Composite fracture toughness

Fracture toughness, composites, angle ply laminates, new toughness test method... 

Sub Subramaniyan, A. K., Sun, C. T. Toughening polymeric composites using nanoclay Crack tip scale effects on fracture toughness. Composites Part A - Appl. Sci. Manufact. 38 (2007) 34-43. 

E. Vernaz, F. Larche, and J. Zarzycki, Fracture Toughness-Composition Relationship in Some Binary and Ternary Glass Systems, J. Non-Cryst. Solids, 37 359-365 (1980). 

SiC is a potential candidate material for Generation IV reactors in addition to the ferritic and austenitic steels described previously. It is considered promising because of its high radiation resistance, excellent mechanical properties, low neutron-induced activation, low decay heat, chemical inertness at high temperatures, and availability in various forms including high fracture toughness composites. 

SiC whisker-reinforced alumina is a major advance in tool material development, as it provides a means to increase the fracture toughness of the material via the composite material approach. It is entirely possible that in the next century many new whiskers of refractory, hard materials will be made... 

Directed Oxidation of a Molten Metal. Directed oxidation of a molten metal or the Lanxide process (45,68,91) involves the reaction of a molten metal with a gaseous oxidant, eg, A1 with O2 in air, to form a porous three-dimensional oxide that grows outward from the metal/ceramic surface. The process proceeds via capillary action as the molten metal wicks into open pore channels in the oxide scale growth. Reinforced ceramic matrix composites can be formed by positioning inert filler materials, eg, fibers, whiskers, and/or particulates, in the path of the oxide scale growth. The resultant composite is comprised of both interconnected metal and ceramic. Typically 5—30 vol % metal remains after processing. The composite product maintains many of the desirable properties of a ceramic however, the presence of the metal serves to increase the fracture toughness of the composite. 

Fig. 5. Interlaminar fracture toughness, for a number of thermosetting and thermoplastic composites (36,37). Open white bars represent glass-fiber composites shaded bars are for carbon fibers. The materials are A, polyester (unidirectional) B, vinyl ester (CSM = chopped strand mat) C, epoxy (R/BR1424) D, epoxy (T300/914) E, PPS F, PES and G, PEEK. To convert J/m to fdbf/in. multiply by 2100.

A number of amorphous thermoplastics are presently employed as matrices in long fiber composites, including polyethersulfone (PES), polysulfone (PSU), and polyetherimide (PEI). AH offer superior resistance to impact loading and higher interlaminar fracture toughnesses than do most epoxies. However, the amorphous nature of such polymers results in a lower solvent resistance, clearly a limitation if composites based on such polymers are to be used in aggressive environments. 

There are less exotic ways of increasing the strength of cement and concrete. One is to impregnate it with a polymer, which fills the pores and increases the fracture toughness a little. Another is by fibre reinforcement (Chapter 25). Steel-reinforced concrete is a sort of fibre-reinforced composite the reinforcement carries tensile loads and, if prestressed, keeps the concrete in compression. Cement can be reinforced with fine steel wire, or with glass fibres. But these refinements, though simple, greatly increase the cost and mean that they are only viable in special applications. Plain Portland cement is probably the world s cheapest and most successful material. 

The word "composites" has a modern ring. But using the high strength of fibres to stiffen and strengthen a cheap matrix material is probably older than the wheel. The Processional Way in ancient Babylon, one of the lesser wonders of the ancient world, was made of bitumen reinforced with plaited straw. Straw and horse hair have been used to reinforce mud bricks (improving their fracture toughness) for at least 5000 years. Paper is a composite so is concrete both were known to the Romans. And almost all natural materials which must bear load - wood, bone, muscle - are composites. 

Figure 10.6. (a) Indentation nanohardness of silver/chromium multilayers and single films of the constituent metals, as a function of depth affected by plastic deformation, (b) Charpy impact energies, a measure of fracture toughness, of three materials, as a function of test temperature they are mild steel, ultrahigh-carbon steel and a composite of the two kinds of steel (courtesy Dr. J. Wadsworth) (Fig. 10.6(b) is from Kum et at. (1983)). 

Figure 22 Influence of fiber content on flexural strength and fracture toughness of (O) softwood-cement composites and ( ) hardwood-cement composites (air-cured) [78].

In the matrix of PLA/ polycaprilactone (PCL)/OMMT nano-composites, the silicate layers of the organoclay were intercalated and randomly distributed (Zhenyang et at, 2007). The PLA/PCL blend significantly improved the tensile and other mechanical properties by addition of OMMT. Thermal stability of PLA/PCL blends was also explicitly improved when the OMMT content is less than 5%wt. Preparation of PLA/thermoplastic starch/MMT nano-composites have been investigated and the products have been characterized using X-Ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and tensile measurements. The results show improvement in the tensile and modulus, and reduction in fracture toughness (Arroyo et ah, 2010). 

Composite Particles, Inc. reported the use of surface-modified rubber particles in formulations of thermoset systems, such as polyurethanes, polysulfides, and epoxies [95], The surface of the mbber was oxidized by a proprietary gas atmosphere, which leads to the formation of polar functional groups like —COOH and —OH, which in turn enhanced the dispersibility and bonding characteristics of mbber particles to other polar polymers. A composite containing 15% treated mbber particles per 85% polyurethane has physical properties similar to those of the pure polyurethane. Inclusion of surface-modified waste mbber in polyurethane matrix increases the coefficient of friction. This finds application in polyurethane tires and shoe soles. The treated mbber particles enhance the flexibility and impact resistance of polyester-based constmction materials [95]. Inclusion of treated waste mbber along with carboxyl terminated nitrile mbber (CTBN) in epoxy formulations increases the fracture toughness of the epoxy resins [96]. 

Fracture toughness values for glass polyalkenoate cement vary from 0-25 to 0-55 MN (Lloyd Mitchell, 1984 Goldman, 1985 Lloyd Adamson, 1987). The values are generally higher than those found for the traditional dental silicate cement but lower than those found for anterior composite resins (Lloyd Mitchell, 1984 Goldman, 1985) and much lower than those for posterior composite resins and dental amalgams (Lloyd Adamson, 1987). 

These low values for flexural strength and fracture toughness compared with the values for composite resins and dental amalgams make the glass-ionomer cement less suitable than these materials in high-stress situations. 

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