Particle-filled polymer composites

Y. Suetsugu, State of Dispersion - Mechanical Properties Correlation in Small Particle Filled Polymer composites, Int. Polym. Process., 5, 184—190 (1990). 

Kle Klepaczko, J. R., Petrov, Y. V., Atroshenko, S. A., Chevrier, P., Fedorovsky, G. D., Krivosheev, S. I., Utkin, A. A. Behavior of particle-filled polymer composite under static and dynamic loading. Eng. Fract. Mech. 75 (2008) 136-152. 

In order to determine fractme toughness, stress intensity approach and energy approach are applied. The stress intensity approach yields fracture toughness The energy approach provides a critical energy release rate (G. ). Fractme toughness of particle-filled polymer composites shows a very complex variation with increasing particle fraction. The particle size distribution parameter is the one aspect which plays a decisive role on the structmal and mechanical properties of the components and the... 

In this chapter, the fracture of WPCs as particle-filled polymer composites was elaborated. The characterization of particulate polymer composites fracture behavior and the influencing factors such as particle size as well as orientation, temperature, and loading were discussed. The fracture observation using special setup was described and the diverse numerical methods to analyze the fracture of such composites were reviewed. Finally the finite element simulation of the fracture for WPG specimen with real geometrical model was conducted and the agreement of results compared to the experimental ones was demonstrated. 

Following the historical development, the particle-filled polymer composites will be presented first as the usual polymer composites (Section 6.1.1) and then as... 

Applications. ESR spectroscopy was used to monitor the orientation and distribution of filler particles in polymer composites, " and molecular movement in filled, crosslinked material was studied. ... 

The aggregation of the initial nanofiller powder particles in more or less large particle aggregates always occurs in the course of the process of making particulate-filled polymer composites in general and elastomeric... 

The glass-rubber transition temperature, Tg, of cellulose whisker filled polymer composites is an important parameter, which controls different properties of the resulting composite such as its mechanical behavior, matrix chain dynamics, and swelling behavior. Its value depends on the interactions between the polymeric matrix and cellulosic nanoparticles. These interactions are expected to play an important role because of the huge specific area inherent to nanosize particles. For semicrystalline polymers, possible alteration of the crystaUine domains by the cellulosic filler may indirectly affect the value of Tg. 

Lipatov (22) investigated the effects of interphase thickness on the calorimetric response of particulate-filled polymer composites. Based on experimental evidence, his analysis led to the conclusion that the interphase region surrounding filler particles had sufficient thickness to give rise to measurable calorimetric response. The proposed existence of a thick interphase region correlates with limitations of molecular mobihty for supermolecular structures extending beyond the two-dimensional filler boundary surface. 

Lipatov (22) analyzed specific heat data for an array of filled polymer composites. He characterized the interactions due to the existence of the interphase region surrounding filler particles as a function of filler content. Because the magnitude of the specific heat jump at the glass transition temperature decreases with increase in filler content, this is indicative of exclusion of a certain portion of macromolecules in the polymer matrix to participating in the cooperative process of glass transition. 

Polymer melt devolatilisation has been the subject of extensive theoretical analysis [19], resulting in important practical implications for the preparation of filled polymer composites, with optimum particle wet-out and freedom from volatile matter. 

Fig. 4.38 Secondary electron image of a mineral filled polymer composite (A) does not reveal the nature of the dispersed filler particles. Atomic number contrast in the backscattered electron image (B) clearly shows the mineral filler (brightness increases with atomic number).

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