-bearing capacity) are primarily considered for conventional resin-based composite materials which are mainly used for structural materials. By contrast, the mechanical actuating performance with finite deformation is considered for the shape memory polymers and their composites which can be used for both structural materials and functional materials. For shape memory polymers and their composites, the performance of active deformation is expected to further promote the development in smart active deformation structures, such as deployable space structures and morphing wing aircraft. The shape memory polymer composites (SMPCs) are also one type of High Strain Composite (HSC). The space deployable structures based on carbon fiber reinforced shape memory polymer composites (SMPCs) show great prospects. Considering the problems that SMPCs are difficult to meet the practical applications in space deployable structures in the recent ten years, this paper aims to research the mechanics of deformation, actuation and failure of SMPCs. In the overall view of the shape memory polymer material's nonlinearity (nonlinearity and stress softening in the process of pre-deformation and recovery, relaxation in storage process, irreversible deformation), by the multiple verifications among theory, finite element and experiments, one obtains the deformation and actuation mechanism for the process of "pre-deformation, energy storage and actuation" and its non-fracture constraint domain. Then, the parameters of SMPCs will be optimized. Theoretical analysis is realized by the strain energy function, additionally considering the interaction strain energy between the fiber and the matrix. For the common resin-based or soft-material-based composites under pure bending deformation, we expect to uniformly explain the whole process of buckling occurrence, evolution and finally failure, especially for the early evolution characteristics of fiber microbuckling inside the microstructures. The research results are meaningful for the practical applications for SMPC deployable structures in space. Considering the deformation mechanisms of SMPCs, the local post-microbuckling is required for the unidirectional fiber reinforced composite materials, at the conditions of its large geometrical deflection. The cross section of SMPC is divided into three areas: non-buckling stretching area, non-buckling compressive area, and buckling compressive area. Three variables are considered: critical buckling position, and neutral plane, the fiber buckling half-wavelength. Considering the condition of the small strain and large displacement, the strain energy expression of the SMP/fiber system was derived, which contains two types, e.g., strain energy of SMP and fiber. According to the minimum energy principle, the expression for all key parameters were derived, including the critical buckling curvature, neutral plane position, the buckling half-wavelength, fiber buckling amplitude, and strain.

Refractive index sensor based on a polymer fiber directional coupler for low index sensing.

PubMed

Lee, Kwang Jo; Liu, Xiaoqi; Vuillemin, Nelly; Lwin, Richard; Leon-Saval, Sergio G; Argyros, Alexander; Kuhlmey, Boris T

2014-07-14

We propose, numerically analyze and experimentally demonstrate a novel refractive index sensor specialized for low index sensing. The device is based on a directional coupler architecture implemented in a single microstructured polymer optical fiber incorporating two waveguides within it: a single-mode core and a satellite waveguide consisting of a hollow high-index ring. This hollow channel is filled with fluid and the refractive index of the fluid is detected through changes to the wavelength at which resonant coupling occurs between the two waveguides. The sensor design was optimized for both higher sensitivity and lower detection limit, with simulations and experiments demonstrating a sensitivity exceeding 1.4 × 10(3) nm per refractive index unit. Simulations indicate a detection limit of ~2 × 10(-6) refractive index units is achievable. We also numerically investigate the performance for refractive index changes localized at the surface of the holes, a case of particular importance for biosensing.

Influence of the power law index on the fiber breakage during injection molding by numerical simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desplentere, Frederik; Six, Wim; Bonte, Hilde; Debrabandere, Eric

2013-04-01

In predictive engineering for polymer processes, the proper prediction of material microstructure from known processing conditions and constituent material properties is a critical step forward properly predicting bulk properties in the finished composite. Operating within the context of long-fiber thermoplastics (LFT, length > 15mm) this investigation concentrates on the influence of the power law index on the final fiber length distribution within the injection molded part. To realize this, the Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Insight Scandium 2013 software has been used. In this software, a fiber breakage algorithm is available from this release on. Using virtual material data with realistic viscosity levels allows to separate the influence of the power law index on the fiber breakage from the other material and process parameters. Applying standard settings for the fiber breakage parameters results in an obvious influence on the fiber length distribution through the thickness of the part and also as function of position in the part. Finally, the influence of the shear rate constant within the fiber breakage model has been investigated illustrating the possibility to fit the virtual fiber length distribution to the possible experimentally available data.

Time-dependent variation of POF Bragg grating reflectivity and wavelength submerged in different liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marques, C. A. F.; Pospori, A.; Webb, D. J.

2017-09-01

In this work, we investigate the time-dependent variation of both the reflectivity and resonance wavelength of microstructured polymer optical fiber Bragg grating (mPOFBG) array sensors embedded in silicone rubber and polyurethane resin diaphragms in contact with water and aircraft fuel, respectively. The array sensors were inscribed using two different phase masks with pitches of 557.5 and 580 nm and the thermal annealing of the inscribed fiber was used to change the Bragg wavelengths. Both the reflection and the resonance wavelength shift were monitored over 90 days submerged in liquid and two studies were investigated. In the first study, in addition to the mPOFBGs coated with the diaphragm, also the rest of the fiber is totally protected between the sensors with the same material used for diaphragms. On the other hand, in the second study, the fiber between sensors is unprotected - in direct contact with liquid. PMMA and TOPAS fibers were used and this study suggests that TOPAS fiber should be a good option for long-term liquid monitoring applications.

Comparison of directly compressed vitamin B12 tablets prepared from micronized rotary-spun microfibers and cast films.

PubMed

Sebe, István; Bodai, Zsolt; Eke, Zsuzsanna; Kállai-Szabó, Barnabás; Szabó, Péter; Zelkó, Romána

2015-01-01

Fiber-based dosage forms are potential alternatives of conventional dosage forms from the point of the improved extent and rate of drug dissolution. Rotary-spun polymer fibers and cast films were prepared and micronized in order to direct compress after homogenization with tabletting excipients. Particle size distribution of powder mixtures of micronized fibers and films homogenized with tabletting excipients were determined by laser scattering particle size distribution analyzer. Powder rheological behavior of the mixtures containing micronized fibers and cast films was also compared. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy was applied for the microstructural characterization of micronized fibers and films. The water-soluble vitamin B12 release from the compressed tablets was determined. It was confirmed that the rotary spinning method resulted in homogeneous supramolecularly ordered powder mixture, which was successfully compressed after homogenization with conventional tabletting excipients. The obtained directly compressed tablets showed uniform drug release of low variations. The results highlight the novel application of micronized rotary-spun fibers as intermediate for further processing reserving the original favorable powder characteristics of fibrous systems.

Impact toughness of cellulose-fiber reinforced polypropylene : influence of microstructure in laminates and injection molded composites

Treesearch

Craig Clemons; Daniel Caulfield; A. Jeffrey Giacomin

2003-01-01

Unlike their glass reinforced counterparts, microstructure and dynamic fracture behavior of natural fiber-reinforced thermoplastics have hardly been investigated. Here, we characterize the microstructure of cellulose fiber-reinforced polypropylene and determined its effect on impact toughness. Fiber lengths were reduced by one-half when compounded in a high-intensity...

Superlattice Microstructured Optical Fiber

PubMed Central

Tse, Ming-Leung Vincent; Liu, Zhengyong; Cho, Lok-Hin; Lu, Chao; Wai, Ping-Kong Alex; Tam, Hwa-Yaw

2014-01-01

A generic three-stage stack-and-draw method is demonstrated for the fabrication of complex-microstructured optical fibers. We report the fabrication and characterization of a silica superlattice microstructured fiber with more than 800 rhomboidally arranged air-holes. A polarization-maintaining fiber with a birefringence of 8.5 × 10−4 is demonstrated. The birefringent property of the fiber is found to be highly insensitive to external environmental effects, such as pressure. PMID:28788693

Topology Optimization of Lightweight Lattice Structural Composites Inspired by Cuttlefish Bone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Zhong; Gadipudi, Varun Kumar; Salem, David R.

2018-03-01

Lattice structural composites are of great interest to various industries where lightweight multifunctionality is important, especially aerospace. However, strong coupling among the composition, microstructure, porous topology, and fabrication of such materials impedes conventional trial-and-error experimental development. In this work, a discontinuous carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite was adopted for structural design. A reliable and robust design approach for developing lightweight multifunctional lattice structural composites was proposed, inspired by biomimetics and based on topology optimization. Three-dimensional periodic lattice blocks were initially designed, inspired by the cuttlefish bone microstructure. The topologies of the three-dimensional periodic blocks were further optimized by computer modeling, and the mechanical properties of the topology optimized lightweight lattice structures were characterized by computer modeling. The lattice structures with optimal performance were identified.

Holmium-doped fluorotellurite microstructured fibers for 2.1 μm lasing.

PubMed

Yao, Chuanfei; He, Chunfeng; Jia, Zhixu; Wang, Shunbin; Qin, Guanshi; Ohishi, Yasutake; Qin, Weiping

2015-10-15

Holmium (Ho3+)-doped fluorotellurite microstructured fibers based on TeO2-BaF2-Y2O3 glasses are fabricated by using a rod-in-tube method. By using a 1.992 μm fiber laser as the pump source, lasing at 2.077 μm is obtained from a 27 cm long Ho3+-doped fluorotellurite microstructured fiber. The maximum unsaturated power is about 161 mW and the corresponding slope efficiency is up to 67.4%. The influence of fiber length on lasing at 2.1 μm is also investigated. Our results show that Ho3+-doped fluorotellurite microstructured fibers are promising gain media for 2.1 μm laser applications.

Molecular modeling of the microstructure evolution during carbon fiber processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desai, Saaketh; Li, Chunyu; Shen, Tongtong; Strachan, Alejandro

2017-12-01

The rational design of carbon fibers with desired properties requires quantitative relationships between the processing conditions, microstructure, and resulting properties. We developed a molecular model that combines kinetic Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics techniques to predict the microstructure evolution during the processes of carbonization and graphitization of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibers. The model accurately predicts the cross-sectional microstructure of the fibers with the molecular structure of the stabilized PAN fibers and physics-based chemical reaction rates as the only inputs. The resulting structures exhibit key features observed in electron microcopy studies such as curved graphitic sheets and hairpin structures. In addition, computed X-ray diffraction patterns are in good agreement with experiments. We predict the transverse moduli of the resulting fibers between 1 GPa and 5 GPa, in good agreement with experimental results for high modulus fibers and slightly lower than those of high-strength fibers. The transverse modulus is governed by sliding between graphitic sheets, and the relatively low value for the predicted microstructures can be attributed to their perfect longitudinal texture. Finally, the simulations provide insight into the relationships between chemical kinetics and the final microstructure; we observe that high reaction rates result in porous structures with lower moduli.

Microstructural, Chemical and Mechanical Characterization of Polymer-Derived Hi-Nicalon Fibers with Surface Coatings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bansal, Narottam P.; Chen, Yuan L.

1998-01-01

Room temperature tensile strengths of as-received Hi-Nicalon fibers and those having BN/SiC, p-BN/SiC, and p-B(Si)N/SiC surface coatings, deposited by chemical vapor deposition, were measured using an average fiber diameter of 13.5 microns. The Weibull statistical parameters were determined for each fiber. The average tensile strength of uncoated Hi-Nicalon on was 3.19 +/- 0.73 GPa with a Weibull modulus of 5.41. Strength of fibers coated with BN/SiC did not change. However, coat with p-BN/SiC and p-B(Si)N/SiC surface layers showed strength loss of approx. 10 and 35 percent, respectively, compared with as-received fibers. The elemental compositions of the fibers and the coatings were analyzed using scanning Auger microprobe and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The BN coating was contaminated with a large concentration of carbon and some oxygen. In contrast, p-BN, p-B(Si)N, and SiC coatings did not show any contamination. Microstructural analyses of the fibers and the coatings were done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and selected area electron diffraction. Hi-Nicalon fiber consists of the P-SIC nanocrystals ranging in size from 1 to 30 nm embedded in an amorphous matrix. TEM analysis of the BN coating revealed four distinct layers with turbostatic structure. The p-BN layer was turbostratic and showed considerable preferred orientation. The p-B(Si)N was glassy and the silicon and boron were uniformly distributed. The silicon carbide coating was polycrystalline with a columnar structure along the growth direction. The p-B(Si)N/SiC coatings were more uniform, less defective and of better quality than the BN/SiC or the p-BN/SiC coatings.

Secondary polymer layered impregnated tile

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tran, Huy K. (Inventor); Rasky, Daniel J. (Inventor); Szalai, Christine E. (Inventor); Carroll, Joseph A. (Inventor); Hsu, Ming-ta S. (Inventor)

2005-01-01

A low density organic polymer impregnated preformed fibrous ceramic article includes a plurality of layers. A front layer includes ceramic fibers or carbon fibers or combinations of ceramic fibers and carbon fibers, and is impregnated with an effective amount of at least one organic polymer. A middle layer includes polymer impregnated ceramic fibers. A back layer includes ceramic fibers or carbon fibers or combinations of ceramic fibers and carbon fibers, and is impregnated with an effective amount of at least one low temperature pyrolyzing organic polymer capable of decomposing without depositing residues.

Composite membranes, methods of making same, and applications of same

DOEpatents

Pintauro, Peter N.; Park, Andrew; Ballengee, Jason

2016-05-24

In one aspect of the present invention, a method of fabricating a composite membrane includes: forming a first polymer solution from a first polymer and a second polymer solution from a second polymer, respectively, where the first polymer includes a charged polymer and the second polymer includes an uncharged polymer; electrospinning, separately and simultaneously, the first and second polymer solutions to form a dual fiber mat with first polymer fibers and second polymer fibers; and processing the dual fiber mat by softening and flowing one of the first or second polymer fibers to fill in the void space between the other of the first and second polymer fibers so as to form the composite membrane. In some embodiments, the composite membrane may be a proton exchange membrane (PEM) or an anion exchange membrane (AEM).

Hollow polycaprolactone composite fibers for controlled magnetic responsive antifungal drug release.

PubMed

Wang, Baolin; Zheng, Hongxia; Chang, Ming-Wei; Ahmad, Zeeshan; Li, Jing-Song

2016-09-01

Hollow magnetic fibers for trigger based drug release were synthesized using one-step co-axial electrospinning (COX-ES). This was achieved by encapsulating the antifungal active 'ketoconazole' (KCZ) and iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) in composite form within the core shell polymeric matrix material (polycaprolactone, PCL) during the COX-ES process. Dimethyl silicone oil was used as the inner core (liquid) of co-flowing solutions, which subsequently perfused out of the two-phase electrospun microstructures to form hollow fibers. Resulting drug-loaded magnetic hollow fibers were characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier Transform Infra-Red. The tensile strength and magnetization properties of composite fibers were also assessed. KCZ drug concentration in electrospinning solutions strongly influenced resulting fiber morphology, drug loading efficiency and release. Expedited drug release during a slow-sustained phase was demonstrated through the application of an auxiliary magnetic field. Variations in tensile strength (∼1.3-6.3MPa) were due to composite fiber components compromising polymer chain integrity. In-vitro cell studies (using human cervical carcinoma cell lines) demonstrated fiber biocompatibility. The present study demonstrates the potential application of magnetic hollow fibers for controlled treatment of fungal infections and antimicrobial indications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High aspect ratio template and method for producing same

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sakamoto, Jeff S. (Inventor); Weiss, James R. (Inventor); Fleurial, Jean-Pierre (Inventor); Kisor, Adam (Inventor); Tuszynski, Mark (Inventor); Stokols, Shula (Inventor); Holt, Todd Edward (Inventor); Welker, David James (Inventor); Breckon, Christopher David (Inventor)

2010-01-01

Millimeter to nano-scale structures manufactured using a multi-component polymer fiber matrix are disclosed. The use of dissimilar polymers allows the selective dissolution of the polymers at various stages of the manufacturing process. In one application, biocompatible matrixes may be formed with long pore length and small pore size. The manufacturing process begins with a first polymer fiber arranged in a matrix formed by a second polymer fiber. End caps may be attached to provide structural support and the polymer fiber matrix selectively dissolved away leaving only the long polymer fibers. These may be exposed to another product, such as a biocompatible gel to form a biocompatible matrix. The polymer fibers may then be selectively dissolved leaving only a biocompatible gel scaffold with the pores formed by the dissolved polymer fibers.

Quantum Dots Microstructured Optical Fiber for X-Ray Detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DeHaven, Stan; Williams, Phillip; Burke, Eric

2015-01-01

Microstructured optical fibers containing quantum dots scintillation material comprised of zinc sulfide nanocrystals doped with magnesium sulfide are presented. These quantum dots are applied inside the microstructured optical fibers using capillary action. The x-ray photon counts of these fibers are compared to the output of a collimated CdTe solid state detector over an energy range from 10 to 40 keV. The results of the fiber light output and associated effects of an acrylate coating and the quantum dot application technique are discussed.

Hydrocarbon-Based Polymer Electrolyte Membranes: Importance of Morphology on Ion Transport and Membrane Stability.

PubMed

Shin, Dong Won; Guiver, Michael D; Lee, Young Moo

2017-03-22

A fundamental understanding of polymer microstructure is important in order to design novel polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) with excellent electrochemical performance and stabilities. Hydrocarbon-based polymers have distinct microstructure according to their chemical structure. The ionic clusters and/or channels play a critical role in PEMs, affecting ion conductivity and water transport, especially at medium temperature and low relative humidity (RH). In addition, physical properties such as water uptake and dimensional swelling behavior depend strongly on polymer morphology. Over the past few decades, much research has focused on the synthetic development and microstructural characterization of hydrocarbon-based PEM materials. Furthermore, blends, composites, pressing, shear field, electrical field, surface modification, and cross-linking have also been shown to be effective approaches to obtain/maintain well-defined PEM microstructure. This review summarizes recent work on developments in advanced PEMs with various chemical structures and architecture and the resulting polymer microstructures and morphologies that arise for potential application in fuel cell, lithium ion battery, redox flow battery, actuators, and electrodialysis.

Cantilevered multilevel LIGA devices and methods

DOEpatents

Morales, Alfredo Martin; Domeier, Linda A.

2002-01-01

In the formation of multilevel LIGA microstructures, a preformed sheet of photoresist material, such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is patterned by exposure through a mask to radiation, such as X-rays, and developed using a developer to remove the exposed photoresist material. A first microstructure is then formed by electroplating metal into the areas from which the photoresist has been removed. Additional levels of microstructure are added to the initial microstructure by covering the first microstructure with a conductive polymer, machining the conductive polymer layer to reveal the surface of the first microstructure, sealing the conductive polymer and surface of the first microstructure with a metal layer, and then forming the second level of structure on top of the first level structure. In such a manner, multiple layers of microstructure can be built up to allow complex cantilevered microstructures to be formed.

Microstructure synthesis control of biological polyhydroxyalkanoates with mass spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pederson, Erik Norman

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA's) are a class of biologically produced polymers, or plastic, that is synthesized by various microorganisms. PHA's are made from biorenewable resources and are fully biodegradable and biocompatible, making them an environmentally friendly green polymer. A method of incorporating polymer microstructure into the PHA synthesized in Ralstonia eutropha was developed. These microstructures were synthesized with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) as the polymer domains. To synthesize the PHB V copolymer, the additional presence of valerate was required. To control valerate substrate additions to the bioreactor, an off-gas mass spectrometry (MS) feedback control system was developed. Important process information including the cell physiology, growth kinetics, and product formation kinetics in the bioreactor was obtained with MS and used to control microstructure synthesis. The two polymer microstructures synthesized were core-shell granules and block copolymers. Block copolymers control the structure of the individual polymer chains while core-shell granules control the organization of many polymer chains. Both these microstructures result in properties unattainable by blending the two polymers together. The core-shell structures were synthesized with controlled domain thickness based on a developed model. Different block copolymers compositions were synthesized by varying the switching time of the substrate pulses responsible for block copolymer synthesis. The block copolymers were tested to determine their chemical properties and cast into films to determine the materials properties. These block copolymer films possessed new properties not achieved by copolymers or blends of the two polymers.

Microstructure analysis in the coupling region of fiber coupler with a novel electrical micro-heater

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shuai, Cijun; Gao, Chengde; Nie, Yi; Hu, Huanlong; Peng, Shuping

2011-12-01

Fused-tapered fiber coupler is widely used in optical-fiber communication, optical-fiber sensor and optical signal processing. Its optical performance is mainly determined by the glass properties in the coupling region. In this study, the effect of fused biconical taper (FBT) process on glass microstructure of fiber coupler was investigated by testing the microstructure of the cross-section of coupling region. The fiber coupler is fabricated with a novel home-designed electrical heater. Our experimental results show that the boundary between fiber core and fiber cladding become vague or indistinct after FBT under transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Ge 2+ in fiber core diffuses into fiber cladding. Crystallizations are observed in coupling region under scanning electron microscope (SEM) and microscopic infrared (IR), and the micro crystallizations become smaller with the drawing speed increasing. The wave number of fiberglass increases after FBT and it is in proportion to the drawing speed. The analysis of the microstructure in the coupling region explored the mechanism of the improvement in the performance of fiber couplers which can be used for the guidance of fabrication process.

Fuel level sensor based on polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings for aircraft applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marques, C. A. F.; Pospori, A.; Sáez-Rodríguez, D.; Nielsen, K.; Bang, O.; Webb, D. J.

2016-04-01

Safety in civil aviation is increasingly important due to the increase in flight routes and their more challenging nature. Like other important systems in aircraft, fuel level monitoring is always a technical challenge. The most frequently used level sensors in aircraft fuel systems are based on capacitive, ultrasonic and electric techniques, however they suffer from intrinsic safety concerns in explosive environments combined with issues relating to reliability and maintainability. In the last few years, optical fiber liquid level sensors (OFLLSs) have been reported to be safe and reliable and present many advantages for aircraft fuel measurement. Different OFLLSs have been developed, such as the pressure type, float type, optical radar type, TIR type and side-leaking type. Amongst these, many types of OFLLSs based on fiber gratings have been demonstrated. However, these sensors have not been commercialized because they exhibit some drawbacks: low sensitivity, limited range, long-term instability, or limited resolution. In addition, any sensors that involve direct interaction of the optical field with the fuel (either by launching light into the fuel tank or via the evanescent field of a fiber-guided mode) must be able to cope with the potential build up of contamination - often bacterial - on the optical surface. In this paper, a fuel level sensor based on microstructured polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings (mPOFBGs), including poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and TOPAS fibers, embedded in diaphragms is investigated in detail. The mPOFBGs are embedded in two different types of diaphragms and their performance is investigated with aviation fuel for the first time, in contrast to our previous works, where water was used. Our new system exhibits a high performance when compared with other previously published in the literature, making it a potentially useful tool for aircraft fuel monitoring.

Microfluidic active mixers employing ultra-high aspect-ratio rare-earth magnetic nano-composite polymer artificial cilia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahbar, Mona; Shannon, Lesley; Gray, Bonnie L.

2014-02-01

We present a new micromixer based on highly magnetic, flexible, high aspect-ratio, artificial cilia that are fabricated as individual micromixer elements or in arrays for improved mixing performance. These new cilia enable high efficiency, fast mixing in a microchamber, and are controlled by small electromagnetic fields. The artificial cilia are fabricated using a new micromolding process for nano-composite polymers. Cilia fibers with aspect-ratios as high as 8:0.13 demonstrate the fabrication technique's capability in creating ultra-high aspect-ratio microstructures. Cilia, which are realized in polydimethylsiloxane doped with rare-earth magnetic powder, are magnetized to produce permanent magnetic structures with bidirectional deflection capabilities, making them highly suitable as mixers controlled by electromagnetic fields. Due to the high magnetization level of the polarized nano-composite polymer, we are able to use miniature electromagnets providing relatively small magnetic fields of 1.1 to 7 mT to actuate the cilia microstructures over a very wide motion range. Mixing performances of a single cilium, as well as different arrays of multiple cilia ranging from 2 to 8 per reaction chamber, are characterized and compared with passive diffusion mixing performance. The mixer cilia are actuated at different amplitudes and frequencies to optimize mixing performance. We demonstrate that more than 85% of the total volume of the reaction chamber is fully mixed after 3.5 min using a single cilium mixer at 7 mT compared with only 20% of the total volume mixed with passive diffusion. The time to achieve over 85% mixing is further reduced to 70 s using an array of eight cilia microstructures. The novel microfabrication technique and use of rare-earth permanently-magnetizable nano-composite polymers in mixer applications has not been reported elsewhere by other researchers. We further demonstrate improved mixing over other cilia micromixers as enabled by the high aspect-ratio, high flexibility, and magnetic properties of our cilia micromixer elements.

Structural health monitoring system/method using electroactive polymer fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scott-Carnell, Lisa A. (Inventor); Siochi, Emilie J. (Inventor)

2013-01-01

A method for monitoring the structural health of a structure of interest by coupling one or more electroactive polymer fibers to the structure and monitoring the electroactive responses of the polymer fiber(s). Load changes that are experienced by the structure cause changes in the baseline responses of the polymer fiber(s). A system for monitoring the structural health of the structure is also provided.

Processing and characterization of natural cellulose fibers/thermoset polymer composites.

PubMed

Thakur, Vijay Kumar; Thakur, Manju Kumari

2014-08-30

Recently natural cellulose fibers from different biorenewable resources have attracted the considerable attraction of research community all around the globe owing to their unique intrinsic properties such as biodegradability, easy availability, environmental friendliness, flexibility, easy processing and impressive physico-mechanical properties. Natural cellulose fibers based materials are finding their applications in a number of fields ranging from automotive to biomedical. Natural cellulose fibers have been frequently used as the reinforcement component in polymers to add the specific properties in the final product. A variety of cellulose fibers based polymer composite materials have been developed using various synthetic strategies. Seeing the immense advantages of cellulose fibers, in this article we discuss the processing of biorenewable natural cellulose fibers; chemical functionalization of cellulose fibers; synthesis of polymer resins; different strategies to prepare cellulose based green polymer composites, and diverse applications of natural cellulose fibers/polymer composite materials. The article provides an in depth analysis and comprehensive knowledge to the beginners in the field of natural cellulose fibers/polymer composites. The prime aim of this review article is to demonstrate the recent development and emerging applications of natural cellulose fibers and their polymer materials. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fast-switching chiral nematic liquid-crystal mode with polymer-sustained twisted vertical alignment.

PubMed

Chang, Kai-Han; Joshi, Vinay; Chien, Liang-Chy

2017-04-01

We demonstrate a fast-switching liquid-crystal mode with polymer-sustained twisted vertical alignment. By optimizing the polymerization condition, a polymer microstructure with controlled orientation is produced. The polymer microstructure not only synergistically suppresses the optical bounce during field-induced homeotropic-twist transition but also shortens the response time significantly. Theoretical analyses validate that the ground state free energy density is modified by the aligning field of the polymer microstructure, which affects the driving voltage of the device. The outcomes of this paper will enable the development of fast-switching and achromatic electro-optical and photonic devices.

Fast-switching chiral nematic liquid-crystal mode with polymer-sustained twisted vertical alignment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Kai-Han; Joshi, Vinay; Chien, Liang-Chy

2017-04-01

We demonstrate a fast-switching liquid-crystal mode with polymer-sustained twisted vertical alignment. By optimizing the polymerization condition, a polymer microstructure with controlled orientation is produced. The polymer microstructure not only synergistically suppresses the optical bounce during field-induced homeotropic-twist transition but also shortens the response time significantly. Theoretical analyses validate that the ground state free energy density is modified by the aligning field of the polymer microstructure, which affects the driving voltage of the device. The outcomes of this paper will enable the development of fast-switching and achromatic electro-optical and photonic devices.

Effect of the mechanical deformation on the electrical properties of the polymer/CNT fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Hyun Woo; Sung, Bong June; Nano-Bio Computational Chemistry Laboratory Team

2014-03-01

We elucidate the effect of the mechanical deformation on the electrical properties of the polymer/CNT fiber. The conductive polymer fiber has drawn a great attention for its potential application to a stretchable electronics such as wearable devices and artificial muscles, etc. However, the electrical conductivity of the polymer-based stretchable electronics decreases significantly during the deformation, which may limit the applicability of the polymer/CNT fiber for the stretchable electronics. Moreover, its physical origin for the decrease in electrical conductivity has not been explained clearly. In this work, we employ a coarse-grained model for the polymer/CNT fiber, and we calculate the electric conductivity using global tunneling network (GTN) model. We show that the electric conductivity decreases during the elongation of the polymer/CNT fiber. We also find using critical path approximation (CPA) that the structure of the electrical network of the CNTs changes collectively during the elongation of the fiber, which is strongly responsible for the reduction of the electrical conductivity of the polymer/CNT fiber.

Alkali Halide Microstructured Optical Fiber for X-Ray Detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DeHaven, S. L.; Wincheski, R. A.; Albin, S.

2014-01-01

Microstructured optical fibers containing alkali halide scintillation materials of CsI(Na), CsI(Tl), and NaI(Tl) are presented. The scintillation materials are grown inside the microstructured fibers using a modified Bridgman-Stockbarger technique. The x-ray photon counts of these fibers, with and without an aluminum film coating are compared to the output of a collimated CdTe solid state detector over an energy range from 10 to 40 keV. The photon count results show significant variations in the fiber output based on the materials. The alkali halide fiber output can exceed that of the CdTe detector, dependent upon photon counter efficiency and fiber configuration. The results and associated materials difference are discussed.

System for diffusing light from an optical fiber or light guide

DOEpatents

Maitland, Duncan J [Pleasant Hill, CA; Wilson, Thomas S [San Leandro, CA; Benett, William J [Livermore, CA; Small, IV, Ward [

2008-06-10

A system for diffusing light from an optical fiber wherein the optical fiber is coupled to a light source, comprising forming a polymer element adapted to be connected to the optical fiber and incorporating a scattering element with the polymer element wherein the scattering element diffuses the light from the polymer element. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a polymer element operatively connected to the optical fiber and a scattering element operatively connected with the shape polymer element that diffuses the light from the polymer element.

The usage of carbon fiber reinforcement polymer and glass fiber reinforcement polymer for retrofit technology building

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tarigan, Johannes; Meka, Randi; Nursyamsi

2018-03-01

Fiber Reinforcement Polymer has been used as a material technology since the 1970s in Europe. Fiber Reinforcement Polymer can reinforce the structure externally, and used in many types of buildings like beams, columns, and slabs. It has high tensile strength. Fiber Reinforcement Polymer also has high rigidity and strength. The profile of Fiber Reinforcement Polymer is thin and light, installation is simple to conduct. One of Fiber Reinforcement Polymer material is Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Polymer and Glass Fiber Reinforcement Polymer. These materials is tested when it is installed on concrete cylinders, to obtain the comparison of compressive strength CFRP and GFRP. The dimension of concrete is diameter of 15 cm and height of 30 cm. It is amounted to 15 and divided into three groups. The test is performed until it collapsed to obtain maximum load. The results of research using CFRP and GFRP have shown the significant enhancement in compressive strength. CFRP can increase the compressive strength of 26.89%, and GFRP of 14.89%. For the comparison of two materials, CFRP is more strengthening than GFRP regarding increasing compressive strength. The usage of CFRP and GFRP can increase the loading capacity.

Dynamic fracture toughness of cellulose-fiber-reinforced polypropylene : preliminary investigation of microstructural effects

Treesearch

Craig M. Clemons; Daniel F. Caulfield; A. Jeffrey Giacomin

1999-10-01

In this study, the microstructure of injection-molded polypropylene reinforced with cellulose fiber was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy of the fracture surfaces and X-ray diffraction were used to investigate fiber orientation. The polypropylene matrix was removed by solvent extraction, and the lengths of the residual fibers were optically determined. Fiber...

Mechanical Behavior of a Hi-Nicalon(tm)/SiC Composite Having a Polycarbosilane Derived Matrix

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hurwitz, Frances I.; Calomino, Anthony M.; McCue, Terry R.

1999-01-01

Polymer infiltration of a rigidized preform, followed by pyrolysis to convert the polymer to a ceramic, potentially offers a lower cost alternative to CVD. It also offers more moderate temperature requirements than melt infiltration approaches, which should minimize potential fiber damage during processing. However, polymer infiltration and pyrolysis results in a more microcracked matrix. Preliminary mechanical property characterization, including elevated temperature (1204 C) tensile, 500 h stress rupture behavior and low cycle fatigue, was conducted on Hi-Nicalon (TM)/Si-C-(O) composites having a dual layer BN/SiC interface and a matrix derived by impregnation and pyrolysis of allylhydridopolycarbosilane (AHPCS). Microstructural evaluation of failure surfaces and of polished transverse and longitudinal cross sections of the failed specimens was used to identify predominant failure mechanisms. In stress rupture testing at 1093 C, the failure was interface dominated, while at 1204 C in both stress rupture and two hour hold/fatigue tests failure was matrix dominated, resulting in specimen delamination.

Suspended core subwavelength fibers: towards practical designs for low-loss terahertz guidance.

PubMed

Rozé, Mathieu; Ung, Bora; Mazhorova, Anna; Walther, Markus; Skorobogatiy, Maksim

2011-05-09

In this work we report two designs of subwavelength fibers packaged for practical terahertz wave guiding. We describe fabrication, modeling and characterization of microstructured polymer fibers featuring a subwavelength-size core suspended in the middle of a large porous outer cladding. This design allows convenient handling of the subwavelength fibers without distorting their modal profile. Additionally, the air-tight porous cladding serves as a natural enclosure for the fiber core, thus avoiding the need for a bulky external enclosure for humidity-purged atmosphere. Fibers of 5 mm and 3 mm in outer diameters with a 150 µm suspended solid core and a 900 µm suspended porous core respectively, were obtained by utilizing a combination of drilling and stacking techniques. Characterization of the fiber optical properties and the subwavelength imaging of the guided modes were performed using a terahertz near-field microscopy setup. Near-field imaging of the modal profiles at the fiber output confirmed the effectively single-mode behavior of such waveguides. The suspended core fibers exhibit transmission from 0.10 THz to 0.27 THz (larger core), and from 0.25 THz to 0.51 THz (smaller core). Due to the large fraction of power that is guided in the holey cladding, fiber propagation losses as low as 0.02 cm(-1) are demonstrated specifically for the small core fiber. Low-loss guidance combined with the core isolated from environmental perturbations make these all-dielectric fibers suitable for practical terahertz imaging and sensing applications. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Quantum Dots Microstructured Optical Fiber for X-Ray Detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DeHaven, S. L.; Williams, P. A.; Burke, E. R.

2015-01-01

A novel concept for the detection of x-rays with microstructured optical fibers containing quantum dots scintillation material comprised of zinc sulfide nanocrystals doped with magnesium sulfide is presented. These quantum dots are applied inside the microstructured optical fibers using capillary action. The x-ray photon counts of these fibers are compared to the output of a collimated CdTe solid state detector over an energy range from 10 to 40 keV. The results of the fiber light output and associated effects of an acrylate coating and the quantum dots application technique are discussed.

Modification of the Interfacial Interaction between Carbon Fiber and Epoxy with Carbon Hybrid Materials

PubMed Central

Yu, Kejing; Wang, Menglei; Wu, Junqing; Qian, Kun; Sun, Jie; Lu, Xuefeng

2016-01-01

The mechanical properties of the hybrid materials and epoxy and carbon fiber (CF) composites were improved significantly as compared to the CF composites made from unmodified epoxy. The reasons could be attributed to the strong interfacial interaction between the CF and the epoxy composites for the existence of carbon nanomaterials. The microstructure and dispersion of carbon nanomaterials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and optical microscopy (OM). The results showed that the dispersion of the hybrid materials in the polymer was superior to other carbon nanomaterials. The high viscosity and shear stress characterized by a rheometer and the high interfacial friction and damping behavior characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) indicated that the strong interfacial interaction was greatly improved between fibers and epoxy composites. Remarkably, the tensile tests presented that the CF composites with hybrid materials and epoxy composites have a better reinforcing and toughening effect on CF, which further verified the strong interfacial interaction between epoxy and CF for special structural hybrid materials. PMID:28335217

Microstructure Imaging of Crossing (MIX) White Matter Fibers from diffusion MRI

PubMed Central

Farooq, Hamza; Xu, Junqian; Nam, Jung Who; Keefe, Daniel F.; Yacoub, Essa; Georgiou, Tryphon; Lenglet, Christophe

2016-01-01

Diffusion MRI (dMRI) reveals microstructural features of the brain white matter by quantifying the anisotropic diffusion of water molecules within axonal bundles. Yet, identifying features such as axonal orientation dispersion, density, diameter, etc., in complex white matter fiber configurations (e.g. crossings) has proved challenging. Besides optimized data acquisition and advanced biophysical models, computational procedures to fit such models to the data are critical. However, these procedures have been largely overlooked by the dMRI microstructure community and new, more versatile, approaches are needed to solve complex biophysical model fitting problems. Existing methods are limited to models assuming single fiber orientation, relevant to limited brain areas like the corpus callosum, or multiple orientations but without the ability to extract detailed microstructural features. Here, we introduce a new and versatile optimization technique (MIX), which enables microstructure imaging of crossing white matter fibers. We provide a MATLAB implementation of MIX, and demonstrate its applicability to general microstructure models in fiber crossings using synthetic as well as ex-vivo and in-vivo brain data. PMID:27982056

Evaluation of agave fiber delignification by means of microscopy techniques and image analysis.

PubMed

Hernández-Hernández, Hilda M; Chanona-Pérez, Jorge J; Calderón-Domínguez, Georgina; Perea-Flores, María J; Mendoza-Pérez, Jorge A; Vega, Alberto; Ligero, Pablo; Palacios-González, Eduardo; Farrera-Rebollo, Reynold R

2014-10-01

Recently, the use of different types of natural fibers to produce paper and textiles from agave plants has been proposed. Agave atrovirens can be a good source of cellulose and lignin; nevertheless, the microstructural changes that happen during delignification have scarcely been studied. The aim of this work was to study the microstructural changes that occur during the delignification of agave fibers by means of microscopy techniques and image analysis. The fibers of A. atrovirens were obtained from leaves using convective drying, milling, and sieving. Fibers were processed using the Acetosolv pulping method at different concentrations of acetic acid; increasing acid concentration promoted higher levels of delignification, structural damage, and the breakdown of fiber clumps. Delignification followed by spectrometric analysis and microstructural studies were carried out by light, confocal laser scanning and scanning electron microscopy and showed that the delignification process follows three stages: initial, bulk, and residual. Microscopy techniques and image analysis were efficient tools for microstructural characterization during delignification of agave fibers, allowing quantitative evaluation of the process and the development of linear prediction models. The data obtained integrated numerical and microstructural information that could be valuable for the study of pulping of lignocellulosic materials.

Alkali halide microstructured optical fiber for X-ray detection

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

DeHaven, S. L., E-mail: stanton.l.dehaven@nasa.gov, E-mail: russel.a.wincheski@nasa.gov; Wincheski, R. A., E-mail: stanton.l.dehaven@nasa.gov, E-mail: russel.a.wincheski@nasa.gov; Albin, S., E-mail: salbin@nsu.edu

Microstructured optical fibers containing alkali halide scintillation materials of CsI(Na), CsI(Tl), and NaI(Tl) are presented. The scintillation materials are grown inside the microstructured fibers using a modified Bridgman-Stockbarger technique. The x-ray photon counts of these fibers, with and without an aluminum film coating are compared to the output of a collimated CdTe solid state detector over an energy range from 10 to 40 keV. The photon count results show significant variations in the fiber output based on the materials. The alkali halide fiber output can exceed that of the CdTe detector, dependent upon photon counter efficiency and fiber configuration. Themore » results and associated materials difference are discussed.« less

Self-healing in single and multiple fiber(s) reinforced polymer composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woldesenbet, E.

2010-06-01

You Polymer composites have been attractive medium to introduce the autonomic healing concept into modern day engineering materials. To date, there has been significant research in self-healing polymeric materials including several studies specifically in fiber reinforced polymers. Even though several methods have been suggested in autonomic healing materials, the concept of repair by bleeding of enclosed functional agents has garnered wide attention by the scientific community. A self-healing fiber reinforced polymer composite has been developed. Tensile tests are carried out on specimens that are fabricated by using the following components: hollow and solid glass fibers, healing agent, catalysts, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and a polymer resin matrix. The test results have demonstrated that single fiber polymer composites and multiple fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites with healing agents and catalysts have provided 90.7% and 76.55% restoration of the original tensile strength, respectively. Incorporation of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the healing medium of the single fiber polymer composite has provided additional efficiency. Healing is found to be localized, allowing multiple healing in the presence of several cracks.

Fabrication of locally micro-structured fiber Bragg gratings by fs-laser machining

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dutz, Franz J.; Stephan, Valentin; Marchi, Gabriele; Koch, Alexander W.; Roths, Johannes; Huber, Heinz P.

2018-06-01

Here, we describe a method for producing locally micro-structured fiber Bragg gratings (LMFGB) by fs-laser machining. This technique enables the precise and reproducible ablation of cladding material to create circumferential grooves inside the claddings of optical fibers. From initial ablation experiments we acquired optimized process parameters. The fabricated grooves were located in the middle of uniform type I fiber Bragg gratings. LMFBGs with four different groove widths of 48, 85, 135 and 205 μ { {m}} were produced. The grooves exhibited constant depths of about 30 μ {m} and steep sidewall angles. With the combination of micro-structures and fiber Bragg gratings, fiber optic sensor elements with enhanced functionalities can be achieved.

Effect of fabric structure and polymer matrix on flexural strength, interlaminar shear stress, and energy dissipation of glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

We report the effect of glass fiber structure and the epoxy polymer system on the flexural strength, interlaminar shear stress (ILSS), and energy absorption properties of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites. Four different GFRP composites were fabricated from two glass fiber textiles of...

Insulation Materials Comprising Fibers Having a Partially Cured Polymer Coating Thereon, Articles Including Such Insulation Materials, and Methods of Forming Such Materials and Articles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morgan, Richard E. (Inventor); Meeks, Craig L. (Inventor)

2017-01-01

Insulation materials have a coating of a partially cured polymer on a plurality of fibers, and the plurality of coated fibers in a cross-linked polymeric matrix. Insulation may be formed by applying a preceramic polymer to a plurality of fibers, heating the preceramic polymer to form a partially cured polymer over at least portions of the plurality of fibers, disposing the plurality of fibers in a polymeric material, and curing the polymeric material. A rocket motor may be formed by disposing a plurality of coated fibers in an insulation precursor, curing the insulation precursor to form an insulation material without sintering the partially cured polymer, and providing an energetic material over the polymeric material. An article includes an insulation material over at least one surface.

Fiber-based adsorbents having high adsorption capacities for recovering dissolved metals and methods thereof

DOEpatents

Janke, Christopher J.; Dai, Sheng; Oyola, Yatsandra

2016-09-06

A fiber-based adsorbent and a related method of manufacture are provided. The fiber-based adsorbent includes polymer fibers with grafted side chains and an increased surface area per unit weight over known fibers to increase the adsorption of dissolved metals, for example uranium, from aqueous solutions. The polymer fibers include a circular morphology in some embodiments, having a mean diameter of less than 15 microns, optionally less than about 1 micron. In other embodiments, the polymer fibers include a non-circular morphology, optionally defining multiple gear-shaped, winged-shaped or lobe-shaped projections along the length of the polymer fibers. A method for forming the fiber-based adsorbents includes irradiating high surface area polymer fibers, grafting with polymerizable reactive monomers, reacting the grafted fibers with hydroxylamine, and conditioning with an alkaline solution. High surface area fiber-based adsorbents formed according to the present method demonstrated a significantly improved uranium adsorption capacity per unit weight over existing adsorbents.

Fiber-based adsorbents having high adsorption capacities for recovering dissolved metals and methods thereof

DOEpatents

Janke, Christopher J; Dai, Sheng; Oyola, Yatsandra

2014-05-13

A fiber-based adsorbent and a related method of manufacture are provided. The fiber-based adsorbent includes polymer fibers with grafted side chains and an increased surface area per unit weight over known fibers to increase the adsorption of dissolved metals, for example uranium, from aqueous solutions. The polymer fibers include a circular morphology in some embodiments, having a mean diameter of less than 15 microns, optionally less than about 1 micron. In other embodiments, the polymer fibers include a non-circular morphology, optionally defining multiple gear-shaped, winged-shaped or lobe-shaped projections along the length of the polymer fibers. A method for forming the fiber-based adsorbents includes irradiating high surface area polymer fibers, grafting with polymerizable reactive monomers, reacting the grafted fibers with hydroxylamine, and conditioning with an alkaline solution. High surface area fiber-based adsorbents formed according to the present method demonstrated a significantly improved uranium adsorption capacity per unit weight over existing adsorbents.

Tunable optofluidic microring laser based on a tapered hollow core microstructured optical fiber.

PubMed

Li, Zhi-Li; Zhou, Wen-Yuan; Luo, Ming-Ming; Liu, Yan-Ge; Tian, Jian-Guo

2015-04-20

A tunable optofluidic microring dye laser within a tapered hollow core microstructured optical fiber was demonstrated. The fiber core was filled with a microfluidic gain medium plug and axially pumped by a nanosecond pulse laser at 532 nm. Strong radial emission and low-threshold lasing (16 nJ/pulse) were achieved. Lasing was achieved around the surface of the microfluidic plug. Laser emission was tuned by changing the liquid surface location along the tapered fiber. The possibility of developing a tunable laser within the tapered simplified hollow core microstructured optical fiber presents opportunities for developing liquid surface position sensors and biomedical analysis.

Tilted Fiber Bragg Grating photowritten in microstructured optical fiber for improved refractive index measurement.

PubMed

Phan Huy, Minh Châu; Laffont, Guillaume; Dewynter, Véronique; Ferdinand, Pierre; Labonté, Laurent; Pagnoux, Dominique; Roy, Philippe; Blanc, Wilfried; Dussardier, Bernard

2006-10-30

We report what we believe to be the first Tilted short-period Fiber Bragg Grating photowritten in a microstructured optical fiber for refractive index measurement. We investigate the spectral sensitivity of Tilted Fiber Bragg Grating to refractive index liquid inserted into the holes of a multimode microstructured fiber. We measure the wavelength shift of the first four modes experimentally observed when calibrated oils are inserted into the fiber holes, and thus we determine the refractive index resolution for each of these modes. Moreover, a cross comparison between experimental and simulation results of a modal analysis is performed. Two simulation tools are used, respectively based on the localized functions method and on a finite element method. All results are in very good agreement.

Enhanced Ultrafast Nonlinear Optics With Microstructure Fibers And Photonic Crystals

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-07-01

NANOHOLES FREQUENCY-TUNABLE ANTI-STOKES LINE EMISSION BY EIGENMODES OF A BIREFRINGENT MICROSTRUCTURE FIBER GENERATION OF FEMTOSECOND ANTI-STOKES PULSES...laser technologies, and ultrafast photonics. ANTI-STOKES GENERATION IN GUIDED MODES OF PHOTONIC-CRYSTAL FIBERS MODIFIED WITH AN ARRAY OF NANOHOLES

Microstructured Optical Fiber for X-ray Detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DeHaven, Stanton L.

2009-01-01

A novel scintillating optical fiber is presented using a composite micro-structured quartz optical fiber. Scintillating materials are introduced into the multiple inclusions of the fiber. This creates a composite optical fiber having quartz as a cladding with an organic scintillating material core. X-ray detection using these fibers is compared to a collimated cadmium telluride (CdTe) detector over an energy range from 10 to 40 keV. Results show a good correlation between the fiber count rate trend and that of the CdTe detector.

The surface properties of carbon fibers and their adhesion to organic polymers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bascom, W. D.; Drzal, L. T.

1987-01-01

The state of knowledge of the surface properties of carbon fibers is reviewed, with emphasis on fiber/matrix adhesion in carbon fiber reinforced plastics. Subjects treated include carbon fiber structure and chemistry, techniques for the study of the fiber surface, polymer/fiber bond strength and its measurement, variations in polymer properties in the interphase, and the influence of fiber matrix adhesion on composite mechanical properties. Critical issues are summarized and search recommendations are made.

Control of fibroin conformation: Toward the development of a biomimetic spinning process for silk fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carlson, Kimberly Ann Trabbic

1999-09-01

Nature has shown that silks are sophisticated structural materials with remarkable mechanical properties; however, they are produced using far milder conditions than high-performance synthetic polymer fibers. While recent advances in molecular biotechnology have taken great strides toward the production of proteinaceous biopolymers, little is known about the processing conditions needed to spin fibers with the correct microstructures and mechanical properties. It is the purpose of this research to gain a fundamental understanding about how processing conditions affect the molecular structure of a model protein biopolymer, Bombyx mori silkworm fibroin, the structural protein of cocoon silk. Fibers of B. mori fibroin were wet spun from 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) into a methanol coagulation bath. X-ray fiber diffraction and quantitative Raman spectroscopy were used to determine that both naturally- and synthetically-spun fibers contain a high degree of beta-sheet (~50%). Fibers subjected to a post-spinning draw exhibited a preferential molecular alignment parallel to the fiber axis resulting in increased strength, stiffness, and extensibility. Fibers with microstructures and mechanical properties most similar to those of naturally-spun fibers were reproduced in synthetically-spun fibers with a draw ratio of 3.5. The transformation of helical fibroin in HFIP to beta-sheet sheet fibroin in synthetically-spun fibers was determined to be caused by the methanol coagulation bath. The kinetics beta-sheet fibroin crystallization from aqueous solution was investigated by monitoring the sigmoidal progression of gel formation using turbidity and Raman spectroscopy. Gelation kinetics were evaluated by measuring lag time, maximum gelation rate, and optical density to determine the effects of protein concentration, detergent concentration (nucleating agent), headgroup chemistry, ionic strength, pH, and temperature. An optimal molar ratio between SDS and fibroin (100:1) was found to produce gels with minimum lag times and maximum gelation rates. Fluorescence spectroscopy and a two-step denaturation and aggregation model for gelation were used to explore the mechanism of fibroin gelation. Conditions that lead to fibroin expansion (dilute fibroin, low ionic strength, highly charged fibroin, or increased temperature) result in decreased lag times. The results presented in this dissertation should aid in developing biomimetic spinning techniques for proteinaceous, biopolymers through the use of amphiphilic sheet nucleating agents.

Fabrication and Characterization of Conductive Conjugated Polymer-Coated Antheraea mylitta Silk Fibroin Fibers for Biomedical Applications.

PubMed

Gh, Darshan; Kong, Dexu; Gautrot, Julien; Vootla, Shyam Kumar

2017-07-01

Conductive polymers are interesting materials for a number of biological and medical applications requiring electrical stimulation of cells or tissues. Highly conductive polymers (polypyrrole and polyaniline)/Antheraea mylitta silk fibroin coated fibers are fabricated successfully by in situ polymerization without any modification of the native silk fibroin. Coated fibers characterized by scanning electron microscopy confirm the silk fiber surface is covered by conductive polymers. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals preserved thermal stability of silk fiber after coating process. X-ray diffraction of degummed fiber diffraction peaks at around 2θ = 20.4 and 16.5 confirms the preservation of the β-sheet structure typical of degummed silk II fibers. This phenomenon implies that both polypyrrole and polyaniline chains form interactions with peptide linkages in degummed fiber macromolecules, without significantly disrupting protein assembly. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of coated fibers indicates hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions exist between silk fibroin macromolecules and conductive polymers. Resulting fibers display good conductive properties compared to corresponding conjugated polymers. In vitro analysis (live/dead assay) of the behavior of human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaTs) on coated fibers demonstrates improved cell-adhesive properties and viability after polymers coating. Hence, polypyrrole- and polyaniline-coated A. mylitta silk fibers are suitable for application in cell culture and for tissue engineering, where electrical conduction properties are required. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Reactive processing and mechanical properties of polymer derived silicon nitride matrix composites and their use in coating and joining ceramics and ceramic matrix composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stackpoole, Margaret Mary

Use of preceramic polymers offers many advantages over conventional ceramic processing routes. Advantages include being able to plastically form the part, form a pyrolized ceramic material at lower temperatures and form high purity microstructures which are tailorable depending on property requirements. To date preceramic polymers are mostly utilized in the production of low dimensional products such as fibers since loss of volatiles during pyrolysis leads to porosity and large shrinkage (in excess of 30%). These problems have been partially solved by use of active fillers (e.g. Ti, Cr, B). The reactive filler converts to a ceramic material with a volume expansion and this increases the density and reduces shrinkage and porosity. The expansion of the reactive filler thus compensates for the polymer shrinkage if the appropriate volume fraction of filler is present in a reactive atmosphere (e.g. N2 or NH3). This approach has resulted in structural composites with limited success. The present research investigates the possibility of using filled preceramic polymers to form net shaped ceramic composite materials and to investigate the use of these unique composite materials to join and coat ceramics and ceramic composites. The initial research focused on phase and microstructural development of bulk composites from the filled polymer/ceramic systems. A processing technique was developed to insure consistency between different samples and the most promising filler/polymer choices for this application have been determined. The processing temperatures and atmospheres have also been optimized. The work covers processing and characterization of bulk composites, joints and coatings. With careful control of processing near net shape bulk composites were fabricated. Both ambient and high temperature strength and fracture toughness was obtained for these composite systems. The potential of using reactively filled preceramic polymers to process joints and coatings was also investigated. A critical thickness below which crack free joints/coatings could be processed was determined. Finally, mechanical properties of the joints and coatings at ambient and elevated temperatures (including oxidation studies) have been evaluated. The interfacial fracture behavior of the joints and coatings was also evaluated.

Novel thermal annealing methodology for permanent tuning polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings to longer wavelengths.

PubMed

Pospori, A; Marques, C A F; Sagias, G; Lamela-Rivera, H; Webb, D J

2018-01-22

The Bragg wavelength of a polymer optical fiber Bragg grating can be permanently shifted by utilizing the thermal annealing method. In all the reported fiber annealing cases, the authors were able to tune the Bragg wavelength only to shorter wavelengths, since the polymer fiber shrinks in length during the annealing process. This article demonstrates a novel thermal annealing methodology for permanently tuning polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings to any desirable spectral position, including longer wavelengths. Stretching the polymer optical fiber during the annealing process, the period of Bragg grating, which is directly related with the Bragg wavelength, can become permanently longer. The methodology presented in this article can be used to multiplex polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings at any desirable spectral position utilizing only one phase-mask for their photo-inscription, reducing thus their fabrication cost in an industrial setting.

High aspect ratio template and method for producing same for central and peripheral nerve repair

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sakamoto, Jeff S. (Inventor); Chan, Christina (Inventor); Tuszynski, Mark Henry (Inventor); Mehrotra, Sumit (Inventor); Gros, Thomas (Inventor)

2011-01-01

Millimeter to nano-scale structures manufactured using a multi-component polymer fiber matrix are disclosed. The use of dissimilar polymers allows the selective dissolution of the polymers at various stages of the manufacturing process. In one application, biocompatible matrixes may be formed with long pore length and small pore size. The manufacturing process begins with a first polymer fiber arranged in a matrix formed by a second polymer fiber. End caps may be attached to provide structural support and the polymer fiber matrix selectively dissolved away leaving only the long polymer fibers. These may be exposed to another product, such as a biocompatible gel to form a biocompatible matrix. The polymer fibers may then be selectively dissolved leaving only a biocompatible gel scaffold with the pores formed by the dissolved polymer fibers. The scaffolds may be used in, among other applications, the repair of central and peripheral nerves. Scaffolds for the repair of peripheral nerves may include a reservoir for the sustained release of nerve growth factor. The scaffolds may also include a multifunctional polyelectrolyte layer for the sustained release of nerve growth factor and enhance biocompatibility.

The life times of polymer composites in construction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meier, Urs

2016-05-01

This paper discusses examples that prove the long-term reliability of Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) under extreme loading conditions and outdoor weathering. Results of polymer/steel-composite anchorage systems, Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) plates and shells, GFRP box girders, Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) post-tensioning tendons and CFRP stays are going to be presented.

