Lecture 2 - Reinforcement and matrices for polymeric matrix composites (PMCs) Flashcards
What does a high and low Deborah number indicate?
Low = Liquid High = Elastic solid
where on the pipkin diagram are composites located?
And why?
On the boarder between Linear viscoelasticity and elastic solid. This is because the matrix and the reinforcement has different properties.
What does anisotropy mean?
The material have different properties in different directions.
What is the coupling phenomena?
When the material is bend-twisted due to the reinforced fibers.
Name why the matrix is important for the composite
- important for the performance and sometimes even control the performance.
- Matrix protects the fiber surface from abrasion
- Flammability, temperature properties, processing, surface performance, appearance
Which is the main thing that determines which polymer matrix to use?
The service temperature
What is kinking?
Buckling
In what direction does only the matrix and not the fiber affect the properties?
Transverse
What defines a polymeric material?
- Chemistry
- Mass
- Configuration/conformation/arrangement/topology
- 1 Termoplastic
- 1.1 Amorphous or Semi crystalline
- 2 Thermosets
Is thermosets or thermoplastics most common as a matrix in composites?
Thermosets
Name a polymeric matrix from thermosets
Epoxy
What is the main problem with thermosets?
They can not be recycled
Name a polymeric matrix from thermoplastics
PP, PS, PUR
How do you use a thermoset as a polymeric matrix?
Uncured liquid (H20) + curing agent –> Solid thermosetting polymer.
Cross-linking gives us a solid material
What can curing be?
Heat, pressure, radiation, curing agents or combination of these.
When do you add the reinforcement?
Hard question and very important to master. When cross-linking the material gets “sticky”. So you need to add the reinforcement before it gets too sticky to get a even spread of the reinforcement.
What is vitrification?
When the molecules are too long to move. So it becomes “solid”
What is the difference between addition polymerization and condensation polymerization when it comes to cross-linking?
addition polymerisation: such reactive site is carbon-carbon double bond. If two or more carbon-carbon double bonds are present in the monomer, crosslinking can occur
condensation polymerisation: if the reacting molecules have three or more reactive sites, crosslinking can occur.
Do we want the degree of curing to be high or low?
As high as possible.
What can be a problem with fillers when we talk about degree of curing, c?
Fillers can change Tg so that the material won’t cure properly
What are the 3 stages of curing?
Stage A – a thermoplastic stage, used for casting
Stage B – polymerised but not crosslinked; nearly insoluble in organic solvents but still fusible under heat and pressure, used for injection moulding
Stage C – final, infusible, cross-linked polymer.
How does temperature effect degree of curing?
Temperature help the curing process
Why is it not possible to reverse curing?
The energy to make the molecule chains to move again is too high and would only make the material catch fire.
Give some pros for thermosets
- relatively high service temperature
- stiffness
- fatigue resistance
- low cost for low volume manufacturing
- relative ease of processing due to lower viscosity/lower processing temperatures
- good to excellent pre-pregging
- resistance to moisture etc.
Give the main cons with thermosets
- (some thermoplastic polymers can offer similar to thermosets service temperatures)
- reuse/recycling - curing is not reversible
What is pre-preg?
Pre-impregnated: The thermoset matrix is only partially cured to allow easy handling
What does the thermoset cocktail include?
- antidegradants, accelerators, flame retardants etc
- fibrous reinforcements (composites; for increased strength and rigidity)
- Particulate fillers (reduce costs and/or improve properties)
- flow promoters (plasticizer type compounds)
How can you reduce the shrinkage?
- The addition of fibres or fillers reduces the volumetric shrinkage of a resin
- The shrinkage in UP or VE resins can be reduced significantly by the addition of thermoplastic polymers, such as PE, PMMA, PVAc, and polycaprolactone (PCL)
What is voids?
Air