• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.1231-1235
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• 2010

The tensile failure behavior of polymer matrix composite materials was investigated with the aid of a nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technique. The materials, E-glass fiber reinforced epoxy matrix composites, which are applicable to carbody materials in railway vehicles to reduce weight, were used for this investigation. In order to explain stress-strain behavior of polymer matrix composite sample, the infrared thermography technique was employed. A high-speed infrared (IR) camera was used for in-situ monitoring of progressive damages of polymer matrix composite samples during tensile testing. In this investigation, the IR thermography technique was used to facilitate a better understanding of damage evolution, fracture mechanism, and failure mode of polymer matrix composite materials during monotonic loadings.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.299-314
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• 2007

In the present study, natural fibers (jute, kenaf and henequen) reinforced thermoplastic (poly(lactic acid) and polypropylene) and thermosetting (unsaturated polyester) matrix composites were well fabricated by a compression molding technique using all chopped natural fibers of about 10 mm long, respectively. Prior to green composite fabrication, natural fiber bundles were surface-treated with tap water by static soaking and dynamic ultrasonication methods, respectively. The interfacial shear strength, flexural properties, and dynamic mechanical properties of each green composite system were investigated by means of single fiber microbonding test, 3-point flexural test, and dynamic mechanical analysis, respectively. The result indicated that the properties of the polymeric resins were significantly improved by incorporating the natural fibers into the resin matrix and also the properties of untreated green composites were further improved by the water treatment done to the natural fibers used. Also, the property improvement of natural fiber-reinforced green composites strongly depended on the treatment method. The interfacial and mechanical results agreed with each other.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.89-99
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• 2008

Using a Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA), mechanical properties like modulus and phase transition temperature of polyester composites of banana fibers (treated and untreated) are measured simultaneously. The shifting of phase transition temperature is observed in some treatments. The performance of the composite depends to a large extent on the adhesion between polymer matrix and the reinforcement. This is often achieved by surface modification of the matrix or the filler. Banana fiber was modified chemically to achieve improved interfacial interaction between the fiber and the polyester matrix. Various silanes and alkalies were used to modify the fiber surface. Chemical modification was found to have a profound effect on the fiber/matrix interaction, which is evident from the values of phase transition temperatures. Of the various chemical treatments, simple alkali treatment with 1% NaOH was found to be the most effective.

• Carbon letters
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2008

Multidirectional reinforcement is aimed primarily at overcoming interlaminar weakness, hence a major interest lies in the mechanical properties of multidirectional carbon/carbon composites. Mechanical properties depend on the type of carbon fiber, the size of the fiber bundle, the spacing of the bundles, the angles of the bundles relative to the axes of the block, and matrix formation. In the present studies, PAN based carbon fiber preforms manufactured different size of unit cell have been prepared. Densification of these used high pressure infiltration and carbonization technique with coal tar pitch as matrix precursor was carried out. Scanning electron microscopy has been used to study the fracture behavior of composites. The size of unit cell of the preforms has considerably affected on the flexural properties as well as microstructure of the carbon/carbon composites.

• Carbon letters
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.159-163
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• 2004

The polymer-ceramic hybrid, known as 'ceramer', was synthesized by a sol-gel process by incorporating different amount of alkoxide as source of silicon in resorcinol-formaldehyde in presence of basic catalyst to get different percentage of silicon in ultimate carbonized composites. FTIR of the ceramer confirms that it is a network of Si-O-Si, Si-O-$CH_2$ and Si-OH type groups linked with benzene ring. Different amount of silicon in the ceramer exhibits varying temperature of thermal stability and lower coefficient of thermal expansion as compared to pure resorcinol-formaldehyde resin. The lower value of CTE in ceramer is due to existence of silica and resorcinol -formaldehyde in co-continuous phase. Unidirectional composites prepared with ceramer matrix and high-strength carbon fibers show lower value of flexural strength at polymer stage as compared to those prepared with resorcinol-formaldehyde resin. However, after heat treatment to $1450^{\circ}C$, the ceramer matrix composites show large improvement in the mechanical properties, i.e. with 7% silicon in the ceramer, the flexural strength is enhanced by 100% and flexural modulus value by 40% as compared to that of pure resorcinol-formaldehyde resin matrix composites.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.365-369
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• 2015