CVD of silicon carbide on structural fibers - Microstructure and composition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Veitch, Lisa C.; Terepka, Francis M.; Gokoglu, Suleyman A.

1992-01-01

Structural fibers are currently being considered as reinforcements for intermetallic and ceramic materials. Some of these fibers, however, are easily degraded in a high temperature oxidative environment. Therefore, coatings are needed to protect the fibers from environmental attack. Silicon carbide (SiC) was chemically vapor deposited (CVD) on Textron's SCS6 fibers. Fiber temperatures ranging from 1350 to 1500 C were studied. Silane (SiH4) and propane (C2H8) were used for the source gases and different concentrations of these source gases were studied. Deposition rates were determined for each group of fibers at different temperatures. Less variation in deposition rates were observed for the dilute source gas experiments than the concentrated source gas experiments. A careful analysis was performed on the stoichiometry of the CVD SiC coating using electron microprobe. Microstructures for the different conditions were compared. At 1350 C, the microstructures were similar; however, at higher temperatures, the microstructure for the more concentrated source gas group were porous and columnar in comparison to the cross sections taken from the same area for the dilute source gas group.

CVD of silicon carbide on structural fibers: Microstructure and composition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Veitch, Lisa C.; Terepka, Francis M.; Gokoglu, Suleyman A.

1992-01-01

Structural fibers are currently being considered as reinforcements for intermetallic and ceramic materials. Some of these fibers, however, are easily degraded in a high temperature oxidative environment. Therefore, coatings are needed to protect the fibers from environmental attack. Silicon carbide (SiC) was chemically vapor deposited (CVD) on Textron's SCS6 fibers. Fiber temperatures ranging from 1350 to 1500 C were studied. Silane (SiH4) and propane (C2H8) were used for the source gases and different concentrations of these source gases were studied. Deposition rates were determined for each group of fibers at different temperatures. Less variation in deposition rates were observed for the dilute source gas experiments than the concentrated source gas experiments. A careful analysis was performed on the stoichiometry of the CVD SiC coating using electron microprobe. Microstructures for the different conditions were compared. At 1350 C, the microstructures were similar; however, at higher temperatures, the microstructure for the more concentrated source gas group were porous and columnar in comparison to the cross sections taken from the same area for the dilute source gas group.

Strength Development of High-Strength Ductile Concrete Incorporating Metakaolin and PVA Fibers

PubMed Central

Nuruddin, Muhammad Fadhil; Shafiq, Nasir

2014-01-01

The mechanical properties of high-strength ductile concrete (HSDC) have been investigated using Metakaolin (MK) as the cement replacing material and PVA fibers. Total twenty-seven (27) mixes of concrete have been examined with varying content of MK and PVA fibers. It has been found that the coarser type PVA fibers provide strengths competitive to control or higher than control. Concrete with coarser type PVA fibers has also refined microstructure, but the microstructure has been undergone with the increase in aspect ratio of fibers. The microstructure of concrete with MK has also more refined and packing of material is much better with MK. PVA fibers not only give higher stiffness but also showed the deflection hardening response. Toughness Index of HSDC reflects the improvement in flexural toughness over the plain concrete and the maximum toughness indices have been observed with 10% MK and 2% volume fraction of PVA fibers. PMID:24707202

Strength development of high-strength ductile concrete incorporating Metakaolin and PVA fibers.

PubMed

Nuruddin, Muhammad Fadhil; Khan, Sadaqat Ullah; Shafiq, Nasir; Ayub, Tehmina

2014-01-01

The mechanical properties of high-strength ductile concrete (HSDC) have been investigated using Metakaolin (MK) as the cement replacing material and PVA fibers. Total twenty-seven (27) mixes of concrete have been examined with varying content of MK and PVA fibers. It has been found that the coarser type PVA fibers provide strengths competitive to control or higher than control. Concrete with coarser type PVA fibers has also refined microstructure, but the microstructure has been undergone with the increase in aspect ratio of fibers. The microstructure of concrete with MK has also more refined and packing of material is much better with MK. PVA fibers not only give higher stiffness but also showed the deflection hardening response. Toughness Index of HSDC reflects the improvement in flexural toughness over the plain concrete and the maximum toughness indices have been observed with 10% MK and 2% volume fraction of PVA fibers.

Polymer based nanocomposites with nanofibers and exfoliated clay

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meador, Michael A.; Reneker, Darrell H.

2005-01-01

Polymer solutions, containing clay sheets, were electrospun into nanofibers and microfibers that contained clay sheets inside. Controllable removal of polymer by plasma etching from the surface of fibers revealed the arrangement of clay. The shape, flexibility, size distribution and arrangement of clay sheets were observed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The clay sheets were partially aligned in big fibers with normal direction of clay sheets perpendicular to fiber axis. Crumpling of clay sheets inside fibers was observed when the fiber diameter was comparable to the lateral size of clay sheets. Single sheets of clay were observed both by catching clay sheets dispersed in water with electrospun nanofiber mats and by the deliberate removal of most of the polymer in the fibers. Thin, flexible gas barrier films, that are reasonably strong, were assembled from clay sheets and polymer nanofibers. Structure of composite films was characterized with scanning electron microscopy. Continuous film of clay sheets were physically attached to the surface of fiber mats. Spincoating film of polymer and clay sheets was reinforced by electrospun fiber scaffold. Certain alignment of clay sheets was observed in the vicinity of fibers.

Exposed-core chalcogenide microstructured optical fibers for chemical sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Troles, Johann; Toupin, Perrine; Brilland, Laurent; Boussard-Plédel, Catherine; Bureau, Bruno; Cui, Shuo; Mechin, David; Adam, Jean-Luc

2013-05-01

Chemical bonds of most of the molecules vibrate at a frequency corresponding to the near or mid infrared field. It is thus of a great interest to develop sensitive and portable devices for the detection of specific chemicals and biomolecules for various applications in health, the environment, national security and so on. Optical fibers define practical sensing tools. Chalcogenide glasses are known for their transparency in the infrared optical range and their ability to be drawn as fibers. They are consequently good candidates to be used in biological/chemical sensing. For that matter, in the past decade, chalcogenide glass fibers have been successfully implemented in evanescent wave spectroscopy experiments, for the detection of bio-chemical species in various fields of applications including microbiology and medicine, water pollution and CO2 detection. Different types of fiber can be used: single index fibers or microstructured fibers. Besides, in recent years a new configuration of microstructured fibers has been developed: microstructured exposed-core fibers. This design consists of an optical fiber with a suspended micron-scale core that is partially exposed to the external environment. This configuration has been chosen to elaborate, using the molding method, a chalcogenide fiber for chemical species detection. The sensitivity of this fiber to detect molecules such as propan-2-ol and acetone has been compared with those of single index fibers. Although evanescent wave absorption is inversely proportional to the fiber diameter, the result shows that an exposed-core fiber is much more sensitive than a single index fiber having a twice smaller external diameter.

Using in-situ polymerization of conductive polymers to enhance the electrical properties of solution-processed carbon nanotube films and fibers.

PubMed

Allen, Ranulfo; Pan, Lijia; Fuller, Gerald G; Bao, Zhenan

2014-07-09

Single-walled carbon nanotubes/polymer composites typically have limited conductivity due to a low concentration of nanotubes and the insulating nature of the polymers used. Here we combined a method to align carbon nanotubes with in-situ polymerization of conductive polymer to form composite films and fibers. Use of the conducting polymer raised the conductivity of the films by 2 orders of magnitude. On the other hand, CNT fiber formation was made possible with in-situ polymerization to provide more mechanical support to the CNTs from the formed conducting polymer. The carbon nanotube/conductive polymer composite films and fibers had conductivities of 3300 and 170 S/cm, respectively. The relatively high conductivities were attributed to the polymerization process, which doped both the SWNTs and the polymer. In-situ polymerization can be a promising solution-processable method to enhance the conductivity of carbon nanotube films and fibers.

Design of high strength polymer metal interfaces by laser microstructured surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steinert, P.; Dittes, A.; Schimmelpfennig, R.; Scharf, I.; Lampke, T.; Schubert, A.

2018-06-01

In the areas of automotive, aeronautics and civil structures, lightweight construction is a current and a future need. Thus, multi material design has rapidly grown in importance, especially hybrid materials based on fiber reinforced plastics and aluminum offer great potential. Therefore, mechanical interlocking is a convenient way of designing the interface. Laser structuring is already used to generate a variety of surface topographies leading to high bond strengths. This paper investigates different laser structures aiming on highest joint strengths for aluminum and glass fiber reinforced polyamide 6 interfaces. Self-organizing pin structures comprised by additional micro/nano features as well as drilled hole structures, both ranging on the micrometer range, are compared to corundum blasting as a standard method for surface conditioning. For the presented surface structures, thermal joining and ultrasonic assisted joining are regarded towards their potential for an optimum joint design.

Lowering the Percolation Threshold of Conductive Composites Using Particulate Polymer Microstructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grunlan, Jaime; Gerberich, William; Francis, Lorraine

2000-03-01

In an effort to lower the percolation threshold of carbon black-filled polymer composites, various polymer microstructures were examined. Composites were prepared using polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) latex, PVAc water-dispersible powder and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) solution as the matrix starting material. Composites prepared using the particulate microstructures showed a significantly lowered percolation threshold relative to an equivalently prepared composite using the PVP solution. The PVAc latex-based composites has a percolation threshold of 3 volthe PVP solution-based composite yielded a percolation threshold near 15 voloccupied by polymer particles, the particulate matrix-based composites create a segregated CB network at low filler concentration.

Application of In Situ Fiberization for fabrication of improved strain isolation pads and graphite epoxy composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rosser, R. W.; Seibold, R. W.; Basiulis, D. I.

1982-01-01

The feasibility of applying the in situ fiberization process to the fabrication of strain isolation pads (SIP) for the Space Shuttle and to the fabrication of graphite-epoxy composites was evaluated. The ISF process involves the formation of interconnected polymer fiber networks by agitation of dilute polymer solutions under controlled conditions. High temperature polymers suitable for SIP use were fiberized and a successful fiberization of polychloro trifluoroethylene, a relatively high melting polymer, was achieved. Attempts to fiberize polymers with greater thermal stability were unsuccessful, apparently due to characteristics caused by the presence of aromaticity in the backbone of such materials. Graphite-epoxy composites were fabricated by interconnecting two dimensional arrays of graphite fiber with polypropylene IS fibers with subsequent epoxy resin impregnation. Mechanical property tests were performed on laminated panels of this material to evaluate intralaminar and interlaminar shear strength, and thus fracture toughness. Test results were generally unpromising.

Morphological, mechanical properties and biodegradability of biocomposite thermoplastic starch and polycaprolactone reinforced with sisal fibers

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The incorporation of fibers as reinforcements in polymer composites has increased due to their renewability, low cost and biodegradability. In this study, sisal fibers were added to a polymer matrix of thermoplastic starch and polycaprolactone, both biodegradable polymers. Sisal fibers (5% and 10%) ...

Evaluation of Shear Tie Connectors for Use in Insulated Concrete Sandwich Panels

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-12-01

stainless steel, galvanized carbon steel, carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP), glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP), and basalt fiber reinforced polymer...Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) Delta Tie produced by Dayton Superior; • (B) THERMOMASS® composite GFRP pins; • (C) THERMOMASS® non-composite...GFRP pins; • (D) Altus Group CFRP Grid; • (E) Universal Building products GFRP Teplo Tie; and • (F) Universal Building products Basalt FRP

Large-scale and highly efficient synthesis of micro- and nano-fibers with controlled fiber morphology by centrifugal jet spinning for tissue regeneration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Liyun; Pandit, Vaibhav; Elkin, Joshua; Denman, Tyler; Cooper, James A.; Kotha, Shiva P.

2013-02-01

PLLA fibrous tissue scaffolds with controlled fiber nanoscale surface roughness are fabricated with a novel centrifugal jet spinning process. The centrifugal jet spinning technique is a highly efficient synthesis method for micron- to nano-sized fibers with a production rate up to 0.5 g min-1. During the centrifugal jet spinning process, a polymer solution jet is stretched by the centrifugal force of a rotating chamber. By engineering the rheological properties of the polymer solution, solvent evaporation rate and centrifugal force that are applied on the solution jet, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) composite fibers with various diameters are fabricated. Viscosity measurements of polymer solutions allowed us to determine critical polymer chain entanglement limits that allow the generation of continuous fiber as opposed to beads or beaded fibers. Above a critical concentration at which polymer chains are partially or fully entangled, lower polymer concentrations and higher centrifugal forces resulted in thinner fibers. Etching of PVP from the PLLA-PVP composite fibers doped with increasing PVP concentrations yielded PLLA fibers with increasing nano-scale surface roughness and porosity, which increased the fiber hydrophilicity dramatically. Scanning electron micrographs of the etched composite fibers suggest that PVP and PLLA were co-contiguously phase separated within the composite fibers during spinning and nano-scale roughness features were created after the partial etching of PVP. To study the tissue regeneration efficacy of the engineered PLLA fiber matrix, human dermal fibroblasts are used to simulate partial skin graft. Fibers with increased PLLA surface roughness and porosity demonstrated a trend towards higher cell attachment and proliferation.PLLA fibrous tissue scaffolds with controlled fiber nanoscale surface roughness are fabricated with a novel centrifugal jet spinning process. The centrifugal jet spinning technique is a highly efficient synthesis method for micron- to nano-sized fibers with a production rate up to 0.5 g min-1. During the centrifugal jet spinning process, a polymer solution jet is stretched by the centrifugal force of a rotating chamber. By engineering the rheological properties of the polymer solution, solvent evaporation rate and centrifugal force that are applied on the solution jet, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) composite fibers with various diameters are fabricated. Viscosity measurements of polymer solutions allowed us to determine critical polymer chain entanglement limits that allow the generation of continuous fiber as opposed to beads or beaded fibers. Above a critical concentration at which polymer chains are partially or fully entangled, lower polymer concentrations and higher centrifugal forces resulted in thinner fibers. Etching of PVP from the PLLA-PVP composite fibers doped with increasing PVP concentrations yielded PLLA fibers with increasing nano-scale surface roughness and porosity, which increased the fiber hydrophilicity dramatically. Scanning electron micrographs of the etched composite fibers suggest that PVP and PLLA were co-contiguously phase separated within the composite fibers during spinning and nano-scale roughness features were created after the partial etching of PVP. To study the tissue regeneration efficacy of the engineered PLLA fiber matrix, human dermal fibroblasts are used to simulate partial skin graft. Fibers with increased PLLA surface roughness and porosity demonstrated a trend towards higher cell attachment and proliferation. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr33423f

Characterizing the Effects of Washing by Different Detergents on the Wavelength-Scale Microstructures of Silk Samples Using Mueller Matrix Polarimetry.

PubMed

Dong, Yang; He, Honghui; He, Chao; Zhou, Jialing; Zeng, Nan; Ma, Hui

2016-08-10

Silk fibers suffer from microstructural changes due to various external environmental conditions including daily washings. In this paper, we take the backscattering Mueller matrix images of silk samples for non-destructive and real-time quantitative characterization of the wavelength-scale microstructure and examination of the effects of washing by different detergents. The 2D images of the 16 Mueller matrix elements are reduced to the frequency distribution histograms (FDHs) whose central moments reveal the dominant structural features of the silk fibers. A group of new parameters are also proposed to characterize the wavelength-scale microstructural changes of the silk samples during the washing processes. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are carried out to better understand how the Mueller matrix parameters are related to the wavelength-scale microstructure of silk fibers. The good agreement between experiments and simulations indicates that the Mueller matrix polarimetry and FDH based parameters can be used to quantitatively detect the wavelength-scale microstructural features of silk fibers. Mueller matrix polarimetry may be used as a powerful tool for non-destructive and in situ characterization of the wavelength-scale microstructures of silk based materials.

Characterizing the Effects of Washing by Different Detergents on the Wavelength-Scale Microstructures of Silk Samples Using Mueller Matrix Polarimetry

PubMed Central

Dong, Yang; He, Honghui; He, Chao; Zhou, Jialing; Zeng, Nan; Ma, Hui

2016-01-01

Silk fibers suffer from microstructural changes due to various external environmental conditions including daily washings. In this paper, we take the backscattering Mueller matrix images of silk samples for non-destructive and real-time quantitative characterization of the wavelength-scale microstructure and examination of the effects of washing by different detergents. The 2D images of the 16 Mueller matrix elements are reduced to the frequency distribution histograms (FDHs) whose central moments reveal the dominant structural features of the silk fibers. A group of new parameters are also proposed to characterize the wavelength-scale microstructural changes of the silk samples during the washing processes. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are carried out to better understand how the Mueller matrix parameters are related to the wavelength-scale microstructure of silk fibers. The good agreement between experiments and simulations indicates that the Mueller matrix polarimetry and FDH based parameters can be used to quantitatively detect the wavelength-scale microstructural features of silk fibers. Mueller matrix polarimetry may be used as a powerful tool for non-destructive and in situ characterization of the wavelength-scale microstructures of silk based materials. PMID:27517919

Near-field optical technique applied for investigation of the characteristics of polymer fiber and waveguide structures.

PubMed

Ming, Hai; Tang, Lin; Sun, Xiaohong; Zhang, Jiangying; Wang, Pei; Lu, Yonghua; Bai, Ming; Guo, Yang; Xie, Aifang; Zhang, Zebo

2004-01-01

This article summarizes the near-field optical technique applied for investigating the characteristics of polymer fiber and waveguide structures. The near-field optical technique is used to analyze multimode interference structures of fiber. The localized fluctuation of the transmission caused by fractal cluster is carried out in Nd3+- and Eu3+-doped polymer fiber and film by means of a scanning near-field optical microscopy. The near-field optical spectrum of Nd3+-doped polymer fiber is investigated. The topography and near-field intensity images of Azo-polymer liquid crystal film for waveguide are obtained simultaneously.

Electrically induced formation of uncapped, hollow polymeric microstructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Sung Hun; Kim, Pilnam; Jeong, Hoon Eui; Suh, Kahp Y.

2006-11-01

Uncapped, hollow polymeric microstructures were fabricated on a silicon substrate using electric field induced stretching and detachment. Initially, square or cylinder microposts were generated using a solvent-assisted capillary molding technique, and a featureless electrode mask was positioned on the top of the microstructure with spacers maintaining an air gap (~20 µm). Upon exposure to an external electric field (1.0-3.0 V µm-1), the hollow microstructures were destabilized and stretched by the well-known electrohydrodynamic instability, resulting in contact of the top polymer surface with the mask. Subsequently, detachment of the capping layer occurred upon removal of the mask due to larger adhesion forces at the polymer/mask interface than cohesion forces of the polymer. These hollow microstructures were tested to capture the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, for shear protection.

Behavior of polymer cladding materials under extremely high temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clark, Timothy E.; Chang, Selee; Kwak, SeungJo; Oh, Jung Hyun

2012-01-01

Polymer claddings with low refractive indices for silica core fibers were developed. Applications include fiber lasers and transmission of high power lasers in surgery. For many applications, operating fibers under high temperatures is desirable. In a previous publication, the results of testing polymer cladded silica core fiber at 150°C for 6400 hours were given, along with 5000 hours of testing polymer films. The results at 150°C were encouraging, with little additional loss measured. Here we test polymers under more severe conditions, at 270°C, for periods up to 10 hours. The polymers' cured indices range from 1.374 to 1.397 (at 852 nm). Changes in Young's modulus, refractive index, yellowing, weight, hardness, strength, and elongation were observed. While these polymers cannot function at 270°C for extended periods, it is possible to expose them for shorter durations without significant damage. Some polymer properties actually improved after 4 hours of heating. Fibers clad with such polymers have been successfully jacketed with extruded materials, and have endured high temperatures for a few minutes. It is possible that a sensor, fiber laser or other fiber device could function in these temperatures for short periods without the coating properties changing beyond values required for operation.

Laser-Based Surface Modification of Microstructure for Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Wenfeng; Sun, Ting; Cao, Yu; Li, Shaolong; Liu, Chang; Tang, Qingru

2018-05-01

Bonding repair is a powerful feature of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP). Based on the theory of interface bonding, the interface adhesion strength and reliability of the CFRP structure will be directly affected by the microscopic features of the CFRP surface, including the microstructure, physical, and chemical characteristics. In this paper, laser-based surface modification was compared to Peel-ply, grinding, and polishing to comparatively evaluate the surface microstructure of CFRP. The surface microstructure, morphology, fiber damage, height and space parameters were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser confocal microscopy (LCM). Relative to the conventional grinding process, laser modification of the CFRP surface can result in more uniform resin removal and better processing control and repeatability. This decreases the adverse impact of surface fiber fractures and secondary damage. The surface properties were significantly optimized, which has been reflected such things as the obvious improvement of surface roughness, microstructure uniformity, and actual area. The improved surface microstructure based on laser modification is more conducive to interface bonding of CFRP structure repair. This can enhance the interfacial adhesion strength and reliability of repair.

Plaster mortars with polymer fibers and additives investigated by 1H NMR relaxometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mustea, Andrei; Manea, Daniela L.; Jumate, Elena; Orbán, Yvette A.; Fechete, Radu

2017-12-01

Plaster mortars with polypropylene (pp) fibers and/or additives were investigated by 1H NMR relaxometry. Two recipes are proposed and are based on a commercially available mortar or are self-prepared and have different content of polypropylene fibers, which play the role of reinforcement agent, and/or Sika additive which is a waterproofing agent. The distributions of transverse relaxation times, T2 were obtained at 1, 3, 7 and 28 days after preparation. For the majority of T2-distributions four peaks are observed and, are associated with the hydration water (to the mineralogical components) and water in small, medium and large pores. The evolution in time, from 1 to 28 days, of the T2-distributions indicates the effects of pp fibers and Sika additive in the formation of pore microstructure. The degree of homogeneity of prepared receipts was evaluated from the relative peak-width and compared with mechanical measurements. Finally, we shown that the inverse of the transverse relaxation time values, T2-1, characteristic to the hydration water depends linearly on the resistance at compression measured for the 1÷28 days period, proving the important role of hydrations to the mechanical properties of the final product.

Thermomechanical behavior of shape memory elastomeric composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ge, Qi; Luo, Xiaofan; Rodriguez, Erika D.; Zhang, Xiao; Mather, Patrick T.; Dunn, Martin L.; Qi, H. Jerry

2012-01-01

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) can fix a temporary shape and recover their permanent shape in response to environmental stimuli such as heat, electricity, or irradiation. Most thermally activated SMPs use the macromolecular chain mobility change around the glass transition temperature ( Tg) to achieve the shape memory (SM) effects. During this process, the stiffness of the material typically changes by three orders of magnitude. Recently, a composite materials approach was developed to achieve thermally activated shape memory effect where the material exhibits elastomeric response in both the temporary and the recovered configurations. These shape memory elastomeric composites (SMECs) consist of an elastomeric matrix reinforced by a semicrystalline polymer fiber network. The matrix provides background rubber elasticity while the fiber network can transform between solid crystals and melt phases over the operative temperature range. As such it serves as a reversible "switching phase" that enables shape fixing and recovery. Shape memory elastomeric composites provide a new paradigm for the development of a wide array of active polymer composites that utilize the melt-crystal transition to achieve the shape memory effect. This potentially allows for material systems with much simpler chemistries than most shape memory polymers and thus can facilitate more rapid material development and insertion. It is therefore important to understand the thermomechanical behavior and to develop corresponding material models. In this paper, a 3D finite-deformation constitutive modeling framework was developed to describe the thermomechanical behavior of SMEC. The model is phenomenological, although inspired by micromechanical considerations of load transfer between the matrix and fiber phases of a composite system. It treats the matrix as an elastomer and the fibers as a complex solid that itself is an aggregate of melt and crystal phases that evolve from one to the other during a temperature change. As such, the composite consists of an elastomer reinforced by a soft liquid at high temperature and a stiff solid at low temperature. The model includes a kinetic description of the non-isothermal crystallization and melting of the fibers during a temperature change. As the fibers transform from melt to crystal during cooling it is assumed that new crystals are formed in an undeformed state, which requires careful tracking of the kinematics of the evolving phases which comes at a significant computational cost. In order to improve the computational efficiency, an effective phase model (EPM) is adopted to treat the evolving crystal phases as an effective medium. A suite of careful thermomechanical experiments with a SMEC was carried out to calibrate various model parameters, and then to demonstrate the ability of the model to accurately capture the shape memory behavior of the SMEC system during complex thermomechanical loading scenarios. The model also identifies the effects of microstructural design parameters such as the fiber volume fraction.

Graphitized-carbon fiber/carbon char fuel

DOEpatents

Cooper, John F [Oakland, CA

2007-08-28

A method for recovery of intact graphitic fibers from fiber/polymer composites is described. The method comprises first pyrolyzing the graphite fiber/polymer composite mixture and then separating the graphite fibers by molten salt electrochemical oxidation.

Nucleation, Growth, and Alignment of Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Nanofibers for High-Performance OFETs.

PubMed

Persson, Nils E; Chu, Ping-Hsun; McBride, Michael; Grover, Martha; Reichmanis, Elsa

2017-04-18

Conjugated semiconducting polymers have been the subject of intense study for over two decades with promising advances toward a printable electronics manufacturing ecosystem. These materials will deliver functional electronic devices that are lightweight, flexible, large-area, and cost-effective, with applications ranging from biomedical sensors to solar cells. Synthesis of novel molecules has led to significant improvements in charge carrier mobility, a defining electrical performance metric for many applications. However, the solution processing and thin film deposition of conjugated polymers must also be properly controlled to obtain reproducible device performance. This has led to an abundance of research on the process-structure-property relationships governing the microstructural evolution of the model semicrystalline poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as applied to organic field effect transistor (OFET) fabrication. What followed was the production of an expansive body of work on the crystallization, self-assembly, and charge transport behavior of this semiflexible polymer whose strong π-π stacking interactions allow for highly creative methods of structural control, including the modulation of solvent and solution properties, flow-induced crystallization and alignment techniques, structural templating, and solid-state thermal and mechanical processing. This Account relates recent progress in the microstructural control of P3HT thin films through the nucleation, growth, and alignment of P3HT nanofibers. Solution-based nanofiber formation allows one to develop structural order prior to thin film deposition, mitigating the need for intricate deposition processes and enabling the use of batch and continuous chemical processing steps. Fiber growth is framed as a traditional crystallization problem, with the balance between nucleation and growth rates determining the fiber size and ultimately the distribution of grain boundaries in the solid state. Control of nucleation can be accomplished through a sonication-based seeding procedure, while growth can be modulated through supersaturation control via the tuning of solvent quality, the use of UV irradiation or through aging. These principles carry over to the flow-induced growth of P3HT nanofibers in a continuous microfluidic processing system, leading to thin films with significantly enhanced mobility. Further gains can be made by promoting long-range polymer chain alignment, achieved by depositing nanofibers through shear-based coating methods that promote high fiber packing density and alignment. All of these developments in processing were carried out on a standard OFET platform, enabling us to generalize quantitative structure-property relationships from structural data sources such as UV-vis, AFM, and GIWAXS. It is shown that a linear correlation exists between mobility and the in-plane orientational order of nanofibers, as extracted from AFM images using advanced computer vision software developed by our group. Herein, we discuss data-driven approaches to the determination of process-structure-property relationships, as well as the transferability of structural control strategies for P3HT to other conjugated polymer systems and applications.

Leakage of the fundamental mode in photonic crystal fiber tapers.

PubMed

Nguyen, Hong C; Kuhlmey, Boris T; Steel, Michael J; Smith, Cameron L; Mägi, Eric C; McPhedran, Ross C; Eggleton, Benjamin J

2005-05-15

We report detailed measurements of the optical properties of tapered photonic crystal fibers (PCFs). We observe a striking long-wavelength loss as the fiber diameter is reduced, despite the minimal airhole collapse along the taper. We associate this loss with a transition of the fundamental core mode as the fiber dimensions contract: At wavelengths shorter than this transition wavelength, the core mode is strongly confined in the fiber microstructure, whereas at longer wavelengths the mode expands beyond the microstructure and couples out to higher-order modes. These experimental results are discussed in the context of the so-called fundamental mode cutoff described by Kuhlmey et al. [Opt. Express 10, 1285 (2002)], which apply to PCFs with a finite microstructure.

System Applies Polymer Powder To Filament Tow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baucom, Robert M.; Snoha, John J.; Marchello, Joseph M.

1993-01-01

Polymer powder applied uniformly and in continuous manner. Powder-coating system applies dry polymer powder to continuous fiber tow. Unique filament-spreading technique, combined with precise control of tension on fibers in system, ensures uniform application of polymer powder to web of spread filaments. Fiber tows impregnated with dry polymer powders ("towpregs") produced for preform-weaving and composite-material-molding applications. System and process valuable to prepreg industry, for production of flexible filament-windable tows and high-temperature polymer prepregs.

Modeling of non-uniform spatial arrangement of fibers in a ceramic matrix composite

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, S.; Tewari, A.; Gokhale, A.M.

In the unidirectional fiber reinforced composites, the spatial agreement of fibers is often non-uniform. These non-uniformities are linked to the processing conditions, and they affect the properties of the composite. In this contribution, a recently developed digital image analysis technique is used to quantify the non-uniform spatial arrangement of Nicalon fibers in a ceramic matrix composite (CMC). These quantitative data are utilized to develop a six parameter computer simulated microstructure model that is statistically equivalent to the non-uniform microstructure of the CMC. The simulated microstructure can be utilized as a RVE for the micro-mechanical modeling studies.

Failure modes of microstructured fibers with sacrificial bonds made by instability-assisted 3D printing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zou, Shibo; Therriault, Daniel; Gosselin, Frederick

A simple modification by increasing the deposition height on a commercially available 3D printer makes it a mechanical sewing machine due to the fluid mechanical instability. A variety of stitches-like patterns can be produced, similar to those by the Newtonian fluid mechanical sewing machine\\x9D, but with more interesting characteristics in the additional third dimension, which creates weakly fused bonds in some patterns. With these bonds, the fabricated fibers exhibit improved toughness in uniaxial tensile test. The toughening mechanism is found to be similar to the one in spider silk - the breaking of sacrificial bonds and the releasing of hidden length contribute significant dissipated energy to the system. However, the mechanical performance of these microstructured fibers is restricted by early fiber breakage as the number of sacrificial bonds increases. Here, we seek to understand the failure mechanisms of the microstructured fibers through tensile tests and finite element simulations. Static and dynamic failure are both found to cause early fiber breakage. These findings are helpful for the design optimization of microstructured fibers with high toughness and ductility, which can find potential use in impact protection and safety-critical applications.

The Mechanical Properties and Microstructure Characters of Hybrid Composite Geopolymers-Pineapple Fiber Leaves (PFL)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amalia, N.; Hidayatullah, S.; Nurfadilla; Subaer

2017-03-01

The objective of this research is to study the influence of organic fibers on the mechanical properties and microstructure characters of hybrid composite geopolymers-pineapple fibers (PFL). Geopolymers were synthesized by using alkali activated of class C-fly ash added manually with short pineapple fiber leaves (PFL) and then cured at 60°C for 1 hour. The resulting composites were stored in open air for 28 days prior to mechanical and microstructure characterizations. The samples were subjected to compressive and flexural strength measurements, heat resistance as well as acid attack (1M H2SO4 solution). The microstructure of the composites were examined by using Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The measurement showed that the addition of pineapple fibers was able to improve the compressive and flexural strength of geopolymers. The resulting hybrid composites were able to resist fire to a maximum temperature of 1500°C. SEM examination showed the presence of good bond between geopolymer matrix and pineapple fibers. It was also found that there were no chemical constituents of geopolymers leached out during acid liquid treatment. It is concluded that hybrid composite geopolymers-pineapple fibers are potential composites for wide range applications.

Refractory Ceramic Foams for Novel Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stackpoole, M.

2008-01-01

Workers at NASA Ames Research center are endeavoring to develop durable, oxidation-resistant, foam thermal protection systems (TPSs) that would be suitable for covering large exterior spacecraft surfaces, would have low to moderate densities, and would have temperature capabilities comparable to those of carbon-based TPSs [reusable at 3,000 F (.1,650 C)] with application of suitable coatings. These foams may also be useful for repairing TPSs while in orbit. Moreover, on Earth as well as in outer space, these foams might be useful as catalyst supports and filters. Preceramic polymers are obvious candidates for use in making the foams in question. The use of these polymers offers advantages over processing routes followed in making conventional ceramics. Among the advantages are the ability to plastically form parts, the ability to form pyrolized ceramic materials at lower temperatures, and the ability to form high-purity microstructures having properties that can be tailored to satisfy requirements. Heretofore, preceramic polymers have been used mostly in the production of such low-dimensional products as fibers because the loss of volatiles during pyrolysis of the polymers leads to porosity and large shrinkage (in excess of 30 percent). In addition, efforts to form bulk structures from preceramic polymers have resulted in severe cracking during pyrolysis. However, because the foams in question would consist of networks of thin struts (in contradistinction to nonporous dense solids), these foams are ideal candidates for processing along a preceramic-polymer route.

Rapid Prototyping of Continuous Fiber Reinforced Ceramic Matrix Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vaidyanathan, R.; Green, C.; Phillips, T.; Cipriani, R.; Yarlagadda, S.; Gillespie, J.; Effinger, M.; Cooper, K. C.; Gordon, Gail (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

For ceramics to be used as structural components in high temperature applications, their fracture toughness is improved by embedding continuous ceramic fibers. Ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials allow increasing the overall operating temperature, raising the temperature safety margins, avoiding the need for cooling, and improving the damping capacity, while reducing the weight at the same time. They also need to be reliable and available in large quantities as well. In this paper, an innovative rapid prototyping technique to fabricate continuous fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites is described. The process is simple, robust and will be widely applicable to a number of high temperature material systems. This technique was originally developed at the University of Delaware Center for Composite Materials (UD-CCM) for rapid fabrication of polymer matrix composites by a technique called automated tow placement or ATP. The results of mechanical properties and microstructural characterization are presented, together with examples of complex shapes and parts. It is believed that the process will be able to create complex shaped parts at an order of magnitude lower cost than current CVI and PIP processes.

Evaluation of tensile strength of hybrid fiber (jute/gongura) reinforced hybrid polymer matrix composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venkatachalam, G.; Gautham Shankar, A.; Vijay, Kumar V.; Chandan, Byral R.; Prabaharan, G. P.; Raghav, Dasarath

2015-07-01

The polymer matrix composites attract many industrial applications due to its light weight, less cost and easy for manufacturing. In this paper, an attempt is made to prepare and study of the tensile strength of hybrid (two natural) fibers reinforced hybrid (Natural + Synthetic) polymer matrix composites. The samples were prepared with hybrid reinforcement consists of two different fibers such as jute and Gongura and hybrid polymer consists of polyester and cashew nut shell resins. The hybrid composites tensile strength is evaluated to study the influence of various fiber parameters on mechanical strength. The parameters considered here are the duration of fiber treatment, the concentration of alkali in fiber treatment and nature of fiber content in the composites.

Thermoplastic coating of carbon fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edie, D. D.; Lickfield, G. C.; Drews, M. J.; Ellison, M. S.; Gantt, B. W.

1989-01-01

A process is being developed which evenly coats individual carbon fibers with thermoplastic polymers. In this novel, continuous coating process, the fiber tow bundle is first spread cover a series of convex rollers and then evenly coated with a fine powder of thermoplastic matrix polymer. Next, the fiber is heated internally by passing direct current through the powder coated fiber. The direct current is controlled to allow the carbon fiber temperature to slightly exceed the flow temperature of the matrix polymer. Analysis of the thermoplastic coated carbon fiber tows produced using this continuous process indicates that 30 to 70 vol pct fiber prepregs can be obtained.

Imaging of Scleral Collagen Deformation Using Combined Confocal Raman Microspectroscopy and Polarized Light Microscopy Techniques.

PubMed

Chakraborty, Nilay; Wang, Mian; Solocinski, Jason; Kim, Wonsuk; Argento, Alan

2016-01-01

This work presents an optospectroscopic characterization technique for soft tissue microstructure using site-matched confocal Raman microspectroscopy and polarized light microscopy. Using the technique, the microstructure of soft tissue samples is directly observed by polarized light microscopy during loading while spatially correlated spectroscopic information is extracted from the same plane, verifying the orientation and arrangement of the collagen fibers. Results show the response and orientation of the collagen fiber arrangement in its native state as well as during tensile and compressive loadings in a porcine sclera model. An example is also given showing how the data can be used with a finite element program to estimate the strain in individual collagen fibers. The measurements demonstrate features that indicate microstructural reorganization and damage of the sclera's collagen fiber arrangement under loading. The site-matched confocal Raman microspectroscopic characterization of the tissue provides a qualitative measure to relate the change in fibrillar arrangement with possible chemical damage to the collagen microstructure. Tests and analyses presented here can potentially be used to determine the stress-strain behavior, and fiber reorganization of the collagen microstructure in soft tissue during viscoelastic response.

The hygroscopic behavior of plant fibers: a review.

PubMed

Célino, Amandine; Fréour, Sylvain; Jacquemin, Frédéric; Casari, Pascal

2013-01-01

Environmental concern has resulted in a renewed interest in bio-based materials. Among them, plant fibers are perceived as an environmentally friendly substitute to glass fibers for the reinforcement of composites, particularly in automotive engineering. Due to their wide availability, low cost, low density, high-specific mechanical properties, and eco-friendly image, they are increasingly being employed as reinforcements in polymer matrix composites. Indeed, their complex microstructure as a composite material makes plant fiber a really interesting and challenging subject to study. Research subjects about such fibers are abundant because there are always some issues to prevent their use at large scale (poor adhesion, variability, low thermal resistance, hydrophilic behavior). The choice of natural fibers rather than glass fibers as filler yields a change of the final properties of the composite. One of the most relevant differences between the two kinds of fiber is their response to humidity. Actually, glass fibers are considered as hydrophobic whereas plant fibers have a pronounced hydrophilic behavior. Composite materials are often submitted to variable climatic conditions during their lifetime, including unsteady hygroscopic conditions. However, in humid conditions, strong hydrophilic behavior of such reinforcing fibers leads to high level of moisture absorption in wet environments. This results in the structural modification of the fibers and an evolution of their mechanical properties together with the composites in which they are fitted in. Thereby, the understanding of these moisture absorption mechanisms as well as the influence of water on the final properties of these fibers and their composites is of great interest to get a better control of such new biomaterials. This is the topic of this review paper.

The hygroscopic behavior of plant fibers: a review

PubMed Central

Célino, Amandine; Fréour, Sylvain; Jacquemin, Frédéric; Casari, Pascal

2013-01-01

Environmental concern has resulted in a renewed interest in bio-based materials. Among them, plant fibers are perceived as an environmentally friendly substitute to glass fibers for the reinforcement of composites, particularly in automotive engineering. Due to their wide availability, low cost, low density, high-specific mechanical properties, and eco-friendly image, they are increasingly being employed as reinforcements in polymer matrix composites. Indeed, their complex microstructure as a composite material makes plant fiber a really interesting and challenging subject to study. Research subjects about such fibers are abundant because there are always some issues to prevent their use at large scale (poor adhesion, variability, low thermal resistance, hydrophilic behavior). The choice of natural fibers rather than glass fibers as filler yields a change of the final properties of the composite. One of the most relevant differences between the two kinds of fiber is their response to humidity. Actually, glass fibers are considered as hydrophobic whereas plant fibers have a pronounced hydrophilic behavior. Composite materials are often submitted to variable climatic conditions during their lifetime, including unsteady hygroscopic conditions. However, in humid conditions, strong hydrophilic behavior of such reinforcing fibers leads to high level of moisture absorption in wet environments. This results in the structural modification of the fibers and an evolution of their mechanical properties together with the composites in which they are fitted in. Thereby, the understanding of these moisture absorption mechanisms as well as the influence of water on the final properties of these fibers and their composites is of great interest to get a better control of such new biomaterials. This is the topic of this review paper. PMID:24790971

Modeling and Simulation of Compression Molding Process for Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) of Chopped Carbon Fiber Composites

DOE PAGES

Li, Yang; Chen, Zhangxing; Xu, Hongyi; ...

2017-01-02

Compression molded SMC composed of chopped carbon fiber and resin polymer which balances the mechanical performance and manufacturing cost presents a promising solution for vehicle lightweight strategy. However, the performance of the SMC molded parts highly depends on the compression molding process and local microstructure, which greatly increases the cost for the part level performance testing and elongates the design cycle. ICME (Integrated Computational Material Engineering) approaches are thus necessary tools to reduce the number of experiments required during part design and speed up the deployment of the SMC materials. As the fundamental stage of the ICME workflow, commercial softwaremore » packages for SMC compression molding exist yet remain not fully validated especially for chopped fiber systems. In this study, SMC plaques are prepared through compression molding process. The corresponding simulation models are built in Autodesk Moldflow with the same part geometry and processing conditions as in the molding tests. The output variables of the compression molding simulations, including press force history and fiber orientation of the part, are compared with experimental data. Influence of the processing conditions to the fiber orientation of the SMC plaque is also discussed. It is found that generally Autodesk Moldflow can achieve a good simulation of the compression molding process for chopped carbon fiber SMC, yet quantitative discrepancies still remain between predicted variables and experimental results.« less

Modeling and Simulation of Compression Molding Process for Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) of Chopped Carbon Fiber Composites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Yang; Chen, Zhangxing; Xu, Hongyi

Compression molded SMC composed of chopped carbon fiber and resin polymer which balances the mechanical performance and manufacturing cost presents a promising solution for vehicle lightweight strategy. However, the performance of the SMC molded parts highly depends on the compression molding process and local microstructure, which greatly increases the cost for the part level performance testing and elongates the design cycle. ICME (Integrated Computational Material Engineering) approaches are thus necessary tools to reduce the number of experiments required during part design and speed up the deployment of the SMC materials. As the fundamental stage of the ICME workflow, commercial softwaremore » packages for SMC compression molding exist yet remain not fully validated especially for chopped fiber systems. In this study, SMC plaques are prepared through compression molding process. The corresponding simulation models are built in Autodesk Moldflow with the same part geometry and processing conditions as in the molding tests. The output variables of the compression molding simulations, including press force history and fiber orientation of the part, are compared with experimental data. Influence of the processing conditions to the fiber orientation of the SMC plaque is also discussed. It is found that generally Autodesk Moldflow can achieve a good simulation of the compression molding process for chopped carbon fiber SMC, yet quantitative discrepancies still remain between predicted variables and experimental results.« less

Microring embedded hollow polymer fiber laser

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Linslal, C. L., E-mail: linslal@gmail.com; Sebastian, S.; Mathew, S.

2015-03-30

Strongly modulated laser emission has been observed from rhodamine B doped microring resonator embedded in a hollow polymer optical fiber by transverse optical pumping. The microring resonator is fabricated on the inner wall of a hollow polymer fiber. Highly sharp lasing lines, strong mode selection, and a collimated laser beam are observed from the fiber. Nearly single mode lasing with a side mode suppression ratio of up to 11.8 dB is obtained from the strongly modulated lasing spectrum. The microring embedded hollow polymer fiber laser has shown efficient lasing characteristics even at a propagation length of 1.5 m.

Microstructure of the smart composite structures with embedded fiber optic sensing nerves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jingyuan; Luo, Fei; Li, Changchun; Ma, Naibin

1997-11-01

The composite structures with embedded optical fiber sensors construct a smart composite structure system, which may have the characteristics of the in-service self-measurement, self- recognition and self-judgement action. In the present work, we studied the microstructures of carbon/epoxy composite laminates with embedded sensing optical fibers, and the integration of optical fiber with composites was also discussed. The preliminary experiment results show that because of the difference between the sensing optical fibers and the reinforcing fibers in their size, the microstructure of the composites with embedded optical fibers will produce partial local changes in the area of embedded optical fiber, these changes may affect the mechanical properties of composite structures. When the optical fibers are embedded parallel to the reinforcing fibers, due to the composite prepregs are formed under a press action during its curing process, the reinforcing fibers can be arranged equably around the optical fibers. But when the optical fibers are embedded perpendicularly to the reinforcement fibers, the resin rich pocket will appear in the composite laminates surrounding the embedded optical fiber. The gas holes will be easily produced in these zones which may produce a premature failure of the composite structure. The photoelastic experiments are also given in the paper.

Repair, Evaluation, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation Research Program Overlays on Horizontal Concrete Surfaces: Case Histories

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-02-01

ash, silica-fume, polymer -modified, polymer , and fiber - reinforced concretes. For some nonstructural repairs, unbonded overlays have been employed in an...which silica fume was included; polymer -modified concrete overlay, one in which a polymer admixture had been included; and fiber - reinforced concrete...of pumps. However, a determination has not been made for the source of leakage. 56 Chapter 6 Polymer -Modified Concrete Overlays 7 Fiber - Reinforced

Surface and interfacial properties of carbon fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bascom, Willard D.

1991-01-01

The adhesion strength of AS4 fibers to thermoplastic polymers was determined. The specific polymers were polycarbonate, polyphenylene oxide, polyetherimide, polyphenylene oxide blends with polystyrene, and polycarbonate blends with a polycarbonate-polysiloxan copolymer. Data are also included for polysulfone. It was recognized at the outset that an absolute measure of the fiber matrix adhesion would be difficult. However, it is feasible to determine the fiber bond strengths to the thermoplastics relative to the bond strengths of the same fibers to epoxy polymers. It was anticipated, and in fact realized, that the adhesion of AS4 to the thermoplastic polymers was relatively low. Therefore, further objectives of the study were to identify means of increasing fiber/matrix adhesion and to try to determine why the adhesion of AS4 to thermoplastics is significantly less than to epoxy polymers.

Nanostructured Diclofenac Sodium Releasing Material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikkola, L.; Vapalahti, K.; Harlin, A.; Seppälä, J.; Ashammakhi, N.

2008-02-01

Various techniques have been developed to produce second generation biomaterials for tissue repair. These include extrusion, molding, salt leaching, spinning etc, but success in regenerating tissues has been limited. It is important to develop porous material, yet with a fibrous structure for it to be biomimetic. To mimic biological tissues, the extra-cellular matrix usually contains fibers in nano scale. To produce nanostructures, self-assembly or electrospinning can be used. Adding a drug release function to such a material may advance applications further for use in controlled tissue repair. This turns the resulting device into a multifunctional porous, fibrous structure to support cells and drug releasing properties in order to control tissue reactions. A bioabsorbable poly(ɛ-caprolactone-co-D,L lactide) 95/5 (PCL) was made into diluted solution using a solvent, to which was added 2w-% of diclofenac sodium (DS). Nano-fibers were made by electrospinning onto substrate. Microstructure of the resulting nanomat was studied using SEM and drug release profiles with UV/VIS spectroscopy. Thickness of the electrospun nanomat was about 2 mm. SEM analysis showed that polymeric nano-fibers containing drug particles form a highly interconnected porous nano structure. Average diameter of the nano-fibers was 130 nm. There was a high burst peak in drug release, which decreased to low levels after one day. The used polymer has slow a degradation rate and though the nanomat was highly porous with a large surface area, drug release rate is slow. It is feasible to develop a nano-fibrous porous structure of bioabsorbable polymer, which is loaded with test drug. Drug release is targeted at improving the properties of biomaterial for use in controlled tissue repair and regeneration.

Groove micro-structure optical fiber refractive index sensor with nanoscale gold film based on surface plasmon resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zhen; Li, Shuguang; Liu, Qiang; Feng, Xinxing; Zhang, Shuhuan; Wang, Yujun; Wu, Junjun

2018-07-01

A groove micro-structure optical fiber refractive index sensor with nanoscale gold film based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is proposed and analyzed by the finite element method (FEM). Numerical results show that the average sensitivity is 15,933 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) with the refractive index of analyte ranging from 1.40 to 1.43 and the maximum sensitivity is 28,600 nm/RIU and the resolution of the sensor is 3.50 × 10-8 RIU. The groove micro-structure optical fiber refractive index sensor do some changes on the D-shaped fiber sensor, compared with conventional D-shaped fiber sensor, it has a higher sensitivity and it is easier to produce than the traditional SPR sensor.

Understanding the interfacial chain dynamics of fiber-reinforced polymer composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goswami, Monojoy; Carrillo, Jan-Michael; Naskar, Amit; Sumpter, Bobby

The polymer-fiber interface plays a major role in determining the structural and dynamical properties of fiber reinforced composite materials. We utilized LAMMPS MD package to understand the interfacial properties at the nanoscale. Coarse-grained flexible polymer chains are introduced to compare the various structures and dynamics of the polymer chains. Our preliminary simulation study shows that the rigidity of the polymer chain affects the interfacial morphology and dynamics of the chain on a flat surface. In this work, we identified the `immobile inter-phase' morphology and relate it to rheological properties. We calculated the viscoelastic properties, e.g., shear modulus and storage modulus, which are compared with experiments. MD simulations are used to show the variation of viscoelastic properties with polymer volume fraction. The nanoscale segmental and chain relaxation are calculated from the MD simulations and compared to the experimental data. These observations will be able to identify the fundamental physics behind the effect of the polymer-fiber interactions and orientation of the fiber to the overall rheological properties of the fiber reinforced polymer matrix. Funding for the project was provided by ORNLs Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program.

Microstructural Characterization of Polymers with Positrons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, Jag J.

1997-01-01

Positrons provide a versatile probe for monitoring microstructural features of molecular solids. In this paper, we report on positron lifetime measurements in two different types of polymers. The first group comprises polyacrylates processed on earth and in space. The second group includes fully-compatible and totally-incompatible Semi-Interpenetrating polymer networks of thermosetting and thermoplastic polyimides. On the basis of lifetime measurements, it is concluded that free volumes are a direct reflection of physical/electromagnetic properties of the host polymers.

Hybrid Fiber Layup and Fiber-Reinforced Polymeric Composites Produced Therefrom

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barnell, Thomas J. (Inventor); Garrigan, Sean P. (Inventor); Rauscher, Michael D. (Inventor); Dietsch, Benjamin A. (Inventor); Cupp, Gary N. (Inventor)

2018-01-01

Embodiments of a hybrid fiber layup used to form a fiber-reinforced polymeric composite, and a fiber-reinforced polymeric composite produced therefrom are disclosed. The hybrid fiber layup comprises one or more dry fiber strips and one or more prepreg fiber strips arranged side by side within each layer, wherein the prepreg fiber strips comprise fiber material impregnated with polymer resin and the dry fiber strips comprise fiber material without impregnated polymer resin.

Tuning operating point of extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric fiber-optic sensors using microstructured fiber and gas pressure.

PubMed

Tian, Jiajun; Zhang, Qi; Fink, Thomas; Li, Hong; Peng, Wei; Han, Ming

2012-11-15

Intensity-based demodulation of extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI) fiber-optic sensors requires the light wavelength to be on the quadrature point of the interferometric fringes for maximum sensitivity. In this Letter, we propose a novel and remote operating-point tuning method for EFPI fiber-optic sensors using microstructured fibers (MFs) and gas pressure. We demonstrated the method using a diaphragm-based EFPI sensor with a microstructured lead-in fiber. The holes in the MF were used as gas channels to remotely control the gas pressure inside the Fabry-Perot cavity. Because of the deformation of the diaphragm with gas pressure, the cavity length and consequently the operating point can be remotely tuned for maximum sensitivity. The proposed operating-point tuning method has the advantage of reduced complexity and cost compared to previously reported methods.

Ceramic silicon-boron-carbon fibers from organic silicon-boron-polymers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Riccitiello, Salvatore R. (Inventor); Hsu, Ming-Ta S. (Inventor); Chen, Timothy S. (Inventor)

1993-01-01

Novel high strength ceramic fibers derived from boron, silicon, and carbon organic precursor polymers are discussed. The ceramic fibers are thermally stable up to and beyond 1200 C in air. The method of preparation of the boron-silicon-carbon fibers from a low oxygen content organosilicon boron precursor polymer of the general formula Si(R2)BR(sup 1) includes melt-spinning, crosslinking, and pyrolysis. Specifically, the crosslinked (or cured) precursor organic polymer fibers do not melt or deform during pyrolysis to form the silicon-boron-carbon ceramic fiber. These novel silicon-boron-carbon ceramic fibers are useful in high temperature applications because they retain tensile and other properties up to 1200 C, from 1200 to 1300 C, and in some cases higher than 1300 C.

Comparison of sensitivity and resolution load sensor at various configuration polymer optical fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arifin, A.; Yusran, Miftahuddin, Abdullah, Bualkar; Tahir, Dahlang

2017-01-01

This study uses a load sensor with a macro-bending on polymer optical fiber loop model which is placed between two plates with a buffer spring. The load sensor with light intensity modulation principle is an infrared LED emits light through the polymer optical fiber then received by the phototransistor and amplifier. Output voltage from the amplifier continued to arduino sequence and displayed on the computer. Load augment on the sensor resulted in an increase of curvature on polymer optical fibers that can cause power losses gets bigger too. This matter will result in the intensity of light that received by phototransistor getting smaller, so that the output voltage that ligable on computer will be getting smaller too. The sensitivity and resolution load sensors analyzed based on configuration with various amount of loops, imperfection on the jacket, and imperfection at the cladding and core of polymer optical fiber. The results showed that the augment on the amount of load, imperfection on the jacket and imperfection on the sheath and core polymer optical fiber can improve the sensitivity and resolution of the load sensor. The best sensors resolution obtained on the number of loops 4 with imperfection 8 on the core and cladding polymer optical fiber that is 0.037 V/N and 0,026 N. The advantages of the load sensor based on polymers optical fiber are easy to make, low cost and simple to use measurement methods.

Statistical models and NMR analysis of polymer microstructure

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Statistical models can be used in conjunction with NMR spectroscopy to study polymer microstructure and polymerization mechanisms. Thus, Bernoullian, Markovian, and enantiomorphic-site models are well known. Many additional models have been formulated over the years for additional situations. Typica...

Compression response of tri-axially braided textile composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Shunjun

2007-12-01

This thesis is concerned with characterizing the compression stiffness and compression strength of 2D tri-axially braided textile composites (2DTBC). Two types of 2DTBC are considered differing only on the resin type, while the textile fiber architecture is kept the same with bias tows at 45 degrees to the axial tows. Experimental, analytical and computational methods are described based on the results generated in this study. Since these composites are manufactured using resin transfer molding, the intended and as manufactured composite samples differ in their microstructure due to consolidation and thermal history effects in the manufacturing cycle. These imperfections are measured and the effect of these imperfections on the compression stiffness and strength are characterized. Since the matrix is a polymer material, the nonuniform thermal history undergone by the polymer at manufacturing (within the composite and in the presence of fibers) renders its properties to be non-homogenous. The effects of these non-homogeneities are captured through the definition of an equivalent in-situ matrix material. A method to characterize the mechanical properties of the in-situ matrix is also described. Fiber tow buckling, fiber tow kinking and matrix microcracking are all observed in the experiments. These failure mechanisms are captured through a computational model that uses the finite element (FE) technique to discretize the structure. The FE equations are solved using the commercial software ABAQUS version 6.5. The fiber tows are modeled as transversely isotropic elastic-plastic solids and the matrix is modeled as an isotropic elastic-plastic solid with and without microcracking damage. Because the 2DTBC is periodic, the question of how many repeat units are necessary to model the compression stiffness and strength are examined. Based on the computational results, the correct representative unit cell for this class of materials is identified. The computational models and results presented in the thesis provide a means to assess the compressive strength of 2DTBC and its dependence on various microstructural parameters. The essential features (for example, fiber kinking) of 2DTBC under compressive loading are captured accurately and the results are validated by the compression experiments. Due to the requirement of large computational resources for the unit cell studies, simplified models that use less computer resources but sacrifice some accuracy are presented for use in engineering design. A combination of the simplified models is shown to provide a good prediction of the salient features (peak strength and plateau strength) of these materials under compression loading. The incorporation of matrix strain rate effects, a study of the effect of the bias tow angle and the inclusion of viscoelastic/viscoplastic behavior for the study of fatigue are suggested as extensions to this work.

Fast and cheap fabrication of molding tools for polymer replication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richter, Christiane; Kirschner, Nadine; Worgull, Matthias; Rapp, Bastian E.

2017-02-01

Polymer replication is a prerequisite for low-cost microstructure components for consumer and end user market. The production of cost-effective microstructure in polymers requires metal molding tools which are often fabricated by direct structuring methods like milling or laser machining both of which are time-consuming and cost-intensive. We present an alternative fabrication method based on replication processes which allows the cheap ( 50 €) and fast ( 12 h) replication of complex microstructures into metal. The process comprises three steps: 1. Generation of the microstructure in a photoresist via lithography. 2. Casting of the structure into a high-temperature silicone which serves as original mold for creation of the metal molding tool. 3. Melting of an eutectic alloy of Sn, Ag and Cu under light pressure directly inside of the silicone within an oven. After cooling to room temperature the metal molding tool can be used for polymer replication into conventional thermoplastic polymers. As a first example we structured polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) foils with a thickness of 1 mm via hot embossing and feature sizes of 100 μm could be replicated with high fidelity.

Fabrication of nanofibers reinforced polymer microstructures using femtosecond laser material processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alubaidy, Mohammed-Amin

A new method has been introduced for the formation of microfeatures made of nanofibers reinforced polymer, using femtosecond laser material processing. The Femtosecond laser is used for the generation of three-dimensional interweaved nanofibers and the construction of microfeatures, like microchannels and voxels, through multi photon polymerization of nanofiber dispersed polymer resin. A new phenomenon of multiphoton polymerization induced by dual wavelength irradiation was reported for the first time. A significant improvement in the spatial resolution, compared to the two photon absorption (2PA) and the three photon absorption (3PA) processes has been achieved. Conductive polymer microstructures and magnetic polymer microstructures have been fabricated through this method. The mechanical properties of nanofiber reinforced polymer microstructures has been investigated by means of nanoindentation and the volume fraction of the generated nanofibers in the nanocomposite was calculated by using nanoindentation analysis. The results showed significant improvement in strength of the material. The electrical conductivity of the two photon polymerization (TPP) generated microfeatures was measured by a two-probe system at room temperature and the conductivity-temperature relationship was measured at a certain temperature range. The results suggest that the conductive polymer microstructure is reproducible and has a consistent conductivity-temperature relation. The magnetic strength has been characterized using Guassmeter. To demonstrate the potential application of the new fabrication method, a novel class of DNA-functionalized three-dimensional (3D), stand-free, and nanostructured electrodes were fabricated. The developed nanofibrous DNA biosensor has been characterized by cyclic voltammetry with the use of ferrocyanide as an electrochemical redox indicator. Results showed that the probe--target recognition has been improved. This research demonstrated that femtosecond laser materials processing is a viable tool of the construction of naomaterial- reinforced polymer microfeatures with tailored properties.

Process for preparing composite articles from composite fiber blends

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McMahon, Paul E. (Inventor); Chung, Tai-Shung (Inventor); Ying, Lincoln (Inventor)

1989-01-01

A composite article is prepared by forming a continuous tow of continuous carbon fibers, forming a continuous tow of thermoplastic polymer fibers, uniformly and continuously spreading the thermoplastic polymer fibers to a selected width, uniformly and continuously spreading the carbon fiber tow to a width that is essentially the same as the selected width for the thermoplastic polymer fiber tow, intermixing the tows intimately, uniformly and continuously, in a relatively tension-free state, continuously withdrawing the intermixed tow and applying the tow to a mold and heating the tow.

Single Transducer Ultrasonic Imaging Method that Eliminates the Effect of Plate Thickness Variation in the Image

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, Don J.

1996-01-01

This article describes a single transducer ultrasonic imaging method that eliminates the effect of plate thickness variation in the image. The method thus isolates ultrasonic variations due to material microstructure. The use of this method can result in significant cost savings because the ultrasonic image can be interpreted correctly without the need for machining to achieve precise thickness uniformity during nondestructive evaluations of material development. The method is based on measurement of ultrasonic velocity. Images obtained using the thickness-independent methodology are compared with conventional velocity and c-scan echo peak amplitude images for monolithic ceramic (silicon nitride), metal matrix composite and polymer matrix composite materials. It was found that the thickness-independent ultrasonic images reveal and quantify correctly areas of global microstructural (pore and fiber volume fraction) variation due to the elimination of thickness effects. The thickness-independent ultrasonic imaging method described in this article is currently being commercialized under a cooperative agreement between NASA Lewis Research Center and Sonix, Inc.

Microstructural Characterization of Polymers by Positron Lifetime Spectroscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, Jag J.

1996-01-01

Positrons provide a versatile probe for monitoring microstructural features of molecular solids. In this paper, we report on positron lifetime measurements in two different types of polymers. The first group comprises polyacrylates processed on earth and in space. The second group includes fully-compatible and totally-incompatible Semi-Interpenetrating polymer networks of thermosetting and thermoplastic polyimides. On the basis of lifetime measurements, it is concluded that free volumes are a direct reflection of physical/electromagnetic properties of the host polymers.

Process of Making Boron-Fiber Reinforced Composite Tape

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Belvin, Harry L. (Inventor); Cano, Roberto J. (Inventor); Johnston, Norman J. (Inventor); Marchello, Joseph M. (Inventor)

2002-01-01

The invention is an apparatus and method for producing a hybrid boron reinforced polymer matrix composition from powder pre-impregnated fiber tow bundles and a linear array of boron fibers. The boron fibers are applied onto the powder pre-impregnated fiber tow bundles and then are processed within a processing component having an impregnation bar assembly. After passing through variable-dimension forming nip-rollers, the powder pre-impregnated fiber tow bundles with the boron fibers become a hybrid boron reinforced polymer matrix composite tape. A driving mechanism pulls the powder pre-impregnated fiber tow bundles with boron fibers through the processing line of the apparatus and a take-up spool collects the formed hybrid boron-fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite tape.

Effect of cold drawing on mechanical properties of biodegradable fibers.

PubMed

La Mantia, Francesco Paolo; Ceraulo, Manuela; Mistretta, Maria Chiara; Morreale, Marco

2017-01-26

Biodegradable polymers are currently gaining importance in several fields, because they allow mitigation of the impact on the environment related to disposal of traditional, nonbiodegradable polymers, as well as reducing the utilization of oil-based sources (when they also come from renewable resources). Fibers made of biodegradable polymers are of particular interest, though, it is not easy to obtain polymer fibers with suitable mechanical properties and to tailor these to the specific application. The main ways to tailor the mechanical properties of a given biodegradable polymer fiber are based on crystallinity and orientation control. However, crystallinity can only marginally be modified during processing, while orientation can be controlled, either during hot drawing or cold stretching. In this paper, a systematic investigation of the influence of cold stretching on the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of fibers prepared from different biodegradable polymer systems was carried out. Rheological and thermal characterization helped in interpreting the orientation mechanisms, also on the basis of the molecular structure of the polymer systems. It was found that cold drawing strongly improved the elastic modulus, tensile strength and thermomechanical resistance of the fibers, in comparison with hot-spun fibers. The elastic modulus showed higher increment rates in the biodegradable systems upon increasing the draw ratio.

As-received microstructure of a SiC/Ti-15-3 composite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lerch, Bradley A.; Hull, David R.; Leonhardt, Todd A.

1988-01-01

A silicon carbide fiber reinforced titanium (Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al) composite is metallographically examined. Several methods for examining composite materials are investigated and documented. Polishing techniques for this material are described. An interference layering method is developed to reveal the structure of the fiber, the reaction zone, and various phases within the matrix. Microprobe and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analyses are performed on the fiber/matrix interface. A detailed description of the fiber distribution as well as the microstructure of the fiber and matrix are presented.

Two-step sulfonation process for the conversion of polymer fibers to carbon fibers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barton, Bryan E.; Patton, Jasson T.; Hukkanen, Eric J.

Disclosed herein are processes for preparing carbon fibers, comprising: sulfonating a polymer fiber with a sulfonating agent that is fuming sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid, chlorosulfonic acid, or a combination thereof; treating the sulfonated polymer with a heated solvent, wherein the temperature of the heated solvent is at least 95.degree. C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 501-3000.degree. C. Carbon fibers prepared according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

Why fibers are better turbulent drag reducing agents than polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boelens, Arnout; Muthukumar, Murugappan

2016-11-01

It is typically found in literature that fibers are not as effective as drag reducing agents as polymers. However, for low concentrations, when adding charged polymers to either distilled or salt water, it is found that polymers showing rod-like behavior are better drag reducing agents than polymers showing coil-like behavior. In this study, using hybrid Direct Numerical Simulation with Langevin dynamics, a comparison is performed between polymer and fiber stress tensors in turbulent flow. The stress tensors are found to be similar, suggesting a common drag reducing mechanism in the onset regime. Since fibers do not have an elastic backbone, this must be a viscous effect. Analysis of the viscosity tensor reveals that all terms are negligible, except the off-diagonal shear viscosity associated with rotation. Based on this analysis, we are able to explain why charged polymers showing rod-like behavior are better drag reducing agents than polymers showing coil-like behavior. Additionally, we identify the rotational orientation time as the unifying time scale setting a new time criterion for drag reduction by both flexible polymers and rigid fibers. This research was supported by NSF Grant No. DMR-1404940 and AFOSR Grant No. FA9550-14-1-0164.

The numerical simulation and experiment on extrusion roller embossing of light diffusion plate with micro-structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zang, Gongzheng; Fu, Zhihong; Zhang, Lei; Wan, Yue

2018-01-01

Extrusion roller embossing process has demonstrated the ability to produce polymer film with micro-structure. However the influence of various parameters on the forming quality has not been understood clearly. In this paper, a light diffusion plate with semi cylindrical micro-structure array as the research object, the influence of the main processing parameters such as roller speed, pressuring distance and polymer film temperature to the rolling quality was investigated in detail by simulation and experimental methods. The results show that the thickness of the light diffusion plate and the micro-structure fitting diameter increases with the increasing of the roll speed and the polymer film temperature, and decreases with the increasing of the pressing distance. Besides, the simulation results conformed well to the experimental results.

Manipulating Semicrystalline Polymers in Confinement.

PubMed

Shingne, Nitin; Geuss, Markus; Thurn-Albrecht, Thomas; Schmidt, Hans-Werner; Mijangos, Carmen; Steinhart, Martin; Martín, Jaime

2017-08-17

Because final properties of nanoscale polymeric structures are largely determined by the solid-state microstructure of the confined polymer, it is imperative not only to understand how the microstructure of polymers develops under nanoscale confinement but also to establish means to manipulate it. Here we present a series of processing strategies, adapted from methods used in bulk polymer processing, that allow us to control the solidification of polymer nanostructures. First, we show that supramolecular nucleating agents can be readily used to modify the crystallization kinetics of confined poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). In addition, we demonstrate that microstructural features that are not traditionally affected by nucleating agents, such as the orientation of crystals, can be tuned with the crystallization temperature applied. Interestingly, we also show that high crystallization temperatures and long annealing periods induce the formation of the γ modification of PVDF, hence enabling the simple production of ferro/piezoelectric nanostructures. We anticipate that the approaches presented here can open up a plethora of new possibilities for the processing of polymer-based nanostructures with tailored properties and functionalities.

Annealing Effects on Creep and Rupture of Polycrystalline Alumina-Based Fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldsby, J. C.; Yun, H. M.; Morscher, G. N.; DiCarlo, J. A.

1998-01-01

Continuous-length polycrystalline aluminum-oxide-based fibers are being considered as reinforcements for advanced high-temperature composite materials. For these fine-grained fibers, basic issues arise concerning grain growth and microstructural instability during composite fabrication and the resulting effects on the fiber's thermo-mechanical properties. To examine these issues, commercially available Nextel 610 (alumina) and Altex (alumina-silica) fibers were annealed at 1100 and 1300 C for up to 100 hr in air. Changes in fiber microstructure, fiber tensile creep, stress rupture, and bend stress relaxation (BSR) that occurred with annealing were then determined. BSR tests were also used to compare as-received and annealed fibers to other polycrystalline oxide fibers. Annealing was shown to have a significant effect, particularly on the Altex fiber, and caused it to have increased creep resistance.

Solution and interfacial behavior of modified silicone polymers and their interactions with solid substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Purohit, Parag

Surface treatment is very important step in many applications such as fabric finishing, coatings, cosmetics and personal care. Silicone polymers are a class of organic/inorganic materials that show unique properties such as weak intermolecular forces and high flexibility enabling even a very high molecular weight chain to achieve optimal orientation on surfaces. Material properties such as softness, repellency, bounciness and friction can therefore be tailored by using appropriately modified silicone polymers. Despite wide applications, the underlying mechanisms of material modification are unknown and tailoring silicones for applications remains mostly empirical. Thus the objective of this research is to understand the solution and interfacial behavior of functionalized silicone polymers, which govern their performance in material modification. Modified silicones are simultaneously hydrophobic and oleophobic in nature and due to this nearly universal non-compatibility, the studies of these polymers present unusual challenges. Due to this incompatible nature, the functionalized silicone polymers were emulsified into O/W emulsions to study their solution and interfacial properties. The colloidal properties such as electrokinetic and droplet distribution of these emulsions are assumed to play an important role in the observed surface and physical properties of solid substrates (in present study, cellulosic substrates) as well the stability of emulsions itself. To understand the effects of modified silicones on cellulosic substrates a variety of techniques such as frictional analysis, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy that can probe from macro to nano level were used. It is hypothesized that the size distribution and charge of silicone emulsions as well as the physiochemical conditions such as pH, control silicone conformation which in turn affect the modification of the substrate properties. With bimodal droplet distribution of silicone emulsions, the nano-sized droplets can penetrate deeper into the substrate to provide bounciness, whereas macro-sized droplets can coat the top layer leading to friction reduction. It was observed that at pH 5.5 the silicone treatment resulted in charge reversal of fibers as opposed to treatment at pH 9.5. On a macroscopic scale 20% reduction in frictional coefficient of the fabric was observed after treatment with quaternized (cationically modified) silicones as compared to untreated fibers. It was also observed using AFM that the fibrils treated with quaternized silicones are uniform, well stacked and smoother than the untreated fibers. Spectroscopic analysis of treated fibers using Raman spectroscopy indicated a decrease in fiber stress as a function of modification of silicone polymer and the interaction pH. It is concluded that the protonated amine functional silicone (below pH 7) as well as the quaternized silicone interacts with the negatively charged cellulose fibers primarily through electrostatic interactions. It is proposed that this initial surface coating is a uniform thin film which allows further deposition of polymer from the emulsion. It was observed that at high pH the zetapotential of silicone emulsions decreases drastically and the nano emulsions turn turbid. It is proposed that the observed electrophoretic and nephelometric behavior at high pH is due to flocculation of nanosized droplets to micron size, which eventually leads to droplets coalescing and emulsion destabilization. It is also postulated that the nano emulsion possess a critical dilution concentration (CDC), above which dilution leads to rapid coalescence. This critical dilution phase was further confirmed through polarity parameter and excimer formation studies which show significantly different polymer and surfactant microstructures near the CDC. Hence it is concluded that the observed surface properties of the substrate obtained above the CDC are significantly different than those below the CDC. The results reveal the vital role of physiochemical parameters such as pH, droplet size, and concentration on the emulsion stability as well as the observed physical/chemical properties of the substrates.

Jumbo squid beaks: inspiration for design of robust organic composites.

PubMed

Miserez, Ali; Li, Youli; Waite, J Herbert; Zok, Frank

2007-01-01

The hard tissues found in some invertebrate marine organisms represent intriguing paradigms for robust, lightweight materials. The present study focuses on one such tissue: that comprising the beak of the jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas). Its main constituents are chitin fibers (15-20wt.%) and histidine- and glycine-rich proteins (40-45%). Notably absent are mineral phases, metals and halogens. Despite being fully organic, beak hardness and stiffness are at least twice those of the most competitive synthetic organic materials (notably engineering polymers) and comparable to those of Glycera and Nereis jaws. Furthermore, the combination of hardness and stiffness makes the beaks more resistant to plastic deformation when in contact with blunt abrasives than virtually all metals and polymers. The 3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine and abundant histidine content in the beak proteins as well as the pigmented hydrolysis-resistant residue are suggestive of aromatic cross-linking. A high cross-linking density between the proteins and chitin may be the single most important determinant of hardness and stiffness in the beak. Beak microstructure is characterized by a lamellar arrangement of the constituents, with a weak interface that promotes crack deflection and endows the structure with high fracture toughness. The susceptibility of this microstructure to cracking along these interfaces from contact stresses at the external surface is mitigated by the presence of a protective coating.

Fatigue failure processes in aligned carbon-epoxy laminates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piggott, Michael R.; Lam, Patrick W. K.

The failure mechanism involved in the tensile-tensile fatigue of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrices may be initiated by the fiber curvature that can be present in the composite. The varying stresses encountered in fatigue begin to damage the composite at the antinodes of the fiber profiles, perhaps in the form of fiber debonds that generate matrix cracks and result in comminution of the polymer; eventually, as the process proceeds, the flexural stresses in the fiber are sufficiently great to cause early fiber failure in wavy regions. The breaks are connected by splits in the polymer.

Rotational relaxation time as unifying time scale for polymer and fiber drag reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boelens, A. M. P.; Muthukumar, M.

2016-05-01

Using hybrid direct numerical simulation plus Langevin dynamics, a comparison is performed between polymer and fiber stress tensors in turbulent flow. The stress tensors are found to be similar, suggesting a common drag reducing mechanism in the onset regime for both flexible polymers and rigid fibers. Since fibers do not have an elastic backbone, this must be a viscous effect. Analysis of the viscosity tensor reveals that all terms are negligible, except the off-diagonal shear viscosity associated with rotation. Based on this analysis, we identify the rotational orientation time as the unifying time scale setting a new time criterion for drag reduction by both flexible polymers and rigid fibers.

Rotational relaxation time as unifying time scale for polymer and fiber drag reduction.

PubMed

Boelens, A M P; Muthukumar, M

2016-05-01

Using hybrid direct numerical simulation plus Langevin dynamics, a comparison is performed between polymer and fiber stress tensors in turbulent flow. The stress tensors are found to be similar, suggesting a common drag reducing mechanism in the onset regime for both flexible polymers and rigid fibers. Since fibers do not have an elastic backbone, this must be a viscous effect. Analysis of the viscosity tensor reveals that all terms are negligible, except the off-diagonal shear viscosity associated with rotation. Based on this analysis, we identify the rotational orientation time as the unifying time scale setting a new time criterion for drag reduction by both flexible polymers and rigid fibers.

Novel hybrid columns made of ultra-high performance concrete and fiber reinforced polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zohrevand, Pedram

The application of advanced materials in infrastructure has grown rapidly in recent years mainly because of their potential to ease the construction, extend the service life, and improve the performance of structures. Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is one such material considered as a novel alternative to conventional concrete. The material microstructure in UHPC is optimized to significantly improve its material properties including compressive and tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, durability, and damage tolerance. Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite is another novel construction material with excellent properties such as high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios and good corrosion resistance. Considering the exceptional properties of UHPC and FRP, many advantages can result from the combined application of these two advanced materials, which is the subject of this research. The confinement behavior of UHPC was studied for the first time in this research. The stress-strain behavior of a series of UHPC-filled fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) tubes with different fiber types and thicknesses were tested under uniaxial compression. The FRP confinement was shown to significantly enhance both the ultimate strength and strain of UHPC. It was also shown that existing confinement models are incapable of predicting the behavior of FRP-confined UHPC. Therefore, new stress-strain models for FRP-confined UHPC were developed through an analytical study. In the other part of this research, a novel steel-free UHPC-filled FRP tube (UHPCFFT) column system was developed and its cyclic behavior was studied. The proposed steel-free UHPCFFT column showed much higher strength and stiffness, with a reasonable ductility, as compared to its conventional reinforced concrete (RC) counterpart. Using the results of the first phase of column tests, a second series of UHPCFFT columns were made and studied under pseudo-static loading to study the effect of column parameters on the cyclic behavior of UHPCFFT columns. Strong correlations were noted between the initial stiffness and the stiffness index, and between the moment capacity and the reinforcement index. Finally, a thorough analytical study was carried out to investigate the seismic response of the proposed steel-free UHPCFFT columns, which showed their superior earthquake resistance, as compared to their RC counterparts.

Polymer concrete reinforced with recycled-tire fibers: Mechanical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martínez-Cruz, E.; Martínez-Barrera, G.; Martínez-López, M.

2013-06-01

Polymer Concrete was reinforced with recycled-tire fibers in order to improve the compressive and flexural strength. Polymer concrete specimens were prepared with 70% of silicious sand, 30% of polyester resin and various fiber concentrations (0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 vol%). The results show increment of 50% in average of the compressive and flexural strength as well as on the deformation when adding 1.2 vol% of recycled-fibers.

Influence of Size on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of an AISI 304L Stainless Steel—A Comparison between Bulk and Fibers

PubMed Central

Baldenebro-Lopez, Francisco J.; Gomez-Esparza, Cynthia D.; Corral-Higuera, Ramon; Arredondo-Rea, Susana P.; Pellegrini-Cervantes, Manuel J.; Ledezma-Sillas, Jose E.; Martinez-Sanchez, Roberto; Herrera-Ramirez, Jose M.

2015-01-01

In this work, the mechanical properties and microstructural features of an AISI 304L stainless steel in two presentations, bulk and fibers, were systematically studied in order to establish the relationship among microstructure, mechanical properties, manufacturing process and effect on sample size. The microstructure was analyzed by XRD, SEM and TEM techniques. The strength, Young’s modulus and elongation of the samples were determined by tensile tests, while the hardness was measured by Vickers microhardness and nanoindentation tests. The materials have been observed to possess different mechanical and microstructural properties, which are compared and discussed. PMID:28787949

Fabrication of fiber supported ionic liquids and methods of use

DOEpatents

Luebke, David R; Wickramanayake, Shan

2013-02-26

One or more embodiments relates to the production of a fabricated fiber having an asymmetric polymer network and having an immobilized liquid such as an ionic liquid within the pores of the polymer network. The process produces the fabricated fiber in a dry-wet spinning process using a homogenous dope solution, providing significant advantage over current fabrication methods for liquid-supporting polymers. The fabricated fibers may be effectively utilized for the separation of a chemical species from a mixture based on the selection of the polymer, the liquid, and the solvent utilized in the dope.

Dual-hole unit-based kagome lattice microstructure fiber for low-loss and highly birefringent terahertz guidance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasan, Md. Rabiul; Akter, Sanjida; Khatun, Tania; Rifat, Ahmmed A.; Anower, Md. Shamim

2017-04-01

A low-loss microstructure fiber is numerically investigated for convenient transmission of polarization maintaining terahertz (THz) waves. The dual-hole units (DHUs) are used inside the core of the kagome lattice microstructure to achieve high birefringence and low effective material loss (EML). It is demonstrated that by rotating the axis of orientation of the DHUs, it is possible to obtain low EML of 0.052 cm-1, low confinement loss of 0.01 cm-1, and high birefringence of 0.0354 at 0.85 THz. It is also reported that the transmission properties of the proposed microstructure fiber are varied with rotation angle, core diameter, and operating frequencies. Other guiding characteristics, such as single-mode propagation, power fraction, and dispersion, are also discussed thoroughly.

Tapered chalcogenide-tellurite hybrid microstructured fiber for mid-infrared supercontinuum generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Peilong; Zhang, Peiqing; Dai, Shixun; Wu, Yuehao; Wang, Xunsi; Tao, Guangming; Nie, Qiuhua

2015-05-01

Fibers exhibiting flattened and decreasing dispersion are important in nonlinear applications. Such fibers are difficult to design, particularly in soft glass. In this work, we develop a preliminary design of a highly nonlinear tapered hybrid microstructured optical fiber (TH-MOF) with chalcogenide glass core and tellurite glass microstructure cladding. We then numerically studied its dispersion, loss, and nonlinearity-related optical properties under fundamental mode systematically using the infinitesimal method. The designed TH-MOF exhibits low chromatic dispersion that is similar to a convex function with two zero-dispersion wavelengths and decreases with fiber length from 2 to 5 μm band. The potential use of the TH-MOF in nonlinear applications is demonstrated numerically by a supercontinuum spectrum of 20 dB bandwidth covering 1.96-4.76 μm generated in 2-cm-long TH-MOF using near 3.25-μm fs-laser pump.

Fabrication of Polyvinylpyrrolidone Fibers by Means of Rotary Forcespinning Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andjani, D.; Sriyanti, I.; Fauzi, A.; Edikresnha, D.; Munir, M. M.; Khairurrijal

2018-05-01

Fibers made from polymer materials have been widely developed as a carrier medium of active ingredients in drug delivery systems. In this research, PVP polymer was chosen because of its wide and safe use in the medical field. The purpose of this study was to produce PVP fibers that can later be applied as a carrier of active ingredients in drug delivery systems. The rotary forcespinning (RFS) method was chosen to shorten the time of production and to overcome the limitations of electrospinning method such as the use of high voltage and dielectric solutions. The PVP solution was varied in several concentrations (8 wt%, 10 wt%, 12 wt%, 14 wt%, 16 wt%, and 18 wt%) to achieve the best fibers morphology. The morphology and the diameter of fibers were analyzed using a digital microscope. From the microscope images, it can be shown that beaded fibers were formed when the concentration of polymer in the precursor solution was low. The number of beads decreased as the concentration of polymer increased. Beads-free fibers were fully formed at above certain polymer concentration.

Effect of surface modification of fibers with a polymer coating on the interlaminar shear strength of a composite and the translation of fiber strength in an F-12 aramid/epoxy composite vessel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shu-hui, Zhang; Guo-zheng, Liang; Wei, Zhang; Jin-fang, Zeng

2006-11-01

The surface of aramid fibers was modified with a polymer coating — a surface treatment reagent containing epoxy resin. The resulting fibers were examined by using NOL tests, hydroburst tests, and the scanning electron microscopy. The modified fibers had a rougher surface than the untreated ones. The interlaminar shear strength of an aramid-fiber-reinforced epoxy composite was highest when the concentration of polymer coating system was 5%. The translation of fiber strength in an aramid/epoxy composite vessel was improved by 8%. The mechanism of the surface treatment of fibers in improving the mechanical properties of aramid/epoxy composites is discussed.

An engineering, multiscale constitutive model for fiber-forming collagen in tension.

PubMed

Annovazzi, Lorella; Genna, Francesco

2010-01-01

This work proposes a nonlinear constitutive model for a single collagen fiber. Fiber-forming collagen can exhibit different hierarchies of basic units, called fascicles, bundles, fibrils, microfibrils, and so forth, down to the molecular (tropocollagen) level. Exploiting the fact that at each hierarchy level the microstructure can be seen, at least approximately, as that of a wavy, or crimped, extensible cable, the proposed stress-strain model considers a given number of levels, each of which contributes to the overall mechanical behavior according to its own geometrical features (crimp, or waviness), as well as to the basic mechanical properties of the tropocollagen. The crimp features at all levels are assumed to be random variables, whose statistical integration furnishes a stress-strain curve for a collagen fiber. The soundness of this model-the first, to the Authors' knowledge, to treat a single collagen fiber as a microstructured nonlinear structural element-is checked by its application to collagen fibers for which experimental results are available: rat tail tendon, periodontal ligament, and engineered ones. Here, no attempt is made to obtain a stress-strain law for generic collagenous tissues, which exhibit specific features, often much more complex than those of a single fiber. However, it is trivial to observe that the availability of a sound, microstructurally based constitutive law for a single collagen fiber (but applicable at any sub-level, or to any other material with a similar microstructure) is essential for assembling complex constitutive models for any collagenous fibrous tissue.

Fundamentals of poly(lactic acid) microstructure, crystallization behavior, and properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Shuhui

Poly(lactic acid) is an environmentally-benign biodegradable and sustainable thermoplastic material, which has found broad applications as food packaging films and as non-woven fibers. The crystallization and deformation mechanisms of the polymer are largely determined by the distribution of conformation and configuration. Knowledge of these mechanisms is needed to understand the mechanical and thermal properties on which processing conditions mainly depend. In conjunction with laser light scattering, Raman spectroscopy and normal coordinate analysis are used in this thesis to elucidate these properties. Vibrational spectroscopic theory, Flory's rotational isomeric state (RIS) theory, Gaussian chain statistics and statistical mechanics are used to relate experimental data to molecular chain structure. A refined RIS model is proposed, chain rigidity recalculated and chain statistics discussed. A Raman spectroscopic characterization method for crystalline and amorphous phase orientation has been developed. A shrinkage model is also proposed to interpret the dimensional stability for fibers and uni- or biaxially stretched films. A study of stereocomplexation formed by poly(l-lactic acid) and poly(d-lactic acid) is also presented.

Finite deformation of incompressible fiber-reinforced elastomers: A computational micromechanics approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moraleda, Joaquín; Segurado, Javier; LLorca, Javier

2009-09-01

The in-plane finite deformation of incompressible fiber-reinforced elastomers was studied using computational micromechanics. Composite microstructure was made up of a random and homogeneous dispersion of aligned rigid fibers within a hyperelastic matrix. Different matrices (Neo-Hookean and Gent), fibers (monodisperse or polydisperse, circular or elliptical section) and reinforcement volume fractions (10-40%) were analyzed through the finite element simulation of a representative volume element of the microstructure. A successive remeshing strategy was employed when necessary to reach the large deformation regime in which the evolution of the microstructure influences the effective properties. The simulations provided for the first time "quasi-exact" results of the in-plane finite deformation for this class of composites, which were used to assess the accuracy of the available homogenization estimates for incompressible hyperelastic composites.

Fracture behavior of glass fiber reinforced polymer composite

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Avci, A.; Arikan, H.; Akdemir, A

2004-03-01

Chopped strand glass fiber reinforced particle-filled polymer composite beams with varying notch-to-depth ratios and different volume fractions of glass fibers were investigated in Mode I fracture using three-point bending tests. Effects of polyester resin content and glass fiber content on fracture behavior was also studied. Polyester resin contents were used 13.00%%, 14.75%, 16.50%, 18.00% and 19.50%, and glass fiber contents were 1% and 1.5% of the total weight of the polymer composite system. Flexural strength of the polymer composite increases with increase in polyester and fiber content. The critical stress intensity factor was determined by using several methods such asmore » initial notch depth method, compliance method and J-integral method. The values of K{sub IC} obtained from these methods were compared.« less

Microstructure characterization based on the type of deformed grains in cold-rolled, Cu-added, bake-hardenable steel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, J.S.; Kim, S.I.; Choi, S.-H., E-mail: shihoon@sunchon.ac.kr

2014-06-01

The electron backscatter diffraction technique has been used to characterize the microstructure of deformed grains in cold-rolled, Cu-added, bake-hardenable steel. A new scheme based on the kind and number of average orientations, as determined from a unique grain map of the deformed grains, was developed in order to classify deformed grains by type. The α-fiber components, γ-fiber components and random orientations, those which could not be assigned to either γ-fiber or α-fiber components, were used to define the average orientation of unique grains within individual deformed grains. The microstructures of deformed grains in as-rolled specimens were analyzed based on themore » Taylor factor, stored energy, and misorientation. The relative levels and distributions of the Taylor factor, the stored energy and the misorientation were examined in terms of the types of deformed grains. - Highlights: • We characterized the microstructure of Cu-added BH steel using EBSD. • A new scheme was developed in order to classify deformed grains by type. • Stored energy and misorientation are strongly dependent on the type of deformed grains. • Microstructure was examined in terms of the types of deformed grains.« less

Dielectric Characteristics of Microstructural Changes and Property Evolution in Engineered Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clifford, Jallisa Janet

Heterogeneous materials are increasingly used in a wide range of applications such as aerospace, civil infrastructure, fuel cells and many others. The ability to take properties from two or more materials to create a material with properties engineered to needs is always very attractive. Hence heterogeneous materials are evolving into more complex formulations in multiple disciplines. Design of microstructure at multiple scales control the global functional properties of these materials and their structures. However, local microstructural changes do not directly cause a proportional change to the global properties (such as strength and stiffness). Instead, local changes follow an evolution process including significant interactions. Therefore, in order to understand property evolution of engineered materials, microstructural changes need to be effectively captured. Characterizing these changes and representing them by material variables will enable us to further improve our material level understanding. In this work, we will demonstrate how microstructural features of heterogeneous materials can be described quantitatively using broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BbDS). The frequency dependent dielectric properties can capture the change in material microstructure and represent these changes in terms of material variables, such as complex permittivity. These changes in terms of material properties can then be linked to a number of different conditions, such as increasing damage due to impact or fatigue. Two different broadband dielectric spectroscopy scanning modes are presented: bulk measurements and continuous scanning to measure dielectric property change as a function of position across the specimen. In this study, we will focus on ceramic materials and fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites as test bed material systems. In the first part of the thesis, we will present how different micro-structural design of porous ceramic materials can be captured quantitatively using BbDS. These materials are typically used in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Results show significant effect of microstructural design on material properties at multiple temperatures (up to 800 °C). In the later part of the thesis, we will focus on microstructural changes of fiber reinforced composite materials due to impact and static loading. The changes in dielectric response can then be linked to the bulk mechanical properties of the material and various damage modes. Observing trends in dielectric response enables us to further determine local mechanisms and distribution of properties throughout the damaged specimens. A 3D X-ray microscope and a digital microscope have been used to visualize these changes in material microstructure and validate experimental observations. The increase in damage observed in the material microstructure can then also be linked to the changes in dielectric response. Results show that BbDS is an extremely useful tool for identifying microstructural changes within a heterogeneous material and particularly useful in relating remaining properties. Dielectric material variables can be used directly in property degradation laws and help develop a framework for future predictive modeling methodologies.

FAST TRACK COMMUNICATION: Poly(methyl methacrylate)-palladium clusters nanocomposite formation by supersonic cluster beam deposition: a method for microstructured metallization of polymer surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ravagnan, Luca; Divitini, Giorgio; Rebasti, Sara; Marelli, Mattia; Piseri, Paolo; Milani, Paolo

2009-04-01

Nanocomposite films were fabricated by supersonic cluster beam deposition (SCBD) of palladium clusters on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surfaces. The evolution of the electrical conductance with cluster coverage and microscopy analysis show that Pd clusters are implanted in the polymer and form a continuous layer extending for several tens of nanometres beneath the polymer surface. This allows the deposition, using stencil masks, of cluster-assembled Pd microstructures on PMMA showing a remarkably high adhesion compared with metallic films obtained by thermal evaporation. These results suggest that SCBD is a promising tool for the fabrication of metallic microstructures on flexible polymeric substrates.

Rheology and microstructure of filled polymer melts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, Benjamin John

The states of particle dispersion in polymer nanocomposite melts are studied through rheological characterization of nanocomposite melt mechanical properties and small angle X-ray scattering measurement of the particle microstructure. The particle microstructure probed with scattering is related to bulk flow mechanics to determine the origin of slow dynamics in these complex dispersions: whether a gel or glass transition or a slowing down of dispersing phase dynamics. These studies were conducted to understand polymer mediated particle-particle interactions and potential particle-polymer phase separation. The phase behavior of the dispersion will be governed by enthalpic and entropic contributions. A variety of phases are expected: homogeneous fluid, phase separated, or non-equilibrium gel. The effects of dispersion control parameters, namely particle volume fraction, polymer molecular weight, and polymer-particle surface affinity, on the phase behavior of 44 nm silica dispersions are studied in low molecular weight polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyethylene oxide dimethylether (PEODME), and polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF). Scattering measurements of the particle second virial coefficient in PEO melts indicates repulsive particles by a value slightly greater than unity. In PEO nanocomposites, dispersion dynamics slow down witnessed by a plateau in the elastic modulus as the particle separation approaches the length scale of the polymer radius of gyration. As the polymer molecular weight is increased, the transition shifts to lower particle volume fractions. Below polymer entanglement, the slow dynamics mimics that of a colloidal glass by the appearance of two relaxation times in the viscous modulus that display power law scaling with volume fraction. Above entanglement, the slow dynamics is qualitatively different resembling the behavior of a gelled suspension yet lacking any sign of scattering from particle agglomerates. As polymer molecular weight is increased at a fixed volume fraction, two strain yielding events emerge. Further particle loading leads to the formation of a particle-polymer network and the onset of brittle mechanical behavior. The performance of PEO nanocomposites is contrasted by PEODME and PTHF nanocomposites where a change in the polymer segment-surface activity changes the slow dynamics of the nanocomposite and the microstructure of particles in the melt. Slow dynamics and the particle microstructure indicate a gelled suspension as volume fraction is raised with particles in or near contact and support the turning on of particle attractions in the melt.

Processes for preparing carbon fibers using sulfur trioxide in a halogenated solvent

DOEpatents

Patton, Jasson T.; Barton, Bryan E.; Bernius, Mark T.; Chen, Xiaoyun; Hukkanen, Eric J.; Rhoton, Christina A.; Lysenko, Zenon

2015-12-29

Disclosed here are processes for preparing carbonized polymers (preferably carbon fibers), comprising sulfonating a polymer with a sulfonating agent that comprises SO.sub.3 dissolved in a solvent to form a sulfonated polymer; treating the sulfonated polymer with a heated solvent, wherein the temperature of the solvent is at least 95.degree. C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 500-3000.degree. C. Carbon fibers made according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

Biocompatible, Biodegradable Polymers for Use in Bone Repair,

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-01-01

as intact polymers and because their degradation products are carbon dioxide and water. 7 B. Microstructure, Morphology, Synthesis The microstructure...Hydrophilic flIe x iblIe 0 6. Carbonate R-O-C-O-R Hydrophilic r ig id Hollinger Ibav %lark page 15 D. Potential Biodegradable Polymers For producing high...diacids or hydroxvacids. Lactone rings with three to six carbons within the ring can be used as monomers. This limits the ratio ot sp4 to sp2 carbons

Electrospun cross linked rosin fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baek, Woo-il; Nirmala, R.; Barakat, Nasser A. M.; El-Newehy, Mohamed H.; Al-Deyab, Salem S.; Kim, Hak Yong

2011-12-01

In this study, we describe the first reported preparation of rosin in fiber form through use of an electrospinning technique utilizing various solvent systems. The polymer concentration of the formed fiber was studied by using various solvents such as chloroform, ethanol, N-N dimethylformamide (DMF), tetrahydrofuran (THF), acetone, and methylene chloride (MC). An electrospray of the solution resulted in the beaded form of the rosin. By varying the polymer concentration with MC, we were then able to obtain uniform fibers. However, the fibers exhibited large diameter. We believe that it is possible to reduce the diameter of the rosin fibers through appropriate selection of electrospinning parameters. In addition, the morphological transitions from beads, to beaded fiber, to fiber were studied at different polymer concentrations. We propose a possible physical cross linking mechanism for the formation of rosin fibers during the electrospinning process. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of producing fiber nanostructures of rosin by using an electrospinning technique.

Hydrothermal Growth of ZnO Nanowires on UV-Nanoimprinted Polymer Structures.

PubMed

Park, Sooyeon; Moore, Sean A; Lee, Jaejong; Song, In-Hyouk; Farshchian, Bahador; Kim, Namwon

2018-05-01

Integration of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires on miniaturized polymer structures can broaden its application in multi-functional polymer devices by taking advantages of unique physical properties of ZnO nanowires and recent development of polymer microstructures in analytical systems. In this paper, we demonstrate the hydrothermal growth of ZnO nanowires on polymer microstructures fabricated by UV nanoimprinting lithography (NIL) using a polyurethane acrylate (PUA). Since PUA is a siloxane-urethane-acrylate compound containing the alpha-hydroxyl ketone, UV-cured PUA include carboxyl groups, which inhibit and suppress the nucleation and growth of ZnO nanowires on polymer structures. The presence of carboxyl groups in UV-cured PUA was substantiated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and a Ag thin film was deposited on the nanoimprinted polymer structures to limit their inhibitive influence on the growth of ZnO nanowires. Furthermore, the naturally oxidized Ag layer (Ag2O) reduced crystalline lattice mismatches at the interface between ZnO-Ag during the seed annealing process. The ZnO nanowires grown on the Ag-deposited PUA microstructures were found to have comparable morphological characteristics with ZnO nanowires grown on a Si wafer.

Development of dialyzer with immobilized glycoconjugate polymers for removal of Shiga-toxin.

PubMed

Miyagawa, Atsushi; Watanabe, Miho; Igai, Katsura; Kasuya, Maria Carmelita Z; Natori, Yasuhiro; Nishikawa, Kiyotaka; Hatanaka, Kenichi

2006-06-01

The dialyzer for Shiga-toxin elimination was developed and its performance was established. The dialyzer was prepared by immobilization of multivalent ligands. Glycoconjugate polymers having oligosaccharides and amino groups were synthesized to function as Shiga-toxin adsorbents. The amino group was utilized to immobilize the polymer inside the cellulose hollow fiber of the dialyzer. Cellulose hollow fibers packed in the dialyzer were carboxymethylated under moderate conditions. The glycoconjugate polymers were bound covalently to the hollow fibers of the dialyzer by condensation reaction between the amino group of the polymer and the carboxyl group of the cellulose hollow fiber. Shiga-toxin eliminabilities of the prepared dialyzers were evaluated at various conditions. Even at high concentration of protein such as FCS, the dialyzer showed an excellent performance for Shiga-toxin adsorption.

In situ polymerization of monomers for polyphenylquinoxaline/graphite fiber composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Serafini, T. T.; Delvigs, P.; Vannucci, R. D.

1974-01-01

Methods currently used to prepare fiber reinforced, high temperature resistant polyphenylquinoxaline (PPQ) composites employ extremely viscous, low solids content solutions of high molecular weight PPQ polymers. An improved approach, described in this report, consists of impregnating the fiber with a solution of the appropriate monomers instead of a solution of previously synthesized high molecular weight polymer. Polymerization of the monomers occurs in situ on the fiber during the solvent removal and curing stages. The in situ polymerization approach greatly simplifies the fabrication of PPQ graphite fiber composites. The use of low viscosity monomeric type solutions facilitates fiber wetting, permits a high solids content, and eliminates the need for prior polymer synthesis.

Formation of Foam-like Microstructural Carbon Material by Carbonization of Porous Coordination Polymers through a Ligand-Assisted Foaming Process.

PubMed

Kongpatpanich, Kanokwan; Horike, Satoshi; Fujiwara, Yu-Ichi; Ogiwara, Naoki; Nishihara, Hirotomo; Kitagawa, Susumu

2015-09-14

Porous carbon material with a foam-like microstructure has been synthesized by direct carbonization of porous coordination polymer (PCP). In situ generation of foaming agents by chemical reactions of ligands in PCP during carbonization provides a simple way to create lightweight carbon material with a foam-like microstructure. Among several substituents investigated, the nitro group has been shown to be the key to obtain the unique foam-like microstructure, which is due to the fast kinetics of gas evolution during carbonization. Foam-like microstructural carbon materials showed higher pore volume and specific capacitance compared to a microporous carbon. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Experimental research on continuous basalt fiber and basalt-fibers-reinforced polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xueyi; Zou, Guangping; Shen, Zhiqiang

2008-11-01

The interest for continuous basalt fibers and reinforced polymers has recently grown because of its low price and rich natural resource. Basalt fiber was one type of high performance inorganic fibers which were made from natural basalt by the method of melt extraction. This paper discusses basic mechanical properties of basalt fiber. The other work in this paper was to conduct tensile testing of continuous basalt fiber-reinforced polymer rod. Tensile strength and stress-strain curve were obtained in this testing. The strength of rod was fairly equal to rod of E-glass fibers and weaker than rod of carbon fibers. Surface of crack of rod was studied. An investigation of fracture mechanism between matrix and fiber was analyzed by SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) method. A poor adhesion between the matrix and fibers was also shown for composites analyzing SEM photos. The promising tensile properties of the presented basalt fibers composites have shown their great potential as alternative classical composites.

Repair and Rehabilitation of Dams: Case Studies

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-09-01

with fiber - reinforced , acrylic- polymer modi- fied concrete (FRAPMC) and eliminating leakage into the trunnion recesses. FRAPMC consists of mortar...coarse aggregate, and reinforcement fibers . It is mixed in a mortar mixer as a two-component system consisting of a liquid polymer emulsion of...seat was removed and replaced with fiber - reinforced , acrylic- polymer modified concrete (FRAPMC). New bridge seats were installed, allowing for more

Analysis of Two Methods for Characterization of Flame Resistant Military Fabrics and Commercial Textile Fibers: Simultaneous DSC-TGA and Pyrolysis GCMS

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-04

military clothing and shelters. Thus, higher demands are put on the industry to improve the flame-resistant (FR) properties of high performance...polymers under development for military clothing and individual equipment and fabric shelters: (1) simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry...ANSI Std. Z39.18 GC/MS POLYMERS POLYMER FIBERS PROTECTIVE CLOTHING FIBERS

Bisphenyl-Polymer/Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Composite Compared to Titanium Alloy Bone Implant

PubMed Central

Petersen, Richard C.

2014-01-01

Aerospace/aeronautical thermoset bisphenyl-polymer/carbon-fiber-reinforced composites are considered as new advanced materials to replace metal bone implants. In addition to well-recognized nonpolar chemistry with related bisphenol-polymer estrogenic factors, carbon-fiber-reinforced composites can offer densities and electrical conductivity/resistivity properties close to bone with strengths much higher than metals on a per-weight basis. In vivo bone-marrow tests with Sprague-Dawley rats revealed far-reaching significant osseoconductivity increases from bisphenyl-polymer/carbon-fiber composites when compared to state-of-the-art titanium-6-4 alloy controls. Midtibial percent bone area measured from the implant surface increased when comparing the titanium alloy to the polymer composite from 10.5% to 41.6% at 0.8 mm, P < 10−4, and 19.3% to 77.7% at 0.1 mm, P < 10−8. Carbon-fiber fragments planned to occur in the test designs, instead of producing an inflammation, stimulated bone formation and increased bone integration to the implant. In addition, low-thermal polymer processing allows incorporation of minerals and pharmaceuticals for future major tissue-engineering potential. PMID:25553057

Bisphenyl-Polymer/Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Composite Compared to Titanium Alloy Bone Implant.

PubMed

Petersen, Richard C

2011-05-03

Aerospace/aeronautical thermoset bisphenyl-polymer/carbon-fiber-reinforced composites are considered as new advanced materials to replace metal bone implants. In addition to well-recognized nonpolar chemistry with related bisphenol-polymer estrogenic factors, carbon-fiber-reinforced composites can offer densities and electrical conductivity/resistivity properties close to bone with strengths much higher than metals on a per-weight basis. In vivo bone-marrow tests with Sprague-Dawley rats revealed far-reaching significant osseoconductivity increases from bisphenyl-polymer/carbon-fiber composites when compared to state-of-the-art titanium-6-4 alloy controls. Midtibial percent bone area measured from the implant surface increased when comparing the titanium alloy to the polymer composite from 10.5% to 41.6% at 0.8 mm, P < 10 -4 , and 19.3% to 77.7% at 0.1 mm, P < 10 -8 . Carbon-fiber fragments planned to occur in the test designs, instead of producing an inflammation, stimulated bone formation and increased bone integration to the implant. In addition, low-thermal polymer processing allows incorporation of minerals and pharmaceuticals for future major tissue-engineering potential.

Evaluation of Multi-Functional Materials for Deep Space Radiation Shielding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rojdev, Kristina; Atwell, William; Wilkins, Richard; Gersey, Brad; Badavi, Francis F.

2009-01-01

Small scale trade study of materials for radiation shielding: a) High-hydrogen polymers; b) Z-graded materials; c) Fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Discussed multi-functionality of fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Preliminary results of ground testing data.

Investigation of drug release and matrix degradation of electrospun poly(DL-lactide) fibers with paracetanol inoculation.

PubMed

Cui, Wenguo; Li, Xiaohong; Zhu, Xinli; Yu, Guo; Zhou, Shaobing; Weng, Jie

2006-05-01

This study was aimed at assessing the potential use of electrospun fibers as drug delivery vehicles with focus on the different diameters and drug contents to control drug release and polymer fiber degradation. A drug-loaded solvent-casting polymer film was made with an average thickness of 100 microm for comparative purposes. DSC analysis indicated that electrospun fibers had a lower T(g) but higher transition enthalpy than solvent-casting polymer film due to the inner stress and high degree of alignment and orientation of polymer chains caused by the electrospinning process. Inoculation of paracetanol led to a further slight decrease in the T(g) and transition enthalpy. An in vitro drug release study showed that a pronounced burst release or steady release phase was initially observed followed by a plateau or gradual release during the rest time. Fibers with a larger diameter exhibited a longer period of nearly zero order release, and higher drug encapsulation led to a more significant burst release after incubation. In vitro degradation showed that the smaller diameter and higher drug entrapment led to more significant changes of morphologies. The electrospun fiber mat showed almost no molecular weight reduction, but mass loss was observed for fibers with small and medium size, which was characterized with surface erosion and inconsistent with the ordinarily polymer degrading form. Further wetting behavior analysis showed that the high water repellent property of electrospun fibers led to much slower water penetration into the fiber mat, which may contribute to the degradation profiles of surface erosion. The specific degradation profile and adjustable drug release behaviors by variation of fiber characteristics made the electrospun nonwoven mat a potential drug delivery system rather than polymer films and particles.

A unique skeletal microstructure of the deep-sea micrabaciid scleractinian corals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janiszewska, Katarzyna; Stolarski, Jaroslaw; Benzerara, Karim; Meibom, Anders; Mazur, Maciej; Kitahara, Marcelo; Cairns, Stephen D.

2010-05-01

Structural and biogeochemical properties of the skeleton of many invertebrates rely on organic matrix-mediated biomineralization processes. Organic matrices, composed of complex assemblages of macromolecules (proteins, polysaccharides), may control nucleation, spatial delineation and organization of basic microstructural units. Biologically controlled mineralization is also suggested for the scleractinian corals whose different, molecularly recognized clades are supported by distinct types of skeletal microstructures. Main differences in scleractinian coral skeletal microstructures suggested so far consist in (1) varying spatial relationships between Rapid Accretion Deposits (RAD, 'centers of calcification') and thickening deposits (TD, 'fibers'), and (2) varying arrangements of biomineral fibers into higher order structures (e.g., bundles of fibers perpendicular to skeletal surfaces in some 'caryophylliid' corals vs. scale-like units with fibers parallel to the surface in acroporiids). However, a common feature of biomineral fibers in corals described thus far was their similar crystallographic arrangement within larger meso-scale structures (bundles of fibers) and continuity between successive growth layers. Herein we show that representatives of the deep-sea scleractinian family Micrabaciidae (genera: Letepsammia, Rhombopsammia, Stephanophyllia, Leptopenus) have thickening deposits composed of irregular meshwork of short (1-2 μm) and extremely thin (ca. 100-300 nm) fibers organized into small bundles (ca. 1-2 μm thick). Longer axes of fibers are aligned within individual bundles that, in turn, show rather irregular arrangement on the growing surfaces and within the skeleton (irregular criss-cross pattern). In contrast to other scleractinians (including deep-water 'caryophylliids', fungiacyathids, and anthemiphyllids sympatric with micrabaciids), growth layers are not distinct. Also the regions of rapid accretion and thickening deposits are not clearly separated at the meso-scale. However, AFM and FESEM observations of RAD show nanogranular units (ca. 30-100 nm in diameter) typical of fast growing skeletal regions. Unique microstructural organization of the micrabaciid skeleton supports their monophyletic status (reinforced by macromorphological and molecular data), and points to a diversity of organic matrix-mediated biomineralization strategies in Scleractinia.

Multiple visible emissions by means of up-conversion process in a microstructured tellurite glass optical fiber.

PubMed

Boetti, Nadia G; Lousteau, Joris; Negro, Davide; Mura, Emanuele; Scarpignato, Gerardo; Abrate, Silvio; Milanese, Daniel

2012-02-27

We present a microstructured fiber whose 9 µm diameter core consists in three concentric rings made of three active glasses having different rare earth oxide dopants, Yb3+/Er3+, Yb3+/Tm3+ and Yb3+/Pr3+, respectively. Morphological and optical characterization of the optical fiber are presented. The photoluminescence spectrum is investigated for different pumping conditions using a commercial 980 nm laser diode. Tuning of the RGB (or white light) emission is demonstrated not only by adjusting the pump power but also by using an optical iris as spatial filter which, thanks to the microstructured core, also acts as a spectral filter.

Investigation of porous asphalt microstructure using optical and electron microscopy.

PubMed

Poulikakos, L D; Partl, M N

2010-11-01

Direct observations of porous asphalt concrete samples in their natural state using optical and electron microscopy techniques led to useful information regarding the microstructure of two mixes and indicated a relationship between microstructure and in situ performance. This paper presents evidence that suboptimal microstructure can lead to premature failure thus making a first step in defining well or suboptimal performing pavements with a bottom-up approach (microstructure). Laboratory and field compaction produce different samples in terms of the microstructure. Laboratory compaction using the gyratory method has produced more microcracks in mineral aggregates after the binder had cooled. Well-performing mixes used polymer-modified binders, had a more homogeneous void structure with fewer elongated voids and better interlocking of the aggregates. Furthermore, well-performing mixes showed better distribution of the mastic and better coverage of the aggregates with bitumen. Low vacuum scanning electron microscopy showed that styrene butadiene styrene polymer modification in binder exists in the form of discontinuous globules and not continuous networks. A reduction in the polymer phase was observed as a result of aging and in-service use. © 2010 The Authors Journal compilation © 2010 The Royal Microscopical Society.

Three-dimensional smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulation for injection molding flow of short fiber-reinforced polymer composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Liping; Lu, Gang; Chen, Dachuan; Li, Wenjun; Lu, Chunsheng

2017-07-01

This paper investigates the three-dimensional (3D) injection molding flow of short fiber-reinforced polymer composites using a smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulation method. The polymer melt was modeled as a power law fluid and the fibers were considered as rigid cylindrical bodies. The filling details and fiber orientation in the injection-molding process were studied. The results indicated that the SPH method could effectively predict the order of filling, fiber accumulation, and heterogeneous distribution of fibers. The SPH simulation also showed that fibers were mainly aligned to the flow direction in the skin layer and inclined to the flow direction in the core layer. Additionally, the fiber-orientation state in the simulation was quantitatively analyzed and found to be consistent with the results calculated by conventional tensor methods.

Microfabrication and Test of a Three-Dimensional Polymer Hydro-focusing Unit for Flow Cytometry Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yang, Ren; Feeback, Daniel L.; Wang, Wanjun

2004-01-01

This paper details a novel three-dimensional (3D) hydro-focusing micro cell sorter for micro flow cytometry applications. The unit was microfabricated by means of SU-8 3D lithography. The 3D microstructure for coaxial sheathing was designed, microfabricated, and tested. Three-dimensional hydro-focusing capability was demonstrated with an experiment to sort labeled tanned sheep erythrocytes (red blood cells). This polymer hydro-focusing microstructure is easily microfabricated and integrated with other polymer microfluidic structures.

Microfabrication and Test of a Three-Dimensional Polymer Hydro-Focusing Unit for Flow Cytometry Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yang, Ren; Feedback, Daniel L.; Wang, Wanjun

2004-01-01

This paper details a novel three-dimensional (3D) hydro-focusing micro cell sorter for micro flow cytometry applications. The unit was micro-fabricated by means of SU-8 3D lithography. The 3D microstructure for coaxial sheathing was designed, micro-fabricated, and tested. Three-dimensional hydrofocusing capability was demonstrated with an experiment to sort labeled tanned sheep erythrocytes (red blood cells). This polymer hydro-focusing microstructure is easily micro-fabricated and integrated with other polymer microfluidic structures.

Microstructural and strength stability of a developmental CVD SiC fiber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bhatt, Ramakrishna T.; Garg, Anita; Hull, David R.