This paper investigates the dependency of the critical content for electrical conductivity of carbon powder-filled polymer matrix composites with different matrixes as a function of the carbon powder content (volume fraction) to find the break point of the relationships between the carbon powder content and the electrical conductivity. The electrical conductivity jumps by as much as ten orders of magnitude at the break point. The critical carbon powder content corresponding to the break point in electrical conductivity varies according to the matrix species and tends to increase with an increase in the surface tension of the matrix. In order to explain the dependency of the critical carbon content on the matrix species, a simple equation (${V_c}^*=[1+ 3({{\gamma}_c}^{1/2}-{{\gamma}_m}^{1/2})^2/({\Delta}q_cR]^{-1}$) was derived under some assumptions, the most important of which was that when the interfacial excess energy introduced by particles of carbon powder into the matrix reaches a universal value (${\Delta}q_c$), the particles of carbon powder begin to coagulate so as to avoid any further increase in the energy and to form networks that facilitate electrical conduction. The equation well explains the dependency through surface tension, surface tensions between the particles of carbon powder.

• Applied Chemistry
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.25-28
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• 2005

To evaluate the dental restorative application of polymer composites filled with hydroxyapatite (HAP) which is an inorganic component of human bone material, dental properties of the polymer composites were investigated. A visible light system was utilized to activate the acrylate resin matrix of the composites. Maximum loading percentage of HAP in composite was 65 wt% and the depth of cure was 6.0 mm which can be applicable for dental restoration. With increasing the HAP content, degree of conversion of polymer composites was slightly decreased, however, polymerization shrinkage value was not varied. Diametral tensile strength value was enhanced with an increase of HAP content, however, there was no strict trend between flexural strength and HAP concentration. Anyhow, polymer composites prepared herein have superior mechanical properties sufficient specifications applicable to dental materials.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.18-21
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• 2003

The effect of interface bonding strength on the recovery force of SMA wire reinforced polymer matrix composites was investigated by pullout test. Firstly, the recovery forces and transformation temperatures of various prestrained SMA wires were measured and 5% prestrained SMA wires were prepared for the reinforcements of composites. EPDM incorporated with 20vol% silicon carbide particles(SiCp) of 6, 12, $60{mutextrm{m}}$ size were used as matrix. Pullout test results showed that the interface bonding strength increased when the SiCp size decreased due to the increase of elastic modulus of matrix. Cyclic test of composites was performed through control of DC current at the constant displacement mode. The abrupt decrease of recovery force during cycle test at high current was occurred by thermal degradation of matrix. This was in good agreement with temperature related in the thermal degradation of matrix. The hysteresis of recovery force with respect to the temperature was compared between wire and composite and the hysterisis of composites was smaller than the wire due to less thermal conduction.

• Carbon letters
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.127-132
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• 2002

Unidirectional polymer composites were prepared using high-strength carbon fibers as reinforcement and phenolic resin as matrix precursor with keeping fiber volume fraction at 30, 40, 50 and 60% respectively. These composites were carbonized at $1000^{\circ}C$ and graphitised at $2600^{\circ}C$ in the inert atmosphere. The carbonized and graphitised composites were characterized for mechanical properties as well as microstructure. Microscopic studies were carried out of the polished surface of carbonized and graphitised composites after etching by chromic acid, to understand the effect of fiber volume fraction on oxidation at fiber-matrix interface. It is found that the flexural strength in polymer composites increases with fiber volume fraction and so does for the carbonised composites. However, the trend was found to be reversed in graphitised composites. In all the carbonized composites anisotropic region has been observed at fiber-matrix interface which transforms into columnar type microstructure upon graphitisation. The extension of strong and weak columnar type microstructure is function of fiber volume fraction. SEM microscopy of the etched surface of the sample reveal that composites containing 40% fiber volume has minimum oxidation at the interface, revealing a strong interfacial bonding.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1993.07b
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• pp.1122-1124
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• 1993

In this study, piezoceramics/polymer composites with 3-3 connectivity were made by BURPS(Burnout Plastic Sphere) technique with PZT ceramics and PVA sphere. And physical and dielectric properties dependent on the PVA wt.% were investigated. The density of porous piezoceramic and pieaoceramic/polymer composites were decreased almost linearly with increasing the PVA wt.%.