1995-01-01

The effects of thermal exposure on the room temperature tensile strength and microstructure of a developmental 50 micron CVD SiC fiber have been studied. The fibers were heat treated between 600 and 2000 C in 0.1 MPa argon and air environments for up to 100 hr. In the as-fabricated condition, the fibers showed approximately 6 GPa tensile strength. After argon treatment, the fibers showed strength degradation after 1 hr exposure beyond 1000 C, but those exposed between 1600 and 2000 C retained approximately 2 GPa strength. TEM results showed microstructural changes both in the surface coating and SiC sheath. Flaws created by the rearrangement of carbon in the surface coating and growth of equiaxed SiC grain zone in the SiC sheath are the suggested mechanisms of strength degradation. After air treatment, fibers showed strength degradation after only 2 min exposure at 600 C. Strength retention after 2 min at 1500 C was approximately 2 GPa. Oxidation of the surface coating is the primary reason for strength degradation.

Architecturally defined scaffolds from synthetic collagen and elastin analogues for the fabrication of bioengineered tissues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caves, Jeffrey Morris

The microstructure and mechanics of collagen and elastin protein fiber networks dictate the mechanical responses of all soft tissues and related organ systems. In this project, we endeavored to meet or exceed native tissue biomechanical properties through mimicry of these extracellular matrix components with synthetic collagen fiber and a recombinant elastin-like protein polymer. Significantly, this work led to the development of a framework for the design and fabrication of protein-based tissue substitutes with enhanced strength, resilience, anisotropy, and more. We began with the development of a spinning process for scalable production of synthetic collagen fiber. Fiber with an elliptical cross-section of 53 +/- 14 by 21 +/- 3 mum and an ultimate tensile strength of 90 +/- 19 MPa was continuously produced at 60 meters per hour from an ultrafiltered collagen solution. The starting collagen concentration, flowrate, and needle size could be adjusted to control fiber size. The fiber was characterized with mechanical analysis, micro-differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, second harmonic generation analysis, and subcutaneous murine implant. We subsequently describe the scalable, semi-automated fabrication of elastin-like protein sheets reinforced with synthetic collagen fibers that can be positioned in a precisely defined three-dimensional hierarchical pattern. Multilamellar, fiber-reinforced elastic protein sheets were constructed with controlled fiber orientation and volume fraction. Structures were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and digital volumetric imaging. The effect of fiber orientation and volume fraction on Young's Modulus, yield stress, ultimate tensile stress, strain-to-failure, and resilience was evaluated in uniaxial tension. Increased fiber volume fraction and alignment with applied deformation significantly increased Young's Modulus, resilience, and yield stress. Highly extensible, elastic tissues display a functionally important mechanical transition from low to high modulus deformation at a strain dictated by the crimped microstructure of native collagen fiber. We report the fabrication of dense arrays of microcrimped synthetic collagen fiber embedded in elastin-like protein lamellae that mimic this aspect of tissue mechanics. Microcrimped fiber arrays were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and uniaxial tension analysis. Crimp wavelength was 143 +/- 5 mum. The degree of crimping was varied from 3.1% to 9.4%, and corresponded to mechanical modulus transitions at 4.6% and 13.3% strain. Up to 1000 cycles of tensile loading did not substantially alter microcrimp morphology. We designed and prototyped a series of small-diameter vascular grafts consisting of elastin-like protein reinforced with controlled volume fractions and orientations of collagen fiber. A pressure-diameter system was developed and implemented to study the effects of fiber distribution on graft mechanics. The optimal design satisfied target properties with suture retention strength of 173 +/- 4 g-f, burst strength of 1483 +/- 143 mm Hg, and compliance of 5.1 +/- 0.8 %/100 mm Hg.

Carbon nanotube fiber spun from wetted ribbon

DOEpatents

Zhu, Yuntian T; Arendt, Paul; Zhang, Xiefei; Li, Qingwen; Fu, Lei; Zheng, Lianxi

2014-04-29

A fiber of carbon nanotubes was prepared by a wet-spinning method involving drawing carbon nanotubes away from a substantially aligned, supported array of carbon nanotubes to form a ribbon, wetting the ribbon with a liquid, and spinning a fiber from the wetted ribbon. The liquid can be a polymer solution and after forming the fiber, the polymer can be cured. The resulting fiber has a higher tensile strength and higher conductivity compared to dry-spun fibers and to wet-spun fibers prepared by other methods.

3D Representative Volume Element Reconstruction of Fiber Composites via Orientation Tensor and Substructure Features

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Yi; Chen, Wei; Xu, Hongyi

To provide a seamless integration of manufacturing processing simulation and fiber microstructure modeling, two new stochastic 3D microstructure reconstruction methods are proposed for two types of random fiber composites: random short fiber composites, and Sheet Molding Compounds (SMC) chopped fiber composites. A Random Sequential Adsorption (RSA) algorithm is first developed to embed statistical orientation information into 3D RVE reconstruction of random short fiber composites. For the SMC composites, an optimized Voronoi diagram based approach is developed for capturing the substructure features of SMC chopped fiber composites. The proposed methods are distinguished from other reconstruction works by providing a way ofmore » integrating statistical information (fiber orientation tensor) obtained from material processing simulation, as well as capturing the multiscale substructures of the SMC composites.« less

Ytterbium-Phosphate Glass for Microstructured Fiber Laser

PubMed Central

Stępień, Ryszard; Franczyk, Marcin; Pysz, Dariusz; Kujawa, Ireneusz; Klimczak, Mariusz; Buczyński, Ryszard

2014-01-01

In the paper, we report on the development of a synthesis and melting method of phosphate glasses designed for active microstructured fiber manufacturing. Non-doped glass synthesized in a P2O5-Al2O3-BaO-ZnO-MgO-Na2O oxide system served as the matrix material; meanwhile, the glass was doped with 6 mol% (18 wt%) of Yb2O3, as fiber core. The glasses were well-fitted in relation to optical (refractive index) and thermal proprieties (thermal expansion coefficient, rheology). The fiber with the Yb3+-doped core, with a wide internal photonic microstructure for a laser pump, as well as with a high relative hole size in the photonic outer air-cladding, was produced. The laser built on the basis of this fiber enabled achieving 8.07 W of output power with 20.5% slope efficiency against the launched pump power, in single-mode operation M2 = 1.59, from a 53 cm-long cavity. PMID:28788702

Free-standing membrane polymer laser on the end of an optical fiber

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhai, Tianrui, E-mail: trzhai@bjut.edu.cn, E-mail: zhangxinping@bjut.edu.cn; Li, Songtao; Hu, Yujie

2016-01-25

One- and two-dimensional distributed feedback cavities were constructed on free-standing polymer membranes using spin-coating and lift-off techniques. Low threshold lasing was generated through feedback amplification when the 290-nm membrane device was optically pumped, which was attributed to the strong confinement mechanism provided by the active waveguide layer without a substrate. The free-standing membrane polymer laser is flexible and can be transplanted. Single- and dual-wavelength fiber lasers were achieved by directly attaching the membrane polymer laser on the optical fiber end face. This technique provides potential to fabricate polymer lasers on surfaces with arbitrary shapes.

A TEMPLATE-BASED FABRICATION TECHNIQUE FOR SPATIALLY-DESIGNED POLYMER MICRO/NANOFIBER COMPOSITES

PubMed Central

Naik, Nisarga; Caves, Jeff; Kumar, Vivek; Chaikof, Elliot; Allen, Mark G.

2013-01-01

This paper reports a template-based technique for the fabrication of polymer micro/nanofiber composites, exercising control over the fiber dimensions and alignment. Unlike conventional spinning-based methods of fiber production, the presented approach is based on micro-transfer molding. It is a parallel processing technique capable of producing fibers with control over both in-plane and out-of-plane geometries, in addition to packing density and layout of the fibers. Collagen has been used as a test polymer to demonstrate the concept. Hollow and solid collagen fibers with various spatial layouts have been fabricated. Produced fibers have widths ranging from 2 µm to 50 µm, and fiber thicknesses ranging from 300 nm to 3 µm. Also, three-dimensionality of the process has been demonstrated by producing in-plane serpentine fibers with designed arc lengths, out-of-plane wavy fibers, fibers with focalized particle encapsulation, and porous fibers with desired periodicity and pore sizes. PMID:24533428

The effect of oxyalkylation and application of polymer dispersions on the thermoformability and extensibility of paper.

PubMed

Kouko, Jarmo; Setälä, Harri; Tanaka, Atsushi; Khakalo, Alexey; Ropponen, Jarmo; Retulainen, Elias

2018-04-15

Wood fiber-based packaging materials, as renewable materials, have growing market potential due to their sustainability. A new breakthrough in cellulose-based packaging requires some improvement in the mechanical properties of paper. Bleached softwood kraft pulp was mechanically treated, in two stages, using high- and low-consistency refining, sequentially. Chemical treatment of pulp using the oxyalkylation method was applied to modify a portion of fiber material, especially the fiber surface, and its compatibility with polymer dispersions including one carbohydrate polymer. The results showed that the compatibility of the cellulosic fibers with some polymers could be improved with oxyalkylation. By adjusting mechanical and chemical treatments, and the thermoforming conditions, the formability of paper was improved, but simultaneously the strength and stiffness decreased. The results suggest that the formability of the paper is not a direct function of the extensibility of the applied polymer, but also depends on the fiber network structure and surface energy. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Dry Process for Manufacturing Hybridized Boron Fiber/Carbon Fiber Thermoplastic Composite Materials from a Solution Coated Precursor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Belvin, Harry L. (Inventor); Cano, Roberto J. (Inventor)

2003-01-01

An apparatus for producing a hybrid boron reinforced polymer matrix composite from precursor tape and a linear array of boron fibers. The boron fibers are applied onto the precursor tapes and the precursor tape processed within a processing component having an impregnation bar assembly. After passing through variable-dimension forming nip-rollers, the precursor tape with the boron fibers becomes a hybrid boron reinforced polymer matrix composite. A driving mechanism is used to pulled the precursor tape through the method and a take-up spool is used to collect the formed hybrid boron reinforced polymer matrix composite.

In situ polymerization of monomers for polyphenylquinoxaline/graphite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Serafini, T. T.; Delvigs, P.; Vannucci, R. D.

1973-01-01

Methods currently used to prepare fiber reinforced, high temperature resistant polyphenylquinoxaline (PPQ) composites employ extremely viscous, low solids content solutions of high molecular weight PPQ polymers. An improved approach, described in this report, consists of impregnating the fiber with a solution of the appropriate monomers instead of a solution of previously synthesized high molecular weight polymer. Polymerization of the monomers occurs in situ on the fiber during the solvent removal and curing stages. The in situ polymerization approach greatly simplifies the fabrication of PPQ graphite fiber composites. The use of low viscosity monomeric type solutions facilitates fiber wetting, permits a high solids content, and eliminates the need for prior polymer synthesis.

The microstructures of SCS-6 and SCS-8 SiC reinforcing fibers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sattler, M.L.; Kinney, J.H.; Zywicz, E.

The microstructures of SCS-6 and SCS-8 SiC fibers have been examined and analyzed using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), microdiffraction, parallel electron energy loss spectroscopy (PEELS), x-ray diffraction and x-ray spectroscopy. The results of the study confirm findings from earlier studies wherein the microstructure of the fibers have been described as consisting of {beta}-SiC grown upon a monofilament turbostratic carbon core. The present study, however, provides much more detail regarding this microstructure. For example, PEELS spectroscopy and x-ray microscopy indicate that the composition of the SiC varies smoothly from SiC plus free C near the carbon core to SiCmore » at the midradial boundary. The SiC stoichiometry is roughly preserved from the midradial boundary to the exterior interface. HRTEM, microdiffraction, and dark field images provide evidence that the excess carbon is amorphous free carbon which is most likely situated at the grain boundaries of the SiC. The x-ray microscopy results are also consistent with the presence of two phases near the core which consist of SiC and free carbon having density less than graphite (2.25 g/cc). This complex microstructure may explain the recent observations of nonplanar failure in composites fabricated with SCS fibers.« less

Flexural strength using Steel Plate, Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) on reinforced concrete beam in building technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tarigan, Johannes; Patra, Fadel Muhammad; Sitorus, Torang

2018-03-01

Reinforced concrete structures are very commonly used in buildings because they are cheaper than the steel structures. But in reality, many concrete structures are damaged, so there are several ways to overcome this problem, by providing reinforcement with Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) and reinforcement with steel plates. Each type of reinforcements has its advantages and disadvantages. In this study, researchers discuss the comparison between flexural strength of reinforced concrete beam using steel plates and Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP). In this case, the researchers use Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) as external reinforcements. The dimension of the beams is 15 x 25 cm with the length of 320 cm. Based on the analytical results, the strength of the beam with CFRP is 1.991 times its initial, GFRP is 1.877 times while with the steel plate is 1.646 times. Based on test results, the strength of the beam with CFRP is 1.444 times its initial, GFRP is 1.333 times while the steel plate is 1.167 times. Based on these test results, the authors conclude that beam with CFRP is the best choice for external reinforcement in building technology than the others.

Application of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in the analysis of the fuel efficiency in the automobile industry with the utilization of Natural Fiber Polymer Composites (NFPC)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jayamani, E.; Perera, D. S.; Soon, K. H.; Bakri, M. K. B.

2017-04-01

A systematic method of material analysis aiming for fuel efficiency improvement with the utilization of natural fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites in the automobile industry is proposed. A multi-factor based decision criteria with Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used and executed through MATLAB to achieve improved fuel efficiency through the weight reduction of vehicular components by effective comparison between two engine hood designs. The reduction was simulated by utilizing natural fiber polymer composites with thermoplastic polypropylene (PP) as the matrix polymer and benchmarked against a synthetic based composite component. Results showed that PP with 35% of flax fiber loading achieved a 0.4% improvement in fuel efficiency, and it was the highest among the 27 candidate fibers.

Friction behavior of a microstructured polymer surface inspired by snake skin.

PubMed

Baum, Martina J; Heepe, Lars; Gorb, Stanislav N

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to understand the influence of microstructures found on ventral scales of the biological model, Lampropeltis getula californiae, the California King Snake, on the friction behavior. For this purpose, we compared snake-inspired anisotropic microstructured surfaces to other microstructured surfaces with isotropic and anisotropic geometry. To exclude that the friction measurements were influenced by physico-chemical variations, all friction measurements were performed on the same epoxy polymer. For frictional measurements a microtribometer was used. Original data were processed by fast Fourier transformation (FFT) with a zero frequency related to the average friction and other peaks resulting from periodic stick-slip behavior. The data showed that the specific ventral surface ornamentation of snakes does not only reduce the frictional coefficient and generate anisotropic frictional properties, but also reduces stick-slip vibrations during sliding, which might be an adaptation to reduce wear. Based on this extensive comparative study of different microstructured polymer samples, it was experimentally demonstrated that the friction-induced stick-slip behavior does not solely depend on the frictional coefficient of the contact pair.

Photoinduced Electron Transfer Based Ion Sensing within an Optical Fiber

PubMed Central

Englich, Florian V.; Foo, Tze Cheung; Richardson, Andrew C.; Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Heike; Sumby, Christopher J.; Monro, Tanya M.

2011-01-01

We combine suspended-core microstructured optical fibers with the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) effect to demonstrate a new type of fluorescent optical fiber-dip sensing platform for small volume ion detection. A sensor design based on a simple model PET-fluoroionophore system and small core microstructured optical fiber capable of detecting sodium ions is demonstrated. The performance of the dip sensor operating in a high sodium concentration regime (925 ppm Na+) and for lower sodium concentration environments (18.4 ppm Na+) is explored and future approaches to improving the sensor’s signal stability, sensitivity and selectivity are discussed. PMID:22163712

Demountable connection for polymer optical fiber grating sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abang, Ada; Webb, David J.

2012-08-01

The authors fabricated a demountable Ferrule connector/Physical contact connection between silica fiber and a polymer optical fiber (POF) containing a fiber Bragg grating. The use of a connector for POF grating sensors eliminates the limitations of ultraviolet glued connections and increases the ease with which the devices can be applied to real-world measurement tasks.

Mechanical properties and surface chemistry of kenaf fiber for composite reinforcement – an insight into the retting process

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Harnessing natural fibers to produce polymer composites requires processing of fibers from harvest to the dried state, which can then be dispersed in the polymer resin. Bast fibers are found in the bark layer of fibrous plants such as kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus), jute (Corchorus olitorius), and flax...

Sensored fiber reinforced polymer grate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ross, Michael P.; Mack, Thomas Kimball

Various technologies described herein pertain to a sensored grate that can be utilized for various security fencing applications. The sensored grate includes a grate framework and an embedded optical fiber. The grate framework is formed of a molded polymer such as, for instance, molded fiber reinforced polymer. Further, the grate framework includes a set of elongated elements, where the elongated elements are spaced to define apertures through the grate framework. The optical fiber is embedded in the elongated elements of the grate framework. Moreover, bending or breaking of one or more of the elongated elements can be detected based onmore » a change in a characteristic of input light provided to the optical fiber compared to output light received from the optical fiber.« less

Carbon Nanotube Sheet Scrolled Fiber Composite for Enhanced Interfacial Mechanical Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kokkada Ravindranath, Pruthul

The high tensile strength of Polymer Matrix Composites (PMC) is derived from the high tensile strength of the embedded carbon fibers. However, their compressive strength is significantly lower than their tensile strength, as they tend to fail through micro-buckling, under compressive loading. Fiber misalignment and the presence of voids created during the manufacturing processes, add to the further reduction in the compressive strength of the composites. Hence, there is more scope for improvement. Since, the matrix is primarily responsible for the shear load transfer and dictating the critical buckling load of the fibers by constraining the fibers from buckling, to improve the interfacial mechanical properties of the composite, it is important to modify the polymer matrix, fibers and/or the interface. In this dissertation, a novel approach to enhance the polymer matrix-fiber interface region has been discussed. This approach involves spiral wrapping carbon nanotube (CNT) sheet around individual carbon fiber or fiber tow, at room temperature at a prescribed wrapping angle (bias angle), and then embed the scrolled fiber in a resin matrix. The polymer infiltrates into the nanopores of the multilayer CNT sheet to form CNT/polymer nanocomposite surrounding fiber, and due to the mechanical interlocking, provides reinforcement to the interface region between fiber and polymer matrix. This method of nano-fabrication has the potential to improve the mechanical properties of the fiber-matrix interphase, without degrading the fiber properties. The effect of introducing Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWNT) in the polymer matrix was studied by analyzing the atomistic model of the epoxy (EPON-862) and the embedded MWNTs. A multi-scale method was utilized by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on the nanoscale model of the epoxy with and without the MWNTs to calculate compressive strength of the composite and predict the enhancement in the composite material. The influence of the bias/over wrapping angle of the MWNT sheets on the carbon fiber was also studied. The predicted compressive strength from the MD results and the multiscale approach for baseline Epoxy case was shown to be in good relation with the experimental results for Epon-862. On adding MWNTs to the epoxy system, a significant improvement in the compressive strength of the PMC was observed. Further, the effect of bias angle of MWNT wrapped over carbon fiber was compared for 0°, 45° and 90°. This is further verified by making use of the Halpin-Tsai.

Application of micro- and nanotechnologies for the fabrication of optical devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ehrfeld, Wolfgang; Bauer, Hans-Dieter

1998-03-01

The development of micro-opto-electro-mechanical systems (MOEMS) and devices no longer focuses on feasibility studies and expensive demonstrators. On the contrary, fabrication of micro-optical components is already feeding dynamic markets with a large variety of products that are more or less on the verge of inexpensive mass production. A major application area for MOEMS is, without any doubt, tele- and datacommunications, while miniature optical sensors (e.g. spectrometers and interferometers) have a growing part in many kinds of biotechnological, chemical and pharmaceutical applications. In this presentation numerous examples for optical microstructures are given that range from the field of low cost fiberoptic components to polymer waveguide elements, from fiber switches to mass-producible microlenses made of thermoplastics or glass, and from microstructured photonic bandgap materials to optical sensor tips for investigating nanostructures. It is emphasized that for realizing MOEMS very different materials have to be processed while the necessary hybrid integration demands for specific automated assembly methods. In particular, the examples given show now microtechnologies can be adapted and combined with each other to take into account the special requirements of the product.

MLKL forms disulfide bond-dependent amyloid-like polymers to induce necroptosis

PubMed Central

Liu, Shuzhen; Liu, Hua; Johnston, Andrea; Hanna-Addams, Sarah; Reynoso, Eduardo; Xiang, Yougui

2017-01-01

Mixed-lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) is essential for TNF-α–induced necroptosis. How MLKL promotes cell death is still under debate. Here we report that MLKL forms SDS-resistant, disulfide bond-dependent polymers during necroptosis in both human and mouse cells. MLKL polymers are independent of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 and 3 (RIPK1/RIPK3) fibers. Large MLKL polymers are more than 2 million Da and are resistant to proteinase K digestion. MLKL polymers are fibers 5 nm in diameter under electron microscopy. Furthermore, the recombinant N-terminal domain of MLKL forms amyloid-like fibers and binds Congo red dye. MLKL mutants that cannot form polymers also fail to induce necroptosis efficiently. Finally, the compound necrosulfonamide conjugates cysteine 86 of human MLKL and blocks MLKL polymer formation and subsequent cell death. These results demonstrate that disulfide bond-dependent, amyloid-like MLKL polymers are necessary and sufficient to induce necroptosis. PMID:28827318

MLKL forms disulfide bond-dependent amyloid-like polymers to induce necroptosis.

PubMed

Liu, Shuzhen; Liu, Hua; Johnston, Andrea; Hanna-Addams, Sarah; Reynoso, Eduardo; Xiang, Yougui; Wang, Zhigao

2017-09-05

Mixed-lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) is essential for TNF-α-induced necroptosis. How MLKL promotes cell death is still under debate. Here we report that MLKL forms SDS-resistant, disulfide bond-dependent polymers during necroptosis in both human and mouse cells. MLKL polymers are independent of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 and 3 (RIPK1/RIPK3) fibers. Large MLKL polymers are more than 2 million Da and are resistant to proteinase K digestion. MLKL polymers are fibers 5 nm in diameter under electron microscopy. Furthermore, the recombinant N-terminal domain of MLKL forms amyloid-like fibers and binds Congo red dye. MLKL mutants that cannot form polymers also fail to induce necroptosis efficiently. Finally, the compound necrosulfonamide conjugates cysteine 86 of human MLKL and blocks MLKL polymer formation and subsequent cell death. These results demonstrate that disulfide bond-dependent, amyloid-like MLKL polymers are necessary and sufficient to induce necroptosis.

Additive manufacturing of short and mixed fibre-reinforced polymer

DOEpatents

Lewicki, James; Duoss, Eric B.; Rodriguez, Jennifer Nicole; Worsley, Marcus A.; King, Michael J.

2018-01-09

Additive manufacturing of a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) product using an additive manufacturing print head; a reservoir in the additive manufacturing print head; short carbon fibers in the reservoir, wherein the short carbon fibers are randomly aligned in the reservoir; an acrylate, methacrylate, epoxy, cyanate ester or isocyanate resin in the reservoir, wherein the short carbon fibers are dispersed in the acrylate, methacrylate, epoxy, cyanate ester or isocyanate resin; a tapered nozzle in the additive manufacturing print head operatively connected to the reservoir, the tapered nozzle produces an extruded material that forms the fiber-reinforced polymer product; baffles in the tapered nozzle that receive the acrylate, methacrylate, epoxy, cyanate ester or isocyanate resin with the short carbon fibers dispersed in the acrylate, methacrylate, epoxy, cyanate ester or isocyanate resin; and a system for driving the acrylate, methacrylate, epoxy, cyanate ester or isocyanate resin with the short carbon fibers dispersed in the acrylate, methacrylate, epoxy, cyanate ester or isocyanate resin from the reservoir through the tapered nozzle wherein the randomly aligned short carbon fibers in the acrylate, methacrylate, epoxy, cyanate ester or isocyanate resin are aligned by the baffles and wherein the extruded material has the short carbon fibers aligned in the acrylate, methacrylate, epoxy, cyanate ester or isocyanate resin that forms the fiber-reinforced polymer product.

Effect of nano-SiO{sub 2} particles and curing time on development of fiber-matrix bond properties and microstructure of ultra-high strength concrete

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wu, Zemei; Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla 65409, MO; Khayat, Kamal Henri, E-mail: khayatk@mst.edu

Bond properties between fibers and cementitious matrix have significant effect on the mechanical behavior of composite materials. In this study, the development of steel fiber-matrix interfacial bond properties in ultra-high strength concrete (UHSC) proportioned with nano-SiO{sub 2} varying between 0 and 2%, by mass of cementitious materials, was investigated. A statistical model relating either bond strength or pullout energy to curing time and nano-SiO{sub 2} content was proposed by using the response surface methodology. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and backscatter scanning electron microscopy (BSEM) were used to characterize the microstructure of the matrix and the fiber-matrix interface, respectively. Micro-hardness aroundmore » the embedded fiber and hydration products of the matrix were evaluated as well. Test results indicated that the optimal nano-SiO{sub 2} dosage was 1% in terms of the bond properties and the microstructure. The proposed quadratic model efficiently predicted the bond strength and pullout energy with consideration of curing time and nano-SiO{sub 2} content. The improvement in bond properties associated with nano-silica was correlated with denser matrix and/or interface and stronger bond and greater strength of hydration products based on microstructural analysis.« less

Cytotoxicity of silica-glass fiber reinforced composites.

PubMed

Meriç, Gökçe; Dahl, Jon E; Ruyter, I Eystein

2008-09-01

Silica-glass fiber reinforced polymers can be used for many kinds of dental applications. The fiber reinforcement enhances the mechanical properties of the polymers, and they have good esthetic attributes. There is good initial bonding of glass fibers to polymers via an interface made from silane coupling agents. The aim of this in vitro study was to determine the cytotoxicity of two polymers reinforced with two differently sized silica-glass fibers before and after thermal cycling. Cytotoxicity of the polymers without fibers was also evaluated. Two different resin mixtures (A and B) were prepared from poly(vinyl chloridecovinylacetate) powder and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) dissolved in methyl methacrylate and mixed with different cross-linking agents. The resin A contained the cross-linking agents ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate, and for resin B diethylene glycol dimethacrylate was used. Woven silica-glass fibers were used for reinforcement. The fibers were sized with either linear poly(butyl methacrylate)-sizing or cross-linking PMMA-sizing. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by filter diffusion test (ISO 7405:1997) of newly made and thermocycled test specimens. Extracts were prepared according to ISO 10993-12 from newly made and from thermocycled specimens and tested by the MTT assay. The results from the experiments were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (rho<0.05). The filter diffusion test disclosed no change in staining intensity at the cell-test sample contact area indicating non-cytotoxicity in all experimental groups. Cell viability assessed by MTT assay was more than 90% in all experimental groups. All are non-cytotoxic. It can be concluded that correctly processed heat polymerized silica-glass fiber reinforced polymers induced no cytotoxicity and that thermocycling did not alter this property.

Advancing flexible volatile compound sensors using liquid crystals encapsulated in polymer fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reyes, Catherine G.; Lagerwall, Jan P. F.

2018-02-01

Until recently, organic vapor sensors using liquid crystals (LCs) have employed rigid glass substrates for confining the LC, and bulky equipment for vapor detection. Previously, we demonstrated that coaxially electrospinning nematic LC within the core of polymer fibers provides an alternative and improved form factor for confinement. This enables ppm level sensitivity to harmful industrial organics, such as toluene, while giving the flexibility of textile-like sheets (imparted by polymer encapsulation). Moreover, toluene vapor responses of the LC-core fiber mats were visible macroscopically with the naked eye depending on the morphology of the fibers produced, and whether they were oriented in specific geometries (aligned, or random). We identified two types of responses: one corresponds to the LC transition from nematic to isotropic, and the other we suggest is due to an anchoring change at the LC-polymer interface that influences the alignment. While we need to study the presence that defects can have in more detail, we noted that fiber mat thickness is crucial in attempting to understand how and why we are able to visualize two responses in aligned LC-fiber mats. Ultimately, we noted that the response of the polymer sheath itself (softening) to organic vapor exposure affects the liquid crystal confinement in the core. From the microscopic point of view, this will influence the threshold concentration that fibers in a mat will overall respond to. In this paper we will discuss three findings the morphologies enabling LC-core fiber mat response to vapor seen both micro- and macroscopically, how thickness of the fiber mat can play a role in the visualization of the responses, and the effect that the polymer structure has in the mat's sensitivity threshold.

Microfluidic devices fabricated in poly(methyl methacrylate) using hot-embossing with integrated sampling capillary and fiber optics for fluorescence detection.

PubMed

Qi, Shize; Liu, Xuezhu; Ford, Sean; Barrows, James; Thomas, Gloria; Kelly, Kevin; McCandless, Andrew; Lian, Kun; Goettert, Jost; Soper, Steven A

2002-05-01

High-aspect-ratio microstructures have been prepared using hot-embossing techniques in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) from Ni-based molding dies prepared using LIGA (Lithographie, Galvanoformung, Abformung). Due to the small amount of mask undercutting associated with X-ray lithography and the high energy X-ray beam used during photoresist patterning, deep structures with sharp and smooth sidewalls have been prepared. The Ni-electroforms produced devices with minimal replication errors using hot-embossing at a turn around time of approximately 5 min per device. In addition, several different polymers (with different glass transition temperatures) could be effectively molded with these Ni-electroforms and many devices (>300) molded with the same master without any noticeable degradation. The PMMA devices consisted of deep and narrow channels for insertion of a capillary for the automated electrokinetic loading of sample into the microfluidic device and also, a pair of optical fibers for shuttling laser light to the detection zone and collecting the resulting emission for fluorescence analysis. Electrophoretic separations of double-stranded DNA ladders Phi X174 digested with Hae III) were performed with fluorescence detection accomplished using near-IR excitation. It was found that the narrow width of the channels did not contribute significantly to electrophoretic zone broadening and the plate numbers generated in the extended length separation channel allowed sorting of the 271/281 base pair fragments associated with this sizing ladder when electrophoresed in methylcellulose entangled polymer solutions. The dual fiber detector produced sub-attomole detection limits with the entire detector, including laser source, electronics and photon transducer, situated in a single box measuring 3'' x 10" x 14".

Repair of bone segment defects with surface porous fiber-reinforced polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) composite prosthesis: histomorphometric incorporation model and characterization by SEM.

PubMed

Hautamäki, Mikko P; Aho, Allan J; Alander, Pasi; Rekola, Jami; Gunn, Jarmo; Strandberg, Niko; Vallittu, Pekka K

2008-08-01

Polymer technology has provided solutions for filling of bone defects in situations where there may be technical or biological complications with autografts, allografts, and metal prostheses. We present an experimental study on segmental bone defect reconstruction using a polymethylmethacrylate-(PMMA-) based bulk polymer implant prosthesis. We concentrated on osteoconductivity and surface characteristics. A critical size segment defect of the rabbit tibia in 19 animals aged 18-24 weeks was reconstructed with a surface porous glass fiber-reinforced (SPF) prosthesis made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The biomechanical properties of SPF implant material were previously adjusted technically to mimic the properties of normal cortical bone. A plain PMMA implant with no porosity or fiber reinforcement was used as a control. Radiology, histomorphometry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for analysis of bone growth into the prosthesis during incorporation. The radiographic and histological incorporation model showed good host bone contact, and strong formation of new bone as double cortex. Histomorphometric evaluation showed that the bone contact index (BCI) at the posterior surface interface was higher with the SPF implant than for the control. The total appositional bone growth over the posterior surface (area %) was also stronger for the SPF implant than for controls. Both bone growth into the porous surface and the BCI results were related to the quality, coverage, and regularity of the microstructure of the porous surface. Porous surface structure enhanced appositional bone growth onto the SPF implant. Under load-bearing conditions the implant appears to function like an osteoconductive prosthesis, which enables direct mobilization and rapid return to full weight bearing.

Structural characterization of semicrystalline polymer morphologies by imaging-SANS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Radulescu, A.; Fetters, L. J.; Richter, D.

2012-02-01

Control and optimization of polymer properties require the global knowledge of the constitutive microstructures of polymer morphologies in various conditions. The microstructural features can be typically explored over a wide length scale by combining pinhole-, focusing- and ultra-small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) techniques. Though it proved to be a successful approach, this involves major efforts related to the use of various scattering instruments and large amount of samples and the need to ensure the same crystallization kinetics for the samples investigated at various facilities, in different sample cell geometries and at different time intervals. With the installation and commissioning of the MgF2 neutron lenses at the KWS-2 SANS diffractometer installed at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz neutron source (FRMII reactor) in Garching, a wide Q-range, between 10-4Å-1 and 0.5Å-1, can be covered at a single instrument. This enables investigation of polymer microstructures over a length scale from lnm up to 1μm, while the overall polymer morphology can be further examined up to 100μm by optical microscopy (including crossed polarizers). The study of different semi-crystalline polypropylene-based polymers in solution is discussed and the new imaging-SANS approach allowing for an unambiguous and complete structural characterization of polymer morphologies is presented.

Diameter-Dependent Modulus and Melting Behavior in Electrospun Semicrystalline Polymer Fibers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Y Liu; S Chen; E Zussman

2011-12-31

Confinement of the semicrystalline polymers, poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (PEVA) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), produced by electrospinning has been observed to produce fibers with large protrusions, which have not been previously observed in fibers of comparable diameters produced by other methods. SAXS spectra confirmed the crystalline structure and determined that the lamellar spacing was almost unchanged from the bulk. Measurement of the mechanical properties of these fibers, by both shear modulation force microscopy (SMFM) and atomic force acoustic microscopy (AFAM), indicates that the modulii of these fibers increases with decreasing diameter, with the onset at {approx}10 {micro}m, which is an order ofmore » magnitude larger than previously reported. Melting point measurements indicate a decrease of more than 7% in T{sub m}/T{sub 0} (where T{sub m} is the melting point of semicrystalline polymer fibers and T{sub 0} is the melting point of the bulk polymer) for fibers ranging from 4 to 10 {micro}m in diameter. The functional form of the decrease followed a universal curve for PEVA, when scaled with T{sub 0}.« less

The influence of glass fibers on elongational viscosity studied by means of optical coherence tomography and X-ray computed tomography

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aigner, M., E-mail: michael.aigner@jku.at; Köpplmayr, T., E-mail: thomas.koepplmayr@jku.at, E-mail: Christian.lang@jku.at; Lang, C., E-mail: thomas.koepplmayr@jku.at, E-mail: Christian.lang@jku.at

2014-05-15

We report on the flow characteristics of glass-fiber-reinforced polymers in elongational rheometry. Unlike polymers with geometrically isotropic fillers, glass-fiber-reinforced polymers exhibit flow behavior and rheology that depend heavily on the orientation, the length distribution and the content of the fibers. One of the primary objectives of this study was to determine the effect of fiber orientation, concentration and distribution on the entrance pressure drop by means of optical coherence tomography (OCT), full-field optical coherence microscopy (FF-OCM), and X-ray computed tomography (X-CT). Both pressure drop and melt flow were analyzed using a special elongation die (Thermo Scientific X-Die [3]) for inlinemore » measurements. Samples with a variety of fiber volume fractions, fiber lengths and processing temperatures were measured.« less

Highly oriented carbon fiber–polymer composites via additive manufacturing

DOE PAGES

Tekinalp, Halil L.; Kunc, Vlastimil; Velez-Garcia, Gregorio M.; ...

2014-10-16

Additive manufacturing, diverging from traditional manufacturing techniques, such as casting and machining materials, can handle complex shapes with great design flexibility without the typical waste. Although this technique has been mainly used for rapid prototyping, interest is growing in using this method to directly manufacture actual parts of complex shape. To use 3D-printing additive manufacturing in wide spread applications, the technique and the feedstock materials require improvements to meet the mechanical requirements of load-bearing components. Thus, we investigated the short fiber (0.2 mm to 0.4 mm) reinforced acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene composites as a feedstock for 3D-printing in terms of their processibility, microstructuremore » and mechanical performance; and also provided comparison with traditional compression molded composites. The tensile strength and modulus of 3D-printed samples increased ~115% and ~700%, respectively. 3D-printer yielded samples with very high fiber orientation in printing direction (up to 91.5 %), whereas, compression molding process yielded samples with significantly less fiber orientation. Microstructure-mechanical property relationships revealed that although the relatively high porosity is observed in the 3D-printed composites as compared to those produced by the conventional compression molding technique, they both exhibited comparable tensile strength and modulus. Furthermore, this phenomena is explained based on the changes in fiber orientation, dispersion and void formation.« less

Computational studies on self-assembled paclitaxel structures: templates for hierarchical block copolymer assemblies and sustained drug release.

PubMed

Guo, Xin D; Tan, Jeremy P K; Kim, Sung H; Zhang, Li J; Zhang, Ying; Hedrick, James L; Yang, Yi Y; Qian, Yu

2009-11-01

Paclitaxel-loaded poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(lactide) (PEO-b-PLA) systems have been observed to assemble into fiber structures with remarkably different properties using different chirality and molecular weight of PLA segments. In this study, dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations were carried out to elaborate the microstructures and properties of pure paclitaxel and paclitaxel-loaded PEO-b-PLA systems. Paclitaxel molecules formed ribbon or fiber like structures in water. With the addition of PEO-b-PDLA, PEO-b-PLLA and their stereocomplex, paclitaxel acted as a template and polymer molecules assembled around the paclitaxel structure to form core/shell structured fibers having a PEO shell. For PEO19-b-PDLA27 and PEO19-b-PLLA27 systems, PLA segments and paclitaxel molecules were distributed homogeneously in the core of fibers based on the hydrophobic interactions. In the stereocomplex formulation, paclitaxel molecules were more concentrated in the inner PLA stereocomplex core, which led to slower release of paclitaxel. By increasing the length of PLA segments (e.g. 8,16,22 and 27), the crystalline structure of paclitaxel was gradually weakened and destroyed, which was further proved by X-ray diffraction studies. All the simulation results agreed well with experimental data, suggesting that the DPD simulations may provide a powerful tool for designing drug delivery systems.

Novel photonics polymer and its application in IT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koike, Yasuhiro

2003-07-01

In the field of LANs, transmission systems based on a multimode silica fiber network is heading towards capacities of Gb/s. We have proposed a low-loss, high-bandwidth and large-core graded-index plastic optical fiber (GI POF) in data-com. area. We sill show that GI POF enables to virtually eliminate the "modal noise" problem cased by the medium-core silica fibers. Therefore, stable high-speed data transmission is realized by GI POF rather than silica fibers. Furthermore, advent of perfluorinated (PF) polymer based GI POF network can support higher transmission than silica fibers network because of the small material dispersion of PF polymer compared with silica. In addition, we proposed a "highly scattering optical transmission (HSOT) polymer" and applied it to a light guide plate of a liquid crystal display (LCD) backlight. The advanced HSOT polymer backlight that was proposed using the HSOT designing simulation program demonstrated approximately three times higher luminance than the conventional flat-type HSOT backlight of 14.1-inch diagonal because of the microscopic prism structures at the bottom of the advanced HSOT light guide plate. The HSOT polymer containing the optimized heterogeneous structures produced homogeneous scattered light with forward directivity and sufficient color uniformity.

Microstructure of Pharmaceutical Semicrystalline Dispersions: The Significance of Polymer Conformation.

PubMed

Van Duong, Tu; Goderis, Bart; Van Humbeeck, Jan; Van den Mooter, Guy

2018-02-05

The microstructure of pharmaceutical semicrystalline solid dispersions has attracted extensive attention due to its complexity that might result in the diversity in physical stability, dissolution behavior, and pharmaceutical performance of the systems. Numerous factors have been reported that dictate the microstructure of semicrystalline dispersions. Nevertheless, the importance of the complicated conformation of the polymer has never been elucidated. In this study, we investigate the microstructure of dispersions of polyethylene glycol and active pharmaceutical ingredients by small-angle X-ray scattering and high performance differential scanning calorimetry. Polyethylene glycol with molecular weight of 2000 g/mol (PEG2000) and 6000 g/mol (PEG6000) exhibited remarkable discrepancy in the lamellar periodicity in dispersions with APIs which was attributed to the differences in their folding behavior. The long period of PEG2000 always decreased upon aging-induced exclusion of APIs from the interlamellar region of extended chain crystals whereas the periodicity of PEG6000 may decrease or increase during storage as a consequence of the competition between the drug segregation and the lamellar thickening from nonintegral-folded into integral-folded chain crystals. These processes were in turn significantly influenced by the crystallization tendency of the pharmaceutical compounds, drug-polymer interactions, as well as the dispersion composition and crystallization temperature. This study highlights the significance of the polymer conformation on the microstructure of semicrystalline systems that is critical for the preparation of solid dispersions with consistent and reproducible quality.

Controlling Crystal Microstructure to Minimize Loss in Polymer Dielectrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miranda, Daniel; Iacob, Ciprian; Zhang, Shihai; Runt, James

Polymer dielectric films are of great importance for high performance capacitors. For these films it is critical to reduce dielectric loss, as it diminishes efficiency and contributes to waste heat generation during device operation. Here, a model semi-crystalline polymer, poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN), was used to examine how morphological factors inhibit chain relaxations responsible for loss. This was achieved by manipulating the extent of crystallization and the crystalline microstructure through a combination of annealing and uniaxial drawing, and investigating their effects on dielectric performance. Varying crystallization conditions influenced the dynamic Tg and extent of rigid amorphous fraction formation, but had a limited effect on loss magnitude. Film orientation however greatly reduced loss, through strain-induced crystallization and development of oriented amorphous mesophasic regions. Post-drawing annealing conditions were capable of further refining the crystal microstructure and, in turn, the dielectric properties. These findings demonstrate that semi-crystalline polymer morphology has a very strong influence on amorphous chain relaxations, and understanding how processing conditions affect morphology is critical to the rational design of polymer dielectrics. Office of Naval Research.

Modification of glass fibers to improve reinforcement: a plasma polymerization technique.

PubMed

Cökeliler, Dilek; Erkut, Selim; Zemek, Josef; Biederman, Hynek; Mutlu, Mehmet

2007-03-01

This study evaluates the effect of plasma treated E-glass fiber to improve the mechanical properties of acrylic resin denture base material, polymethylmethacrlyate (PMMA). Plasma surface treatment of fibers is used as reinforcement in composite materials to modify the chemical and physical properties of their surfaces with tailored fiber-matrix bonding strength. Three different types of monomer 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), triethyleneglycoldimethylether (TEGDME) and ethylenediamine (EDA) were used in the plasma polymerization modification of glass fibers. A radiofrequency generator was used to sustain plasma in a glass vacuum chamber. Glass fibers were modified at the same glow-discharge power of 25 W and exposure time of 30 min for each monomer. Fibers were incorporated into the acrylic with 1% (w/w) loading except control group. Specimens were prepared using a standard mold of 3 cmx0.5 cmx0.8 cm in dimension with eight specimens in each group. Samples were subjected to a flexural strength test set up at a crosshead speed of 5mm/min. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the microstructure and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used for chemical analysis of the surface. Data were analyzed by means of ANOVA and Duncan's tests. Test results revealed that fiber reinforcement had a significant effect on the flexural strength of the specimens (p<0.05). Among the fiber reinforced groups, plasma treatment with EDA monomer resulted in the most significant increase in flexural strength values (p<0.05). XPS results have shown an increasing number of nitrogenous compounds in EDA treated fibers. The chemical structure of the surface, especially with the increase in nitrogenous compounds could give an idea for the amine film deposition and SEM figures showed an increase in surface roughness. The results showed that plasma treatment with EDA monomer was an effective alternative method of increasing the flexural strength of PMMA based denture base polymers through fiber reinforcement.

The importance of new processing techniques in tissue engineering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lu, L.; Mikos, A. G.; McIntire, L. V. (Principal Investigator)

1996-01-01

The use of polymer scaffolds in tissue engineering is reviewed and processing techniques are examined. The discussion of polymer-scaffold processing explains fiber bonding, solvent casting and particulate leaching, membrane lamination, melt molding, polymer/ceramic fiber composite-foam processing, phase separation, and high-pressure processing.

Chapter 15: Characterization and Processing of Nanocellulose Thermosetting Composites

Treesearch

Ronald C. Sabo; Rani F. Elhajjar; Craig M. Clemons; Krishna M. Pillai

2015-01-01

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites have gained popularity through their advantages over conventional metallic materials. Most polymer composites are traditionally made with reinforcing fibers such as carbon or glass. However, there has been recent interest in sourcing these reinforcing fibers from renewable, natural resources. Nanocellulose-based reinforcements...

40 CFR 63.11398 - What definitions apply to this subpart?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... acrylonitrile units: acrylic fiber or modacrylic fiber. Acrylonitrile solution polymerization means a process where acrylonitrile and comonomers are dissolved in a solvent to form a polymer solution (typically... resulting reactor polymer solution (spin dope) is filtered and pumped directly to the fiber spinning process...

40 CFR 63.11398 - What definitions apply to this subpart?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... acrylonitrile units: acrylic fiber or modacrylic fiber. Acrylonitrile solution polymerization means a process where acrylonitrile and comonomers are dissolved in a solvent to form a polymer solution (typically... resulting reactor polymer solution (spin dope) is filtered and pumped directly to the fiber spinning process...

Nano polypeptide particles reinforced polymer composite fibers.

PubMed

Li, Jiashen; Li, Yi; Zhang, Jing; Li, Gang; Liu, Xuan; Li, Zhi; Liu, Xuqing; Han, Yanxia; Zhao, Zheng

2015-02-25

Because of the intensified competition of land resources for growing food and natural textile fibers, there is an urgent need to reuse and recycle the consumed/wasted natural fibers as regenerated green materials. Although polypeptide was extracted from wool by alkaline hydrolysis, the size of the polypeptide fragments could be reduced to nanoscale. The wool polypeptide particles were fragile and could be crushed down to nano size again and dispersed evenly among polymer matrix under melt extrusion condition. The nano polypeptide particles could reinforce antiultraviolet capability, moisture regain, and mechanical properties of the polymer-polypeptide composite fibers.

Widely tunable mid-infrared fiber laser source based on soliton self-frequency shift in microstructured tellurite fiber.

PubMed

Koptev, M Yu; Anashkina, E A; Andrianov, A V; Dorofeev, V V; Kosolapov, A F; Muravyev, S V; Kim, A V

2015-09-01

A turnkey fiber laser source generating high-quality pulses with a spectral sech shape and Fourier transform-limited duration of order 100 fs widely tunable in the 1.6-2.65 μm range is presented. It is based on Raman soliton self-frequency shifting in the suspended-core microstructured TeO2-WO3-La2O3 glass fiber pumped by a hybrid Er/Tm fiber system. Detailed experimental and theoretical studies, which are in a very good agreement, of nonlinear pulse dynamics in the tellurite fiber with carefully measured and calculated parameters are reported. A quantitatively verified numerical model is used to show Raman soliton shift in the range well beyond 3 μm for increased pump energy.

Thermal and chemical treatment of polymer optical fiber Bragg grating sensors for enhanced mechanical sensitivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pospori, A.; Marques, C. A. F.; Sáez-Rodríguez, D.; Nielsen, K.; Bang, O.; Webb, D. J.

2017-07-01

An investigation of the thermal annealing effects on the strain, stress, and force sensitivities of polymer optical fiber Bragg grating sensors is performed. We demonstrate for the first time that the fiber annealing can enhance both stress and force sensitivities of Bragg grating sensors, with the possible cause being the molecular relaxation of the polymer when fiber is raised above the β -transition temperature. A simple, cost-effective, but well controlled method for fiber annealing is also presented in this work. In addition, the effects of chemical etching on the strain, stress, and force sensitivities have been investigated. Results show that fiber etching too can increase the force sensitivity, and it can also affect the strain and stress sensitivities of the Bragg grating sensors.

The honey insertion cladding to improve the sensitivity of temperature polymer optical fiber sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arwani, M.; Kuswanto, H.

2018-04-01

The sensitivity of temperature polymer optical fiber (POF) sensor has been studied. Part of cladding (9 cm) was substituted with honey. Polymer cladding was stripped mechanically and the honey inserted into the tube. Plastic gel closed the two end sides of the tubes. The optical power output was detected by Optical Power Meter (OPM). Honey cladding and temperature changing effect to the internal reflection and optical fiber output intensity. Highest output intensity changing at 20°C was shown by optical fiber coated by longan honey as cladding. The range of 10-50° C, as the rise of surroundings temperature, the attenuation was getting smaller. Best sensitivity was fiber with sensing part coated by Longan honey. Best linearity was sensing fiber with sensing part coated by Pracimantoro honey.

Microfabrication and Test of a Three-Dimensional Polymer Hydro-focusing Unit for Flow Cytometry Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yang, Ren; Feeback, Daniel L.; Wang, Wan-Jun

2005-01-01

This paper details a novel three-dimensional (3D) hydro-focusing micro cell sorter for micro flow cytometry applications. The unit was microfabricated by means of SU-8 3D lithography. The 3D microstructure for coaxial sheathing was designed, microfabricated, and tested. Three-dimensional hydrofocusing capability was demonstrated with an experiment to sort labeled tanned sheep erythrocytes (red blood cells). This polymer hydro-focusing microstructure is easily microfabricated and integrated with other polymer microfluidic structures. Keywords: SU-8, three-dimensional hydro-focusing, microfluidic, microchannel, cytometer

Microstructured Optical Fiber-based Biosensors: Reversible and Nanoliter-Scale Measurement of Zinc Ions.

PubMed

Heng, Sabrina; McDevitt, Christopher A; Kostecki, Roman; Morey, Jacqueline R; Eijkelkamp, Bart A; Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Heike; Monro, Tanya M; Abell, Andrew D

2016-05-25

Sensing platforms that allow rapid and efficient detection of metal ions would have applications in disease diagnosis and study, as well as environmental sensing. Here, we report the first microstructured optical fiber-based biosensor for the reversible and nanoliter-scale measurement of metal ions. Specifically, a photoswitchable spiropyran Zn(2+) sensor is incorporated within the microenvironment of a liposome attached to microstructured optical fibers (exposed-core and suspended-core microstructured optical fibers). Both fiber-based platforms retains high selectivity of ion binding associated with a small molecule sensor, while also allowing nanoliter volume sampling and on/off switching. We have demonstrated that multiple measurements can be made on a single sample without the need to change the sensor. The ability of the new sensing platform to sense Zn(2+) in pleural lavage and nasopharynx of mice was compared to that of established ion sensing methodologies such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and a commercially available fluorophore (Fluozin-3), where the optical-fiber-based sensor provides a significant advantage in that it allows the use of nanoliter (nL) sampling when compared to ICP-MS (mL) and FluoZin-3 (μL). This work paves the way to a generic approach for developing surface-based ion sensors using a range of sensor molecules, which can be attached to a surface without the need for its chemical modification and presents an opportunity for the development of new and highly specific ion sensors for real time sensing applications.

Method of solution preparation of polyolefin class polymers for electrospinning processing included

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rabolt, John F. (Inventor); Givens, Steven R. (Inventor); Lee, Keun-Hyung (Inventor)

2011-01-01

A process to make a polyolefin fiber which has the following steps: mixing at least one polyolefin into a solution at room temperature or a slightly elevated temperature to form a polymer solution and electrospinning at room temperature said polymer solution to form a fiber.

Effects of fiber/matrix interactions on the interfacial deformation micromechanics of cellulose-fiber/polymer composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tze, William Tai-Yin

The overall objective of this dissertation was to gain an understanding of the relationship between interfacial chemistry and the micromechanics of the cellulose-fiber/polymer composites. Regenerated cellulose (lyocell) fibers were treated with amine-, phenylamine-, phenyl-, and octadecyl-silanes, and also styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer. Inverse gas chromatography was conducted to evaluate the modified surfaces and to examine the adsorption behavior of ethylbenzene, a model compound for polystyrene, onto the fibers. Micro-composites were formed by depositing micro-droplets of polystyrene onto single fibers. The fiber was subjected to a tensile strain, and Raman spectroscopy was employed to determine the point-to-point variation of the strain- and stress-sensitive 895 cm-1 band of cellulose along the embedded region. Inverse gas chromatography studies reveal that the Ia-b values, calculated by matching the Lewis acid parameter ( KA) and basic parameter (KB) between polystyrene and different fibers, were closely correlated to the acid-base adsorption enthalpies of ethylbenzene onto the corresponding fibers. Hence, Ia-b was subsequently used as a convenient indicator for fiber/matrix acid-base interaction. The Raman micro-spectroscopic studies demonstrate that the interfacial tensile strain and stress are highest at the edge of the droplet, and these values decline from the edge region to the middle region of the embedment. The maximum of these local strains corresponds to a strain-control fracture of the matrix polymer. The minimum of the local tensile stress corresponds to the extent of fiber-to-matrix load transfer. The slope of the tensile stress profile allows for an estimation of the maximum interfacial shear stress, which is indicative of fiber/polymer (practical) adhesion. As such, a novel micro-Raman tensile technique was established for evaluating the ductile-fiber/brittle-polymer system in this study. The micro-Raman tensile technique provided maximum interfacial shear stress values of 8.0 to 13.8 MPa, ranking functional groups according to their practical adhesion to polystyrene: alkyl < untreated < phenyl = phenylamine = styrene copolymer < amine. Overall, interfacial bonding can be increased by increasing the acid-base interactions (Ia-b) or reducing the chemical incompatibility (Deltadelta) between the fibers and matrix. Therefore, interfacial chemistry can be employed to enhance and predict cellulose-fiber/polymer adhesion to better engineer composite properties and ultimately better utilize bio-resources.

Continuous fiber-reinforced titanium aluminide composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mackay, R. A.; Brindley, P. K.; Froes, F. H.

1991-01-01

An account is given of the fabrication techniques, microstructural characteristics, and mechanical behavior of a lightweight, high service temperature SiC-reinforced alpha-2 Ti-14Al-21Nb intermetallic-matrix composite. Fabrication techniques under investigation to improve the low-temperature ductility and environmental resistance of this material system, while reducing manufacturing costs to competitive levels, encompass powder-cloth processing, foil-fiber-foil processing, and thermal-spray processing. Attention is given to composite microstructure problems associated with fiber distribution and fiber-matrix interfaces, as well as with mismatches of thermal-expansion coefficient; major improvements are noted to be required in tensile properties, thermal cycling effects, mechanical damage, creep, and environmental effects.

Microstructural and strength stability of CVD SiC fibers in argon environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bhatt, Ramakrishna T.; Hull, David R.

1991-01-01

The room temperature tensile strength and microstructure of three types of commercially available chemically vapor deposited silicon carbide fibers were measured after 1, 10, and 100 hour heat treatments under argon pressures of 0.1 to 310 MPa at temperatures to 2100 C. Two types of fiber had carbon-rich surface coatings and the other contained no coating. All three fiber types showed strength degradation beyond 1400 C. Time and temperature of exposure had greater influence on strength degradation than argon pressure. Recrystallization and growth of near stoichiometric SiC grains appears to be the dominant mechanism for the strength degradation.

Microstructural and strength stability of CVD SiC fibers in argon environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bhatt, Ramakrishna T.; Hull, David R.

1991-01-01

The room temperature tensile strength and microstructure of three types of commercially available chemically vapor deposited silicon carbide fibers were measured after 1, 10, and 100 hour heat treatments under argon pressures of 0.1 to 310 MPa at temperatures to 2100 C. Two types of fiber had carbon-rich surface coatings and the other contained no coating. All three fiber types showed strength degradation beyond 1400 C. Time and temperature of exposure had greater influence on strength degradation than argon pressure. Recrystallization and growth of near stoichiometric SiC grains appears to be the dominant mechanism for the strength degradation.

Curing preceramic polymers by exposure to nitrogen dioxide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rabe, James A. (Inventor); Lipowitz, Jonathan (Inventor); Lu, Paul P. (Inventor)

1991-01-01

A rapid method of infusibilizing (curing) preceramic polymers comprising treatment said polymers with gaseous nitrogen dioxide. The infusibilized polymers may be pyrolyzed to temperatures in excess of about 800.degree. C. to yield ceramic materials with low oxygen content and, thus, good thermal stability. The methods are especially useful for the production of ceramic fibers and, more specifically, to the on-line production of ceramic fibers.

Investigation on harsh environmental effects on polymer fiber optic link for aircraft systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cherian, Sandy; Spangenberg, Holger; Caspary, Reinhard

2014-09-01

To integrate polymer fiber based physical layer for avionic data network, it is necessary to understand the impact and cause of harsh environments on polymer fiber optic components and harnesses. Since temperature and vibration have a significant influence, we investigate the variation in optical transmittance and monitor the endurance of different types of connector and splices under extreme aircraft environments. Presently, there is no specific aerospace standard for the application of polymer fiber and components in the aircraft data network. Therefore, in the paper we examine and define the thermal cycling and vibration measurement set up and methods to evaluate the performance capability of the physical layer of the data network. Some of the interesting results observed during the measurements are also presented.

Damage modeling of small-scale experiments on dental enamel with hierarchical microstructure.

PubMed

Scheider, I; Xiao, T; Yilmaz, E; Schneider, G A; Huber, N; Bargmann, S

2015-03-01

Dental enamel is a highly anisotropic and heterogeneous material, which exhibits an optimal reliability with respect to the various loads occurring over years. In this work, enamel's microstructure of parallel aligned rods of mineral fibers is modeled and mechanical properties are evaluated in terms of strength and toughness with the help of a multiscale modeling method. The established model is validated by comparing it with the stress-strain curves identified by microcantilever beam experiments extracted from these rods. Moreover, in order to gain further insight in the damage-tolerant behavior of enamel, the size of crystallites below which the structure becomes insensitive to flaws is studied by a microstructural finite element model. The assumption regarding the fiber strength is verified by a numerical study leading to accordance of fiber size and flaw tolerance size, and the debonding strength is estimated by optimizing the failure behavior of the microstructure on the hierarchical level above the individual fibers. Based on these well-grounded properties, the material behavior is predicted well by homogenization of a representative unit cell including damage, taking imperfections (like microcracks in the present case) into account. Copyright © 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Microstructure and Property Modifications of Cold Rolled IF Steel by Local Laser Annealing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hallberg, Håkan; Adamski, Frédéric; Baïz, Sarah; Castelnau, Olivier

2017-10-01

Laser annealing experiments are performed on cold rolled IF steel whereby highly localized microstructure and property modification are achieved. The microstructure is seen to develop by strongly heterogeneous recrystallization to provide steep gradients, across the submillimeter scale, of grain size and crystallographic texture. Hardness mapping by microindentation is used to reveal the corresponding gradients in macroscopic properties. A 2D level set model of the microstructure development is established as a tool to further optimize the method and to investigate, for example, the development of grain size variations due to the strong and transient thermal gradient. Particular focus is given to the evolution of the beneficial γ-fiber texture during laser annealing. The simulations indicate that the influence of selective growth based on anisotropic grain boundary properties only has a minor effect on texture evolution compared to heterogeneous stored energy, temperature variations, and nucleation conditions. It is also shown that although the α-fiber has an initial frequency advantage, the higher probability of γ-nucleation, in combination with a higher stored energy driving force in this fiber, promotes a stronger presence of the γ-fiber as also observed in experiments.

Microstructure of the Sn-Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 5} fibrous eutectic and its modification by segregation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Drevet, B.; Camel, D.; Favier, J.J.

The influence of segregation due to thermal convection on the microstructure of Sn-Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 5} fibrous eutectic alloys is studied in a Bridgman type configuration. The eutectic microstructure is characterized by means of image analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In the absence of segregation, the eutectic is regular and its growth controlled by that of the Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 5} fibers. The effect of interphases on eutectic spacing, through orientation relationships between fibers and matrix, is also evidenced. The influence of segregation can be summed up by the following effects. At first, in agreement with the Jacksonmore » and Hunt model, it leads to a variation of the eutectic spacing which results from a variation of the fiber volume fraction. Then, the spacing is much greater than the one obtained in the absence of segregation, due to a different tin growth plane and non-optimized fiber/matrix orientation relationships. Finally, the absence of steady state leads to a large dispersion of the spacing associated with a microstructural disorder.« less

A New Fiber Preform with Nanocarbon Binder for Manufacturing Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composite by Liquid Molding Process.

PubMed

Seong, Dong Gi; Ha, Jong Rok; Lee, Jea Uk; Lee, Wonoh; Kim, Byung Sun

2015-11-01

Carbon fiber reinforced composite has been a good candidate of lightweight structural component in the automotive industry. As fast production speed is essential to apply the composite materials for the mass production area such as automotive components, the high speed liquid composite molding processes have been developed. Fast resin injection through the fiber preform by high pressure is required to improve the production speed, but it often results in undesirable deformations of the fiber preform which causes defectives in size and properties of the final composite products. In order to prevent the undesirable deformation and improve the stability of preform shape, polymer type binder materials are used. More stable fiber preform can be obtained by increasing the amount of binder material, but it disturbs the resin impregnation through the fiber preform. In this study, carbon nanomaterials such as graphene oxide were embedded on the surface of carbon fiber by electrophoretic deposition method in order to improve the shape stability of fiber preform and interfacial bonding between polymer and the reinforcing fiber. Effects of the modified reinforcing fiber were investigated in two respects. One is to increase the binding energy between fiber tows, and the other is to increase the interfacial bonding between polymer matrix and fiber surface. The effects were analyzed by measuring the binding force of fiber preform and interlaminar shear strength of the composite. This study also investigated the high speed liquid molding process of the composite materials composed of polymer matrix and the carbon fiber preforms embedded by carbon nanomaterials. Process parameter such as permeability of fiber preform was measured to investigate the effect of nanoscale surface modification on the macroscale processing condition for composite manufacturing.

Process for preparing tows from composite fiber blends

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McMahon, Paul (Inventor); Chung, Tai-Shung (Inventor); Ying, Lincoln (Inventor)

1989-01-01

A continuous, substantially uniform tow useful in forming composite molded articles is prepared by forming a continuous tow of continuous carbon fibers, forming a continuous tow of thermoplastic polymer fibers to a selected width, uniformly and continuously spreading the carbon fiber two to a width that is essentially the same as the selected width for the thermoplastic polymer fiber tow, intermixing the tows intimately, uniformly and continuously, in a relatively tension-free state, and continuosuly withdrawing the intermixed tow.

Microfluidic devices with permeable polymer barriers for capture and transport of biomolecules and cells.

PubMed

Lee, Ho Suk; Chu, Wai Keung; Zhang, Kun; Huang, Xiaohua

2013-09-07

We report a method for fabricating permeable polymer microstructure barriers in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic devices and the use of the devices to capture and transport DNA and cells. The polymer microstructure in a desired location in a fluidic channel is formed in situ by the polymerization of acrylamide and polyethylene diacrylate cross-linker (PEG-DA) monomer in a solution which is trapped in the location using a pair of PDMS valves. The porous polymer microstructure provides a mechanical barrier to convective fluid flow in the channel or between two microfluidic chambers while it still conducts ions or small charged species under an electric field, allowing for the rapid capture and transport of biomolecules and cells by electrophoresis. We have demonstrated the application of the devices for the rapid capture and efficient release of bacteriophage λ genomic DNA, solution exchange and for the transport and capture of HeLa cells. Our devices will enable the multi-step processing of biomolecules and cells or individual cells within a single microfluidic chamber.

1887 nm lasing in Tm3+-doped TeO2-BaF2-Y2O3 glass microstructured fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shunbin; Yao, Chuanfei; Jia, Zhixu; Qin, Guanshi; Qin, Weiping

2017-04-01

In this paper, we demonstrate ∼2 μm lasing in Tm3+-doped fluorotellurite microstructured fibers. The Tm3+-doped fibers are based on TeO2-BaF2-Y2O3 glasses and fabricated by using a rod-in-tube method. Under the pump of a 1570 nm Er3+-doped fiber laser, lasing at 1887 nm is obtained in a ∼42.5 cm long Tm3+-doped fiber with a threshold pump power of 94 mW. As the pump power increases to 780 mW, the obtained maximum unsaturated power reaches up to ∼408 mW with a slop efficiency of ∼58.1%. This result indicates that the Tm3+-doped fluorotellurite fibers are promising gain media for ∼2 μm fiber lasers.

Microscopic Scale Simulation of the Ablation of Fibrous Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lachaud, Jean Romain; Mansour, Nagi N.

2010-01-01

Ablation by oxidation of carbon-fiber preforms impregnated in carbonized phenolic matrix is modeled at microscopic scale. Direct numerical simulations show that the carbonized phenolic matrix ablates in volume leaving the carbon fibers exposed. This is due to the fact that the reactivity of carbonized phenolic is higher than the reactivity of carbon fibers. After the matrix is depleted, the fibers ablate showing progressive reduction of their diameter. The overall material recession occurs when the fibers are consumed. Two materials with the same carbon-fiber preform, density and chemical composition, but with different matrix distributions are studied. These studies show that at moderate temperatures (< 1000 K) the microstructure of the material influences its recession rate; a fact that is not captured by current models that are based on chemical composition only. Surprisingly, the response of these impregnated-fiber materials is weakly dependent on the microstructure at very high temperatures (e.g., Stardust peak heating conditions: 3360K).

An Integrated Approach Linking Process to Structural Modeling With Microstructural Characterization for Injections-Molded Long-Fiber Thermoplastics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nguyen, Ba Nghiep; Bapanapalli, Satish K.; Smith, Mark T.

2008-09-01

The objective of our work is to enable the optimum design of lightweight automotive structural components using injection-molded long fiber thermoplastics (LFTs). To this end, an integrated approach that links process modeling to structural analysis with experimental microstructural characterization and validation is developed. First, process models for LFTs are developed and implemented into processing codes (e.g. ORIENT, Moldflow) to predict the microstructure of the as-formed composite (i.e. fiber length and orientation distributions). In parallel, characterization and testing methods are developed to obtain necessary microstructural data to validate process modeling predictions. Second, the predicted LFT composite microstructure is imported into amore » structural finite element analysis by ABAQUS to determine the response of the as-formed composite to given boundary conditions. At this stage, constitutive models accounting for the composite microstructure are developed to predict various types of behaviors (i.e. thermoelastic, viscoelastic, elastic-plastic, damage, fatigue, and impact) of LFTs. Experimental methods are also developed to determine material parameters and to validate constitutive models. Such a process-linked-structural modeling approach allows an LFT composite structure to be designed with confidence through numerical simulations. Some recent results of our collaborative research will be illustrated to show the usefulness and applications of this integrated approach.« less

Nondestructive Evaluation of Advanced Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites: A Technology Assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yolken, H. Thomas; Matzkanin, George A.

2009-01-01

Because of their increasing utilization in structural applications, the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of advanced fiber reinforced polymer composites continues to receive considerable research and development attention. Due to the heterogeneous nature of composites, the form of defects is often very different from a metal and fracture mechanisms are more complex. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview and technology assessment of the current state-of-the-art with respect to NDE of advanced fiber reinforced polymer composites.

Femtosecond laser direct-write of optofluidics in polymer-coated optical fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joseph, Kevin A. J.; Haque, Moez; Ho, Stephen; Aitchison, J. Stewart; Herman, Peter R.

2017-03-01

Multifunctional lab in fiber technology seeks to translate the accomplishments of optofluidic, lab on chip devices into silica fibers. a robust, flexible, and ubiquitous optical communication platform that can underpin the `Internet of Things' with distributed sensors, or enable lab on chip functions deep inside our bodies. Femtosecond lasers have driven significant advances in three-dimensional processing, enabling optical circuits, microfluidics, and micro-mechanical structures to be formed around the core of the fiber. However, such processing typically requires the stripping and recoating of the polymer buffer or jacket, increasing processing time and mechanically weakening the device. This paper reports on a comprehensive assessment of laser damage in urethane-acrylate-coated fiber. The results show a sufficient processing window is available for femtosecond laser processing of the fiber without damaging the polymer jacket. The fiber core, cladding, and buffer could be simultaneously processed without removal of the buffer jacket. Three-dimensional lab in fiber devices were successfully fabricated by distortion-free immersionlens focusing, presenting fiber-cladding optical circuits and progress towards chemically-etched channels, microfluidic cavities, and MEMS structure inside buffer-coated fiber.

Optical fiber end-facet polymer suspended-mirror devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Mian; Wu, Jushuai; Zhang, A. Ping; Tam, Hwa-Yaw; Wai, P. K. A.

2017-04-01

This paper presents a novel optical fiber device based on a polymer suspended mirror on the end facet of an optical fiber. With an own-developed optical 3D micro-printing technology, SU-8 suspended-mirror devices (SMDs) were successfully fabricated on the top of a standard single-mode optical fiber. Optical reflection spectra of the fabricated SU- 8 SMDs were measured and compared with theoretical analysis. The proposed technology paves a way towards 3D microengineering of the small end-facet of optical fibers to develop novel fiber-optic sensors.

Supercontinuum generation in a tapered tellurite microstructured optical fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, X.; Ohishi, Y.

2014-07-01

Supercontinuum generation (SCG) was investigated in tapered tellurite microstructured optical fibers (MOFs) for various taper profiles. We emphasize on the procedure for finding the dispersion profile that achieve the best width of the SC spectra. An enhancement of the SCG is achieved by varying the taper waist diameter along its length in a carefully designed, and an optimal degree of tapering is found to exist for tapers with an axially uniform waist. We also show the XFROG spectrograms of the pulses propagating through different tapered fibers, confirming the optimized taper conditions.

Effect of stacking sequence on mechanical properties neem wood veneer plastic composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagamadhu, M.; Kumar, G. C. Mohan; Jeyaraj, P.

2018-04-01

This study investigates the effect of wood veneer stacking sequence on mechanical properties of neem wood polymer composite (WPC) experimentally. Wood laminated samples were fabricated by conventional hand layup technique in a mold and cured under pressure at room temperature and then post cured at elevated temperature. Initially, the tensile, flexural, and impact test were conducted to understand the effect of weight fraction of fiber on mechanical properties. The mechanical properties have increased with the weight fraction of fiber. Moreover the stacking sequence of neem wood plays an important role. As it has a significant impact on the mechanical properties. The results indicated that 0°/0° WPC shows highest mechanical properties as compared to other sequences (90°/90°, 0°/90°, 45°/90°, 45°/45°). The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) Analysis were carried out to identify chemical compounds both in raw neem wood and neem wood epoxy composite. The microstructure raw/neat neem wood and the interfacial bonding characteristics of neem wood composite investigated using Scanning electron microscopy images.

Vacuum Powder Injector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Working, Dennis C.

1991-01-01

Method developed to provide uniform impregnation of bundles of carbon-fiber tow with low-solubility, high-melt-flow polymer powder materials to produce composite prepregs. Vacuum powder injector expands bundle of fiber tow, applies polymer to it, then compresses bundle to hold powder. System provides for control of amount of polymer on bundle. Crystallinity of polymer maintained by controlled melt on takeup system. All powder entrapped, and most collected for reuse. Process provides inexpensive and efficient method for making composite materials. Allows for coating of any bundle of fine fibers with powders. Shows high potential for making prepregs of improved materials and for preparation of high-temperature, high-modulus, reinforced thermoplastics.

Multiscale characterization of chemical–mechanical interactions between polymer fibers and cementitious matrix

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hernández-Cruz, Daniel; Hargis, Craig W.; Bae, Sungchul

2014-04-01

Together with a series of mechanical tests, the interactions and potential bonding between polymeric fibers and cementitious materials were studied using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and microtomography (lCT). Experimental results showed that these techniques have great potential to characterize the polymer fiber-hydrated cement-paste matrix interface, as well as differentiating the chemistry of the two components of a bi-polymer (hybrid) fiber the polypropylene core and the ethylene acrylic acid copolymer sheath. Similarly, chemical interactions between the hybrid fiber and the cement hydration products were observed, indicating the chemical bonding between the sheath and the hardened cement paste matrix. Microtomography allowedmore » visualization of the performance of the samples, and the distribution and orientation of the two types of fiber in mortar. Beam flexure tests confirmed improved tensile strength of mixes containing hybrid fibers, and expansion bar tests showed similar reductions in expansion for the polypropylene and hybrid fiber mortar bars.« less

Submicron Surface-Patterned Fibers and Textiles

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-11-04

These authors contributed equally Keywords: grating, fiber, polymer , patterning, textile Distribution A: approved for public release...requirements. Second, textile materials are primarily polymer -based, while most surface-patterning techniques have been developed for silicon...Alternative substrates, especially flexible polymers , remain challenging to pattern [25,26] due to the highly specific surface chemistry of different

A Hot-Polymer Fiber Fabry–Perot Interferometer Anemometer for Sensing Airflow

PubMed Central

Lee, Cheng-Ling; Liu, Kai-Wen; Luo, Shi-Hong; Wu, Meng-Shan; Ma, Chao-Tsung

2017-01-01

This work proposes the first hot-polymer fiber Fabry–Perot interferometer (HPFFPI) anemometer for sensing airflow. The proposed HPFFPI is based on a single-mode fiber (SMF) endface that is attached to a UV-cured polymer to form an ultracompact fiber Fabry–Perot microcavity. The proposed polymer microcavity was heated using a low-cost chip resistor with a controllable dc driving power to achieve a desired polymer’s steady-state temperature (T) that exceeds the T of the surrounding environment. The polymer is highly sensitive to variations of T with high repeatability. When the hot polymer was cooled by the measured flowing air, the wavelength fringes of its optical spectra shifted. The HPFFPI anemometers have been experimentally evaluated for different cavity lengths and heating power values. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed HPFFPI responses well in terms of airflow measurement. A high sensitivity of 1.139 nm/(m/s) and a good resolution of 0.0088 m/s over the 0~2.54 m/s range of airflow were achieved with a cavity length of 10 μm and a heating power of 0.402 W. PMID:28869510

Processes for preparing carbon fibers using gaseous sulfur trioxide

DOEpatents

Barton, Bryan E.; Lysenko, Zenon; Bernius, Mark T.; Hukkanen, Eric J.

2016-01-05

Disclosed herein are processes for preparing carbonized polymers, such as carbon fibers, comprising: sulfonating a polymer with a sulfonating agent that comprises SO.sub.3 gas to form a sulfonated polymer; treating the sulfonated polymer with a heated solvent, wherein the temperature of said solvent is at least 95.degree. C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 500-3000.degree. C.

Bio-Based Nanocomposites: An Alternative to Traditional Composites

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tate, Jitendra S.; Akinola, Adekunle T.; Kabakov, Dmitri

2009-01-01

Polymer matrix composites (PMC), often referred to as fiber reinforced plastics (FRP), consist of fiber reinforcement (E-glass, S2-glass, aramid, carbon, or natural fibers) and polymer matrix/resin (polyester, vinyl ester, polyurethane, phenolic, and epoxies). Eglass/ polyester and E-glass/vinyl ester composites are extensively used in the marine,…

Moiré phase-shifted fiber Bragg gratings in polymer optical fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Min, Rui; Marques, Carlos; Bang, Ole; Ortega, Beatriz

2018-03-01

We demonstrate a simple way to fabricate phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating in polymer optical fibers as a narrowband transmission filter for a variety of applications at telecom wavelengths. The filters have been fabricated by overlapping two uniform fiber Bragg gratings with slightly different periods to create a Moiré grating with only two pulses (one pulse is 15 ns) of UV power. Experimental characterization of the filter is provided under different conditions where the strain and temperature sensitivities were measured.

The Effect of Mechanical Performance on PP Fiber to Polymer Mortar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Xinying; Kang, Xinnan; Jin, Yujie; Cai, Jingwei

2018-03-01

It introduces the purpose of of adding Polypropylene fiber. The paper The production process and test method of epoxy resin mortar with PP fiber are developed. The influence of PP fiber on mechanical properties of polymer mortar was studied in this paper, including the influence of PP fiber content on flexural strength, the ratio of flexural and compressive strength and so on. The experimental results are compared and analyzed. The reason is found, the conclusion of research is acquired.

Low-cost integrated-optic fiber couplers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheem, Sang K.; Zhang, Feng; Choi, Jong-Ho; Lee, Yong-Woo; Low, Sarah; Lu, Shih-Yau

1997-04-01

In an effort to lower the cost of fiber optic couplers, integrated optic channel waveguide circuits are made of a UV-curable polymer using a molding technique, and then a novel fiber-to-channel connecting approach is employed in which UV light radiating from an optical fiber core cures the polymer in the channel, thus accomplishing a 'touchdown' of the core-extension waveguide onto the walls of the channel waveguide.

Molecular-Level Computational Investigation of Mechanical Transverse Behavior of p-Phenylene Terephthalamide (PPTA) Fibers

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

fabricated today are based on polymer matrix composites containing Kevlarw KM2 reinforcements , the present work will deal with generic PPTA fibers . In...Multi-length scale enriched continuum-level material model for Kevlarw- fiber reinforced polymer-matrix composites”, Journal of Materials...mechanical transverse behavior of p-phenylene terephthalamide (PPTA) fibers Purpose – A series of all-atom molecular-level computational analyses is

Polymer Coating of Carbon Nanotube Fibers for Electric Microcables

PubMed Central

Alvarez, Noe T.; Ochmann, Timothy; Kienzle, Nicholas; Ruff, Brad; Haase, Mark R.; Hopkins, Tracy; Pixley, Sarah; Mast, David; Schulz, Mark J.; Shanov, Vesselin

2014-01-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered the most promising candidates to replace Cu and Al in a large number of electrical, mechanical and thermal applications. Although most CNT industrial applications require macro and micro size CNT fiber assemblies, several techniques to make conducting CNT fibers, threads, yarns and ropes have been reported to this day, and improvement of their electrical and mechanical conductivity continues. Some electrical applications of these CNT conducting fibers require an insulating layer for electrical insulation and protection against mechanical tearing. Ideally, a flexible insulator such as hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) on the CNT fiber can allow fabrication of CNT coils that can be assembled into lightweight, corrosion resistant electrical motors and transformers. HNBR is a largely used commercial polymer that unlike other cable-coating polymers such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), it provides unique continuous and uniform coating on the CNT fibers. The polymer coated/insulated CNT fibers have a 26.54 μm average diameter—which is approximately four times the diameter of a red blood cell—is produced by a simple dip-coating process. Our results confirm that HNBR in solution creates a few microns uniform insulation and mechanical protection over a CNT fiber that is used as the electrically conducting core. PMID:28344254

Polymer Coating of Carbon Nanotube Fibers for Electric Microcables.

PubMed

Alvarez, Noe T; Ochmann, Timothy; Kienzle, Nicholas; Ruff, Brad; Haase, Mark R; Hopkins, Tracy; Pixley, Sarah; Mast, David; Schulz, Mark J; Shanov, Vesselin

2014-11-04

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered the most promising candidates to replace Cu and Al in a large number of electrical, mechanical and thermal applications. Although most CNT industrial applications require macro and micro size CNT fiber assemblies, several techniques to make conducting CNT fibers, threads, yarns and ropes have been reported to this day, and improvement of their electrical and mechanical conductivity continues. Some electrical applications of these CNT conducting fibers require an insulating layer for electrical insulation and protection against mechanical tearing. Ideally, a flexible insulator such as hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) on the CNT fiber can allow fabrication of CNT coils that can be assembled into lightweight, corrosion resistant electrical motors and transformers. HNBR is a largely used commercial polymer that unlike other cable-coating polymers such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), it provides unique continuous and uniform coating on the CNT fibers. The polymer coated/insulated CNT fibers have a 26.54 μm average diameter-which is approximately four times the diameter of a red blood cell-is produced by a simple dip-coating process. Our results confirm that HNBR in solution creates a few microns uniform insulation and mechanical protection over a CNT fiber that is used as the electrically conducting core.

Substance-use initiation moderates the effect of stress on white-matter microstructure in adolescents.

PubMed

Zhai, Zu Wei; Yip, Sarah W; Morie, Kristen P; Sinha, Rajita; Mayes, Linda C; Potenza, Marc N

2018-04-01

While childhood stress may contribute risk to substance-use initiation and differences in brain white-matter development, understanding of the potential impact of substance-use initiation on the relationship between experienced stress and white-matter microstructure remains limited. This study examined whether substance-use initiation moderated the effect of perceived stress on white-matter differences using measures of primary white-matter fiber anisotropy. Forty adolescents (age 14.75 ± .87 years) were assessed on the Perceived Stress Scale, and 50% were determined to have presence of substance-use initiation. White-matter microstructure was examined using primary-fiber orientations anisotropy, which may reflect white-matter integrity, modeled separately from other fiber orientations in the same voxels. Analyses were conducted on regions of interest previously associated with childhood stress and substance use. Lower perceived stress and presence of substance-use initiation were related to greater right cingulum primary-fiber measures. Substance-use-initiation status moderated the association between perceived stress and right cingulum primary-fiber measures, such that higher perceived stress was associated with lower right cingulum primary-fiber anisotropy in adolescents without substance-use initiation, but not in those with substance-use initiation. Findings in primary-fiber anisotropy suggest differences in right cingulum white-matter integrity is associated with substance-use initiation in higher-stress adolescents. This reflects a possible pre-existing risk factor, an impact of early substance use, or a combination thereof. Examination of potential markers associated with substance-use initiation in white-matter microstructure among stress-exposed youth warrant additional investigation as such biomarkers may inform efforts relating to tailored interventions. (Am J Addict 2018;27:217-224). © 2018 American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.

Investigations on the Mechanical Properties of Conducting Polymer Coating-Substrate Structures and Their Influencing Factors

PubMed Central

Wang, Xi-Shu; Tang, Hua-Ping; Li, Xu-Dong; Hua, Xin

2009-01-01

This review covers recent advances and work on the microstructure features, mechanical properties and cracking processes of conducting polymer film/coating- substrate structures under different testing conditions. An attempt is made to characterize and quantify the relationships between mechanical properties and microstructure features. In addition, the film cracking mechanism on the micro scale and some influencing factors that play a significant role in the service of the film-substrate structure are presented. These investigations cover the conducting polymer film/coating nucleation process, microstructure-fracture characterization, translation of brittle-ductile fractures, and cracking processes near the largest inherent macromolecule defects under thermal-mechanical loadings, and were carried out using in situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations, as a novel method for evaluation of interface strength and critical failure stress. PMID:20054470

Low Loss Graded Index Polymer Optical Fiber for Local Networking

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Claus, Richard Otto

The objective of this Department of Energy SBIR program has been to develop technology for the advancement of advanced computing systems. NanoSonic worked with two subcontractors, the Polymicro Division of Molex, a U.S.-based manufacturer of specialized optical fiber and fiber components, and Virginia Tech, a research university involved through the Global Environment for Network Innovations (GENI) program in high-speed computer networking research. NanoSonic developed a patented molecular-level self-assembly process to manufacture polymer-based optical fibers in a way similar to the modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) approach typically used to make glass optical fibers. Although polymer fiber has a higher attenuationmore » per unit length than glass fiber, short connectorized polymer fiber jumpers offer significant cost savings over their glass counterparts, particularly due to the potential use of low-cost plastic fiber connectors. As part of the SBIR commercialization process, NanoSonic exclusively licensed this technology to a large ($100B+ market cap) U.S.-based manufacturing conglomerate near the end of the first year of the Phase II program. With this base technology developed and licensed, NanoSonic then worked with Polymicro to address secondary program goals of using related but not conflicting production methods to enhance the performance of other specialty optical fiber products and components, and Virginia Tech continued its evaluation of developed polymer fibers in its network infrastructure system on the university campus. We also report our current understanding of the observation during the Phase I program of quantum conductance and partial quantum conductance in metal-insulator-metal (MIM) devices. Such conductance behavior may be modeled as singlemode behavior in one-dimensional electrically conducting waveguides, similar in principle to singlemode optical propagation in dielectric fiber waveguides. Although NanoSonic has not licensed any of the additional technology developed during the second year of the program, several proprietary discussions with major materials companies are underway as of the conclusion of Phase II.« less

The effect of confinement on the crystalline microstructure of polymer: fullerene bulk heterojunctions

DOE PAGES

Ashraf, A.; Dissanayake, D. M. N. M.; Eisaman, M. D.

2015-07-01

We investigate the effect of confinement on the coherence length and the crystalline microstructure of the polymer component of polymer: fullerene bulk heterojunction thin films using grazing incidence wide angle x-ray scattering. We find that the polymer crystallite size decreases and the alignment of the molecules along the surface normal increases, as the thin-film thickness is reduced from 920nm to < 20nm and approaches the thin-film confinement regime. Furthermore, we find that the polymer crystallite size near the surface (air interface) is lower than the crystallite size in the bulk or the bottom (substrate interface) of bulk heterojunction films thickermore » than the confinement regime. Variation in polymer crystallite size can cause changes in charge carrier mobility and recombination rates, which in turn affect the performance of bulk heterojunction thin film devices such as photovoltaics and photodetectors« less

Nano-Fiber Reinforced Enhancements in Composite Polymer Matrices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chamis, Christos C.

2009-01-01

Nano-fibers are used to reinforce polymer matrices to enhance the matrix dependent properties that are subsequently used in conventional structural composites. A quasi isotropic configuration is used in arranging like nano-fibers through the thickness to ascertain equiaxial enhanced matrix behavior. The nano-fiber volume ratios are used to obtain the enhanced matrix strength properties for 0.01,0.03, and 0.05 nano-fiber volume rates. These enhanced nano-fiber matrices are used with conventional fiber volume ratios of 0.3 and 0.5 to obtain the composite properties. Results show that nano-fiber enhanced matrices of higher than 0.3 nano-fiber volume ratio are degrading the composite properties.

Ultrasonic Guided-Wave Scan System Used to Characterize Microstructure and Defects in Ceramic Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, Don J.; Cosgriff, Laura M.; Martin, Richard E.; Verrilli, Michael J.; Bhatt, Ramakrishna T.

2004-01-01

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are being developed for advanced aerospace propulsion applications to save weight, improve reuse capability, and increase performance. However, mechanical and environmental loads applied to CMCs can cause discrete flaws and distributed microdamage, significantly reducing desirable physical properties. Such microdamage includes fiber/matrix debonding (interface failure), matrix microcracking, fiber fracture and buckling, oxidation, and second phase formation. A recent study (ref. 1) of the durability of a C/SiC CMC discussed the requirement for improved nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods for monitoring degradation in these materials. Distributed microdamage in CMCs has proven difficult to characterize nondestructively because of the complex microstructure and macrostructure of these materials. This year, an ultrasonic guided-wave scan system developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center was used to characterize various microstructural and flaw conditions in SiC/SiC (silicon carbide fiber in silicon carbide matrix) and C/SiC (carbon fiber in silicon carbide matrix) CMC samples.

Mechanical and physical properties of carbon-graphite fiber-reinforced polymers intended for implant suprastructures.

PubMed

Segerström, Susanna; Ruyter, I Eystein

2007-09-01

Mechanical properties and quality of fiber/matrix adhesion of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based materials, reinforced with carbon-graphite (CG) fibers that are able to remain in a plastic state until polymerization, were examined. Tubes of cleaned braided CG fibers were treated with a sizing resin. Two resin mixtures, resin A and resin B, stable in the fluid state and containing different cross-linking agents, were reinforced with CG fiber loadings of 24, 36, and 47 wt% (20, 29, and 38 vol.%). In addition, resin B was reinforced with 58 wt% (47 vol.%). After heat-polymerization, flexural strength and modulus were evaluated, both dry and after water storage. Coefficient of thermal expansion, longitudinally and in the transverse direction of the specimens, was determined. Adhesion between fibers and matrix was evaluated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Flexural properties and linear coefficient of thermal expansion were similar for both fiber composites. With increased fiber loading, flexural properties increased. For 47 wt% fibers in polymer A the flexural strength was 547.7 (28.12) MPa and for polymer B 563.3 (89.24) MPa when water saturated. Linear coefficient of thermal expansion was for 47 wt% CG fiber-reinforced polymers; -2.5 x 10(-6) degrees C-1 longitudinally and 62.4 x 10(-6) degrees C-1 in the transverse direction of the specimens. SEM revealed good adhesion between fibers and matrix. More porosity was observed with fiber loading of 58 wt%. The fiber treatment and the developed resin matrices resulted in good adhesion between CG fibers and matrix. The properties observed indicate a potential for implant-retained prostheses.

Effect of Sterilization Methods on Electrospun Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) Fiber Alignment for Biomedical Applications.

PubMed

Valente, T A M; Silva, D M; Gomes, P S; Fernandes, M H; Santos, J D; Sencadas, V

2016-02-10

Medically approved sterility methods should be a major concern when developing a polymeric scaffold, mainly when commercialization is envisaged. In the present work, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) fiber membranes were processed by electrospinning with random and aligned fiber alignment and sterilized under UV, ethylene oxide (EO), and γ-radiation, the most common ones for clinical applications. It was observed that UV light and γ-radiation do not influence fiber morphology or alignment, while electrospun samples treated with EO lead to fiber orientation loss and morphology changing from cylindrical fibers to ribbon-like structures, accompanied to an increase of polymer crystallinity up to 28%. UV light and γ-radiation sterilization methods showed to be less harmful to polymer morphology, without significant changes in polymer thermal and mechanical properties, but a slight increase of polymer wettability was detected, especially for the samples treated with UV radiation. In vitro results indicate that both UV and γ-radiation treatments of PLA membranes allow the adhesion and proliferation of MG 63 osteoblastic cells in a close interaction with the fiber meshes and with a growth pattern highly sensitive to the underlying random or aligned fiber orientation. These results are suggestive of the potential of both γ-radiation sterilized PLA membranes for clinical applications in regenerative medicine, especially those where customized membrane morphology and fiber alignment is an important issue.

Morphological control of inter-penetrating polymer networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hansen, Marion

1989-01-01

Synthetic organic polymer chemistry has been successful in producing composition of matter with thermal oxidation stability and progressively higher glass transition temperatures. In part, this was done by increasing the steric-hindrance of moieties in the chain of a macromolecule. The resulting polymers are usually quite insoluble and produce molten polymers of very high viscosities. These types of polymers are not easily processed into graphite fiber prepregs by melt or solution impregnation methods. Hence, a technological need exists to produce new knowledge of how to produce polymer-fiber composites from this class of polymers. The concept of freeze drying amic-acid prepolymers with reactive thermoplastic was proposed as a research topic for the ASEE/NASA Summer Faculty Program of 1989 as a means of producing polymer-fiber composites. This process scheme has the thermodynamic attribute that the magnitude of phase separation due to differences in solubility of two organic constituents in solution will be greatly reduced by removing a solvent not by evaporation but by sublimation. Progress to date on evaluating this polymer processing concept is briefly outlined.

Bioinspired polydimethylsiloxane-based composites with high shear resistance against wet tissue.

PubMed

Fischer, Sarah C L; Levy, Oren; Kroner, Elmar; Hensel, René; Karp, Jeffrey M; Arzt, Eduard

2016-08-01

Patterned microstructures represent a potential approach for improving current wound closure strategies. Microstructures can be fabricated by multiple techniques including replica molding of soft polymer-based materials. However, polymeric microstructures often lack the required shear resistance with tissue needed for wound closure. In this work, scalable microstructures made from composites based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were explored to enhance the shear resistance with wet tissue. To achieve suitable mechanical properties, PDMS was reinforced by incorporation of polyethylene (PE) particles into the pre-polymer and by coating PE particle reinforced substrates with parylene. The reinforced microstructures showed a 6-fold enhancement, the coated structures even a 13-fold enhancement in Young׳s modulus over pure PDMS. Shear tests of mushroom-shaped microstructures (diameter 450µm, length 1mm) against chicken muscle tissue demonstrate first correlations that will be useful for future design of wound closure or stabilization implants. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Polymer Assisted Functional Ceramic Nanofibrous Structures for Potential Optoelectronic and Photocatalytic Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aykut, Yakup

The use of fossil fuels adversely effects the environment and hence increases global warming. On the other hand the lack of fuel reservoirs triggers people to find environmentally friendly new energy sources. Solar cell technology is one of the developing energy production technologies in green productions. Currently, many solar cells are made of highly purified silicon crystals. However silicon based solar cells have high energy conversion efficiency, they are highly brittle, expensive, and time consuming during the fabrication process. Organic and metal oxide based photovoltaic materials are a more cost-effective alternative to silicon based solar cells. In ceramic materials, Titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO) and magnesium zinc oxide (MgxZn 1-xO) have intensive research interest owing to their optoelectronic and photocatalytic properties, and they have been used in dye sensitized solar cells as electron acceptor layer due to their high band gap properties and having low conduction band levels than electron donor dye molecules or quantum dots. On the other hand, energy band levels of the ceramic materials are considerable affected by their crystal microstructures, shapes and doping materials. Because of their high surface to volume ratio, nanofibers are suitable as active energy conversions layers in organic and dye sensitized solar cells. Using nanofibrous ceramic structure instead of film provides higher energy conversion efficiency since the high surface areas of the electrospun mats may accommodate a greater concentration of dye molecules or quantum dots, which could result in greater efficiency of electron transfer within the material, as compared to traditional film-based technologies. Also, the continuous structure of nanofibers may allow for effective electron transfer as a result of the direct conduction pathway of the photoelectrons along the fibers. Moreover, 3D structures of nanofibrous mat allow scattering and absorbing the photons multiple times. Sol-Gel electrospinning procedure has been widely used to obtain ceramic nanofibers. Briefly, at sol-gel electrospinning procedure, a carrier polymer and ceramic precursor is dissolved in an appropriate solvent, and polymer/ceramic precursor composite nanofibers are produced with a following electrospinning process. Then, as spun nanofibers are calcined at high temperatures to remove polymer and other organic residues from the fibers and convert ceramic precursor into ceramic nanofibers. We investigate temperature dependent crystal phase transformations of electrospun TiO2 nanofibers regardless of other parameters and observed their microstructures and optical properties due to different calcination temperatures. Quantum dots are semi conductive metallic nanocrystals with very wide light absorption range in UV, visible and even in near-infrared regions depending on the size of the quantum dots. On the other hand, TiO2 is a high band gap semiconductor material and absorbs the light in UV range that limits its photovoltaic applications. In order to extend its light absorption through visible region, we sensitized and incorporated low band gap CdSe quantum dot on electrospun TiO2 nanofibers. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is another high band gap ceramic materials with promising optical properties have been used for photonic applications. Intrinsic lattice defects in ZnO are one of the main limitation factors that affect the device performance tremendously and could be controlled due to fabrication process. We investigated the effect of different type of surfactants with different charge groups on fiber morphology, microstructure and optical properties of sol-gel electrospun ZnO nanofibers. Finally, in order to tune band gap energy level of ZnO nanofibers to higher values, we doped Mg2+ into ZnO nanofibers. Because Zn2+ and Mg2+ have similar atomic radii, some of Zn2+ ions are replaced with Mg 2+ ions in the structure to produce different "x" value of MgxZn1-xO due to amount of Mg content. We produced tuned band gap MgxZn1-xO nanofibers via sol-gel electrospinning.

Micro-Nanostructures of Cellulose-Collagen for Critical Sized Bone Defect Healing.

PubMed

Aravamudhan, Aja; Ramos, Daisy M; Nip, Jonathan; Kalajzic, Ivo; Kumbar, Sangamesh G

2018-02-01

Bone tissue engineering strategies utilize biodegradable polymeric matrices alone or in combination with cells and factors to provide mechanical support to bone, while promoting cell proliferation, differentiation, and tissue ingrowth. The performance of mechanically competent, micro-nanostructured polymeric matrices, in combination with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), is evaluated in a critical sized bone defect. Cellulose acetate (CA) is used to fabricate a porous microstructured matrix. Type I collagen is then allowed to self-assemble on these microstructures to create a natural polymer-based, micro-nanostructured matrix (CAc). Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) matrices with identical microstructures serve as controls. Significantly higher number of implanted host cells are distributed in the natural polymer based micro-nanostructures with greater bone density and more uniform cell distribution. Additionally, a twofold increase in collagen content is observed with natural polymer based scaffolds. This study establishes the benefits of natural polymer derived micro-nanostructures in combination with donor derived BMSCs to repair and regenerate critical sized bone defects. Natural polymer based materials with mechanically competent micro-nanostructures may serve as an alternative material platform for bone regeneration. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Analytical relation between effective mode field area and waveguide dispersion in microstructure fibers.

PubMed

Moenster, Mathias; Steinmeyer, Günter; Iliew, Rumen; Lederer, Falk; Petermann, Klaus

2006-11-15

For optical fibers exhibiting a radially symmetric refractive index profile, there exists an analytical relation that connects waveguide dispersion and the Petermann-II mode field radius. We extend the usefulness of this relation to the nonradially symmetric case of microstructure fibers in the anomalous dispersion regime, yielding a simple relation between dispersion and effective mode field area. Assuming a Gaussian mode distribution, we derive a fundamental upper limit for the effective mode field area that is required to obtain a certain amount of anomalous waveguide dispersion. This relation is demonstrated to show excellent agreement for fiber designs suited for supercontinuum generation and soliton lasers in the near infrared.

Microstructured optical fiber photonic wires with subwavelength core diameter.

PubMed

Lizé, Yannick; Mägi, Eric; Ta'eed, Vahid; Bolger, Jeremy; Steinvurzel, Paul; Eggleton, Benjamin

2004-07-12

We demonstrate fabrication of robust, low-loss silica photonic wires using tapered microstructured silica optical fiber. The fiber is tapered by a factor of fifty while retaining the internal structure and leaving the air holes completely open. The air holes isolate the core mode from the surrounding environment, making it insensitive to surface contamination and contact leakage, suggesting applications as nanowires for photonic circuits . We describe a transition between two different operation regimes of our photonic wire from the embedded regime, where the mode is isolated from the environment, to the evanescent regime, where more than 70% of the mode intensity can propagate outside of the fiber. Interesting dispersion and nonlinear properties are identified.

A simple gold-coated microstructure fiber polarization filter in two communication windows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Xinxing; Li, Shuguang; Du, Huijing; Zhang, Yinan; Liu, Qiang

2018-03-01

A polarization filter is designed at two communication windows of 1310 and 1550 nm based on microstructured optical fiber. The model has four large diameter air holes and two gold-coated air holes. The influence of the geometrical parameters of the photonic crystal fiber on the performance of the polarization filter is analyzed by the finite element method. The numerical simulation shows that when the fiber length is 300 μm, the corresponding extinction ratio is 209.7 dB and 179.8 dB, the bandwidth of extinction ratio (ER) better than 20 dB is 150 nm and 350 nm at the communication wavelength of 1310 nm and 1550 nm.

Ceramic fibers from Si-B-C polymer precursors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Riccitiello, S. R.; Hsu, M. S.; Chen, T. S.

1993-01-01

Non-oxide ceramics such as silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si3N4), and silicon borides (SiB4, SiB6) have thermal stability, oxidation resistance, hardness, and varied electrical properties. All these materials can be prepared in a fiber form from a suitable polymer precursor. The above mentioned fibers, when tested over a temperature range from 25 to 1400 C, experience degradation at elevated temperatures. Past work in ceramic materials has shown that the strength of ceramics containing both carbides and borides is sustained at elevated temperatures, with minimum oxidation. The work presented here describes the formation of ceramic fibers containing both elements, boron and silicon, prepared via the polymer precursor route previously reported by the authors, and discusses the fiber mechanical properties that are retained over the temperature range studied.

Kilowatt-level cladding light stripper for high-power fiber laser.

PubMed

Yan, Ping; Sun, Junyi; Huang, Yusheng; Li, Dan; Wang, Xuejiao; Xiao, Qirong; Gong, Mali

2017-03-01

We designed and fabricated a high-power cladding light stripper (CLS) by combining a fiber-etched CLS with a cascaded polymer-recoated CLS. The etched fiber reorganizes the numerical aperture (NA) distribution of the cladding light, leading to an increase in the leakage power and a flatter distribution of the leakage proportion in the cascaded polymer-recoated fiber. The index distribution of the cascaded polymer-recoated fiber is carefully designed to ensure an even leakage of cladding light. More stages near the index of 1.451 are included to disperse the heat. The CLS is capable of working consistently under 1187 W of cladding light with an attenuation of 26.59 dB, and the highest local temperature is less than 35°C.

Shape memory polymer actuator and catheter

DOEpatents

Maitland, Duncan J.; Lee, Abraham P.; Schumann, Daniel L.; Matthews, Dennis L.; Decker, Derek E.; Jungreis, Charles A.

2004-05-25

An actuator system is provided for acting upon a material in a vessel. The system includes an optical fiber and a shape memory polymer material operatively connected to the optical fiber. The shape memory polymer material is adapted to move from a first shape for moving through said vessel to a second shape where it can act upon said material.

Shape memory polymer actuator and catheter

DOEpatents

Maitland, Duncan J.; Lee, Abraham P.; Schumann, Daniel L.; Matthews, Dennis L.; Decker, Derek E.; Jungreis, Charles A.

2007-11-06

An actuator system is provided for acting upon a material in a vessel. The system includes an optical fiber and a shape memory polymer material operatively connected to the optical fiber. The shape memory polymer material is adapted to move from a first shape for moving through said vessel to a second shape where it can act upon said material.

Quantitative radiographic analysis of fiber reinforced polymer composites.

PubMed

Baidya, K P; Ramakrishna, S; Rahman, M; Ritchie, A

2001-01-01

X-ray radiographic examination of the bone fracture healing process is a widely used method in the treatment and management of patients. Medical devices made of metallic alloys reportedly produce considerable artifacts that make the interpretation of radiographs difficult. Fiber reinforced polymer composite materials have been proposed to replace metallic alloys in certain medical devices because of their radiolucency, light weight, and tailorable mechanical properties. The primary objective of this paper is to provide a comparable radiographic analysis of different fiber reinforced polymer composites that are considered suitable for biomedical applications. Composite materials investigated consist of glass, aramid (Kevlar-29), and carbon reinforcement fibers, and epoxy and polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) matrices. The total mass attenuation coefficient of each material was measured using clinical X-rays (50 kev). The carbon fiber reinforced composites were found to be more radiolucent than the glass and kevlar fiber reinforced composites.

Effect of Coconut, Sisal and Jute Fibers on the Properties of Starch/Gluten/Glycerol Matrix

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Coconut, sisal and jute fibers were added as reinforcement materials in a biodegradable polymer matrix comprised of starch/gluten/glycerol. The content of fibers used in the composites varied from 5% to 30% by weight of the total polymers (starch and gluten). Materials were processed in a Haake torq...

Molecular interference of fibrin’s divalent polymerization mechanism enables modulation of multiscale material properties

PubMed Central

Brown, Ashley C.; Baker, Stephen; Douglas, Alison; Keating, Mark; Alvarez-Elizondo, Martha; Botvinick, Elliot; Guthold, Martin; Barker, Thomas H.

2015-01-01

Protein based polymers provide an exciting and complex landscape for tunable natural biomaterials through modulation of molecular level interactions. Here we demonstrate the ability to modify protein polymer structural and mechanical properties at multiple length scales by molecular ‘interference’ of fibrin’s native polymerization mechanism. We have previously reported that engagement of fibrin’s polymerization ‘hole b’, also known as ‘b-pockets’, through PEGylated complimentary ‘knob B’ mimics can increase fibrin network porosity but also, somewhat paradoxically, increase network stiffness. Here, we explore the possible mechanistic underpinning of this phenomenon through characterization of the effects of knob B-fibrin interaction at multiple length scales from molecular to bulk polymer. Despite its weak monovalent binding affinity for fibrin, addition of both knob B and PEGylated knob B at concentrations near the binding coefficient, Kd, increased fibrin network porosity, consistent with the reported role of knob B-hole b interactions in promoting lateral growth of fibrin fibers. Addition of PEGylated knob B decreases the extensibility of single fibrin fibers at concentrations near its Kd but increases extensibility of fibers at concentrations above its Kd. The data suggest this bimodal behavior is due to the individual contributions knob B, which decreases fiber extensibility, and PEG, which increase fiber extensibility. Taken together with laser trap-based microrheological and bulk rheological analyses of fibrin polymers, our data strongly suggests that hole b engagement increases in single fiber stiffness that translates to higher storage moduli of fibrin polymers despite their increased porosity. These data point to possible strategies for tuning fibrin polymer mechanical properties through modulation of single fiber mechanics. PMID:25725552

Noninvasive Quantitative Imaging of Collagen Microstructure in Three-Dimensional Hydrogels Using High-Frequency Ultrasound

PubMed Central

Mercado, Karla P.; Helguera, María; Hocking, Denise C.

2015-01-01

Collagen I is widely used as a natural component of biomaterials for both tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. The physical and biological properties of fibrillar collagens are strongly tied to variations in collagen fiber microstructure. The goal of this study was to develop the use of high-frequency quantitative ultrasound to assess collagen microstructure within three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels noninvasively and nondestructively. The integrated backscatter coefficient (IBC) was employed as a quantitative ultrasound parameter to detect, image, and quantify spatial variations in collagen fiber density and diameter. Collagen fiber microstructure was varied by fabricating hydrogels with different collagen concentrations or polymerization temperatures. IBC values were computed from measurements of the backscattered radio-frequency ultrasound signals collected using a single-element transducer (38-MHz center frequency, 13–47 MHz bandwidth). The IBC increased linearly with increasing collagen concentration and decreasing polymerization temperature. Parametric 3D images of the IBC were generated to visualize and quantify regional variations in collagen microstructure throughout the volume of hydrogels fabricated in standard tissue culture plates. IBC parametric images of corresponding cell-embedded collagen gels showed cell accumulation within regions having elevated collagen IBC values. The capability of this ultrasound technique to noninvasively detect and quantify spatial differences in collagen microstructure offers a valuable tool to monitor the structural properties of collagen scaffolds during fabrication, to detect functional differences in collagen microstructure, and to guide fundamental research on the interactions of cells and collagen matrices. PMID:25517512

Noninvasive Quantitative Imaging of Collagen Microstructure in Three-Dimensional Hydrogels Using High-Frequency Ultrasound.

PubMed

Mercado, Karla P; Helguera, María; Hocking, Denise C; Dalecki, Diane

2015-07-01

Collagen I is widely used as a natural component of biomaterials for both tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. The physical and biological properties of fibrillar collagens are strongly tied to variations in collagen fiber microstructure. The goal of this study was to develop the use of high-frequency quantitative ultrasound to assess collagen microstructure within three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels noninvasively and nondestructively. The integrated backscatter coefficient (IBC) was employed as a quantitative ultrasound parameter to detect, image, and quantify spatial variations in collagen fiber density and diameter. Collagen fiber microstructure was varied by fabricating hydrogels with different collagen concentrations or polymerization temperatures. IBC values were computed from measurements of the backscattered radio-frequency ultrasound signals collected using a single-element transducer (38-MHz center frequency, 13-47 MHz bandwidth). The IBC increased linearly with increasing collagen concentration and decreasing polymerization temperature. Parametric 3D images of the IBC were generated to visualize and quantify regional variations in collagen microstructure throughout the volume of hydrogels fabricated in standard tissue culture plates. IBC parametric images of corresponding cell-embedded collagen gels showed cell accumulation within regions having elevated collagen IBC values. The capability of this ultrasound technique to noninvasively detect and quantify spatial differences in collagen microstructure offers a valuable tool to monitor the structural properties of collagen scaffolds during fabrication, to detect functional differences in collagen microstructure, and to guide fundamental research on the interactions of cells and collagen matrices.

Studies of fiber-matrix adhesion on compression strength

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bascom, Willard D.; Nairn, John A.; Boll, D. J.

1991-01-01

A study was initiated on the effect of the matrix polymer and the fiber matrix bond strength of carbon fiber polymer matrix composites. The work includes tests with micro-composites, single ply composites, laminates, and multi-axial loaded cylinders. The results obtained thus far indicate that weak fiber-matrix adhesion dramatically reduces 0 degree compression strength. Evidence is also presented that the flaws in the carbon fiber that govern compression strength differ from those that determine fiber tensile strength. Examination of post-failure damage in the single ply tests indicates kink banding at the crack tip.

Long discontinuous fiber composite structure: Forming and structural mechanics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pipes, R. B.; Santare, M. H.; Otoole, B. J.; Beaussart, A. J.; Deheer, D. C.; Okine, R. K.

1991-01-01

Cost effective composite structure has motivated the investigation of several new approaches to develop composite structure from innovative material forms. Among the promising new approaches is the conversion of planar sheet to components of complex curvature through sheet forming or stretch forming. In both cases, the potential for material stretch in the fiber direction appears to offer a clear advantage in formability over continuous fiber systems. In the present study, the authors have established a framework which allows the simulation of the anisotropic mechanisms of deformation of long discontinuous fiber laminates wherein the matrix phase is a viscous fluid. The initial study focuses upon the establishment of micromechanics models for prediction of the effective anisotropic viscosities of the oriented fiber assembly in a viscous matrix. Next, the developed constitutive relation is employed through an analogy with incompressible elasticity to exercise the finite element technique for determination of local fiber orientation and laminate thickness after forming. Results are presented for the stretch bending of a curved beam from an arbitrary composite laminate and the bulging of a clamped sheet. Structural analyses are conducted to determine the effect of microstructure on the performance of curved beams manufactured from long discontinuous fiber composites. For the purposes of this study, several curved beams with ideal and non-ideal microstructures are compared for response under pure bending. Material parameters are determined from a separate microstructural analysis.

Label-free DNA biosensor based on a peptide nucleic acid-functionalized microstructured optical fiber-Bragg grating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Candiani, Alessandro; Bertucci, Alessandro; Giannetti, Sara; Konstantaki, Maria; Manicardi, Alex; Pissadakis, Stavros; Cucinotta, Annamaria; Corradini, Roberto; Selleri, Stefano

2013-05-01

We describe a novel sensing approach based on a functionalized microstructured optical fiber-Bragg grating for specific DNA target sequences detection. The inner surface of a microstructured fiber, where a Bragg grating was previously inscribed, has been functionalized by covalent linking of a peptide nucleic acid probe targeting a DNA sequence bearing a single point mutation implicated in cystic fibrosis (CF) disease. A solution of an oligonucleotide (ON) corresponding to a tract of the CF gene containing the mutated DNA has been infiltrated inside the fiber capillaries and allowed to hybridize to the fiber surface according to the Watson-Crick pairing. In order to achieve signal amplification, ON-functionalized gold nanoparticles were then infiltrated and used in a sandwich-like assay. Experimental measurements show a clear shift of the reflected high order mode of a Bragg grating for a 100 nM DNA solution, and fluorescence measurements have confirmed the successful hybridization. Several experiments have been carried out on the same fiber using the identical concentration, showing the same modulation trend, suggesting the possibility of the reuse of the sensor. Measurements have also been made using a 100 nM mismatched DNA solution, containing a single nucleotide mutation and corresponding to the wild-type gene, and the results demonstrate the high selectivity of the sensor.

Anomaly detection of microstructural defects in continuous fiber reinforced composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bricker, Stephen; Simmons, J. P.; Przybyla, Craig; Hardie, Russell

2015-03-01

Ceramic matrix composites (CMC) with continuous fiber reinforcements have the potential to enable the next generation of high speed hypersonic vehicles and/or significant improvements in gas turbine engine performance due to their exhibited toughness when subjected to high mechanical loads at extreme temperatures (2200F+). Reinforced fiber composites (RFC) provide increased fracture toughness, crack growth resistance, and strength, though little is known about how stochastic variation and imperfections in the material effect material properties. In this work, tools are developed for quantifying anomalies within the microstructure at several scales. The detection and characterization of anomalous microstructure is a critical step in linking production techniques to properties, as well as in accurate material simulation and property prediction for the integrated computation materials engineering (ICME) of RFC based components. It is desired to find statistical outliers for any number of material characteristics such as fibers, fiber coatings, and pores. Here, fiber orientation, or `velocity', and `velocity' gradient are developed and examined for anomalous behavior. Categorizing anomalous behavior in the CMC is approached by multivariate Gaussian mixture modeling. A Gaussian mixture is employed to estimate the probability density function (PDF) of the features in question, and anomalies are classified by their likelihood of belonging to the statistical normal behavior for that feature.

Microgroove fabrication with excimer laser ablation techniques for optical fiber array alignment purposes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naessens, Kris; Van Hove, An; Coosemans, Thierry; Verstuyft, Steven; Vanwassenhove, Luc; Van Daele, Peter; Baets, Roel G.

2000-11-01

Currently, an ever increasing need for bandwidth, compactness and efficiency characterizes the world of interconnect and data communication. This tendency has already led to serial links being gradually replaced by parallel optical interconnect solutions. However, as the maximum capacity for the latter will be reached in the near future, new approaches are required to meet demand. One possible option is to switch to 2D parallel implementations of fiber arrays. In this paper we present the fabrication of a 2D connector for coupling a 4x8 array of plastic optical fibers to RCLED or VCSEL arrays. The connector consists primarily of dedicated PMMA plates in which arrays of 8 precisely dimensioned grooves at a pitch of 250 micrometers are introduced. The trenches are each 127 micrometers deep and their width is optimized to allow fixation of plastic optical fibers. We used excimer laser ablation for prototype fabrication of these alignment microstructures. In a later stage, the plates can be replicated using standard molding techniques. The laser ablation technique is extremely well suited for rapid prototyping and proves to be a versatile process yielding high accuracy dimensioning and repeatability of features in a wide diversity of materials. The dependency of the performance in terms of quality of the trenches (bottom roughness) and wall angle on various parameters (wavelength, energy density, pulse frequency and substrate material) is discussed. The fabricated polymer sheets with grooves are used to hold optical fibers by means of a UV-curable adhesive. In a final phase, the plates are stacked and glued in order to realize the 2D-connector of plastic optical fibers for short distance optical interconnects.

Characterization of a polymer-infiltrated ceramic-network material

PubMed Central

Corazza, Pedro H.; Zhang, Yu

2015-01-01

Objectives To characterize the microstructure and determine some mechanical properties of a polymer-ingfiltrated ceramic-network (PICN) material (Vita Enamic, Vita Zahnfabrik) available for CAD–CAM systems. Methods Specimens were fabricated to perform quantitative and qualitative analyses of the material’s microstructure and to determine the fracture toughness (KIc), density (ρ), Poisson’s ratio (v) and Young’s modulus (E). KIc was determined using V-notched specimens and the short beam toughness method, where bar-shaped specimens were notched and 3-point loaded to fracture. ρ was calculated using Archimedes principle, and v and E were measured using an ultrasonic thickness gauge with a combination of a pulse generator and an oscilloscope. Results Microstructural analyses showed a ceramic- and a polymer-based interpenetrating network. Mean and standard deviation values for the properties evaluated were: KIc = 1.09 ± 0.05 MPa m1/2, ρ = 2.09 ± 0.01 g/cm3, v = 0.23 ± 0.002 and E = 37.95 ± 0.34 GPa. Significance The PICN material showed mechanical properties between porcelains and resin-based composites, reflecting its microstructural components. PMID:24656471

Characterization of a polymer-infiltrated ceramic-network material.

PubMed

Della Bona, Alvaro; Corazza, Pedro H; Zhang, Yu

2014-05-01

To characterize the microstructure and determine some mechanical properties of a polymer-infiltrated ceramic-network (PICN) material (Vita Enamic, Vita Zahnfabrik) available for CAD-CAM systems. Specimens were fabricated to perform quantitative and qualitative analyses of the material's microstructure and to determine the fracture toughness (KIc), density (ρ), Poisson's ratio (ν) and Young's modulus (E). KIc was determined using V-notched specimens and the short beam toughness method, where bar-shaped specimens were notched and 3-point loaded to fracture. ρ was calculated using Archimedes principle, and ν and E were measured using an ultrasonic thickness gauge with a combination of a pulse generator and an oscilloscope. Microstructural analyses showed a ceramic- and a polymer-based interpenetrating network. Mean and standard deviation values for the properties evaluated were: KIc=1.09±0.05MPam(1/2), ρ=2.09±0.01g/cm(3), ν=0.23±0.002 and E=37.95±0.34GPa. The PICN material showed mechanical properties between porcelains and resin-based composites, reflecting its microstructural components. Copyright © 2014 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electron beam surface modifications in reinforcing and recycling of polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Czvikovszky, T.; Hargitai, H.

1997-08-01

Thermoplastic polymers can be fiber-reinforced in the recycling step through a reactive modification of the interface between the polymer matrix and fiber. Recollected automobile bumpers made of polypropylene copolymers have been reinforced during the reprocessing with eight different types of high-strength fibers, with waste cord-yarns of the tire industry. A thin layer reactive interface of acrylic oligomers has been applied and activated through low energy (175 keV) electron beam (EB). The upcycling (upgrading recycling) resulted in a series of extrudable and injection-mouldable, fiber-reinforced thermoplastic of enhanced bending strength, increased modulus of elasticity and acceptable impact strength. EB treatment has been compared with conventional methods.

Fiber-reinforced scaffolds in soft tissue engineering

PubMed Central

Wang, Wei; Fan, Yubo; Wang, Xiumei; Watari, Fumio

2017-01-01

Abstract Soft tissue engineering has been developed as a new strategy for repairing damaged or diseased soft tissues and organs to overcome the limitations of current therapies. Since most of soft tissues in the human body are usually supported by collagen fibers to form a three-dimensional microstructure, fiber-reinforced scaffolds have the advantage to mimic the structure, mechanical and biological environment of natural soft tissues, which benefits for their regeneration and remodeling. This article reviews and discusses the latest research advances on design and manufacture of novel fiber-reinforced scaffolds for soft tissue repair and how fiber addition affects their structural characteristics, mechanical strength and biological activities in vitro and in vivo. In general, the concept of fiber-reinforced scaffolds with adjustable microstructures, mechanical properties and degradation rates can provide an effective platform and promising method for developing satisfactory biomechanically functional implantations for soft tissue engineering or regenerative medicine. PMID:28798872

Enhancement of 800 nm upconversion emission in a thulium doped tellurite microstructured fiber pumped by a 1560 nm femtosecond fiber laser

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jia, Zhixu; Zheng, Kezhi; State Key Laboratory on Integrated Optoelectronics, College of Electronic Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130012

We report enhanced upconversion (UC) fluorescence in Tm{sup 3+} doped tellurite microstructured fibers (TDTMFs) fabricated by using a rod-in-tube method. Under the pumping of a 1560 nm femtosecond fiber laser, ultrabroadband supercontinuum light expanding from ∼1050 to ∼2700 nm was generated in a 4 cm long TDTMF. Simultaneously, intense 800 nm UC emission from the {sup 3}H{sub 4} → {sup 3}H{sub 6} transition of Tm{sup 3+} was observed in the same TDTMF. Compared to that pumped by a 1560 nm continuous wave fiber laser, the UC emission intensity was enhanced by ∼4.1 times. The enhancement was due to the spectral broadening in the TDTMF under themore » pumping of the 1560 nm femtosecond fiber laser.« less

Five-order SRSs and supercontinuum generation from a tapered tellurite microstructured fiber with longitudinally varying dispersion.

PubMed

Liao, Meisong; Yan, Xin; Gao, Weiqing; Duan, Zhongchao; Qin, Guanshi; Suzuki, Takenobu; Ohishi, Yasutake

2011-08-01

We try to obtain stable supercontinuum (SC) generation with broad bandwidth under relative simple pump conditions. We use a 1.3-m-long highly nonlinear tellurite microstructured fiber and pump it by a 15 ps 1064 nm fiber laser. One segment of the fiber is tapered from a core diameter of 3.4 μm to 1.3 μm. For the first time five-order stimulated Raman scatterings (SRSs) are observed for soft glass fibers. SC covering 730-1700 nm is demonstrated with the pump-pulse-energy of several nJ. The mechanisms of SC broadening are mainly SRS, self-phase modulation (SPM) and cross phase modulation (XPM). The tapered segment has two advantages. Firstly it increases the nonlinearity of fiber by several times. Secondly, it acts as a compensation for the dispersion of the untapered segment, and mitigates the walk-off between pump pulse and SRS peaks.

Mechanical characterization of glass fiber (woven roving/chopped strand mat E-glass fiber) reinforced polyester composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhaskar, V. Vijaya; Srinivas, Kolla

2017-07-01

Polymer reinforced composites have been replacing most of the engineering material and their applications become more and more day by day. Polymer composites have been analyzing from past thirty five years for their betterment for adapting more applications. This paper aims at the mechanical properties of polyester reinforced with glass fiber composites. The glass fiber is reinforced with polyester in two forms viz Woven Rovings (WRG) and Chopped Strand Mat (CSMG) E-glass fibers. The composites are fabricated by hand lay-up technique and the composites are cut as per ASTM Standard sizes for corresponding tests like flexural, compression and impact tests, so that flexural strength, compression strength, impact strength and inter laminar shear stress(ILSS) of polymer matrix composites are analyzed. From the tests and further calculations, the polyester composites reinforced with Chopped Strand Mat glass fiber have shown better performance against flexural load, compression load and impact load than that of Woven Roving glass fiber.

Mechanical Property Evaluation of Palm/Glass Sandwiched Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite in Comparison with few natural composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raja Dhas, J. Edwin; Pradeep, P.

2017-10-01

Natural fibers available plenty can be used as reinforcements in development of eco friendly polymer composites. The less utilized palm leaf stalk fibers sandwiched with artificial glass fibers was researched in this work to have a better reinforcement in preparing a green composite. The commercially available polyester resin blend with coconut shell filler in nano form was used as matrix to sandwich these composites. Naturally available Fibers of palm leaf stalk, coconut leaf stalk, raffia and oil palm were extracted and treated with potassium permanganate solution which enhances the properties. For experimentation four different plates were fabricated using these fibers adopting hand lay-up method. These sandwiched composite plates are further machined to obtain ASTM standards Specimens which are mechanically tested as per standards. Experimental results reveal that the alkali treated palm leaf stalk fiber based polymer composite shows appreciable results than the others. Hence the developed composite can be recommended for fabrication of automobile parts.

Shear Driven Synthesis of Polymeric Micro- and Nanomaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Tian

Polymeric micro- and nanomaterials play a significant role in various current and emerging technologies. A liquid shear based method was developed to fabricate a wide range of polymeric materials, which include fibers, sheets, ribbons, rods and spheres in a scalable, cost-effective and simple way. During the process, droplet shearing, droplet deformation, droplet breaking up and polymer precipitation occur simultaneously. The size and morphology of the resultant structures are determined by the dominating process which is further controlled by the experimental parameters including polymer concentration, polymer molecular weight and antisolvent concentration. Among all of these structures, nanofibers have attracted the latest research interest due to the unique properties. Current leading fiber production approaches in the market possess certain drawbacks. For example, the throughput of electrospinning is limited to around 2.5 kg/hr and the diameter of fiber produced by wet spinning cannot be below micrometer while melt spinning is only applicable to melt-processable polymers. The breakthrough of our liquid shear driven technique for fiber synthesis is that it produces fibers with diameter from 200 nm to several micrometers from a wide range of liquid- processable polymers with high commercial yield (up to 12 kg/hr). Thus in Chapter 2, the optimum parameters range for fiber formation is established and the effects of those parameters on fiber size are investigated. In the original liquid shear method, medium with high viscosity is needed to exert strong shear stress on the droplet and to stretch the droplets to long strand. However, the viscous medium complicates the post sample washing procedure and introduces the potential slippery danger in the working area. Thus a non-viscous medium shearing method is developed in Chapter 3 and it is the first time proposed that the synthesis of PLA or PS nanofibers can be completed in the aqueous ethanol medium. Colloid science usually categorizes emulsion as oil in water (O/W) and water in oil (W/O) dispersions. Oil in oil emulsion can also be formulated from the immiscible organic liquid pairs. Using the phase separation in the PS-cyclohexane system, the emulsion are formed under continuous shearing while the continuous phase is solvent-rich and the disperse phase is polymer-rich. By shearing the emulsions, the fibers sizes are reduced around 10X due to the smaller initial polymer droplet size. The fiber sizes are further reduced to 100 nm which enhances the competitive advantages of liquid shear technique. Controlled drug release combines the advantages of increased therapeutic efficacy, reduced toxicity and lower administration frequency. By dispersing model drugs in the spinning polymer solution, these drugs are successfully encapsulated inside the biodegradable matrix and the encapsulation efficiency is modulated by polymer concentration and fiber size while the release profile of the drug is determined by the degradation rate of the polymer matrix.

Study of Natural Fiber Breakage during Composite Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quijano-Solis, Carlos Jafet

Biofiber-thermoplastic composites have gained considerable importance in the last century. To provide mechanical reinforcement to the polymer, fibers must be larger than a critical aspect ratio (length-to-width ratio). However, biofibers undergo breakage in length or width during processing, affecting their final aspect ratio in the composites. In this study, influence on biofiber breakage by factors related to processing conditions, fiber morphology and the flow type was investigated through: a) experiments using an internal mixer, a twin-screw extruder (TSE) or a capillary rheometer; and b) a Monte Carlo computer simulation. Composites of thermomechanical fibers of aspen or wheat straw mixed with polypropylene were studied. Internal mixer experiments analyzed wheat straw and two batches of aspen fibers, named AL and AS. AL fibers had longer average length. Processing variables included the temperature, rotors speed and fiber concentration. TSE experiments studied AL and AS fiber composites under various screws speeds, temperatures and feeding rates of the polymer and fibers. Capillary rheometers experiments determined AL fiber breakage in shear and elongational flows for composites processed at different concentrations, temperatures, and strain rates. Finally, the internal mixer experimental results where compared to Monte Carlo simulation predictions. The simulation focused on fiber length breakage due to fiber-polymer interactions. Internal mixer results showed that final fiber average length depended almost solely on processing conditions while final fiber average width depended on both processing conditions and initial fiber morphology. In the TSE, processing conditions as well as initial fiber length influenced final average length. TSE results showed that the fiber concentration regime seems to influence the effect of processing variables on fiber breakage. Capillary rheometer experiments demonstrated that biofiber breakage happens in both elongational and shear flows. In some cases, percentage of biofiber breakage in elongational flow is higher. In general, simulation predictions of final average lengths were in good agreement with experiments, indicating the importance of fiber-polymer interactions on fiber breakage. The largest discrepancies were obtained at higher fiber concentration composites; these differences might be resolved, in future simulations, by including the effect of fiber-fiber interactions.

Response of CO2 laser written long period fiber gratings packaged by polymer materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Zhaodi; Liu, Yunqi; Zou, Jian; Chen, Na; Pang, Fufei; Wang, Tingyun

2011-12-01

We demonstrate the packaging of CO2 laser written long-period fiber gratings (LPFGs) using different polymer materials. We use three different silicone rubber polymers to package the LPFGs by simply coating it outside the grating. After the polymer coating, the resonance wavelength of LPFG was found to shift towards shorter wavelength by about 6 nm, and the temperature sensitivity of the packaged gratings was studied experimentally. Experiments showed that the gratings packaged by different polymers have different temperature characteristics and all of them have good thermal stability.

Influence of convection on microstructure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilcox, William R.; Regel, Liya L.

1994-01-01

The primary motivation for this research was to determine the cause for space processing altering the microstructure of some eutectics, especially the MnBi-Bi eutectic. Four primary hypotheses were to be tested under this current grant: (1) A fibrous microstructure is much more sensitive to convection than a lamellar microstructure, which was assumed in our prior theoretical treatment. (2) An interface with one phase projecting out into the melt is much more sensitive to convection than a planar interface, which was assumed in our prior theoretical treatment. (3) The Soret effect is much more important in the absence of convection and has a sufficiently large influence on microstructure that its action can explain the flight results. (4) The microstructure is much more sensitive to convection when the composition of the bulk melt is off eutectic. These hypotheses were tested. It was concluded that none of these can explain the Grumman flight results. Experiments also were performed on the influence of current pulses on MnBi-Bi microstructure. A thorough review was made of all experimental results on the influence of convection on the fiber spacing in rod eutectics, including results from solidification in space or at high gravity, and use of mechanical stirring or a magnetic field. Contradictory results were noted. The predictions of models for convective influences were compared with the experimental results. Vigorous mechanical stirring appears to coarsen the microstructure by altering the concentration field in front of the freezing interface. Gentle convection is believed to alter the microstructure of a fibrous eutectic only when it causes a fluctuating freezing rate with a system for which the kinetics of fiber branching differs from that for fiber termination. These fluctuations may cause the microstructure to coarsen or to become finer, depending on the relative kinetics of these processes. The microstructure of lamellar eutectics is less sensitive to freezing rate fluctuations and to gentle convection.

Effect of Microstructure on the Strength and Fracture Energy of Bimaterial Interfaces.

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-12-31

Bimaterials Interfaces includes three sections: Mechanics of Interfaces, Coating Design for Composite Systems, and Mechanics of Brittle Matrix... Composites . For more details see Executive Summary. 14. SUBJECT TERM 15. NUMBER OF PAGES Effect, Microstructure, Strength, Fracture Energy, Bimatenal...The Role of Interfaces in Fiber-Reinforced Brittle A.G. Evans Matrix Composites F.W. Zok J.B. Davis Article 2. Effects of Fiber Roughness on Interface

Effects of addition of different fibers on rheological characteristics of cake batter and quality of cakes.

PubMed

Aydogdu, Ayca; Sumnu, Gulum; Sahin, Serpil

2018-02-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of addition of dietary fibers on rheological properties of batter and cake quality. Wheat flour was replaced by 5 and 10% (wt%) oat, pea, apple and lemon fibers. All cake batters showed shear thinning behavior. Incorporation of fibers increased consistency index (k), storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G″). As quality parameters, specific volume, hardness, weight loss, color and microstructure of cakes were investigated. Cakes containing oat and pea fibers (5%) had similar specific volume and texture with control cakes which contained no fiber. As fiber concentration increased, specific volume decreased but hardness increased. No significant difference was found between weight loss of control cake and cakes with oat, pea and apple fibers. Lemon fiber enriched cakes had the lowest specific volume, weight loss and color difference. When microstructural images were examined, it was seen that control cake had more porous structure than fiber enriched cakes. In addition, lemon and apple fiber containing cakes had less porous crumb structure as compared to oat and pea containing ones. Oat and pea fiber (5%) enriched cakes had similar physical properties (volume, texture and color) with control cakes.

Fabrication and mechanical behavior of dye-doped polymer optical fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Changhong; Kuzyk, Mark G.; Ding, Jow-Lian; Johns, William E.; Welker, David J.

2002-07-01

The purpose of this article is to study the materials physics behind dye-doped polymethyl metharcylate (PMMA) that is important for the optical fiber drawing process. We report effects of the fabrication process on the mechanical properties of the final fiber. The qualitative degree of polymer chain alignment is found to increase with the drawing force, which in turn decreases with the drawing temperature and increases with the drawing ratio. The chain alignment relaxes when the fibers are annealed at 95 degC with a commensurate decrease in fiber length and increase in diameter. The annealed fiber has higher ductility but lower strength than the unannealed fiber. Both the yield and tensile strengths are dependent on the strain rate. The relationship between tensile strength, sigmab, and fiber diameter, d, is found empirically to be sigmab[is proportional to]d-0.5. The yield strength appears to be less sensitive to the fiber diameter than the tensile strength. For PMMA doped with disperse red 1 azo dye, the yield strength, tensile strength, and Young's modulus peak at a dye concentration of 0.0094 wt %. These results are useful for designing polymer optical fibers with well-defined mechanical properties.

Hygrothermal effects on durability and moisture kinetics of fiber-reinforced polymer composites.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-06-01

Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites offer many advantages over conventional materials for : applications in the marine and civil infrastructure areas. Their increasing widespread use emphasizes the : need to predict their performance over long ...

Microstructural Dynamics and Rheology of Suspensions of Rigid Fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butler, Jason E.; Snook, Braden

2018-01-01

The dynamics and rheology of suspensions of rigid, non-Brownian fibers in Newtonian fluids are reviewed. Experiments, theories, and computer simulations are considered, with an emphasis on suspensions at semidilute and concentrated conditions. In these suspensions, interactions between the particles strongly influence the microstructure and rheological properties of the suspension. The interactions can arise from hydrodynamic disturbances, giving multibody interactions at long ranges and pairwise lubrication forces over short distances. For concentrated suspensions, additional interactions due to excluded volume (contacts) and adhesive forces are addressed. The relative importance of the various interactions as a function of fiber concentration is assessed.

Linear fully dry polymer actuators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Rossi, Danilo; Mazzoldi, Alberto

1999-05-01

In the last period, the interest in the development of devices that emulate the properties of the 'par excellence' biological actuator, the human muscle, is considerably grown. The recent advances in the field of conducting polymers open new interesting prospects in this direction: from this point of view polyaniline (PANi), since it is easily produced in fiber form, represents an interesting material. In this conference we report the development of a linear actuator prototype that makes use of PANi fiber. All fabrication steps (fiber extrusion, solid polymer electrolyte preparation, compound realization) and experimental set-up for the electromechanical characterization are described. Quantitative measurements of isotonic length changes and isometric stress generation during electrochemical stimulation are reported. An overall assessment of PANi fibers actuative properties in wet and dry conditions is reported and possible future developments are proposed. Finally, continuum and lumped parameter models formulated to describe passive and active contractile properties of conducting polymer actuators are briefly outlined.

Fiber optic strain measurements using an optically-active polymer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buckley, Leonard J.; Neumeister, Gary C.

1992-03-01

A study encompassing the use of an optically-active polymer as the strain-sensing medium in an organic matrix composite was performed. Several compounds were synthesized for use as the inner cladding material for silica fiber-optic cores. These materials include a diacetylene containing polyamide. It is possible to dynamically modify the optical properties of these materials through changes in applied strain or temperature. By doing so the characteristic absorption in the visible is reversibly shifted to a higher energy state. The polymer-coated fiber-optic cores were initially studied in epoxy resin. Additionally, one of the polyamide/diacetylene polymers was studied in a spin-fiber form consisting of 15 micron filaments assembled in multifilament tows. The most promising configuration and materials were then investigated further by embedding in graphite/epoxy composite laminates. In each case the shift in the visible absorption peak was monitored as a function of applied mechanical strain.

Zinc Oxide Nanowire Interphase for Enhanced Lightweight Polymer Fiber Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sodano, Henry A.; Brett, Robert

2011-01-01

The objective of this work was to increase the interfacial strength between aramid fiber and epoxy matrix. This was achieved by functionalizing the aramid fiber followed by growth of a layer of ZnO nanowires on the fiber surface such that when embedded into the polymer, the load transfer and bonding area could be substantially enhanced. The functionalization procedure developed here created functional carboxylic acid surface groups that chemically interact with the ZnO and thus greatly enhance the strength of the interface between the fiber and the ZnO.

Unusual Formation of Precursors for Crystallization of Ultra-High Performance Polypropylene and Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Fibers by Utilization of Ecologically Friendly Horizontal Isothermal Bath

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avci, Huseyin

The concept of production of new families of high performance polymers and engineering fibers has been reported many times in the technical literature. Such fibers have various end uses in industrial applications and exhibit the enhanced potential in the challenging areas such as ballistic, automotive, aerospace, bullet-proof vests, energy, and electronics. Since the first commercial synthesis of high polymers by Carothers and Hill, filament manufacturers have looked for ways to increase strength and fibers dimensional stability, thermal degradation resistance, etc., even at extreme conditions. Therefore, studies on the fine structure development and its relation with production conditions during the wet, dry, and melt spinning processes have received much attention by researchers to describe in detail the fundamental aspects of the fiber formation. The production of ultra-high performance fibers at relatively high throughputs by a simple method using fiber-forming polymers via developing an ecologically friendly isothermal bath (ECOB) is the first aim of this study. In this case, polypropylene (PP) was chosen as a semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer which is extensively used in industry and our daily lives. A unique, highly oriented precursor (fa = 0.60), and yet noncrystallized, undrawn fibers were obtained with superior mechanical properties. Fibrillated break, high crystalline and amorphous orientation factors of 0.95 and 0.87, respectively, demonstrate an unusual structural development after only 1.34 draw ratio for the treated fibers. The second melting peak increased 9 °C for the treated fibers, which implies a higher level of molecular ordering and thermodynamically more stable phase. After hot drawing and 1.49 draw ratio, the fibers tenacity was close to 12 g/d, the initial modulus was higher than 150 g/d, and the ultimate elongation was at a break of about 20 %. In the next phase of the research, the effects of horizontal isothermal bath (hIB)11 on the structural development and the production of ultra-high performance as-spun and drawn polypropylene (PP) filaments were investigated. Two different commercial fiber forming PP polymers were used with the melt flow rate of 4.1 and 36 g/10 min. The results demonstrate surprisingly different precursor morphologies for each type of polymer at their optimum process condition. Interestingly, the all treated fibers demonstrated the similar fiber performance having tenacity of about 7 g/d and modulus of 75 g/d for as-spun fibers. After fiber drawing with DR of 1.49, tenacity greater than 12 g/d and modulus higher than 190 g/d were observed. The mean value for the modulus after the drawing process for the high melt flow rate is about 196 g/d. The theoretical modulus of PP is 35--42 GPa17, 275-330 g/d, which demonstrates the hIB fiber's modulus performance is approaching its theoretical maximum values. A key aspect of the third section of this study was to obtain ultra-high performance poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers (PET) by utilizing a low molecular weight polymer via hIB method. The resulted fibers showed the efficient polymer chain orientation and the highly crystalline and ordered structures. The highest tenacity of more than 8 and 10 g/d were observed for the as-spun and drawn fibers, respectively, after only 1.28 draw ratios. The significant effect of the temperature of hIB spinning system on the fibrillar structure and the precursor's formation of the as-spun fibers was demonstrated. The melting temperature increased 8.51 °C from 254.05 to 262.56 °C when untreated and treated fibers are compared. The most important contribution of this study is that all these various types of polymer precursors for crystallization with different molecular weights after the baths treatments were highly oriented, yet non-crystallized or just showed the initial stages of crystallization. By a subsequent hot drawing process with the low draw ratio (DR< 1.5), the treated fibers showed a well-developed chain orientation and highly crystallized structures with superior mechanical performance.

Flow/Damage Surfaces for Fiber-Reinforced Metals Having Different Periodic Microstructures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lissenden, Cliff J.; Arnold, Steven M.; Iyer, Saiganesh K.

1998-01-01

Flow/damage surfaces can be defined in terms of stress, inelastic strain rate, and internal variables using a thermodynamics framework. A macroscale definition relevant to thermodynamics and usable in an experimental program is employed to map out surfaces of constant inelastic power in various stress planes. The inelastic flow of a model silicon carbide/ titanium composite system having rectangular, hexagonal, and square diagonal fiber packing arrays subjected to biaxial stresses is quantified by flow/damage surfaces that are determined numerically from micromechanics, using both finite element analysis and the generalized method of cells. Residual stresses from processing are explicitly included and damage in the form of fiber-matrix debonding under transverse tensile and/or shear loading is represented by a simple interface model. The influence of microstructural architecture is largest whenever fiber-matrix debonding is not an issue; for example in the presence of transverse compressive stresses. Additionally, as the fiber volume fraction increases, so does the effect of microstructural architecture. With regard to the micromechanics analysis, the overall inelastic flow predicted by the generalized method of cells is in excellent agreement with that predicted using a large number of displacement-based finite elements.

Flow/Damage Surfaces for Fiber-Reinforced Metals having Different Periodic Microstructures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lissenden, Cliff J.; Arnold, Steven M.; Iyer, Saiganesh K.

1998-01-01

Flow/damage surfaces can be defined in terms of stress, inelastic strain rate, and internal variables using a thermodynamics framework. A macroscale definition relevant to thermodynamics and usable in an experimental program is employed to map out surfaces of constant inelastic power in various stress planes. The inelastic flow of a model silicon carbide/ titanium composite system having rectangular, hexagonal, and square diagonal fiber packing, arrays subjected to biaxial stresses is quantified by flow/damage surfaces that are determined numerically from micromechanics. using both finite element analysis and the generalized method of cells. Residual stresses from processing are explicitly included and damage in the form of fiber-matrix debonding under transverse tensile and/or shear loading is represented by a simple interface model. The influence of microstructural architecture is largest whenever fiber-matrix debonding is not an issue, for example in the presence of transverse compressive stresses. Additionally, as the fiber volume fraction increases, so does the effect of microstructural architecture. With regard to the micromechanics analysis, the overall inelastic flow predicted by the generalized method of cells is in excellent agreement with that predicted using a large number of displacement-based finite elements.

Fabrication, functionalization, and application of electrospun biopolymer nanofibers.

PubMed

Kriegel, Christina; Arecchi, Alessandra; Arrechi, Alessandra; Kit, Kevin; McClements, D J; Weiss, Jochen

2008-09-01

The use of novel nanostructured materials has attracted considerable interest in the food industry for their utilization as highly functional ingredients, high-performance packaging materials, processing aids, and food quality and safety sensors. Most previous application interest has focused on the development of nanoparticles. However, more recently, the ability to produce non-woven mats composed of nanofibers that can be used in food applications is beginning to be investigated. Electrospinning is a novel fabrication technique that can be used to produce fibers with diameters below 100 nm from (bio-) polymer solutions. These nanofibers have been shown to possess unique properties that distinguish them from non-woven fibers produced by other methods, e.g., melt-blowing. This is because first the process involved results in a high orientation of polymers within the fibers that leads to mechanically superior properties, e.g., increased tensile strengths. Second, during the spinning of the fibers from polymer solutions, the solvent is rapidly evaporated allowing the production of fibers composed of polymer blends that would typically phase separate if spun with other processes. Third, the small dimensions of the fibers lead to very high specific surface areas. Because of this the fiber properties may be greatly influenced by surface properties giving rise to fiber functionalities not found in fibers of larger sizes. For food applications, the fibers may find uses as ingredients if they are composed solely of edible polymers and GRAS ingredients, (e.g., fibers could contain functional ingredients such as nutraceuticals, antioxidants, antimicrobials, and flavors), as active packaging materials or as processing aids (e.g., catalytic reactors, membranes, filters (Lala et al., 2007), and sensors (Manesh et al., 2007; Ren et al., 2006; Sawicka et al., 2005). This review is therefore intended to introduce interested food and agricultural scientists to the concept of nano-fiber manufacturing with a particular emphasis on the use of biopolymers. We will review typical fabrication set-ups, discuss the influence of process conditions on nanofiber properties, and then review previous studies that describe the production of biopolymer-based nanofibers. Finally we briefly discuss emerging methods to further functionalize fibers and discuss potential applications in the area of food science and technology.

Effects of humidity and solution viscosity on electrospun fiber morphology.

PubMed

Nezarati, Roya M; Eifert, Michelle B; Cosgriff-Hernandez, Elizabeth

2013-10-01

Electrospinning is a popular technique to fabricate tissue engineering scaffolds due to the exceptional tunability of fiber morphology that can be used to control scaffold mechanical properties, degradation rate, and cell behavior. Although the effects of modulating processing or solution parameters on fiber morphology have been extensively studied, there remains limited understanding of the impact of environmental parameters such as humidity. To address this gap, three polymers (poly(ethylene glycol) [PEG], polycaprolactone [PCL], and poly(carbonate urethane) [PCU]) were electrospun at a range of relative humidities (RH = 5%-75%) and the resulting fiber architecture characterized with scanning electron microscopy. Low relative humidity (< 50%) resulted in fiber breakage for all three polymers due to decreased electrostatic discharge from the jet. At high relative humidity (> 50%), three distinct effects were observed based on individual polymer properties. An increase in fiber breakage and loss of fiber morphology occurred in the PEG system as a result of increased water absorption at high relative humidity. In contrast, surface pores on PCL fibers were observed and hypothesized to have formed via vapor-induced phase separation. Finally, decreased PCU fiber collection occurred at high humidity likely due to increased electrostatic discharge. These findings highlight that the effects of relative humidity on electrospun fiber morphology are dependent on polymer hydrophobicity, solvent miscibility with water, and solvent volatility. An additional study was conducted to highlight that small changes in molecular weight can strongly influence solution viscosity and resulting fiber morphology. We propose that solution viscosity rather than concentration is a more useful parameter to report in electrospinning methodology to enable reproduction of findings. In summary, this study further elucidates key mechanisms in electrospun fiber formation that can be utilized to fabricate tissue engineering scaffolds with tunable and reproducible properties.

Effects of Humidity and Solution Viscosity on Electrospun Fiber Morphology

PubMed Central

Nezarati, Roya M.; Eifert, Michelle B.

2013-01-01

Electrospinning is a popular technique to fabricate tissue engineering scaffolds due to the exceptional tunability of fiber morphology that can be used to control scaffold mechanical properties, degradation rate, and cell behavior. Although the effects of modulating processing or solution parameters on fiber morphology have been extensively studied, there remains limited understanding of the impact of environmental parameters such as humidity. To address this gap, three polymers (poly(ethylene glycol) [PEG], polycaprolactone [PCL], and poly(carbonate urethane) [PCU]) were electrospun at a range of relative humidities (RH=5%–75%) and the resulting fiber architecture characterized with scanning electron microscopy. Low relative humidity (<50%) resulted in fiber breakage for all three polymers due to decreased electrostatic discharge from the jet. At high relative humidity (>50%), three distinct effects were observed based on individual polymer properties. An increase in fiber breakage and loss of fiber morphology occurred in the PEG system as a result of increased water absorption at high relative humidity. In contrast, surface pores on PCL fibers were observed and hypothesized to have formed via vapor-induced phase separation. Finally, decreased PCU fiber collection occurred at high humidity likely due to increased electrostatic discharge. These findings highlight that the effects of relative humidity on electrospun fiber morphology are dependent on polymer hydrophobicity, solvent miscibility with water, and solvent volatility. An additional study was conducted to highlight that small changes in molecular weight can strongly influence solution viscosity and resulting fiber morphology. We propose that solution viscosity rather than concentration is a more useful parameter to report in electrospinning methodology to enable reproduction of findings. In summary, this study further elucidates key mechanisms in electrospun fiber formation that can be utilized to fabricate tissue engineering scaffolds with tunable and reproducible properties. PMID:23469941

Electrospinning and electrospraying of silicon oxycarbide-derived nanoporous carbon for supercapacitor electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tolosa, Aura; Krüner, Benjamin; Jäckel, Nicolas; Aslan, Mesut; Vakifahmetoglu, Cekdar; Presser, Volker

2016-05-01

In this study, carbide-derived carbon fibers from silicon oxycarbide precursor were synthesized by electrospinning of a commercially available silicone resin without adding a carrier polymer for the electrospinning process. The electrospun fibers were pyrolyzed yielding SiOC. Modifying the synthesis procedure, we were also able to obtain electrosprayed SiOC beads instead of fibers. After chlorine treatment, nanoporous carbon with a specific surface area of up to 2394 m2 g-1 was obtained (3089 m2 g-1 BET). Electrochemical characterization of the SiOC-CDC either as free-standing fiber mat electrodes or polymer-bound bead films was performed in 1 M tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate in acetonitrile (TEA-BF4 in ACN). The electrospun fibers presented a high gravimetric capacitance of 135 F g-1 at 10 mV s-1 and a very high power handling, maintaining 63% of the capacitance at 100 A g-1. Comparative data of SiOC-CDC beads and fibers show enhanced power handling for fiber mats only when the fiber network is intact, that is, a lowered performance was observed when using crushed mats that employ polymer binder.

Molecular Engineering for Mechanically Resilient and Stretchable Electronic Polymers and Composites

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-08

conjugated polymers and composites by analysis of the structural determinants of the mechanical properties. We developed coarse-grained molecular...dynamics simulations that predicted the mechanical properties of conjugated polymers and polymer -fullerene composites. We elucidated the mechanical...We also determined the effect of cyclic stretching on the microstructure and mechanical properties of conjugated polymers . We used many of

Cross-Linking Cellulosic Fibers with Photoreactive Polymers: Visualization with Confocal Raman and Fluorescence Microscopy.

PubMed

Janko, Marek; Jocher, Michael; Boehm, Alexander; Babel, Laura; Bump, Steven; Biesalski, Markus; Meckel, Tobias; Stark, Robert W

2015-07-13

The properties of paper sheets can be tuned by adjusting the surface or bulk chemistry using functional polymers that are applied during (online) or after (offline) papermaking processes. In particular, polymers are widely used to enhance the mechanical strength of the wet state of paper sheets. However, the mechanical strength depends not only on the chemical nature of the polymeric additives but also on the distribution of the polymer on and in the lignocellulosic paper. Here, we analyze the photochemical attachment and distribution of hydrophilic polydimethylacrylamide-co-methacrylate-benzophenone P(DMAA-co-MABP) copolymers with defined amounts of photoreactive benzophenone moieties in model paper sheets. Raman microscopy was used for the unambiguous identification of P(DMAA-co-MABP) and cellulose specific bands and thus the copolymer distribution within the cellulose matrix. Two-dimensional Raman spectral maps at the intersections of overlapping cellulose fibers document that the macromolecules only partially surround the cellulose fibers, favor to attach to the fiber surface, and connect the cellulose fibers at crossings. Moreover, the copolymer appears to accumulate preferentially in holes, vacancies, and dips on the cellulose fiber surface. Correlative brightfield, Raman, and confocal laser scanning microscopy finally reveal a reticular three-dimensional distribution of the polymer and show that the polymer is predominately deposited in regions of high capillarity (i.e., in proximity to fine cellulose fibrils). These data provide deeper insights into the effects of paper functionalization with a copolymer and aid in understanding how these agents ultimately influence the local and overall properties of paper.

Towards seamlessly-integrated textile electronics: methods to coat fabrics and fibers with conducting polymers for electronic applications.

PubMed

Allison, Linden; Hoxie, Steven; Andrew, Trisha L

2017-06-29

Traditional textile materials can be transformed into functional electronic components upon being dyed or coated with films of intrinsically conducting polymers, such as poly(aniline), poly(pyrrole) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene). A variety of textile electronic devices are built from the conductive fibers and fabrics thus obtained, including: physiochemical sensors, thermoelectric fibers/fabrics, heated garments, artificial muscles and textile supercapacitors. In all these cases, electrical performance and device ruggedness is determined by the morphology of the conducting polymer active layer on the fiber or fabric substrate. Tremendous variation in active layer morphology can be observed with different coating or dyeing conditions. Here, we summarize various methods used to create fiber- and fabric-based devices and highlight the influence of the coating method on active layer morphology and device stability.

Some effects of composition on friction and wear of graphite-fiber-reinforced polyimide liners in plain spherical bearings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sliney, H. E.; Jacobson, T. P.

1978-01-01

Oscillating, plain spherical bearings with graphite-fiber-reinforced polyimide (GFRPI) liners were tested for friction and wear from 25 to 315 C. A condensation polymer was compared with an addition polymer, and a high-modulus fiber was compared with a lower cost, low-modulus fiber. All polymer-fiber combinations gave friction coefficients from 0.05 to 0.18 and low wear. Adding CdO and CdI2 reduced the wear of degassed bearings in dry air. These additives were not needed when the bearing liners contained adsorbed moisture. Although, at 25 C, MoS2 reduced the friction and wear of the base composite at unit loads above 70,000,000 N/m squared (10,000 psi), it had no beneficial effect at lighter loads.

Development and performance evaluation of fiber reinforced polymer bridge.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-03-01

Fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) have become more popular construction materials in the last decade due to the reduction of : material costs. The installation and performance evaluation of the first FRP-wrapped balsa wood bridge in Louisiana is descri...

Fiber reinforced polymer bridge decks : [technical summary].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-01-01

A number of researchers have addressed the use of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) deck as a replacement solution for deteriorated bridge decks made of traditional materials. The use of new, advanced materials such as FRP is advantageous when the bridg...

Retrofit of existing reinforced concrete bridges with fiber reinforced polymer composites

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-12-01

A two-part research was focused on examining various issues related to the use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites for strengthening of existing reinforced concrete bridges. A summary of each phase is presented separately.

Organic-inorganic composites designed for biomedical applications.

PubMed

Miyazaki, Toshiki; Ishikawa, Kunio; Shirosaki, Yuki; Ohtsuki, Chikara

2013-01-01

Several varieties of ceramics, such as Bioglass-type glasses, sintered hydroxyapatite and glass-ceramic A-W, exhibit specific biological affinity, i.e., direct bonding to surrounding bone, when implanted in bony defects. These bone-bonding ceramics are called bioactive ceramics and are utilized as important bone substitutes in the medical field. However, there is a limitation to their clinical applications because of their inappropriate mechanical properties. Natural bone takes a kind of organic-inorganic composite, where apatite nanocrystals are precipitated on collagen fibers. Therefore, problems with the bioactive ceramics can be solved by material design based on the composites. In this paper, current research topics on the development of bioactive organic-inorganic composites inspired by actual bone microstructure have been reviewed in correlation with preparation methods and various properties. Several kinds of inorganic components have been found to exhibit bioactivity in the body environment. Combination of the inorganic components with various organic polymers enables the development of bioactive organic-inorganic composites. In addition, novel biomedical applications of the composites to drug delivery systems, scaffolds for tissue regeneration and injectable biomaterials are available by combining drugs or biological molecules with appropriate control of its microstructure.

Fabrication and characterization of a hybrid four-hole AsSe₂-As₂S₅ microstructured optical fiber with a large refractive index difference.

PubMed

Cheng, Tonglei; Kanou, Yasuhire; Deng, Dinghuan; Xue, Xiaojie; Matsumoto, Morio; Misumi, Takashi; Suzuki, Takenobu; Ohishi, Yasutake

2014-06-02

A hybrid four-hole AsSe2-As2S5 microstructured optical fiber (MOF) with a large refractive index difference is fabricated by the rod-in-tube drawing technique. The core and the cladding are made from the AsSe2 glass and As2S5 glass, respectively. The propagation loss is ~1.8 dB/m and the nonlinear coefficient is ~2.03 × 10(4) km(-1)W(-1) at 2000 nm. Raman scattering is observed in the normal dispersion regime when the fiber is pumped by a 2 μm mode-locked picosecond fiber laser. Additionally, soliton is generated in the anomalous dispersion regime when the fiber is pumped by an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) at the pump wavelength of ~3000 nm.

Thermo-oxidative stability studies of PMR-15 polymer matrix composites reinforced with various fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bowles, Kenneth J.

1990-01-01

An experimental study was conducted to measure the thermo-oxidative stability of PMR-15 polymer matrix composites reinforced with various fibers and to observe differences in the way they degrade in air. The fibers that were studied included graphite and the thermally stable Nicalon and Nextel ceramic fibers. Weight loss rates for the different composites were assessed as a function of mechanical properties, specimen geometry, fiber sizing, and interfacial bond strength. Differences were observed in rates of weight loss, matrix cracking, geometry dependency, and fiber-sizing effects. It was shown that Celion 6000 fiber-reinforced composites do not exhibit a straight-line Arrhenius relationship at temperatures above 316 C.

E-beam-Cure Fabrication of Polymer Fiber/Matrix Composites for Multifunctional Radiation Shielding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, John W.; Jensen, Brian J.; Thibeault, Sheila A.; Hou, Tan-Hung; Saether, Erik; Glaessgen, Edward H.; Humes, Donald H.; Chang, Chie K.; Badavi, Francis F.; Kiefer, Rrichard L.;

Surface modified aerogel monoliths

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leventis, Nicholas (Inventor); Johnston, James C. (Inventor); Kuczmarski, Maria A. (Inventor); Meador, Mary Ann B. (Inventor)

2013-01-01

This invention comprises reinforced aerogel monoliths such as silica aerogels having a polymer coating on its outer geometric surface boundary, and to the method of preparing said aerogel monoliths. The polymer coatings on the aerogel monoliths are derived from polymer precursors selected from the group consisting of isocyanates as a precursor, precursors of epoxies, and precursors of polyimides. The coated aerogel monoliths can be modified further by encapsulating the aerogel with the polymer precursor reinforced with fibers such as carbon or glass fibers to obtain mechanically reinforced composite encapsulated aerogel monoliths.

A Comparative study of two RVE modelling methods for chopped carbon fiber SMC

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Zhangxing; Li, Yi; Shao, Yimin

To achieve vehicle light-weighting, the chopped carbon fiber sheet molding compound (SMC) is identified as a promising material to replace metals. However, there are no effective tools and methods to predict the mechanical property of the chopped carbon fiber SMC due to the high complexity in microstructure features and the anisotropic properties. In this paper, the Representative Volume Element (RVE) approach is used to model the SMC microstructure. Two modeling methods, the Voronoi diagram-based method and the chip packing method, are developed for material RVE property prediction. The two methods are compared in terms of the predicted elastic modulus andmore » the predicted results are validated using the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) tensile test results. Furthermore, the advantages and shortcomings of these two methods are discussed in terms of the required input information and the convenience of use in the integrated processing-microstructure-property analysis.« less

Exploring the effects of electrospinning processing protocols on fiber surface morphology and polymer chain conformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stephens, Jean S.

Electrospinning is a fiber formation technique that uses electrostatic forces to create continuous, nanometer diameter fibers. The work presented here focuses on the continuing efforts to build a stronger fundamental understanding of electrospinning by exploring structure/property/process relationships by investigating the effects of process protocols on fiber surface morphology and polymer chain conformation. By varying the processing parameters it has been possible to produce fibers with unique surface features, microtextured/nanoporous fibers and nanowebs. In the microtextured/nanoporous fiber studies, changing the solution concentration, solvent volatility, and relative humidity was found to alter the size, shape, and distribution of pores on the fiber surface. The mechanisms that can explain the pore formation and texturing on the surface of the fibers are phase separation (aggregation into polymer rich and polymer lean regions) and breath figures (evaporative cooling and vapor condensation). Through a judicious choice of the electrospinning processing parameters we have also been able to create "web" like structures of nanofibers (5--25 nm) from collagen, dragline silk analog, nylon, and denatured collagen. Electrostatic repulsion and thin film dewetting are thought to be responsible for the formation of the nanowebs. These unique structures were characterized using FESEM, TEM, OM, and AFM. Raman spectroscopy, initially developed as a "real time" characterization technique to study electrospun fiber formation, has also been used to investigate the effect of electrospinning on the chain conformation of bioinspired polymers. Comparing the spectrum of the bulk material to that of the electrospun material identified conformational changes in nylon 6 and dragline silk analog. The conformational change in nylon 6 (alpha-form to gamma-form) results from the stresses induced on the electrospinning jet during fiber formation, whereas the conformational change in the silk analog (beta-sheet to alpha-helical) result from electric field assembling of the charged a-helical segments of the protein polymer in solution. The investigations described here have allowed us to build a virtual database of the processing conditions needed to create materials for tissue engineering constructs. Electrospun collagen membranes have been used in preliminary cell attachment studies. From the trials it was observed that the cells migrated into the membranes indicating that the membranes are suitable for tissue engineering scaffolds.

Interfacial adhesion of carbon fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bascom, Willard D.

1987-01-01

Relative adhesion strengths between AS4, AS1, and XAS carbon fibers and thermoplastic polymers were determined using the embedded single filament test. Polymers studied included polycarbonate, polyphenylene oxide, polyetherimide, polysulfone, polyphenylene oxide blends with polystyrene, and polycarbonate blends with a polycarbonate polysiloxane block copolymer. Fiber surface treatments and sizings improved adhesion somewhat, but adhesion remained well below levels obtained with epoxy matrices. An explanation for the differences between the Hercules and Grafil fibers was sought using X ray photon spectroscopy, wetting, scanning electron microscopy and thermal desorption analysis.

Global method for measuring stress in polymer fibers at elevated temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anagnostopoulos, G.; Andreopoulos, A. G.; Parthenios, J.; Galiotis, C.

2005-09-01

In this work, a methodology is presented for evaluating the interfacial shear stress as well as the corresponding axial stress in full polymer fiber reinforced materials under elevated temperatures. Its validity was confirmed by deriving interfacial shear and axial stress expressions for embedded Kevlar® 29 fibers within an epoxy matrix by means of Raman microscopy. This approach can be established to other systems such as carbon or polyethylene fiber composites, for which the observed Raman bands are both stress and temperature sensitive.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Baucom, R.M.; Marchello, J.M.

Thermoplastic prepregs of LARC-TPI have been produced in a fluidized bed unit on spread continuous fiber tows. The powders are melted on the fibers by radiant heating to adhere the polymer to the fiber. This process produces tow prepreg uniformly without imposing severe stress on the fibers or requiring long high temperature residence times for the polymer. Unit design theory and operating correlations have been developed to provide the basis for scale up to commercial operation. Special features of the operation are the pneumatic tow spreader, fluidized bed and resin feed systems.

Separation of Water from Ultralow Sulfur Diesel Using Novel Polymer Nanofiber-Coated Glass Fiber Media.

PubMed

Rajgarhia, Stuti S; Jana, Sadhan C; Chase, George G

2016-08-24

Polymer nanofibers with interpenetrating network (IPN) morphology are used in this work for the development of composite, hydrophobic filter media in conjunction with glass fibers for removal of water droplets from ultralow sulfur diesel (ULSD). The nanofibers are produced from hydrophobic polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and hydrophilic polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) by spinning the polymer solutions using gas jet fiber (GJF) method. The nanofibers coat the individual glass fibers due to polar-polar interactions during the spinning process and render the filter media highly hydrophobic with a water contact angle approaching 150°. The efficiency of the resultant filter media is evaluated in terms of separation of water droplets of average size 20 μm from the suspensions in ULSD.

High-Performance Acousto-Ultrasonic Scan System Being Developed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, Don J.; Martin, Richard E.; Cosgriff, Laura M.; Gyekenyesi, Andrew L.; Kautz, Harold E.

2003-01-01

Acousto-ultrasonic (AU) interrogation is a single-sided nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technique employing separated sending and receiving transducers. It is used for assessing the microstructural condition and distributed damage state of the material between the transducers. AU is complementary to more traditional NDE methods, such as ultrasonic cscan, x-ray radiography, and thermographic inspection, which tend to be used primarily for discrete flaw detection. Throughout its history, AU has been used to inspect polymer matrix composites, metal matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, and even monolithic metallic materials. The development of a high-performance automated AU scan system for characterizing within-sample microstructural and property homogeneity is currently in a prototype stage at NASA. This year, essential AU technology was reviewed. In addition, the basic hardware and software configuration for the scanner was developed, and preliminary results with the system were described. Mechanical and environmental loads applied to composite materials can cause distributed damage (as well as discrete defects) that plays a significant role in the degradation of physical properties. Such damage includes fiber/matrix debonding (interface failure), matrix microcracking, and fiber fracture and buckling. Investigations at the NASA Glenn Research Center have shown that traditional NDE scan inspection methods such as ultrasonic c-scan, x-ray imaging, and thermographic imaging tend to be more suited to discrete defect detection rather than the characterization of accumulated distributed micro-damage in composites. Since AU is focused on assessing the distributed micro-damage state of the material in between the sending and receiving transducers, it has proven to be quite suitable for assessing the relative composite material state. One major success story at Glenn with AU measurements has been the correlation between the ultrasonic decay rate obtained during AU inspection and the mechanical modulus (stiffness) seen during fatigue experiments with silicon carbide/silicon carbide (SiC/SiC) ceramic matrix composite samples. As shown in the figure, ultrasonic decay increased as the modulus decreased for the ceramic matrix composite tensile fatigue samples. The likely microstructural reason for the decrease in modulus (and increase in ultrasonic decay) is the matrix microcracking that commonly occurs during fatigue testing of these materials. Ultrasonic decay has shown the capability to track the pattern of transverse cracking and fiber breakage in these composites.

High-Performance Acousto-Ultrasonic Scan System Being Developed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, Don J.; Martin, Richard E.; Cosgriff, Laura M.; Gyekenyesi, Andrew L.; Kautz, Harold E.

2003-01-01

Acousto-ultrasonic (AU) interrogation is a single-sided nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technique employing separated sending and receiving transducers. It is used for assessing the microstructural condition and distributed damage state of the material between the transducers. AU is complementary to more traditional NDE methods, such as ultrasonic cscan, x-ray radiography, and thermographic inspection, which tend to be used primarily for discrete flaw detection. Throughout its history, AU has been used to inspect polymer matrix composites, metal matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, and even monolithic metallic materials. The development of a high-performance automated AU scan system for characterizing within-sample microstructural and property homogeneity is currently in a prototype stage at NASA. This year, essential AU technology was reviewed. In addition, the basic hardware and software configuration for the scanner was developed, and preliminary results with the system were described. Mechanical and environmental loads applied to composite materials can cause distributed damage (as well as discrete defects) that plays a significant role in the degradation of physical properties. Such damage includes fiber/matrix debonding (interface failure), matrix microcracking, and fiber fracture and buckling. Investigations at the NASA Glenn Research Center have shown that traditional NDE scan inspection methods such as ultrasonic c-scan, x-ray imaging, and thermographic imaging tend to be more suited to discrete defect detection rather than the characterization of accumulated distributed microdamage in composites. Since AU is focused on assessing the distributed microdamage state of the material in between the sending and receiving transducers, it has proven to be quite suitable for assessing the relative composite material state. One major success story at Glenn with AU measurements has been the correlation between the ultrasonic decay rate obtained during AU inspection and the mechanical modulus (stiffness) seen during fatigue experiments with silicon carbide/silicon carbide (SiC/SiC) ceramic matrix composite samples. As shown in the figure, ultrasonic decay increased as the modulus decreased for the ceramic matrix composite tensile fatigue samples. The likely microstructural reason for the decrease in modulus (and increase in ultrasonic decay) is the matrix microcracking that commonly occurs during fatigue testing of these materials. Ultrasonic decay has shown the capability to track the pattern of transverse cracking and fiber breakage in these composites.

Fabrication and characterization of anode-supported micro-tubular solide oxide fuel cell by phase inversion method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Cong

Nowadays, the micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells (MT-SOFCs), especially the anode supported MT-SOFCs have been extensively developed to be applied for SOFC stacks designation, which can be potentially used for portable power sources and vehicle power supply. To prepare MT-SOFCs with high electrochemical performance, one of the main strategies is to optimize the microstructure of the anode support. Recently, a novel phase inversion method has been applied to prepare the anode support with a unique asymmetrical microstructure, which can improve the electrochemical performance of the MT-SOFCs. Since several process parameters of the phase inversion method can influence the pore formation mechanism and final microstructure, it is essential and necessary to systematically investigate the relationship between phase inversion process parameters and final microstructure of the anode supports. The objective of this study is aiming at correlating the process parameters and microstructure and further preparing MT-SOFCs with enhanced electrochemical performance. Non-solvent, which is used to trigger the phase separation process, can significantly influence the microstructure of the anode support fabricated by phase inversion method. To investigate the mechanism of non-solvent affecting the microstructure, water and ethanol/water mixture were selected for the NiO-YSZ anode supports fabrication. The presence of ethanol in non-solvent can inhibit the growth of the finger-like pores in the tubes. With the increasing of the ethanol concentration in the non-solvent, a relatively dense layer can be observed both in the outside and inside of the tubes. The mechanism of pores growth and morphology obtained by using non-solvent with high concentration ethanol was explained based on the inter-diffusivity between solvent and non-solvent. Solvent and non-solvent pair with larger Dm value is benefit for the growth of finger-like pores. Three cells with different anode geometries was prepared, La0.85Sr0.15MnO 3 (LSM) was selected as the cathode. Cells were tested at 800°C using humidified H2 as fuel. Cell with anode prepared by using pure water as non-solvent shows a maximum power density up to 437mW/cm 2. By comparing the anode geometry and electrochemical performance, it indicated that microstructure with longer finger-like pores and thinner macrovoid free layer close to the inner side of the tube is benefit to cell performance. Another factor that can affect the microstructure of anode support is the ratio of solvent and polymer binder. In this research, anode-supported MT-SOFCs have been fabricated by phase inversion method. The effect of the viscosity of the casting slurry on the microstructure of YSZ-NiO anode support has been investigated. The microstructure of the YSZ-NiO support can be effectively controlled by varying the slurry composition with different solvent and polymer binder content. Gas permeation and mechanical strength of the YSZ-NiO support have been measured and four YSZ-NiO anode supports have been chosen for subsequent cell fabrication. The effective conductivity of the different anode supports has been measured at room temperature after reduced. Anode-supported single cells with YSZ electrolyte and LSM/YSZ cathode are fabricated and tested. Maximum cell power densities of 606 mWcm-2, 449 mWcm -2, 339 mWcm-2 and 253 mWcm-2 have been obtained respectively at 750 °C with humidified hydrogen as fuel and ambient air as oxidant. The correlation between the cell electrochemical performance and anode microstructures has been discussed. Adjusting the slurry composition by introducing additive is also an effective approach to tailor the microstructure of the anode support. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), which is a common applied polymer additive, was selected to fabricate the YSZ-NiO anode supports. The effect of molecular weight and amount of PEG additive on the thermodynamics of the casting solutions was characterized by measuring the coagulation value. Viscosity of the casting slurries was also measured and the influence of PEG additive on viscosity was studied and discussed. The presence of PEG in the casting slurry can greatly influence the final anode support microstructure. Based on the microstructure result and the measured gas permeation value, two anode supports were selected for cell fabrication. For cell with the anode support fabricated using slurry with PEG additive, a maximum cell power density of 704 mWcm-2 is obtained at 750 oC with humidified hydrogen as fuel and ambient air as oxidant; cell fabricated without any PEG additive shows the peak cell power density of 331 mWcm-2. The relationship between anode microstructure and cell performance was discussed. Anode-supported micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells (MT-SOFCs) based on BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O 3-delta (BZCYYb) proton-conducting electrolyte have been prepared using a phase inversion method. Three sulfur-free polymer binder candidates ethyl cellulose (EC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyetherimide (PEI) and sulfur-containing polythersulfone (PESf) were used as polymer binders to fabricate NiO-BZCYYb anode. The overall influence of polymer binder on the anode supports was evaluated. Sulfide impurity generated from PESf was revealed by XRD and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The difference in the anode microstructure for samples fabricated by different polymer binders was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and analyzed by measuring the gas permeation data of the reduced samples. Single cells based on different anode supports were characterized in anode-supported MT-SOFCs with the cell configuration of Ni-BZCYYb anode, BZCYYb electrolyte and La0.6Sr 0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-delta (LSCF)-BZCYYb cathode at 650 °C using hydrogen as fuel and ambient air as oxidant. MT-SOFCs of the anode fabricated using PEI show maximum power density of 0.45 Wcm -2 compared with 0.35 Wcm-2 for cells fabricated with PESf. The difference in cell performance was attributed to the phase purity of the anode fabricated by different polymer binders. Sulfur-free polymer binder PEI exhibits advantages over the commonly applied PESf and other sulfur-free polymer binder candidates. To eliminate the skin layer formed close to the inner side of the tubular sample when using the phase inversion method. Polyethersulfone (PESf)-polyethylenimine (PEI) blend was employed as the polymer binder to fabricate the micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells (MT-SOFCs). The potential impurity introduced in the anode support by the polymer binder was examined by XPS and the resulting novel microstructure was analyzed based on the backscattered electron (BSE) images. Cells fabricated with blend polymer binder showed significantly enhanced power output compared with those cells only fabricated with PEI or PESf. The improved cell performance demonstrated that using blend polymer as binder is a promising and versatile approach for MT-SOFC fabrication via phase inversion method. Finally, to investigate the effect of the anode microstructure on the total cell performance, two types of anode support with different microstructure were prepared via the phase inversion method at different temperature. Cells fabricated based on these two anode supports were tested at 750 °C with hydrogen or hydrogen mixture with fuel gas. The measured current density-voltage (I-V) curves were fitted by a polarization model, and several parameters were archived through the modeling process. The influence of the anode support on the total cell performance was discussed based on the calculated result.

Tumor-associated macrophages and stromal TNF-α regulate collagen structure in a breast tumor model as visualized by second harmonic generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burke, Ryan M.; Madden, Kelley S.; Perry, Seth W.; Zettel, Martha L.; Brown, Edward B.

2013-08-01

Collagen fibers can be imaged with second harmonic generation (SHG) and are associated with efficient tumor cell locomotion. Preferential locomotion along these fibers correlates with a more aggressively metastatic phenotype, and changes in SHG emission properties accompany changes in metastatic outcome. We therefore attempted to elucidate the cellular and molecular machinery that influences SHG in order to understand how the microstructure of tumor collagen fibers is regulated. By quantifying SHG and immunofluorescence (IF) from tumors grown in mice with and without stromal tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and in the presence or absence of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), we determined that depletion of TAMs alters tumor collagen fibrillar microstructure as quantified by SHG and IF. Furthermore, we determined that abrogation of TNF-α expression by tumor stromal cells also alters fibrillar microstructure and that subsequent depletion of TAMs has no further effect. In each case, metastatic burden correlated with optical readouts of collagen microstructure. Our results implicate TAMs and stromal TNF-α as regulators of breast tumor collagen microstructure and suggest that this regulation plays a role in tumor metastasis. Furthermore, these results indicate that quantification of SHG represents a useful strategy for evaluating the cells and molecular pathways responsible for manipulating fibrillar collagen in breast tumor models.

Highly accelerated lifetime for externally applied bond critical fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) infrastructure materials.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-03-01

This report describes a research project to investigate accelerated aging protocols for fiber-reinforced : polymer (FRP) reinforcement of concrete. This research was conducted in three stages. In the first : stage, various spectroscopic techniques we...

Use of fiber reinforced polymer composite cable for post-tensioning application.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-08-01

The primary objective of this research project was to assess the feasibility of the use of innovative carbon fiber reinforced : polymer (CFRP) tendons and to develop guidelines for CFRP in post-tensioned bridge applications, including segmental : bri...

Glass fiber reinforced polymer bars as top mat reinforcement for bridge decks.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-01-01

The objectives of this research were to characterize the material and bond properties of three commercially available GFRP (glass fiber reinforced polymer) reinforcing bars, and evaluate the effects of the material properties and the current ACI desi...

The development of crashworthy rails for fiber reinforced polymer honeycomb bridge deck system.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-07-01

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) honeycomb panels offer an efficient and rapid replacement to : concrete decks. The system consists of FRP honeycomb sandwich panels with adequate guardrails. Although : FRP bridge deck panels have already been designed ...

The development of crashworthy rails for fiber reinforced polymer honeycomb bridge deck system : [summary].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-07-01

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) honeycomb panels offer an efficient and rapid : replacement to concrete decks. The system consists of FRP honeycomb sandwich panels : with adequate guardrails. Although FRP bridge deck panels have already been designed ...

Polyurethane foam infill for fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bridge deck panels.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-05-01

Although still in their infancy, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bridges have shown great promise in eliminating corrosion : concerns and meeting (or exceeding) FHWAs goal of 100-year life spans for bridges. While FRP bridges are cost-effective in ...

Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Dowel Bar Evaluation

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-09-01

Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) dowel bars were installed on one new construction project and two dowel bar : retrofit projects to evaluate the performance of this type of dowel bar in comparison to steel dowel bars installed on the same : cont...

In-Situ Cure Monitoring of the Immidization Reaction of PMR-15

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cossins, Sheryl; Kellar, Jon J.; Winter, Robb M.

1997-01-01

Glass fiber reinforced polymer composites are becoming widely used in industry. With this increase in production, an in-situ method of quality control for the curing of the polymer is desirable. This would allow for the production of high-quality parts having more uniform properties.' Recently, in-situ fiber optic monitoring of polymer curing has primarily focused on epoxy resins and has been performed by Raman or fluorescence methods. In addition, some infrared (IR) investigations have been performed using transmission or ATR cells. An alternate IR approach involves using optical fibers as a sensor by utilizing evanescent wave spectroscopy.

Crack Identification in CFRP Laminated Beams Using Multi-Resolution Modal Teager–Kaiser Energy under Noisy Environments

PubMed Central

Xu, Wei; Cao, Maosen; Ding, Keqin; Radzieński, Maciej; Ostachowicz, Wiesław

2017-01-01

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer laminates are increasingly used in the aerospace and civil engineering fields. Identifying cracks in carbon fiber reinforced polymer laminated beam components is of considerable significance for ensuring the integrity and safety of the whole structures. With the development of high-resolution measurement technologies, mode-shape-based crack identification in such laminated beam components has become an active research focus. Despite its sensitivity to cracks, however, this method is susceptible to noise. To address this deficiency, this study proposes a new concept of multi-resolution modal Teager–Kaiser energy, which is the Teager–Kaiser energy of a mode shape represented in multi-resolution, for identifying cracks in carbon fiber reinforced polymer laminated beams. The efficacy of this concept is analytically demonstrated by identifying cracks in Timoshenko beams with general boundary conditions; and its applicability is validated by diagnosing cracks in a carbon fiber reinforced polymer laminated beam, whose mode shapes are precisely acquired via non-contact measurement using a scanning laser vibrometer. The analytical and experimental results show that multi-resolution modal Teager–Kaiser energy is capable of designating the presence and location of cracks in these beams under noisy environments. This proposed method holds promise for developing crack identification systems for carbon fiber reinforced polymer laminates. PMID:28773016

Ceramic Fiber Coatings Development and Demonstration

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-05-28

from polycar- bosilane polymer . The fiber is mostly amorphous with some microcrystalline beta- SiC . A typical elemental composition (wt %) is 57... preceramic polymers yielded improvements mainly for oxide coatings and proved particularly promising for low cost processing. A schematic for this...deposition. COMPOSITE FABRICATION AND EVALUATION Coated fiber tows were infiltrated with Si 3N4 matrix by chemical vapor deposition in order to study

Application of the strain invariant failure theory (SIFT) to metals and fiber-polymer composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hart-Smith, L. J.

2010-11-01

The strain invariant failure theory (SIFT) model, developed to predict the onset of irreversible damage of fiber-polymer composite laminates, may be also applied to metals. Indeed, it can be applied to all solid materials. Two initial failure mechanisms are considered - distortion and dilatation. The author's experiences are confined to the structures of transport aircraft; phase changes in metals and self-destruction of laminates during curing are not covered. Doing so would need additional material properties, and probably a different failure theory. SIFT does not cover environmental attack on the interface between fibers and resin; it covers only cohesive failures within the fibers or resin, or within a homogeneous piece of metal. In the SIFT model, each damage mechanism is characterized by its own critical value of a strain invariant. Each mechanism dominates its own portion of the strain domain; there is no interaction between them. Application of SIFT to metals is explained first. Fiber-polymer composites contain two discrete constituents; each material must be characterized independently by its own two invariants. This is why fiber-polymer composites need four invariants whereas metals require only two. There is no such thing as a composite material, only composites of materials. The "composite materials" must not be modeled as homogeneous anisotropic solids because it is then not even possible to differentiate between fiber and matrix failures. The SIFT model uses measured material properties; it does not require that half of them be arbitrarily replaced by unmeasurable properties to fit laminate test data, as so many earlier composite failure criteria have. The biggest difference in using SIFT for metals and fiber-reinforced materials is internal residual thermal and moisture absorption stresses created by the gross dissimilarity in properties between embedded fibers and thermoset resin matrices. These residual stresses consume so much of the strength of unreinforced polymers for typical thermoset resins cured at high temperature, like epoxies, that little strength is available to resist mechanical loads. (Thermoplastic polymers suffer far less in this regard.) The paper explains how SIFT is used via worked examples, which demonstrate the kind of detailed information that SIFT analyses can generate.

Low Cost Fabrication of Silicon Carbide Based Ceramics and Fiber Reinforced Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, M.; Levine, S. R.

1995-01-01

A low cost processing technique called reaction forming for the fabrication of near-net and complex shaped components of silicon carbide based ceramics and composites is presented. This process consists of the production of a microporous carbon preform and subsequent infiltration with liquid silicon or silicon-refractory metal alloys. The microporous preforms are made by the pyrolysis of a polymerized resin mixture with very good control of pore volume and pore size thereby yielding materials with tailorable microstructure and composition. Mechanical properties (elastic modulus, flexural strength, and fracture toughness) of reaction-formed silicon carbide ceramics are presented. This processing approach is suitable for various kinds of reinforcements such as whiskers, particulates, fibers (tows, weaves, and filaments), and 3-D architectures. This approach has also been used to fabricate continuous silicon carbide fiber reinforced ceramic composites (CFCC's) with silicon carbide based matrices. Strong and tough composites with tailorable matrix microstructure and composition have been obtained. Microstructure and thermomechanical properties of a silicon carbide (SCS-6) fiber reinforced reaction-formed silicon carbide matrix composites are discussed.

Geometrical analysis of woven fabric microstructure based on micron-resolution computed tomography data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krieger, Helga; Seide, Gunnar; Gries, Thomas; Stapleton, Scott E.

2018-04-01

The global mechanical properties of textiles such as elasticity and strength, as well as transport properties such as permeability depend strongly on the microstructure of the textile. Textiles are heterogeneous structures with highly anisotropic material properties, including local fiber orientation and local fiber volume fraction. In this paper, an algorithm is presented to generate a virtual 3D-model of a woven fabric architecture with information about the local fiber orientation and the local fiber volume fraction. The geometric data of the woven fabric impregnated with resin was obtained by micron-resolution computed tomography (μCT). The volumetric μCT-scan was discretized into cells and the microstructure of each cell was analyzed and homogenized. Furthermore, the discretized data was used to calculate the local permeability tensors of each cell. An example application of the analyzed data is the simulation of the resin flow through a woven fabric based on the determined local permeability tensors and on Darcy's law. The presented algorithm is an automated and robust method of going from μCT-scans to structural or flow models.

Fabrication, Densification, and Replica Molding of 3D Carbon Nanotube Microstructures

PubMed Central

Copic, Davor; Park, Sei Jin; Tawfick, Sameh; De Volder, Michael; Hart, A. John

2012-01-01

The introduction of new materials and processes to microfabrication has, in large part, enabled many important advances in microsystems, lab-on-a-chip devices, and their applications. In particular, capabilities for cost-effective fabrication of polymer microstructures were transformed by the advent of soft lithography and other micromolding techniques 1, 2, and this led a revolution in applications of microfabrication to biomedical engineering and biology. Nevertheless, it remains challenging to fabricate microstructures with well-defined nanoscale surface textures, and to fabricate arbitrary 3D shapes at the micro-scale. Robustness of master molds and maintenance of shape integrity is especially important to achieve high fidelity replication of complex structures and preserving their nanoscale surface texture. The combination of hierarchical textures, and heterogeneous shapes, is a profound challenge to existing microfabrication methods that largely rely upon top-down etching using fixed mask templates. On the other hand, the bottom-up synthesis of nanostructures such as nanotubes and nanowires can offer new capabilities to microfabrication, in particular by taking advantage of the collective self-organization of nanostructures, and local control of their growth behavior with respect to microfabricated patterns. Our goal is to introduce vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which we refer to as CNT "forests", as a new microfabrication material. We present details of a suite of related methods recently developed by our group: fabrication of CNT forest microstructures by thermal CVD from lithographically patterned catalyst thin films; self-directed elastocapillary densification of CNT microstructures; and replica molding of polymer microstructures using CNT composite master molds. In particular, our work shows that self-directed capillary densification ("capillary forming"), which is performed by condensation of a solvent onto the substrate with CNT microstructures, significantly increases the packing density of CNTs. This process enables directed transformation of vertical CNT microstructures into straight, inclined, and twisted shapes, which have robust mechanical properties exceeding those of typical microfabrication polymers. This in turn enables formation of nanocomposite CNT master molds by capillary-driven infiltration of polymers. The replica structures exhibit the anisotropic nanoscale texture of the aligned CNTs, and can have walls with sub-micron thickness and aspect ratios exceeding 50:1. Integration of CNT microstructures in fabrication offers further opportunity to exploit the electrical and thermal properties of CNTs, and diverse capabilities for chemical and biochemical functionalization 3. PMID:22806089

Fabrication, densification, and replica molding of 3D carbon nanotube microstructures.

PubMed

Copic, Davor; Park, Sei Jin; Tawfick, Sameh; De Volder, Michael; Hart, A John

2012-07-02

The introduction of new materials and processes to microfabrication has, in large part, enabled many important advances in microsystems, lab-on-a-chip devices, and their applications. In particular, capabilities for cost-effective fabrication of polymer microstructures were transformed by the advent of soft lithography and other micromolding techniques (1, 2), and this led a revolution in applications of microfabrication to biomedical engineering and biology. Nevertheless, it remains challenging to fabricate microstructures with well-defined nanoscale surface textures, and to fabricate arbitrary 3D shapes at the micro-scale. Robustness of master molds and maintenance of shape integrity is especially important to achieve high fidelity replication of complex structures and preserving their nanoscale surface texture. The combination of hierarchical textures, and heterogeneous shapes, is a profound challenge to existing microfabrication methods that largely rely upon top-down etching using fixed mask templates. On the other hand, the bottom-up synthesis of nanostructures such as nanotubes and nanowires can offer new capabilities to microfabrication, in particular by taking advantage of the collective self-organization of nanostructures, and local control of their growth behavior with respect to microfabricated patterns. Our goal is to introduce vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which we refer to as CNT "forests", as a new microfabrication material. We present details of a suite of related methods recently developed by our group: fabrication of CNT forest microstructures by thermal CVD from lithographically patterned catalyst thin films; self-directed elastocapillary densification of CNT microstructures; and replica molding of polymer microstructures using CNT composite master molds. In particular, our work shows that self-directed capillary densification ("capillary forming"), which is performed by condensation of a solvent onto the substrate with CNT microstructures, significantly increases the packing density of CNTs. This process enables directed transformation of vertical CNT microstructures into straight, inclined, and twisted shapes, which have robust mechanical properties exceeding those of typical microfabrication polymers. This in turn enables formation of nanocomposite CNT master molds by capillary-driven infiltration of polymers. The replica structures exhibit the anisotropic nanoscale texture of the aligned CNTs, and can have walls with sub-micron thickness and aspect ratios exceeding 50:1. Integration of CNT microstructures in fabrication offers further opportunity to exploit the electrical and thermal properties of CNTs, and diverse capabilities for chemical and biochemical functionalization (3).

Polymer compositions, polymer films and methods and precursors for forming same

DOEpatents

Klaehn, John R; Peterson, Eric S; Orme, Christopher J

2013-09-24

Stable, high performance polymer compositions including polybenzimidazole (PBI) and a melamine-formaldehyde polymer, such as methylated, poly(melamine-co-formaldehyde), for forming structures such as films, fibers and bulky structures. The polymer compositions may be formed by combining polybenzimidazole with the melamine-formaldehyde polymer to form a precursor. The polybenzimidazole may be reacted and/or intertwined with the melamine-formaldehyde polymer to form the polymer composition. For example, a stable, free-standing film having a thickness of, for example, between about 5 .mu.m and about 30 .mu.m may be formed from the polymer composition. Such films may be used as gas separation membranes and may be submerged into water for extended periods without crazing and cracking. The polymer composition may also be used as a coating on substrates, such as metal and ceramics, or may be used for spinning fibers. Precursors for forming such polymer compositions are also disclosed.

Dry friction of microstructured polymer surfaces inspired by snake skin.

PubMed

Baum, Martina J; Heepe, Lars; Fadeeva, Elena; Gorb, Stanislav N

2014-01-01

The microstructure investigated in this study was inspired by the anisotropic microornamentation of scales from the ventral body side of the California King Snake (Lampropeltis getula californiae). Frictional properties of snake-inspired microstructured polymer surface (SIMPS) made of epoxy resin were characterised in contact with a smooth glass ball by a microtribometer in two perpendicular directions. The SIMPS exhibited a considerable frictional anisotropy: Frictional coefficients measured along the microstructure were about 33% lower than those measured in the opposite direction. Frictional coefficients were compared to those obtained on other types of surface microstructure: (i) smooth ones, (ii) rough ones, and (iii) ones with periodic groove-like microstructures of different dimensions. The results demonstrate the existence of a common pattern of interaction between two general effects that influence friction: (1) molecular interaction depending on real contact area and (2) the mechanical interlocking of both contacting surfaces. The strongest reduction of the frictional coefficient, compared to the smooth reference surface, was observed at a medium range of surface structure dimensions suggesting a trade-off between these two effects.

Oriented nanofibers embedded in a polymer matrix

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barrera, Enrique V. (Inventor); Lozano, Karen (Inventor); Rodriguez-Macias, Fernando J. (Inventor); Chibante, Luis Paulo Felipe (Inventor); Stewart, David Harris (Inventor)

2011-01-01

A method of forming a composite of embedded nanofibers in a polymer matrix is disclosed. The method includes incorporating nanofibers in a plastic matrix forming agglomerates, and uniformly distributing the nanofibers by exposing the agglomerates to hydrodynamic stresses. The hydrodynamic said stresses force the agglomerates to break apart. In combination or additionally elongational flow is used to achieve small diameters and alignment. A nanofiber reinforced polymer composite system is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of nanofibers that are embedded in polymer matrices in micron size fibers. A method for producing nanotube continuous fibers is disclosed. Nanofibers are fibrils with diameters of 100 nm, multiwall nanotubes, single wall nanotubes and their various functionalized and derivatized forms. The method includes mixing a nanofiber in a polymer; and inducing an orientation of the nanofibers that enables the nanofibers to be used to enhance mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. Orientation is induced by high shear mixing and elongational flow, singly or in combination. The polymer may be removed from said nanofibers, leaving micron size fibers of aligned nanofibers.

Single mode fibers with antireflective surface structures for high power laser applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Busse, Lynda E.; Florea, Catalin M.; Shaw, L. Brandon; Aggarwal, Ishwar D.; Sanghera, Jasbinder S.

2014-03-01

We present results for increased transmission of ~99.5% in the near-IR through the end faces of silica single mode fibers by creating a random antireflective microstructure etched into the end face of the fiber. We demonstrate high laser damage thresholds for these fibers with AR structured surfaces.

Artery buckling analysis using a two-layered wall model with collagen dispersion.

PubMed

Mottahedi, Mohammad; Han, Hai-Chao

2016-07-01

Artery buckling has been proposed as a possible cause for artery tortuosity associated with various vascular diseases. Since microstructure of arterial wall changes with aging and diseases, it is essential to establish the relationship between microscopic wall structure and artery buckling behavior. The objective of this study was to developed arterial buckling equations to incorporate the two-layered wall structure with dispersed collagen fiber distribution. Seven porcine carotid arteries were tested for buckling to determine their critical buckling pressures at different axial stretch ratios. The mechanical properties of these intact arteries and their intima-media layer were determined via pressurized inflation test. Collagen alignment was measured from histological sections and modeled by a modified von-Mises distribution. Buckling equations were developed accordingly using microstructure-motivated strain energy function. Our results demonstrated that collagen fibers disperse around two mean orientations symmetrically to the circumferential direction (39.02°±3.04°) in the adventitia layer; while aligning closely in the circumferential direction (2.06°±3.88°) in the media layer. The microstructure based two-layered model with collagen fiber dispersion described the buckling behavior of arteries well with the model predicted critical pressures match well with the experimental measurement. Parametric studies showed that with increasing fiber dispersion parameter, the predicted critical buckling pressure increases. These results validate the microstructure-based model equations for artery buckling and set a base for further studies to predict the stability of arteries due to microstructural changes associated with vascular diseases and aging. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Flow properties of a series of experimental thermoplastic polymides

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burks, H. D.; Nelson, J. B.; Price, H. L.

1981-01-01

The softening temperature to degradation temperature range of the polymers was about 440 to 650 K. All of the polymers retained small amounts of solvent as indicated by an increase in T(sub g) as the polymers were dried. The flow properties showed that all three polymers had very high apparent viscosities and would require high pressures and/or high temperatures and/or long times to obtain adequate flow in prepregging and molding. Although none was intended for such application, two of the polymers were combined with carbon fibers by solution prepregging. The prepregs were molded into laminates at temperatures and times, the selection of which was guided by the results from the flow measurements. These laminates had room temperature short beam shear strength similar to that of carbon fiber laminates with a thermosetting polyimide matrix. However, the strength had considerable scatter, and given the difficult processing, these polymides probably would not be suitable for continuous fiber composites.

Preceramic Polymers for Use as Fiber Coatings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heimann, P. J.; Hurwitz, F. I.; Wheeler, D.; Eldridge, J.; Baranwal, R.; Dickerson, R.

1996-01-01

Polymeric precursors to Si-C-O, SI-B-N and Si-C were evaluated for use as ceramic interfaces in ceramic matrix composites. Use of the preceramic polymers allows for easy dip coating of fibers from dilute solutions of a polymer, which are then pyrolyzed to obtain the ceramic. SCS-0 fibers (Textron Specialty Materials, Lowell, MA) were coated with polymers from three systems: polysilsesquioxanes, polyborosilazanes and polycarbosilanes. The polysilsesquioxane systems were shown to produce either silicon oxycarbide or silicon oxynitride, depending on the pyrolysis conditions, and demonstrated some promise in an RBSN (reaction-bonded silicon nitride) matrix model system. Polyborosilazanes were shown, in studies of bulk polymers, to give rise to oxidation resistant Si-B-N ceramics which remain amorphous to temperatures of 1600 C, and should therefore provide a low modulus interface. Polycarbosilanes produce amorphous carbon-rich Si-C materials which have demonstrated oxidation resistance.

Process for preparing tapes from thermoplastic polymers and carbon fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chung, Tai-Shung (Inventor); Furst, Howard (Inventor); Gurion, Zev (Inventor); McMahon, Paul E. (Inventor); Orwoll, Richard D. (Inventor); Palangio, Daniel (Inventor)

1986-01-01

The instant invention involves a process for use in preparing tapes or rovings, which are formed from a thermoplastic material used to impregnate longitudinally extended bundles of carbon fibers. The process involves the steps of (a) gas spreading a tow of carbon fibers; (b) feeding the spread tow into a crosshead die; (c) impregnating the tow in the die with a thermoplastic polymer; (d) withdrawing the impregnated tow from the die; and (e) gas cooling the impregnated tow with a jet of air. The crosshead die useful in the instant invention includes a horizontally extended, carbon fiber bundle inlet channel, means for providing melted polymer under pressure to the die, means for dividing the polymeric material flowing into the die into an upper flow channel and a lower flow channel disposed above and below the moving carbon fiber bundle, means for applying the thermoplastic material from both the upper and lower channels to the fiber bundle, and means for withdrawing the resulting tape from the die.

Adhesion properties in systems of laminated pigmented polymers, carbon-graphite fiber composite framework and titanium surfaces in implant suprastructures.

PubMed

Segerström, Susanna; Ruyter, I Eystein

2009-09-01

For long-term stability the adhering interfaces of an implant-retained supraconstruction of titanium/carbon-graphite fiber-reinforced (CGFR) polymer/opaquer layer/denture base polymer/denture teeth must function as a unity. The aim was to evaluate adhesion of CGFR polymer to a titanium surface or CGFR polymer to two different opaquer layers/with two denture base polymers. Titanium plates were surface-treated and silanized and combined with a bolt of CGFR polymer or denture base polymer (Probase Hot). Heat-polymerized plates of CGFR polymer (47 wt% fiber) based on poly(methyl methacrylate) and a copolymer matrix were treated with an opaquer (Sinfony or Ropak) before a denture base polymer bolt was attached (Probase Hot or Lucitone 199). All specimens were heat-polymerized, water saturated (200 days) and thermally cycled (5000 cycles, 5/55 degrees C) before shear bond testing. Silicatized titanium surfaces gave higher bond strength to CGFR polymer (16.2+/-2.34 and 18.6+/-1.32) MPa and cohesive fracture than a sandblasted surface (5.9+/-2.11) MPa where the fracture was adhesive. The opaquer Sinfony gave higher adhesion values and mainly cohesive fractures than the opaquer Ropak. Different surface treatments (roughened or polished) of the CGFR polymer had no effect on bond strength. The fracture surfaces of silicatized titanium/CGFR polymer/opaquer layer (Sinfony)/denture base polymers were mainly cohesive. A combination of these materials in an implant-retained supraconstruction is promising for in vivo evaluation.

Fiber-optic miniature sensor for in situ temperature monitoring of curing composite material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sampath, Umesh; Kim, Dae-gil; Kim, Hyunjin; Song, Minho

2018-04-01

This study proposes a fiber-optic temperature sensor with a single-mode fiber tip covered with a thermo-sensitive polymer resin. The temperature is sensed by measuring the Fresnel reflection from the optical fiber/polymer interface. Because the thermo-optic coefficients differ between the optical fiber and the polymer, the in situ temperature can be measured even in curing composite materials. In initial experiments, the proposed sensor successfully measured and recovered the temperature information. The measured sensor data were linearly correlated, with an R2 exceeding 0.99. The standard deviation in the long-term measurements of constant temperature was 2.6%. The durability and stability of the sensor head material in long-term operation was validated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. In further experiments, the suggested miniature temperature sensor obtained the internal temperatures of curing composite material over a wide range (30-110 °C).

Pressure-assisted synthesis of HKUST-1 thin film on polymer hollow fiber at room temperature toward gas separation.

PubMed

Mao, Yiyin; Li, Junwei; Cao, Wei; Ying, Yulong; Sun, Luwei; Peng, Xinsheng

2014-03-26

The scalable fabrication of continuous and defect-free metal-organic framework (MOF) films on the surface of polymeric hollow fibers, departing from ceramic supported or dense composite membranes, is a huge challenge. The critical way is to reduce the growth temperature of MOFs in aqueous or ethanol solvents. In the present work, a pressure-assisted room temperature growth strategy was carried out to fabricate continuous and well-intergrown HKUST-1 films on a polymer hollow fiber by using solid copper hydroxide nanostrands as the copper source within 40 min. These HKUST-1 films/polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber composite membranes exhibit good separation performance for binary gases with selectivity 116% higher than Knudsen values via both inside-out and outside-in modes. This provides a new way to enable for scale-up preparation of HKUST-1/polymer hollow fiber membranes, due to its superior economic and ecological advantages.

Repair of impact damaged utility poles with fiber reinforced polymers (FRP), phase II.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-06-01

Vehicle collisions with steel or aluminum utility poles are common occurrences that yield substantial but often repairable : damage. This project investigates the use of a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite system for in situ repair that : mini...

Monitoring long-term in-situs behavior of installed fiber reinforced polymer.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-06-01

The objective of this report is to provide information on state of the art in structural health : monitoring (SHM) and its application to bridges. The most recent trends in SHM with regard to : fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are discussed....

Highly accelerated lifetime for externally applied bond critical fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) infrastructure materials : [summary].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-03-01

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) uses fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites to repair bridges and strengthen bridge decks. Proven mechanical characteristics make FRP composites cost-effective in extending the life span of bridges o...

Rapid replacement of Tangier Island bridges including lightweight and durable fiber-reinforced polymer deck systems.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-01-01

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite cellular deck systems were used as new bridge decks on two replacement bridges on Tangier Island, Virginia. The most important characteristics of this application were reduced self-weight and increased durabil...

Guidelines for using fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials to extend bridge life : research spotlight.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-09-01

With a high strength-to-weight ratio, fiber-reinforced polymer : (FRP) composite fabrics have become a promising technology for : strengthening concrete bridge elements that are starting to deteriorate. : To take full advantage of the benefits of the...

Fabricating and Characterizing Physical Properties of Electrospun Polypeptide-based Nanofibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khadka, Dhan Bahadur

This dissertation has aimed to fabricate polypeptide based biomaterial and characterize physical properties. Electrospinning is used as a tool for the sample fabrication. Project focused on determining the feasibility of electrospinning of certain synthetic polypeptides and certain elastin-like peptides from aqueous feedstocks and to characterize physical properties of polymer aqueous solution, cast film and spun fibers and fiber mats. The research involves peptide design, polymer electrospinning, fibers crosslinking, determining the extent of crosslinking, fibers protease degradation study, fibers stability and self-organization analysis, structure and composition determination by various spectroscopy and microscopy techniques and characterization of mechanical properties of individual suspended fibers. Fiber mats of a synthetic cationic polypeptide poly(L-ornithine) (PLO) and an anionic co-polypeptide of L-glutamic acid and L-tyrosine (PLEY) of defined composition have been produced by electrospinning. Fibers were obtained from polymer aqueous solution at concentrations of 20-45% (w/v) in PLO and at concentrations of 20-60% (w/v) in PLEY. Applied voltage and spinneret-collector distance were also found to influence polymer spinnability and fibers morphology. Oriented fibers were obtained by parallel electrodes geometry. Fiber diameter and morphology was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). PLO fibers exposed on glutaraldehyde (GTA) vapor rendered fiber mats water-insoluble. A common chemical reagent, carbodiimide was used to crosslink PLEY fibers. Fiber solubility in aqueous solution varied as a function of crosslinking time and crosslinker concentration. Crosslink density has been quantified by a visible-wavelength dye-based method. Degradation of crosslinked fibers by different proteases has been demonstrated. Investigation of crosslinked PLEY fibers has provided insight into the mechanisms of stability at different pH values. Variations in fiber morphology, elemental composition and stability have been studied by microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), following the treatment of samples at different pH values in the 2-12 range. Fiber stability has been interpreted with reference to the pH dependence of the UV absorbance and fluorescence of PLEY chains in solution. The data show that fiber stability is crucially dependent on the extent of side chain ionization, even after crosslinking. Self-organization kinetics of electrospun PLO and PLEY fibers during solvent annealing has been studied. After being crosslinked in situ , fibers were annealed in water at 22 °C. Analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has revealed that annealing involved fiber restructuring with an overall time constant of 29 min for PLO and 63 min for PLEY, and that changes in the distribution of polymer conformations occurred during the first 13 min of annealing. There was a substantial decrease in the amount of Na+ bound to PLEY fibers during annealing. Kinetic modeling has indicated that two parallel pathways better account for the annealing trajectory than a single pathway with multiple transition states. Taken together, the results will advance the rational design of polypeptides for peptide-based materials, especially materials prepared by electrospinning. It is believed that this research will increase basic knowledge of polymer electrospinning and advance the development of electrospun materials, especially in medicine and biotechnology. The study has yielded two advances on previous work in the area: avoidance of an animal source of peptides and avoidance of inorganic solvent. The present results thus advance the growing field of peptide-based materials. Non-woven electrospun fiber mats made of polypeptides are increasingly considered attractive for basic research and technology development in biotechnology, medicine and other areas. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Supercontinuum generation in an imaging fiber taper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Kebin; Omenetto, Fiorenzo G.; Liu, Zhiwen

2006-12-01

We report on supercontinuum generation in individual fibers of a commercial Schott imaging fiber taper. Supercontinuum spectrum covering a wavelength range from about 500 nm to 1 μm was obtained. Unlike conventional approaches which use either a single micro-structured photonic crystal fiber (PCF) or an individual fiber or PCF taper, the availability of many fibers in an imaging taper can open new possibilities to independently and controllably generate supercontinuum arrays.

Interfacial microstructure and mechanical properties of Cf/AZ91D composites with TiO2 and PyC fiber coatings.

PubMed

Li, Shaolin; Qi, Lehua; Zhang, Ting; Ju, Luyan; Li, Hejun

2017-10-01

In spite of the effectiveness of the fiber coatings on interface modification of carbon fiber reinforced magnesium matrix composites, the cost and exclusive equipment for the coatings preparation are usually ignored during research work. In this paper, pyrolytic carbon (PyC) and TiO 2 were coated on carbon fiber surface to study the effects of fiber coatings on interfacial microstructure and mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced AZ91D composites (C f /AZ91D composites). It was indicated that both the two coatings could modify the interface and improve the mechanical properties of the composites. The ultimate tensile strength of the TiO 2 -C f /AZ91D and the PyC-C f /AZ91D composite were 333MPa and 400MPa, which were improved by 41.7% and 70.2% respectively, compared with the untreated-C f /AZ91D composite. The microstructure observation revealed that the strengthening of the composites relied on fiber integrity and moderate interfacial bonding. MgO nano-particles were generated at the interface due to the reaction of TiO 2 with Mg in the TiO 2 -C f /AZ91D composite. The volume expansion resulting from the reaction let to disordered intergranular films and crystal defects at the interface. The fibers were protected and the interfacial reaction was restrained by PyC coating in the PyC-C f /AZ91D composite. The principle to select the coating of fiber was proposed by comparing the effectiveness and cost of the coatings. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Modeling and experimental characterization of Blackglas(TM) polymer pyrolysis to ceramic and thermodynamic characterization of Blackglas(TM) ceramic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Feng

2000-10-01

The transformation of Blackglas(TM) polymer to ceramic is characterized by TGA-RGA/MS, Si29 and C13 NMR. Si29 NMR reveals a dependence between the postcure temperature and the microstructure of the resin. The postcure temperature that appears to give optimal mechanical and oxidative properties of Blackglas(TM) ceramic is around 150°C. The pyrolysis processing models, which are the Lumped Parameters Model (LPM), the Mechanistic Kinetic Model (MKM) and the Redistribution Reaction Model (RRM), are developed to provide an effective window of processing parameters rather than a costly, time-consuming trial and error approach. The Lumped Parameters Model (LPM) is developed to study the effects of various parameters such as temperature, curing conditions and heating rates on mass loss during the pyrolysis of resin and green composites. It can be used for the model-predictive control of the pyrolysis process; The Mechanistic Kinetic Model (MKM) is developed on the basis of known chemistry and architecture of the polysiloxane for the transformation of Blackglas(TM) polymer to ceramic and the evolution of gases. The effects of various heating protocols on the outgassing kinetics have been studied to develop an optimum protocol for a rapid pyrolysis process which gives a composite with desirable mechanical properties; The Redistribution Reaction Model (RRM) is proposed to describe how the microcompositions of silicon oxycarbide change with respect to temperature, and to the ratio O/Si in the polymer precursor. A Thermodynamic Additivity Model (TAM) is developed to estimate the heat capacity, standard heat of formation and entropy of Blackglas(TM) ceramic by means of the Neumann Kopp rule and the available thermodynamic data of the Si-C and Si-O systems. Thermal stability of this ceramic is investigated by constructing predominance diagrams, and it is shown that the internal degradation reactions, which account for a significant loss of strength, will proceed further in the Blackglas(TM) matrix than in the Nicalon fibers. This probably will induce failure in the matrix at lower temperatures than in the fibers. The predominance diagrams also explain the high temperature oxidation, reduction and volatilization experiments on silicon and silicon carbide in high vacuum.

Synthesis of Conductive Polymeric Nanocomposites for Applications in Responsive Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chavez, Jessica

The development of next generation "smart" textiles has emerged with significant interest due to the immense demand for high-performance wearable technology. The economic market for wearable technologies is predicted to increase significantly in both volume and value. In the next four years, the wearable technology market will be valued at $34 billion. This large demand has opened up a new research area involving smart wearable devices and conductive fabrics. Many research groups have taken various paths to study and ultimately fabricate wearable devices. Due to the limiting capabilities of conventional conductors, researchers have centered their research on the integration of conductive polymers into textile materials for applications involving responsive material. Conducive polymers are very unique organic molecules that have the ability to transfer electrons across their molecular structure due to the excess presence of pi-electrons. Conductive polymers are favored over conventional conductors because they can be easily manipulated and integrated into flexible material. Two very common conductive polymers are polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (PPY) because of their large favorability in literature, high conductance values, and environmental stability. Common commercial fibers were coated via the chemical polymerization of PANI or PPY. A series of reactions were done to study the polymerization process of each polymer. The conductive efficiency of each conducting polymer is highly dependent on the type of reactants used, the acidic nature of the reaction, and the temperature of the reaction. The coated commercial fiber nanocomposites produced higher conductivity values when the polymerization reaction was run using ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS) as the oxidizing agent, run in an acidic environment, and run at very low temperatures. Other factors that improved the overall efficiency of the coated commercial fiber nanocomposites was the increase in polymer concentration as well as the extension of the reaction time. The overall interaction between the conductive polymer and the commercial fibers showed that the conductive polymer was physically adsorbed to the commercial fiber. This physical adsorption caused a decrease in conductive efficiency as a function of repeated washes because the weak intermolecular forces between the conductive polymer and the commercial fiber. This led to the synthesis of conductive films and nanofibers by integrating the conductive polymers directly into a cellulose acetate matrix. The voltage efficiency of the conductive films was lower compared to the coated commercial fiber nanocomposites. However, the conductive material generated greater lux values compared to the coated commercial fiber nanocomposites. Theses conductive materials can be applied to applications in both the medical field and water filtration. The conductive films can be used to create a sensor based system that can trigger a sensor to signify when bandages used for wound management need to be changed. The conductive nanofibers can be used in water filtration as a means of electroplating metals ions from contaminated water. Overall, the synthesis of these conductive materials can be applicable for responsive materials.

Axial and radial nanostructures in electrospun polymer fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greenfeld, Israel; Camposeo, Andrea; Tantussi, Francesco; Pagliara, Stefano; Fuso, Francesco; Allegrini, Maria; Pisignano, Dario; Zussman, Eyal

2013-03-01

The high tensional stresses during electrospinning of semidilute polymer solutions affect the dynamic conformation of the polymer network within the liquid jet, leaving a distinctive trace in the molecular structure after solidification. We investigated such effects in electrospun nanofibers made of conjugated polymers. Modeling the polymer network evolution during electrospinning showed that as the network stretches axially, it contracts towards the jet core. The model represents the semi-flexible conjugated polymer chains as flexible freely-jointed chains, whose joints are bonding defects. Using the conjugated polymer MEH-PPV dissolved in a mixture of THF and DMF solvents, and taking advantage of its unique photophysical characteristics, we investigated optically the variations in the density and orientation of the polymer macromolecules in electrospun nanofibers. In agreement with our model, we found higher density and axial orientation at the fiber core, while lower density and radial orientation closer to the fiber surface. The non-uniformity of the resulting molecular structure can be tuned and exploited in diverse optical and structural applications. We acknowledge: V. Fasano, G. Potente, S. Girardo and E. Caldi for assistance in measurements; United States-Israel BSF, RBNI Institute, and the Israel Science Foundation for financial support.

All fiber magnetic field sensor with Ferrofluid-filled tapered microstructured optical fiber interferometer.

PubMed

Deng, Ming; Huang, Can; Liu, Danhui; Jin, Wei; Zhu, Tao

2015-08-10

An ultra-compact optical fiber magnetic field sensor based on a microstructured optical fiber (MOF) modal interference and ferrofluid (FF) has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The magnetic field sensor was fabricated by splicing a tapered germanium-doped index guided MOF with six big holes injected with FF to two conventional single-mode fibers. The transmission spectra of the proposed sensor under different magnetic field intensities have been measured and theoretically analyzed. Due to an efficient interaction between the magnetic nanoparticles in FF and the excited cladding mode, the magnetic field sensitivity reaches up to117.9pm/mT with a linear range from 0mT to 30mT. Moreover, the fabrication process of the proposed sensor is simple, easy and cost-effective. Therefore, it will be a promising candidate for military, aviation industry, and biomedical applications, especially, for the applications where the space is limited.

Effects of Fiber Reinforcement on Clay Aerogel Composites

PubMed Central

Finlay, Katherine A.; Gawryla, Matthew D.; Schiraldi, David A.

2015-01-01

Novel, low density structures which combine biologically-based fibers with clay aerogels are produced in an environmentally benign manner using water as solvent, and no additional processing chemicals. Three different reinforcing fibers, silk, soy silk, and hemp, are evaluated in combination with poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix polymer combined with montmorillonite clay. The mechanical properties of the aerogels are demonstrated to increase with reinforcing fiber length, in each case limited by a critical fiber length, beyond which mechanical properties decline due to maldistribution of filler, and disruption of the aerogel structure. Rather than the classical model for reinforced composite properties, the chemical compatibility of reinforcing fibers with the polymer/clay matrix dominated mechanical performance, along with the tendencies of the fibers to kink under compression. PMID:28793515

Mechanical properties of porous and cellular materials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sieradzki, K.; Green, D.J.; Gibson, L.J.

1991-01-01

This symposium successfully brought scientists together from a wide variety of disciplines to focus on the mechanical behavior of porous and cellular solids composed of metals, ceramics, polymers, or biological materials. For cellular materials, papers ranged from processing techniques through microstructure-mechanical property relationships to design. In an overview talk, Mike Ashby (Cambridge Univ.) showed how porous cellular materials can be more efficient than dense materials in designs that require minimum weight. He indicated that many biological materials have been able to accomplish such efficiency but there exists an opportunity to design even more efficient, manmade materials controlling microstructures at differentmore » scale levels. In the area of processing, James Aubert (Sandia National Laboratories) discussed techiques for manipulating polymersolvent phase equilibria to control the microstructure of microcellular foams. Other papers on processing discussed the production of cellular ceramics by CVD, HIPing and sol- gel techniques. Papers on the mechanical behavior of cellular materials considered various ceramics microcellular polymers, conventional polymer foams and apples. There were also contributions that considered optimum design procedures for cellular materials. Steven Cowin (City Univ. of New York) discussed procedures to match the discrete microstructural aspects of cellular materials with the continuum mechanics approach to their elastic behavior.« less

Precursor polymer compositions comprising polybenzimidazole

DOEpatents

Klaehn, John R.; Peterson, Eric S.; Orme, Christopher J.

2015-07-14

Stable, high performance polymer compositions including polybenzimidazole (PBI) and a melamine-formaldehyde polymer, such as methylated, poly(melamine-co-formaldehyde), for forming structures such as films, fibers and bulky structures. The polymer compositions may be formed by combining polybenzimidazole with the melamine-formaldehyde polymer to form a precursor. The polybenzimidazole may be reacted and/or intertwined with the melamine-formaldehyde polymer to form the polymer composition. For example, a stable, free-standing film having a thickness of, for example, between about 5 .mu.m and about 30 .mu.m may be formed from the polymer composition. Such films may be used as gas separation membranes and may be submerged into water for extended periods without crazing and cracking. The polymer composition may also be used as a coating on substrates, such as metal and ceramics, or may be used for spinning fibers. Precursors for forming such polymer compositions are also disclosed.

Self-Sensing of Position-Related Loads in Continuous Carbon Fibers-Embedded 3D-Printed Polymer Structures Using Electrical Resistance Measurement

PubMed Central

Luan, Congcong; Shen, Hongyao; Fu, Jianzhong

2018-01-01

Condition monitoring in polymer composites and structures based on continuous carbon fibers show overwhelming advantages over other potentially competitive sensing technologies in long-gauge measurements due to their great electromechanical behavior and excellent reinforcement property. Although carbon fibers have been developed as strain- or stress-sensing agents in composite structures through electrical resistance measurements, the electromechanical behavior under flexural loads in terms of different loading positions still lacks adequate research, which is the most common situation in practical applications. This study establishes the relationship between the fractional change in electrical resistance of carbon fibers and the external loads at different loading positions along the fibers’ longitudinal direction. An approach for real-time monitoring of flexural loads at different loading positions was presented simultaneously based on this relationship. The effectiveness and feasibility of the approach were verified by experiments on carbon fiber-embedded three-dimensional (3D) printed thermoplastic polymer beam. The error in using the provided approach to monitor the external loads at different loading positions was less than 1.28%. The study fully taps the potential of continuous carbon fibers as long-gauge sensory agents and reinforcement in the 3D-printed polymer structures. PMID:29584665

Nanostructural Characteristics and Interfacial Properties of Polymer Fibers in Cement Matrix.

PubMed

Shalchy, Faezeh; Rahbar, Nima

2015-08-12

Concrete is the most used material in the world. It is also one of the most versatile yet complex materials that humans have used for construction. However, an important weakness of concrete (cement-based composites) is its low tensile properties. Therefore, over the past 30 years many studies were focused on improving its tensile properties using a variety of physical and chemical methods. One of the most successful attempts is to use polymer fibers in the structure of concrete to obtain a composite with high tensile strength and ductility. The advantages of polymer fiber as reinforcing material in concrete, both with regard to reducing environmental pollution and the positive effects on a country's economy, are beyond dispute. However, a thorough understanding of the mechanical behavior of fiber-reinforced concrete requires a knowledge of fiber/matrix interfaces at the nanoscale. In this study, a combination of atomistic simulations and experimental techniques has been used to study the nanostructure of fiber/matrix interfaces. A new model for calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H)/fiber interfaces is also proposed on the basis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses. Finally, the adhesion energy between the C-S-H gel and three different polymeric fibers (poly(vinyl alcohol), nylon-6, and polypropylene) were numerically studied at the atomistic level because adhesion plays a key role in the design of ductile fiber-reinforced composites. The mechanisms of adhesion as a function of the nanostructure of fiber/matrix interfaces are further studied and discussed. It is observed that the functional group in the structure of polymer macromolecule affects the adhesion energy primarily by changing the C/S ratio of the C-S-H at the interface and by absorbing additional positive ions in the C-S-H structure.

The influence of CF and TLCP co-reinforced on the mechanical properties of PA6-based composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jing; Yin, Hong-Feng; Tang, Yun; Yuan, Hu-Die; Wei, Ying

2018-05-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of carbon fiber (CF) and thermotropic liquid crystal polymer (TLCP) as co-reinforcements on the mechanical properties of composites. The TLCP fibers were produced by melt exclusion. CF and TLCP co-reinforced PA6 composites (CF/TLCP/PA6) were prepared by the lamination molding method. The influence of molding temperature, TLCP content, compatibilizer, and pre-impregnation process on microstructure and mechanical properties of the CF/TLCP/PA6 composites were investigated with Electronic Microscopy and Mechanical tests (flexure and interlaminar shear) by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Universal Test Machine. It was found that the optimum molding temperature was 240 °C. The mechanical properties of the composites first increased and then decreased with an increase of TLCP content. The introduction of a compatibilizer obviously improved the mechanical properties of the composites. When the TLCP content was 15 wt%, the molding temperature was 240 °C, and 5 wt% compatibilizer was added, the comprehensive mechanical properties of the composites in terms of the flexural and interlaminar shear strengths were the best, which were 363.5 ± 4.4 MPa and 44.9 ± 2.9 MPa, respectively. The addition of TLCP fibers could prevent the propagation of microcracks in the composites, which further improved their mechanical properties due to the synergistic effect with CFs.

Health monitoring of precast bridge deck panels reinforced with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-03-01

The present research project investigates monitoring concrete precast panels for bridge decks that are reinforced with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars. Due to the lack of long term research on concrete members reinforced with GFRP bars, lo...

Assessment of mechanically fastened fiber reinforced polymer (MF-FRP) strips for extending bridge service life.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-03-01

The enhancement of load rating concrete structures by the installation of Fiber reinforced : polymer strips (FRP) is becoming a preferred short-term action. The addition of supplemental : tensile capacity to concrete beams by applying high tensile st...

Development of advanced grid stiffened (AGS) fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) tube-encased concrete columns.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-03-01

In this project, a new type of confining device, a latticework of interlacing fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) ribs that are jacketed by a FRP skin, is proposed, manufactured, tested, and modeled to encase concrete cylinders. This systematic study incl...

Recycled Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites Incorporated in Mortar for Improved Mechanical Performance

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-12-11

Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) recycled from retired wind turbines was implemented in mortar as a volumetric replacement of sand during the two phases of this study. In Phase I, the mechanically refined GFRP particle sizes were sieved for four...

Environmental Durability of Reinforced Concrete Deck Girders Strengthened for Shear with Surface-Bonded Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-05-01

"This research investigated the durability of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRP) used for shear strengthening reinforced concrete deck girders. Large beams were used to avoid accounting for size effects in the data analysis. The effort...

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Grids for Shear and End Zone Reinforcement in Bridge Beams

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2018-01-01

Corrosion of reinforcing steel reduces life spans of bridges throughout the United States; therefore, using non-corroding carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcement is seen as a way to increase service life. The use of CFRP as the flexural ...

Development of polyphenylquinoxaline graphite composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shdo, J. D.

1976-01-01

Six polyphenylquinoxalines (PPQ) containing pendant cyano (CN) groups were synthesized. The polymers were characterized in terms of inherent viscosity, glass transition temperature, softening temperature and weight loss due to aging in air at 316 C (600 F). The potential for crosslinking PPQs by trimerization of pendant CN groups was investigated. A polymer derived from 1 mole 3,3,4,4 -tetraaminobenzophenone, .2 mole p-bis(p -cyanophenoxyphenylglyoxalyl)benzene and .8 mole p-bis(phenylglyoxalyl)benzene was selected for more extensive characterization in HM-S graphite fiber-reinforced composites. Mechanical properties were determined using composites made from HM-S fiber and polymer and composites made from HM-S fiber, polymer and a potential CN group trimerization catalyst. Composite mechanical properties, inter-laminar shear strength and flexure properties, were determined over the temperature range of +21 C to 316 C.

Inferring Spatial Variations of Microstructural Properties from Macroscopic Mechanical Response

PubMed Central

Liu, Tengxiao; Hall, Timothy J.; Barbone, Paul E.; Oberai, Assad A.

2016-01-01

Disease alters tissue microstructure, which in turn affects the macroscopic mechanical properties of tissue. In elasticity imaging, the macroscopic response is measured and is used to infer the spatial distribution of the elastic constitutive parameters. When an empirical constitutive model is used these parameters cannot be linked to the microstructure. However, when the constitutive model is derived from a microstructural representation of the material, it allows for the possibility of inferring the local averages of the spatial distribution of the microstructural parameters. This idea forms the basis of this study. In particular, we first derive a constitutive model by homogenizing the mechanical response of a network of elastic, tortuous fibers. Thereafter, we use this model in an inverse problem to determine the spatial distribution of the microstructural parameters. We solve the inverse problem as a constrained minimization problem, and develop efficient methods for solving it. We apply these methods to displacement fields obtained by deforming gelatin-agar co-gels, and determine the spatial distribution of agar concentration and fiber tortuosity, thereby demonstrating that it is possible to image local averages of microstructural parameters from macroscopic measurements of deformation. PMID:27655420

Effect of Thermal Cycling on the Tensile Behavior of Polymer Composites Reinforced by Basalt and Carbon Fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khalili, S. Mohammad Reza; Najafi, Moslem; Eslami-Farsani, Reza

2017-01-01

The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of thermal cycling on the tensile behavior of three types of polymer-matrix composites — a phenolic resin reinforced with woven basalt fibers, woven carbon fibers, and hybrid basalt and carbon fibers — in an ambient environment. For this purpose, tensile tests were performed on specimens previously subjected to a certain number of thermal cycles. The ultimate tensile strength of the specimen reinforced with woven basalt fibers had by 5% after thermal cycling, but the strength of the specimen with woven carbon fibers had reduced to a value by 11% higher than that before thermal cycling.

Inorganic Polymer Matrix Composite Strength Related to Interface Condition

PubMed Central

Radford, Donald W.; Grabher, Andrew; Bridge, John

2009-01-01

Resin transfer molding of an inorganic polymer binder was successfully demonstrated in the preparation of ceramic fiber reinforced engine exhaust valves. Unfortunately, in the preliminary processing trials, the resulting composite valves were too brittle for in-engine evaluation. To address this limited toughness, the effectiveness of a modified fiber-matrix interface is investigated through the use of carbon as a model material fiber coating. After sequential heat treatments composites molded from uncoated and carbon-coated fibers are compared using room temperature 3-point bend testing. Carbon-coated Nextel fiber reinforced geopolymer composites demonstrated a 50% improvement in strength, versus that of the uncoated fiber reinforced composites, after the 250 °C postcure.

Failure Resistance of Fiber-Reinforced Ultra-High Performance Concrete (FRUHPC) Subjected to Blast Loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ellis, Brett; Zhou, Min; McDowell, David

2011-06-01

As part of a hierarchy-based computational materials design program, a fully dynamic 3D mesoscale model is developed to quantify the effects of energy storage and dissipation mechanisms in Fiber-Reinforced Ultra-High Performance Concretes (FRUHPCs) subjected to blast loading. This model accounts for three constituent components: reinforcement fibers, cementitious matrix, and fiber-matrix interfaces. Microstructure instantiations encompass a range of fiber volume fraction (0-2%), fiber length (10-15 mm), and interfacial bonding strength (1-100 MPa). Blast loading with scaled distances between 5 and 10 m/kg1/3 are considered. Calculations have allowed the delineation and characterization of the evolutions of kinetic energy, strain energy, work expended on interfacial damage and failure, frictional dissipation along interfaces, and bulk dissipation through granular flow as functions of microstructure, loading and constituent attributes. The relations obtained point out avenues for designing FRUHPCs with properties tailored for specific load environments and reveal trade-offs between various design scenarios.

Study on structure and morphology (Boehmeria nivea) in the irregular and regular parts of the fiber after biodegumming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wulandari, A. P.; Septarini, D.; Zainuddin, A.

2017-05-01

Ramie is a natural fiber that is very potential to be developed in Indonesia. Decorticated-fiber which has been known as china grass produce different structures irregular part but shows a long straight section in the middle. This study aims to determine differences in chemical components, morphology and microstructure of two different parties after biodegumming process. China grass has been processed to remove gum using pectinolytic fungus. The microstructure of the treated was further tested by Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The FTIR study indicated that during the biodegumming process, chemical bonding of non-cellulose components most removed by the activity of pectinase from the fungus. XRD analysis reflects an increase in the crystallinity of the fiber after biodegumming. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to confirm a reduction in the size of the fiber after biodegumming either in the irregular and regular part of the fiber after biodegumming.

A universal route for the simultaneous extraction and functionalization of cellulose nanocrystals from industrial and agricultural celluloses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Guo-Yin; Yu, Hou-Yong; Zhang, Cai-Hong; Zhou, Ying; Yao, Ju-Ming

2016-02-01

A simple route was designed to extract the cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with formate groups from industrial and agricultural celluloses like microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), viscose fiber, ginger fiber, and bamboo fiber. The effect of reaction time on the microstructure and properties of the CNCs was investigated in detail, while microstructure and properties of different CNCs were compared. The rod-like CNCs (MCC) with hundreds of nanometers in length and about 10 nm in width, nanofibrillated CNCs (ginger fiber bamboo fiber) with average width of 30 nm and the length of 1 μm, and spherical CNCs (viscose fiber) with the width of 56 nm were obtained by one-step HCOOH/HCl hydrolysis. The CNCs with improved thermal stability showed the maximum degradation temperature ( T max) of 368.9-388.2 °C due to the introduction of formate groups (reducibility) and the increased crystallinity. Such CNCs may be used as an effective template for the synthesis of nanohybrids or reinforcing material for high-performance nanocomposites.

Fabrication and characterization of disordered polymer optical fibers for transverse Anderson localization of light.

PubMed

Karbasi, Salman; Frazier, Ryan J; Mirr, Craig R; Koch, Karl W; Mafi, Arash

2013-07-29

We develop and characterize a disordered polymer optical fiber that uses transverse Anderson localization as a novel waveguiding mechanism. The developed polymer optical fiber is composed of 80,000 strands of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) that are randomly mixed and drawn into a square cross section optical fiber with a side width of 250 μm. Initially, each strand is 200 μm in diameter and 8-inches long. During the mixing process of the original fiber strands, the fibers cross over each other; however, a large draw ratio guarantees that the refractive index profile is invariant along the length of the fiber for several tens of centimeters. The large refractive index difference of 0.1 between the disordered sites results in a small localized beam radius that is comparable to the beam radius of conventional optical fibers. The input light is launched from a standard single mode optical fiber using the butt-coupling method and the near-field output beam from the disordered fiber is imaged using a 40X objective and a CCD camera. The output beam diameter agrees well with the expected results from the numerical simulations. The disordered optical fiber presented in this work is the first device-level implementation of 2D Anderson localization, and can potentially be used for image transport and short-haul optical communication systems.

Fabrication and Characterization of Disordered Polymer Optical Fibers for Transverse Anderson Localization of Light

PubMed Central

Karbasi, Salman; Frazier, Ryan J.; Mirr, Craig R.; Koch, Karl W.; Mafi, Arash

2013-01-01

We develop and characterize a disordered polymer optical fiber that uses transverse Anderson localization as a novel waveguiding mechanism. The developed polymer optical fiber is composed of 80,000 strands of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) that are randomly mixed and drawn into a square cross section optical fiber with a side width of 250 μm. Initially, each strand is 200 μm in diameter and 8-inches long. During the mixing process of the original fiber strands, the fibers cross over each other; however, a large draw ratio guarantees that the refractive index profile is invariant along the length of the fiber for several tens of centimeters. The large refractive index difference of 0.1 between the disordered sites results in a small localized beam radius that is comparable to the beam radius of conventional optical fibers. The input light is launched from a standard single mode optical fiber using the butt-coupling method and the near-field output beam from the disordered fiber is imaged using a 40X objective and a CCD camera. The output beam diameter agrees well with the expected results from the numerical simulations. The disordered optical fiber presented in this work is the first device-level implementation of 2D Anderson localization, and can potentially be used for image transport and short-haul optical communication systems. PMID:23929276

Euromech 579 Arpino 3-8 April 2017: Generalized and microstructured continua: new ideas in modeling and/or applications to structures with (nearly)inextensible fibers—a review of presentations and discussions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laudato, Marco; Di Cosmo, Fabio

2018-04-01

In the present paper, a rational report on Euromech 579, Generalized and Microstructured Continua: New ideas in modeling and/or Applications to Structures with (nearly)inextensible fibers (Arpino 3-8 April 2017), is provided. The main aim of the colloquium was to provide a forum for experts in generalized and microstructured continua with inextensible fibers to exchange ideas and get informed about the latest research trends in the domain. The interested reader will find more details about the colloquium at the dedicated web page http://www.memocsevents.eu/euromech579.

Effect of thermal cycling on flexural properties of carbon-graphite fiber-reinforced polymers.

PubMed

Segerström, Susanna; Ruyter, I Eystein

2009-07-01

To determine flexural strength and modulus after water storage and thermal cycling of carbon-graphite fiber-reinforced (CGFR) polymers based on poly(methyl methacrylate) and a copolymer matrix, and to examine adhesion between fiber and matrix by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Solvent cleaned carbon-graphite (CG) braided tubes of fibers were treated with a sizing resin. The resin mixture of the matrix was reinforced with 24, 36, 47 and 58wt% (20, 29, 38 and 47vol.%) CG-fibers. After heat polymerization the specimens were kept for 90 days in water and thereafter hydrothermally cycled (12,000 cycles, 5/55 degrees C). Mechanical properties were evaluated by three-point bend testing. After thermal cycling, the adhesion between fibers and matrix was evaluated by SEM. Hydrothermal cycling did not decrease flexural strength of the CGFR polymers with 24 and 36wt% fiber loadings; flexural strength values after thermocycling were 244.8 (+/-32.33)MPa for 24wt% and 441.3 (+/-68.96)MPa for 36wt%. Flexural strength values after thermal cycling were not further increased after increasing the fiber load to 47 (459.2 (+/-45.32)MPa) and 58wt% (310.4 (+/-52.79)MPa). SEM revealed good adhesion between fibers and matrix for all fiber loadings examined. The combination of the fiber treatment and resin matrix described resulted in good adhesion between CG-fibers and matrix. The flexural values for fiber loadings up to 36wt% appear promising for prosthodontic applications such as implant-retained prostheses.

Nondestructive evaluation of composite materials by electrical resistance measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mei, Zhen

This dissertation investigates electrical resistance measurement for nondestructive evaluation of carbon fiber (CF) reinforced polymer matrix composites. The method involves measuring the DC electrical resistance in either the longitudinal or through thickness direction. The thermal history and thermal properties of thermoplastic/CF composites were studied by longitudinal and through-thickness resistance measurements. The resistance results were consistent with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermomechanical analysis (TMA) results. The resistance measurements gave more information on the melting of the polymer matrix than TMA. They were more sensitive to the glass transition of the polymer matrix than DSC. The through-thickness resistance decreased as autohesion progressed. The activation energy of autohesion was 21.2 kJ/mol for both nylon-6 and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)/CF composites. Adhesive bonding and debonding were monitored in real-time by measurement of the through-thickness resistance between the adherends in an adhesive joint during heating and subsequent cooling. Debonding occurred during cooling when the pressure or temperature during prior bonding was not sufficiently high. A long heating time below the melting temperature (T m) was found to be detrimental to subsequent PPS adhesive joint development above Tm, due to curing reactions below Tm and consequent reduced mass flow response above Tm. A high heating rate (small heating time) enhanced the bonding more than a high pressure. The longitudinal resistance measurement was used to investigate the effects of temperature and stress on the interface between a concrete substrate and its epoxy/CF composite retrofit. The resistance of the retrofit was increased by bond degradation, whether the degradation was due to heat or stress. The degradation was reversible. Irreversible disturbance in the fiber arrangement occurred slightly as thermal or load cycling occurred, as indicated by the resistance decreasing cycle by cycle. This dissertation also addresses the use of the electrical resistance method to observe thermal and mechanical damage in real time. A temperature increase caused the interlaminar contact resistance to decrease reversibly within each thermal cycle, while thermal damage caused the resistance to decrease abruptly and irreversibly, due to matrix molecular movement and the consequent increase in the chance of fibers of one lamina touching those of an adjacent lamina. The through-thickness volume resistivity irreversibly and gradually decreased upon mechanical damage, which was probably fiber-matrix debonding. Moreover, it reversibly and abruptly increased upon matrix micro-structural change, which occurred reversibly near the peak stress of a stress cycle.

Influence of convection on microstructure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilcox, William R.; Regel, Liya L.

1992-01-01

The primary motivation for this research has been to determine the cause for space processing altering the microstructure of some eutectics, especially the MnBi-Bi eutectic. Prior experimental research at Grumman and here showed that the microstructure of MnBi-Bi eutectic is twice as fine when solidified in space or in a magnetic field, is uninfluenced by interfacial temperature gradient, adjusts very quickly to changes in freezing rate, and becomes coarser when spin-up/spin-down (accelerated crucible rotation technique) is used during solidification. Theoretical work at Clarkson predicted that buoyancy driven convection on earth could not account for the two fold change in fiber spacing caused by solidification in space. However, a lamellar structure with a planar interface was assumed, and the Soret effect was not included in the analysis. Experimental work at Clarkson showed that the interface is not planar, and that MnBi fibers project out in front of the Bi matrix on the order of one fiber diameter. Originally four primary hypotheses were to be tested under this current grant: (1) a fibrous microstructure is much more sensitive to convection than a lamellar microstructure, which was assumed in our prior theoretical treatment; (2) an interface with one phase projecting out into the melt is much more sensitive to convection than a planar interface, which was assumed in our prior theoretical treatment; (3) the Soret effect is much more important in the absence of convection and has a sufficiently large influence on microstructure that its action can explain the flight results; and (4) the microstructure is much more sensitive to convection when the composition of the bulk melt is off eutectic. As reported previously, we have learned that while a fibrous microstructure and a non-planar interface are more sensitive to convection than a lamellar microstructure with a planar interface, the influence of convection remains too small to explain the flight and magnetic field results. Similarly addition of the Soret effect does not explain the flight and magnetic field results.

Surface characterization of LDEF carbon fiber/polymer matrix composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grammer, Holly L.; Wightman, James P.; Young, Philip R.; Slemp, Wayne S.

1995-01-01

XPS (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and SEM (scanning electron microscopy) analysis of both carbon fiber/epoxy matrix and carbon fiber/polysulfone matrix composites revealed significant changes in the surface composition as a result of exposure to low-earth orbit. The carbon 1s curve fit XPS analysis in conjunction with the SEM photomicrographs revealed significant erosion of the polymer matrix resins by atomic oxygen to expose the carbon fibers of the composite samples. This erosion effect on the composites was seen after 10 months in orbit and was even more obvious after 69 months.

LARC powder prepreg system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baucom, Robert M.; Marchello, Joseph M.

1990-01-01

Thermoplastic prepregs of LARC-TPI have been produced in a fluidized bed unit on spread continuous fiber tows. The powders are melted on the fibers by radiant heating to adhere the polymer to the fiber. This process produces tow prepreg uniformly without imposing severe stress on the fibers or requiring long high temperature residence times for the polymer. Unit design theory and operating correlations have been developed to provide the basis for scale up to commercial operation. Special features of the operation are the pneumatic tow spreader, fluidized bed and resin feed systems.

U-Shaped and Surface Functionalized Polymer Optical Fiber Probe for Glucose Detection.

PubMed

Azkune, Mikel; Ruiz-Rubio, Leire; Aldabaldetreku, Gotzon; Arrospide, Eneko; Pérez-Álvarez, Leyre; Bikandi, Iñaki; Zubia, Joseba; Vilas-Vilela, Jose Luis

2017-12-25

In this work we show an optical fiber evanescent wave absorption probe for glucose detection in different physiological media. High selectivity is achieved by functionalizing the surface of an only-core poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer optical fiber with phenilboronic groups, and enhanced sensitivity by using a U-shaped geometry. Employing a supercontinuum light source and a high-resolution spectrometer, absorption measurements are performed in the broadband visible light spectrum. Experimental results suggest the feasibility of such a fiber probe as a low-cost and selective glucose detector.

Active polymer materials for optical fiber CO2 sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wysokiński, Karol; Filipowicz, Marta; Stańczyk, Tomasz; Lipiński, Stanisław; Napierała, Marek; Murawski, Michał; Nasiłowski, Tomasz

2017-04-01

CO2 optical fiber sensors based on polymer active materials are presented in this paper. Ethyl cellulose was proven to be a good candidate for a matrix material of the sensor, since it gives porous, thick and very sensitive layers. Low-cost sensors based on polymer optical fibers have been elaborated. Sensors have been examined for their sensitivity to CO2, temperature and humidity. Response time during cyclic exposures to CO2 have been also determined. Special layers exhibiting irreversible change of color during exposure to carbon dioxide have been developed. They have been verified for a possible use in smart food packaging.

Polymer optical fiber sensors in human life safety

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marques, C. A. F.; Webb, D. J.; Andre, P.

2017-07-01

The current state of research into polymer optical fiber (POF) sensors linked to safety in human life is summarized in this paper. This topic is directly related with new solutions for civil aircraft, structural health monitoring, healthcare and biomedicine fields. In the last years, the properties of polymers have been explored to identify situations offering potential advantages over conventional silica fiber sensing technology, replacing, in some cases, problematic electronic technology used in these mentioned fields, where there are some issues to overcome. POFs could preferably replace their silica counterparts, with improved performance and biocompatibility. Finally, new developments are reported which use the unique properties of POF.

Visible Light Responsive Liquid Crystal Polymers Containing Reactive Moieties with Good Processability.

PubMed

Liu, Yuyun; Wu, Wei; Wei, Jia; Yu, Yanlei

2017-01-11

Two types of novel reactive linear liquid crystal polymers (LLCPs) with different azotolene concentrations have been synthesized and processed into films and fibers by solution and melting processing methods. Then, the LLCPs in the obtained monodomain fiber and polydomain film were easily cross-linked with difunctional primary amines. The resulted cross-linked liquid crystal polymers (CLCPs) underwent reversible photoinduced bending and unbending behaviors in response to 445 and 530 nm visible light at room temperature, respectively. The post-cross-linking method provides a facile way to prepare the CLCP films and fibers with different shapes from LLCPs, which can be processed by traditional melting and solution methods.

Tellurite microstructure fibers with small hexagonal core for supercontinuum generation.

PubMed

Liao, Meisong; Chaudhari, Chitrarekha; Qin, Guanshi; Yan, Xin; Suzuki, Takenobu; Ohishi, Yasutake

2009-07-06

Tellurite glass microstructure fibers with a 1 microm hexagonal core were fabricated successfully by accurately controlling the temperature field in the fiber-drawing process. The diameter ratio of holey region to core (DRHC) for the fiber can be adjusted freely in the range of 1-20 by pumping a positive pressure into the holes when drawing fiber, which provides much freedom in engineering the chromatic dispersion. With the increase of DRHC from 3.5 to 20, the zero dispersion wavelengths were shifted several hundred nanometers, the cutoff wavelength due to confinement loss was increased from 1600 nm to 3800 nm, and the nonlinear coefficient gamma was increased from 3.9 to 5.7 W(-1)/m. Efficient visible emissions due to third harmonic generation were found for fibers with a DRHC of 10 and 20 under the 1557 nm pump of a femtosecond fiber laser. One octave flattened supercontinuum spectrum was generated from fibers with a DRHC of 3.5, 10 and 20 by the 1064 nm pump of a picosecond fiber laser. To the best of our knowledge, we have for the first time fabricated a hexagonal core fiber by soft glass with such a small core size, and have demonstrated a large influence of the holey region on the dispersion, nonlinear coefficient and supercontinuum generation for such fiber.

Silicon-containing polymer-derived ceramic nanocomposites (PDC-NCs): preparative approaches and properties.

PubMed

Ionescu, Emanuel; Kleebe, Hans-Joachim; Riedel, Ralf

2012-08-07

Composites consist by definition of at least two materials (Gibbsian phases) with rather different properties. They exhibit a heterogeneous microstructure and possess improved properties with respect to their components. Furthermore, the design of their microstructure allows for tailoring their overall properties. In the last decades, intense work was performed on the synthesis of nanocomposites, which have the feature that at least one of their components is nanoscaled. However, the microstructure-property relationship of nanocomposite materials is still a challenging topic. This tutorial review paper deals with a special class of nanocomposites, i.e. polymer-derived ceramic nanocomposites (PDC-NCs), which have been shown to be promising materials for various structural and functional applications. Within this context, different preparative approaches for PDC-NCs as well as some of their properties will be presented and discussed. Furthermore, recent results concerning the relationship between the nano/microstructure of PDC-NCs and their properties will be highlighted.

Swollen poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) as a template for inorganic morphologies.

PubMed

Brennan, Daniel P; Dobley, Arthur; Sideris, Paul J; Oliver, Scott R J

2005-12-06

We report a series of silica, titania, and zirconia microstructures synthesized within swollen poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). Voids created by solvent-swelling the polymer are used to template the product. The inorganic morphologies range from spheres to networks, depending upon the nature of the polymer, its degree of swelling, and the synthetic conditions. Organic solvents as well as pure metal alkoxide liquids have been used to swell the polymer. Once the alkoxide precursor is inside the swollen polymer, water is introduced to bring about hydrolysis and condensation polymerization. The product is a textured metal oxide within a PDMS matrix. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) were used to characterize the products. Microstructures formed in this manner have potential use as an inexpensive route to catalysts, fillers, capsules, or membranes for separations.

Predicting Silk Fiber Mechanical Properties through Multiscale Simulation and Protein Design.

PubMed

Rim, Nae-Gyune; Roberts, Erin G; Ebrahimi, Davoud; Dinjaski, Nina; Jacobsen, Matthew M; Martín-Moldes, Zaira; Buehler, Markus J; Kaplan, David L; Wong, Joyce Y

2017-08-14

Silk is a promising material for biomedical applications, and much research is focused on how application-specific, mechanical properties of silk can be designed synthetically through proper amino acid sequences and processing parameters. This protocol describes an iterative process between research disciplines that combines simulation, genetic synthesis, and fiber analysis to better design silk fibers with specific mechanical properties. Computational methods are used to assess the protein polymer structure as it forms an interconnected fiber network through shearing and how this process affects fiber mechanical properties. Model outcomes are validated experimentally with the genetic design of protein polymers that match the simulation structures, fiber fabrication from these polymers, and mechanical testing of these fibers. Through iterative feedback between computation, genetic synthesis, and fiber mechanical testing, this protocol will enable a priori prediction capability of recombinant material mechanical properties via insights from the resulting molecular architecture of the fiber network based entirely on the initial protein monomer composition. This style of protocol may be applied to other fields where a research team seeks to design a biomaterial with biomedical application-specific properties. This protocol highlights when and how the three research groups (simulation, synthesis, and engineering) should be interacting to arrive at the most effective method for predictive design of their material.

Thermoplastic coating of carbon fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edie, D. D.; Lickfield, G. C.; Allen, L. E.; Mccollum, J. R.

1989-01-01

A continuous powder coating system was developed for coating carbon fiber with LaRC-TPI (Langley Research Center-Thermoplastic Polyimide), a high-temperature thermoplastic polymide invented by NASA-Langley. The coating line developed used a pneumatic fiber spreader to separate the individual fibers. The polymer was applied within a recirculating powder coating chamber then melted using a combination of direct electrical resistance and convective heating to make it adhere to the fiber tow. The tension and speed of the line were controlled with a dancer arm and an electrically driven fiber wind-up and wind-off. The effects of heating during the coating process on the flexibility of the prepreg produced were investigated. The uniformity with which the fiber tow could be coated with polymer also was examined. Composite specimens were fabricated from the prepreg and tested to determine optimum process conditions. The study showed that a very uniform and flexible prepeg with up to 50 percent by volume polymer could be produced with this powder coating system. The coating line minimized powder loss and produced prepeg in lengths of up to 300 m. The fiber spreading was found to have a major effect on the coating uniformity and flexibility. Though test results showed low composite tensile strengths, analysis of fracture surfaces under scanning electron microscope indicated that fiber/matrix adhesion was adequate.

Process and Microstructure to Achieve Ultra-high Dielectric Constant in Ceramic-Polymer Composites.

PubMed

Zhang, Lin; Shan, Xiaobing; Bass, Patrick; Tong, Yang; Rolin, Terry D; Hill, Curtis W; Brewer, Jeffrey C; Tucker, Dennis S; Cheng, Z-Y

2016-10-21

Influences of process conditions on microstructure and dielectric properties of ceramic-polymer composites are systematically studied using CaCu 3 Ti 4 O 12 (CCTO) as filler and P(VDF-TrFE) 55/45 mol.% copolymer as the matrix by combining solution-cast and hot-pressing processes. It is found that the dielectric constant of the composites can be significantly enhanced-up to about 10 times - by using proper processing conditions. The dielectric constant of the composites can reach more than 1,000 over a wide temperature range with a low loss (tan δ ~ 10 -1 ). It is concluded that besides the dense structure of composites, the uniform distribution of the CCTO particles in the matrix plays a key role on the dielectric enhancement. Due to the influence of the CCTO on the microstructure of the polymer matrix, the composites exhibit a weaker temperature dependence of the dielectric constant than the polymer matrix. Based on the results, it is also found that the loss of the composites at low temperatures, including room temperature, is determined by the real dielectric relaxation processes including the relaxation process induced by the mixing.

Process and Microstructure to Achieve Ultra-high Dielectric Constant in Ceramic-Polymer Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lin; Shan, Xiaobing; Bass, Patrick; Tong, Yang; Rolin, Terry D.; Hill, Curtis W.; Brewer, Jeffrey C.; Tucker, Dennis S.; Cheng, Z.-Y.

2016-10-01

Influences of process conditions on microstructure and dielectric properties of ceramic-polymer composites are systematically studied using CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) as filler and P(VDF-TrFE) 55/45 mol.% copolymer as the matrix by combining solution-cast and hot-pressing processes. It is found that the dielectric constant of the composites can be significantly enhanced-up to about 10 times - by using proper processing conditions. The dielectric constant of the composites can reach more than 1,000 over a wide temperature range with a low loss (tan δ ~ 10-1). It is concluded that besides the dense structure of composites, the uniform distribution of the CCTO particles in the matrix plays a key role on the dielectric enhancement. Due to the influence of the CCTO on the microstructure of the polymer matrix, the composites exhibit a weaker temperature dependence of the dielectric constant than the polymer matrix. Based on the results, it is also found that the loss of the composites at low temperatures, including room temperature, is determined by the real dielectric relaxation processes including the relaxation process induced by the mixing.

Process and Microstructure to Achieve Ultra-high Dielectric Constant in Ceramic-Polymer Composites

PubMed Central

Zhang, Lin; Shan, Xiaobing; Bass, Patrick; Tong, Yang; Rolin, Terry D.; Hill, Curtis W.; Brewer, Jeffrey C.; Tucker, Dennis S.; Cheng, Z.-Y.

2016-01-01

Influences of process conditions on microstructure and dielectric properties of ceramic-polymer composites are systematically studied using CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) as filler and P(VDF-TrFE) 55/45 mol.% copolymer as the matrix by combining solution-cast and hot-pressing processes. It is found that the dielectric constant of the composites can be significantly enhanced–up to about 10 times – by using proper processing conditions. The dielectric constant of the composites can reach more than 1,000 over a wide temperature range with a low loss (tan δ ~ 10−1). It is concluded that besides the dense structure of composites, the uniform distribution of the CCTO particles in the matrix plays a key role on the dielectric enhancement. Due to the influence of the CCTO on the microstructure of the polymer matrix, the composites exhibit a weaker temperature dependence of the dielectric constant than the polymer matrix. Based on the results, it is also found that the loss of the composites at low temperatures, including room temperature, is determined by the real dielectric relaxation processes including the relaxation process induced by the mixing. PMID:27767184

Development and evaluation of an adhesively bonded panel-to-panel joint for a fiber-reinforced polymer bridge deck system.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-01-01

A fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite cellular deck system was used to rehabilitate a historical cast iron thru-truss structure (Hawthorne Street Bridge in Covington, Virginia). The most important characteristic of this application is reduction ...

Performance of a bridge deck with glass fiber reinforced polymer bars as the top mat of reinforcement.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2005-01-01

The purpose of this research was to investigate the performance of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars as reinforcement for concrete decks. Today's rapid bridge deck deterioration is calling for a replacement for steel reinforcement. The advan...

Environmental durability of reinforced concrete deck girders strengthened for shear with surface-bonded carbon fiber-reinforced polymer : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-05-01

This research investigated the durability of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRP) used for shear strengthening reinforced concrete deck girders. Large beams were used to avoid accounting for size effects in the data analysis. The effort ...

Environmental durability of reinforced concrete deck girders strengthened for shear with surface bonded carbon fiber-reinforced polymer : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-05-01

This research investigated the durability of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRP) used for shear strengthening reinforced : concrete deck girders. Large beams were used to avoid accounting for size effects in the data analysis. The effor...

Computer Simulation of Spatial Arrangement and Connectivity of Particles in Three-Dimensional Microstructure: Application to Model Electrical Conductivity of Polymer Matrix Composite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Louis, P.; Gokhale, A. M.

1996-01-01

Computer simulation is a powerful tool for analyzing the geometry of three-dimensional microstructure. A computer simulation model is developed to represent the three-dimensional microstructure of a two-phase particulate composite where particles may be in contact with one another but do not overlap significantly. The model is used to quantify the "connectedness" of the particulate phase of a polymer matrix composite containing hollow carbon particles in a dielectric polymer resin matrix. The simulations are utilized to estimate the morphological percolation volume fraction for electrical conduction, and the effective volume fraction of the particles that actually take part in the electrical conduction. The calculated values of the effective volume fraction are used as an input for a self-consistent physical model for electrical conductivity. The predicted values of electrical conductivity are in very good agreement with the corresponding experimental data on a series of specimens having different particulate volume fraction.

Effect of high temperature annealing on the microstructure of SCS-6 SiC fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ning, X. J.; Pirouz, P.; Bhatt, R. T.

1992-01-01

The effect of annealing the SCS-6 SiC fiber for one hour at 2000 C in an argon atmosphere is reported. The SiC grains in the fiber coarsen appreciably and the intergranular carbon films segregate to the grain junctions. It would appear that grain growth in the outer part of the fiber is primarily responsible for the loss in fiber strength and improvement in fiber creep resistance.

A Polymer Optical Fiber Fuel Level Sensor: Application to Paramotoring and Powered Paragliding

PubMed Central

Montero, David Sánchez; Lallana, Pedro Contreras; Vázquez, Carmen

2012-01-01

A low-cost intensity-based polymer optical fiber (POF) sensor for fuel level measurements in paramotoring and powered paragliding is presented, exploiting the advantages of the optical fiber sensing technology. Experimental results demonstrate that the best option can be performed by stripping the fiber at the desired discrete points to measure the fuel level as well as with a gauge-shape fiber bending. The prototype has a good linearity, better than 4% full scale (F.S.), and sensitivity around 0.5 V per bend are obtained. Hysteresis due to residual fluid at the sensing points is found to be less than 9% F.S. PMID:22778637

Joint Strength Control at the Fiber/Matrix Interface during the Production of Polymer Composite Materials Reinforced with High Performance Fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kudinov, Vladimir V.; Korneeva, Natalia V.

2010-06-01

The paper presents the results obtained in the study of the joint strength between polymer matrix and high performance polyethylene fiber. The fiber/matrix joints simulate the unit cell of the fiber-reinforced composite materials. Effect of heat treatment on the composite properties at the interface was estimated by a multifilament wet-pull-out method. It was found that the joint strength may be increased with the help of extra heart treatment. Both the energy to peak load and the energy to failure for CM joints at various stages of loading were determined.

Experimental and numerical characterization of scalable cellulose nano-fiber composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barari, Bamdad

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites have been used in recent years as an alternative to the conventional materials because of their low weight, high mechanical properties and low processing temperatures. Most polymer composites are traditionally made using reinforcing fibers such as carbon or glass fibers. However, there has been recent interest in making these reinforcing fibers from natural resources. The plant-derived cellulose nano-fibers (CNF) are a material with remarkable mechanical properties at the nano-scale that are much superior to the mechanical properties of the traditional natural fibers (such as jute, hemp, kenaf, etc) used in the natural-fiber based polymer composites. Because CNF is bio-based and biodegradable, it is an attractive 'green' alternative for use in automotive, aerospace, and other engineering applications. However, efforts to produce CNF based nano-composites, with successful scaling-up of the remarkable nanoscale properties of CNF, have not met with much success and form an active area of research. The main goals of this research are to characterize the scalable CNF based nano composites using experimental methods and to develop effective models for flow of polymeric resin in the CNF-based porous media used during the proposed manufacture of CNF nano-composites. In the CNF composite characterization section, scalable isotropic and anisotropic CNF composites were made from a porous CNF preforms created using a freeze drying process. Formation of the fibers during freeze-drying process can change the micro skeleton of the final preform structure as non-aligned or isotropic and aligned or anisotropic CNF. Liquid Composite Molding (LCM) processes form a set of liquid molding technologies that are used quite commonly for making the conventional polymer composites. An improvised vacuum-driven LCM process was used to make the CNF-based nanocomposites from CNF preforms using a 'green' epoxy resin with high bio-content. Under the topic of isotropic CNF, formation of the freeze-dried CNF preforms' porous network strongly affects the mechanical, microstructural and tribological properties of the composite, therefore experimental testing was performed to characterize the effects of pore structure on global properties of isotropic CNF composites. Level of curing was investigated by experimental methods such as DSC in order to analyze its effects on the mechanical properties. The causes of failure in the composites were discussed by analyzing the SEM micrographs of fractured surfaces. The investigations revealed that the silane treated samples show superior mechanical behavior and higher storage modulus compared to the untreated (no silane) samples. The DMA and DSC results indicated a reduction in the glass transition temperature for the CNF composites compared to the pure resin samples. The tensile results showed higher elastic moduli in composites made from silane treated CNF preforms compared to those made from non silane-treated preforms. The tribological behavior of the silylated CNFs composites showed lower coefficient of friction and wear volumes than the neat bio-epoxy due to the formation of a transfer film on the mating surfaces, which led to a decrease in the 'direct contact' of the composite with the asperities of the hard metallic counterface. Under the topic of anisotropic CNF nanocomposites, a recently-discovered new type of CNF preform with more-aligned pore structure was used in our improvised LCM process to make the CNF-based anisotropic nanocomposite. The effect of such aligned pore structure on the mechanical and microstructural properties of CNF-based nanocomposites was investigated. As before, we used the tensile test, DMA and SEM to characterize this new material. Our investigation revealed that anisotropic CNF preform improved the overall mechanical properties of CNF composites due to better interfacing between the CNF and resin inside aligned pore structure of anisotropic CNF. Also, DMA results showed an improvement in the glass transition temperature of the anisotropic samples compared to the isotropic ones. For flow modeling in the CNF-based porous medium, the closure formulation, developed as a part of the derivation of Darcy's law developed by Whitaker [1], was used to develop novel numerical and experimental methods for estimating the permeability and absorption characteristics of a porous medium with a given pore-level microstructure. The permeability of such a porous medium was estimated numerically while the absorption characteristics were analyzed through experiments. In order to use real micrograph in permeability simulations, 2D SEM pictures of the CNF-based porous media were considered. The falling head permeameter was used for measuring the experimental permeability in order to test the accuracy of the permeability tensor obtained by the proposed numerical simulation. The permeability values were also compared with the theoretical models of Kozeny-Carman. A good agreement between the numerical, experimental and analytical methods demonstrated the accuracy of the closure formulation and the resulting simulation. These results also present the closure formulation based method as a viable method to estimate the permeability of porous media using 2D SEM micrographs; such a method harnesses the micro-macro coupling and is marked with absence of any constitutive-relation based assumption for such upscaling. Such a method is also faster, less expensive and less problematic than the corresponding 3D micro-CT scan based method because of much smaller degrees-of-freedom, memory and storage requirements. Under the absorption characteristics study, absorption characteristics of paper-like CNF porous medium was modeled using theoretical derivation of governing equation for single-phase flow and swelling behavior and absorption coefficient were investigated through experiments. In derivation part, unique form of mass conservation was developed using volume averaging theorem in the swelling, liquid-absorbing CNF-based preform. The case of the absorption coefficient, b being unity, which corresponds to the liquid absorption rate into fibers being equal to the fiber expansion rate, results in the classical form of the continuity equation that is originally derived for a rigid, non-deforming porous medium. The value of b was determined using a novel dipping experiment conducted with the help of a microbalance and was found to be unity for flow models in swelling porous media made of the CNF.

Effect of the Microstructure on the Fracture Mode of Short-Fiber Reinforced Plastic Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishikawa, Masaaki; Okabe, Tomonaga; Takeda, Nobuo

A numerical simulation was presented to discuss the microscopic damage and its influence on the strength and energy-absorbing capability of short-fiber reinforced plastic composites. The dominant damage includes matrix crack and/or interfacial debonding, when the fibers are shorter than the critical length for fiber breakage. The simulation addressed the matrix crack with a continuum damage mechanics (CDM) model and the interfacial debonding with an embedded process zone (EPZ) model. Fictitious free-edge effects on the fracture modes were successfully eliminated with the periodic-cell simulation. The advantage of our simulation was pointed out by demonstrating that the simulation with edge effects significantly overestimates the dissipative energy of the composites. We then investigated the effect of the material microstructure on the fracture modes in the composites. The simulated results clarified that the inter-fiber distance affects the breaking strain of the composites and the fiber-orientation angle affects the position of the damage initiation. These factors influence the strength and energy-absorbing capability of short fiber-reinforced composites.

Porous fiber formation in polymer-solvent system undergoing solvent evaporation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dayal, Pratyush; Kyu, Thein

2006-08-01

Temporal evolution of the fiber morphology during dry spinning has been investigated in the framework of Cahn-Hilliard equation [J. Chem. Phys. 28, 258 (1958)] pertaining to the concentration order parameter or volume fraction given by the Flory-Huggins free energy of mixing [P. J. Flory, Principles of Polymer Chemistry (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1953), p. 672] in conjunction with the solvent evaporation rate. To guide the solvent evaporation induced phase separation, equilibrium phase diagram of the starting polymer solution was established on the basis of the Flory-Huggins free energy of mixing. The quasi-steady-state approximation has been adopted to account for the nonconserved nature of the concentration field caused by the solvent loss. The process of solvent evaporation across the fiber skin-air interface was treated in accordance with the classical Fick's law [R. B. Bird et al., Transport Phenomena (J. Wiley, New York, 1960), p. 780]. The simulated morphologies include gradient type, hollow fiber type, bicontinuous type, and host-guest type. The development of these diverse fiber morphologies is explicable in terms of the phase diagram of the polymer solution in a manner dependent on the competition between the phase separation dynamics and rate of solvent evaporation.

Biodegradable-Polymer-Blend-Based Surgical Sealant with Body-Temperature-Mediated Adhesion.

PubMed

Behrens, Adam M; Lee, Nora G; Casey, Brendan J; Srinivasan, Priya; Sikorski, Michael J; Daristotle, John L; Sandler, Anthony D; Kofinas, Peter

2015-12-22

The development of practical and efficient surgical sealants has the propensity to improve operational outcomes. A biodegradable polymer blend is fabricated as a nonwoven fiber mat in situ. After direct deposition onto the tissue of interest, the material transitions from a fiber mat to a film. This transition promotes polymer-substrate interfacial interactions leading to improved adhesion and surgical sealant performance. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Enzyme activity assays within microstructured optical fibers enabled by automated alignment.

PubMed

Warren-Smith, Stephen C; Nie, Guiying; Schartner, Erik P; Salamonsen, Lois A; Monro, Tanya M

2012-12-01

A fluorescence-based enzyme activity assay has been demonstrated within a small-core microstructured optical fiber (MOF) for the first time. To achieve this, a reflection-based automated alignment system has been developed, which uses feedback and piezoelectric actuators to maintain optical alignment. The auto-alignment system provides optical stability for the time required to perform an activity assay. The chosen assay is based on the enzyme proprotein convertase 5/6 (PC6) and has important applications in women's health.

A Directionally Solidified Iron-chromium-aluminum-tantalum Carbide Eutectic Alloy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harf, F. H.

1977-01-01

A eutectic alloy, Fe-13.6CR-3.7Al+9TaC, was directionally solidified in a high gradient furnace, producing a microstructure of alined TaC fibers in an oxidation resistant alpha-iron matrix. Tensile and stress rupture properties, thermal cycling resistance, and microstructures were evaluated. The alloy displays at 1000 C an ultimate tensile strength of 58 MPa and a 100-hour rupture life at a stress of 21 MPa. Thermal cycling to 1100 C induces faceting in the TaC fibers.

State-of-the-Art Technologies for Construction in Space: a Review.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-09-01

reinforcing fiber or fiber mat. Investigations of bonding, thermal stress, forming tech- niques, specific strengths, specific moduli, and microfracture...diameter and about 15 ft long. The graphite fibers follow the length of the tube and the polymer compound used as the matrix is applied over the graphite...combination of Sthese approaches to obtain the best simulation of the low-Earth orbit environment. Most materials tested to date are polymers such as

Findings of the U.S. Department of Defense Technology Assessment Team on Japanese High-Temperature Composites February 1989 Visit

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-06-01

I-4 1. Polymer Matrix Composites ................................................... r -4 2. Continuous-Fiber-Reinforced MMCs...Manufacturing CASTEM Casting Analysis System (KOBELCO) C-C Carbon-Carbon ( Composite ) CERASEP SiC - SiC CMC Made by SEP CF Carbon Fiber CFRP Carbon-Fiber...curing operations are done in clean rooms). Most operations are highly automated, with minimal manpower required. Some preceramic polymers appear to have

The Axial Compressive Strength of High Performance Polymer Fibers

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-03-01

consists of axially oriented graphitic microfibrils that have the strong and stiff graphite crystal basal plane oriented parallel to the long axis of the... microfibrils [3,4]. The synthetic rigid polymer fibers are represented by only one commercial material: the PPTA fibers produced by E.I. DuPont de...and/or microfibrils is presented. A potential energy balance analysis is used to calculate critical stresses for the onset of compressive buckling

Reducing the Surface Performance Requirements of a Primary Mirror by Adding a Deformable Mirror in its Optical Path

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-01

carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) mirrors been proposed for use in future imaging satellites. Compared to traditional glass -based mirrors, CFRP...SUBJECT TERMS carbon fiber reinforced polymer mirror, adaptive optics, deformable mirror, surface figure error 15. NUMBER OF PAGES 79 16. PRICE CODE...Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering iv THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK v ABSTRACT In recent years, carbon fiber reinforced

An optimized microstructure to minimizing in-plane and through-plane pressure drops of fibrous materials: Counter-intuitive reduction of gas diffusion layer permeability with porosity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadeghifar, Hamidreza

2018-05-01

The present study experimentally investigates the realistic functionality of in-plane and through-plane pressure drops of layered fibrous media with porosity, fiber diameter, fiber spacing, fiber-fiber angles and fiber-flow angles. The study also reveals that pressure drop may increase with porosity and fiber diameter under specific circumstances. This counter-intuitive point narrows down the validity range of widely-used permeability-porosity-diameter models or correlations. It is found that, for fibrous materials, the most important parameter that impacts the in-plane pressure drop is not their porosities but the number of fibers extended in the flow direction. It is also concluded that in-plane pressure drop is highly dependent upon the flow direction (fiber-flow angles), especially at lower porosities. Contrary to in-plane pressure drop, through-plane pressure drop is a weak function of fiber-fiber angles but is strongly impacted by fiber spacing, especially at lower porosities. At a given porosity, low through-plane pressure drops occur if fiber spacing does not change practically from one layer to another. Through-plane pressure drop also, insignificantly, increases with the intersecting angles between fibers. An optimized microstructure of fibrous media resulting in minimal in-plane and through-plane pressure drops is also offered for the first time in this work.

Dietary fiber type reflects physiological functionality: comparison of grain fiber, inulin, and polydextrose.

PubMed

Raninen, Kaisa; Lappi, Jenni; Mykkänen, Hannu; Poutanen, Kaisa

2011-01-01

Dietary fiber is a nutritional concept based not on physiological functions but on defined chemical and physical properties. Recent definitions of dietary fiber differentiate inherent plant cell wall-associated fiber from isolated or synthetic fiber. For the latter to be defined as fiber, beneficial physiological effects should be demonstrated, such as laxative effects, fermentability, attenuation of blood cholesterol levels, or postprandial glucose response. Grain fibers are a major natural source of dietary fiber worldwide, while inulin, a soluble indigestible fructose polymer isolated from chicory, and polydextrose, a synthetic indigestible glucose polymer, have more simple structures. Inulin and polydextrose show many of the same functionalities of grain fiber in the large intestine, in that they are fermentable, bifidogenic, and laxative. The reported effects on postprandial blood glucose and fasting cholesterol levels have been modest, but grain fibers also show variable effects. New biomarkers are needed to link the physiological functions of specific fibers with long-term health benefits. © 2011 International Life Sciences Institute.

Fiber Bragg grating inscription in optical multicore fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becker, Martin; Elsmann, Tino; Lorenz, Adrian; Spittel, Ron; Kobelke, Jens; Schuster, Kay; Rothhardt, Manfred; Latka, Ines; Dochow, Sebastian; Bartelt, Hartmut

2015-09-01

Fiber Bragg gratings as key components in telecommunication, fiber lasers, and sensing systems usually rely on the Bragg condition for single mode fibers. In special applications, such as in biophotonics and astrophysics, high light coupling efficiency is of great importance and therefore, multimode fibers are often preferred. The wavelength filtering effect of Bragg gratings in multimode fibers, however is spectrally blurred over a wide modal spectrum of the fiber. With a well-designed all solid multicore microstructured fiber a good light guiding efficiency in combination with narrow spectral filtering effect by Bragg gratings becomes possible.

SiCO-doped carbon fibers with unique dual superhydrophilicity/superoleophilicity and ductile and capacitance properties.

PubMed

Lu, Ping; Huang, Qing; Mukherjee, Amiya; Hsieh, You-Lo

2010-12-01

Silicon oxycarbide (SiCO) glass-doped carbon fibers with an average diameter of 163 nm were successfully synthesized by electrospinning polymer mixtures of preceramic precursor polyureasilazane (PUS) and carbon precursor polyacrylonitrile (PAN) into fibers then converting to ceramic/carbon hybrid via cross-linking, stabilization, and pyrolysis at temperatures up to 1000 °C. The transformation of PUS/PAN polymer precursors to SiCO/carbon structures was confirmed by EDS and FTIR. Both carbon and SiCO/carbon fibers were amorphous and slightly oxidized. Doping with SiCO enhanced the thermal stability of carbon fibers and acquired new ductile behavior in the SiCO/carbon fibers with significantly improved flexibility and breaking elongation. Furthermore, the SiCO/carbon fibers exhibited dual superhydrophilicity and superoleophilicity with water and decane absorbing capacities of 873 and 608%, respectively. The cyclic voltammetry also showed that SiCO/carbon composite fibers possess better capacitor properties than carbon fibers.

Value engineering and cost effectiveness of various fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) repair systems : final report, June 2007.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-06-01

This report is an extension to the final report for NCDOT project 2004-15 Value Engineering and Cost-Effectiveness of : Various Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) Repair Systems, submitted in June 2005. In that report, seventeen 30-ft long : prest...

Evaluation of the in-service performance of the Tom's Creek Bridge fiber-reinforced polymer superstructure.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-01-01

The Tom's Creek Bridge is a small-scale demonstration project involving the use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite girders as the main load carrying members. It is a simply supported, short-span bridge located along Tom's Creek Road in Black...

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite piles used on pier rehabilitation, Little Diamond Island, Casco Bay, Portland, Maine.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-10-01

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite piles were used on a pier rehabilitation project at : Little Diamond Island in Casco Bay near Portland Maine. The project was the replacement : of an aging wooden pier at the ferry berthing terminal. The FRP p...

Oil-in-water emulsion impregnated electrospun poly(ethylene terephthalate) fiber mat as a novel tool for optical fiber cleaning.

PubMed

Devlaminck, Dries J G; Rahman, Md Mahbubor; Dash, Mamoni; Samal, Sangram Keshari; Watté, Jan; Van Vlierberghe, Sandra; Dubruel, Peter

2018-06-15

The complete removal of remaining polymer debris after stripping of optical fiber cables is essential for high precision connection between two fibers. It can be anticipated that electrospun porous membranes as cleaning wipes are able to trap and retain polymer debris within their pores. Impregnation of an oil-in-water emulsion as cleaning agent lowers the interfacial tension between debris and the optical fiber thereby enabling the straightforward removal of polymer debris from the optical fiber. Electrospun membranes of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and cellulose acetate (CA) were obtained with fiber diameters of 0.430 μm and 2 μm respectively. The oil-in-water emulsion was formulated with 10 wt% medium chain triglyceride (MCT) and 10 wt% Tween 80 surfactant in an aqueous phosphate buffer solution. In a scoring range from 0 to 5 for which the score 0 indicated superior cleaning and the score 5 referred to the least efficient cleaning, the electrospun fiber mats (without emulsion) scored within the range of 2-4 while emulsion impregnated electrospun fiber mats revealed the best score of 0. A drastic improvement was thus clearly evident from the obtained results when the cleaning emulsion was applied. The materials developed herein thus represent a new class of soft cleaning agents for optical fibers. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of fiber reinforcements on thermo-oxidative stability and mechanical properties of polymer matrix composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bowles, Kenneth J.

1991-01-01

A number of studies have investigated the thermo-oxidative behavior of polymer matrix composites. Two significant observations have been made from these research efforts: (1) fiber reinforcement has a significant effect on composite thermal stability; and (2) geometric effects must be considered when evaluating thermal aging data. A compilation of some results from these studies is presented, and this information shows the influence of the reinforcement fibers on the oxidative degradation of various polymer matrix composites. The polyimide PMR-15 was the matrix material that was used in these studies. The control composite material was reinforced with Celion 6000 graphite fiber. T-40R graphite fibers, along with some very stable ceramic fibers were selected as reinforcing fibers because of their high thermal stability. The ceramic fibers were Nicalon (silicon carbide) and Nextel 312 (alumina-silica-boron oxide). The mechanical properties of the two graphite fiber composites were significantly different, probably owing to variations in interfacial bonding between the fibers and the polyimide matrix. The Celion 6000/PMR-15 bond is very tight but the T-40/PMR-15 bond is less tight. Three oxidation mechanisms were observed: (1) the preferential oxidation of the Celion 6000 fiber ends at cut surfaces, leaving a surface of matrix material with holes where the fiber ends were originally situated; (2) preferential oxidation of the composite matrix; and (3) interfacial degradation by oxidation. The latter two mechanisms were also observed on fiber end cut surfaces. The fiber and interface attacks appeared to initiate interfiber cracking along these surfaces.

Microstructure-property relationships of chemically vapor deposited zirconia fiber coating for environmentally durable silicon carbide/silicon carbide composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Hao

In SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composites, toughness is obtained by adding a fiber coating, which provides a weak interface for crack deflection and debonding between the fiber and the matrix. However, the most commonly used fiber coatings, carbon and boron nitride, are unstable in oxidative environments. In the present study, the feasibility of using a chemically vapor deposited zirconia (CVD-ZrO2) fiber coating as an oxidation-resistant interphase for SiC/SiC composites was investigated. A study of morphological evolution in the CVD-ZrO2 coating suggested that a size-controlled displacive phase transformation from tetragonal ZrO2 ( t-ZrO2) to monoclinic ZrO2 (m-ZrO 2) was the key mechanism responsible for the weak interface behavior exhibited by the ZrO2 coating. It appeared that a low oxygen partial pressure in the CVD reactor chamber was essential for the nucleation of t-ZrO2 and therefore was responsible for the delamination behavior. With this understanding of the weak interface mechanism, minicomposite specimens containing various ZrO2 fiber coating morphologies were fabricated and tested. A fractographic analysis showed that in-situ fiber strength and minicomposite failure loads were strongly dependent on the phase contents and microstructure of the ZrO2 coating. We determined that an optimum microstructure of the ZrO2 coating should contain a predelaminated interface surrounded by a dense outer layer. The outer layer was needed to protect the fiber from degradation during the subsequent SiC matrix infiltration procedure. A preliminary tensile stress-rupture study indicated that the ZrO2 coating exhibited promising performance in terms of providing the weak interface behavior and maintaining the thermal and oxidative stability at elevated temperatures.

Fibrous dosage forms by wet 3D-micro-patterning: process design, manufacture, and drug release rate.

PubMed

Blaesi, Aron H; Saka, Nannaji

2018-06-19

Recently, we have introduced fibrous dosage forms prepared by 3D-micro-patterning of drug-laden viscous melts. Such dosage forms enable predictable microstructures and increased drug release rates, and they can be manufactured continuously. However, melt processing is not applicable if the melting temperature of the formulation is greater than the degradation temperature of the drug or of the excipient. In this work, therefore, a continuous wet micro-patterning process that operates at ambient temperature is presented. The excipient is plasticized by a solvent and the patterned dosage form is solidified by air drying. Process models show that the micro-patterning time is the ratio of the fiber length in the dosage form and the velocity of the fiber stream. It was 1.3 minutes in the experiments, but can be reduced further. The drying time is limited by the diffusive flux of solvent through the fibers: it was about 3 minutes for the experimental conditions. Furthermore, models are developed to illustrate the effects of fiber radius, inter-fiber spacing, viscosity of the drug-excipient-solvent mixture, and drying conditions on the microstructure of the dosage form. Models and experimental results show that for a viscosity of the wet fibers of the order 10 3 Pa·s, both the patterned microstructure is well preserved and the crossed fibers are well bonded. Finally, the drug release rate by the dosage forms is experimentally determined and theoretically modeled. The results of the experiments validate the models fairly. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Preparation and laser properties of Yb3+-doped microstructure fiber based on hydrolysis-melting technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chao

2017-01-01

The Yb3+-doped silica glass was prepared by the SiCl4 hydrolysis doping and powder melting technology based on high frequency plasma. The absorption and emission characteristics of the Yb3+-doped silica glass are studied at room temperature. The integrated absorption cross section, stimulated emission cross section and fluorescence lifetime are calculated to be 8.56×104 pm3, 1.39 pm2 and 0.56 ms, respectively. The Yb3+-doped microstructure fiber (MSF) was also fabricated by using the Yb3+-doped silica glass as fiber core. What's more, the laser properties of the Yb3+-doped MSF are studied.

Microstructured optical fibers for gas sensing systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Challener, William Albert; Choudhury, Niloy; Palit, Sabarni

2017-10-17

Microstructured optical fiber (MOF) includes a cladding extending a length between first and second ends. The cladding includes an inner porous microstructure that at least partially surrounds a hollow core. A perimeter contour of the hollow core has a non-uniform radial distance from a center axis of the cladding such that first segments of the cladding along the perimeter contour have a shorter radial distance from the center axis relative to second segments of the cladding along the perimeter contour. The cladding receives and propagates light energy through the hollow core, and the inner porous microstructure substantially confines the lightmore » energy within the hollow core. The cladding defines at least one port hole that extends radially from an exterior surface of the cladding to the hollow core. Each port hole penetrates the perimeter contour of the hollow core through one of the second segments of the cladding.« less

An applied investigation of kenaf-based fiber/polymer composites as potential lightweight materials for automotive components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Yicheng

Natural fibers have the potential to replace glass fibers in fiber-reinforced composite applications. However, the natural fibers' intrinsic properties cause these issues: (1) the mechanical property variation; (2) moisture uptake by natural fibers and their composites; (3) lack of sound, cost-effective, environment-friendly fiber-matrix compounding processes; (4) incompatibility between natural fibers and polymer matrices; and (5) low heat-resistance of natural fibers and their composites. This dissertation systematically studied the use of kenaf bast fiber bundles, obtained via a mechanical retting method, as a light-weight reinforcement material for fiber-reinforced thermoset polymer composites for automotive applications. Kenaf bast fiber bundle tensile properties were tested, and the effects of locations in the kenaf plant, loading rates, retting methods, and high temperature treatments and their durations on kenaf bast fiber bundle tensile properties were evaluated. A process has been developed for fabricating high fiber loading kenaf bast fiber bundle-reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. The generated composites possessed high elastic moduli and their tensile strengths were close to specification requirements for glass fiber-reinforced sheet molding compounds. Effects of fiber loadings and lengths on resultant composite's tensile properties were evaluated. Fiber loadings were very important for composite tensile modulus. Both fiber loadings and fiber lengths were important for composite tensile strengths. The distributions of composite tensile, flexural and impact strengths were analyzed. The 2-parameter Weibull model was found to be the most appropriate for describing the composite strength distributions and provided the most conservative design values. Kenaf-reinforced unsaturated polyester composites were also proved to be more cost-effective than glass fiber-reinforced SMCs at high fiber loadings. Kenaf bast fiber bundle-reinforced composite's water absorption properties were tested. Surface-coating and edge-sealing significantly reduced composite water resistance properties. Encapsulation was a practical method to improve composite water resistance properties. The molding pressure and styrene concentrations on composite and matrix properties were evaluated. Laser and plasma treatment improved fiber-to-matrix adhesion.

Effect of polymer concentration on the structure and performance of PEI hollow fiber membrane contactor for CO2 stripping.

PubMed

Naim, R; Ismail, A F

2013-04-15

A series of polyetherimide (PEI) hollow fiber membranes with various polymer concentrations (13-16 wt.%) for CO2 stripping process in membrane contactor application was fabricated via wet phase inversion method. The PEI membranes were characterized in terms of liquid entry pressure, contact angle, gas permeation and morphology analysis. CO2 stripping performance was investigated via membrane contactor system in a stainless steel module with aqueous diethanolamine as liquid absorbent. The hollow fiber membranes showed decreasing patterns in gas permeation, contact angle, mean pore size and effective surface porosity with increasing polymer concentration. On the contrary, wetting pressure of PEI membranes has enhanced significantly with polymer concentration. Various polymer concentrations have different effects on the CO2 stripping flux in which membrane with 14 wt.% polymer concentration showed the highest stripping flux of 2.7 × 10(-2)mol/m(2)s. From the performance comparison with other commercial membrane, it is anticipated that the PEI membrane has a good prospect in CO2 stripping via membrane contactor. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bamboo reinforced polymer composite - A comprehensive review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roslan, S. A. H.; Rasid, Z. A.; Hassan, M. Z.

2018-04-01

Bamboo has greatly attention of researchers due to their advantages over synthetic polymers. It is entirely renewable, environmentally-friendly, non-toxic, cheap, non-abrasive and fully biodegradable. This review paper summarized an oveview of the bamboo, fiber extraction and mechanical behavior of bamboo reinforced composites. A number of studies proved that mechanical properties of bamboo fibers reinforced reinforced polymer composites are excellent and competent to be utilized in high-tech applications. The properties of the laminate are influenced by the fiber loading, fibre orientation, physical and interlaminar adhesion between fibre and matrix. In contrast, the presence of chemical constituents such as cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose and wax substances in natural fibres preventing them from firmly binding with polymer resin. Thus, led to poor mechanical properties for composites. Many attempt has been made in order to overcome this issue by using the chemical treatment.