Particle formation fracture

Fig. 8.1. Toughening mechanisms in rubber-modified polymers (1) shear band formation near rubber particles (2) fracture of rubber particles after cavitation (3) stretching, (4) debonding and (5) tearing of rubber particles (6) transparticle fracture (7) debonding of hard particles (8) crack deflection by hard particles (9) voided/cavitated rubber particles (10) crazing (II) plastic zone at craze tip (12) diffuse shear yielding (13) shear band/craze interaction. After Garg and Mai (1988a).

Siebert and Riew (4) described the chemistry of the in situ particle formation. They proposed that the composition of the particle is a mixture of linear CTBN-epoxy copolymers and crosslinked epoxy resin. The polymer morphology of the CTBN toughened epoxy systems was investigated by Rowe (5) using transmission electron microscopy by carbon replication of fracture surfaces. Riew and Smith (6) supported the... 

Toughening mechanisms due to the elastomer spheres include shear-band formation, fracture of rubber particles, stretching, debonding and tearing of rubber particles, rubber cavitation, transparticle fi acture, crazing, formation of a plastic zone at the craze tip, diffuse shear-yielding, as well as shear band/craze interaction. 

An important consideration is the effect of filler and its degree of interaction with the polymer matrix. Under strain, a weak bond at the binder-filler interface often leads to dewetting of the binder from the solid particles to formation of voids and deterioration of mechanical properties. The primary objective is, therefore, to enhance the particle-matrix interaction or increase debond fracture energy. A most desirable property is a narrow gap between the maximum (e ) and ultimate elongation ch) on the stress-strain curve. The ratio, e , eh, may be considered as the interface efficiency, a ratio of unity implying perfect efficiency at the interfacial Junction. 

The formation and fracture of these junctions leads to the transfer of small fragments of material from one surface to another and finally, after many such events, the release of a year particle often in a highly oxidised state. Such a wear process is common to most sliding systems and can undoubtedly occur during fretting movements, especially if the slip amplitude is large. However, many fretting situations occur where the amplitude of slip is very small and perhaps even comparable to the dimensions of a... 

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]. 

A low-molecular-weight condensation product of hydroxyacetic acid with itself or compounds containing other hydroxy acid, carboxylic acid, or hydroxy-carboxylic acid moieties has been suggested as a fluid loss additive [164]. Production methods of the polymer have been described. The reaction products are ground to 0.1 to 1500 p particle size. The condensation product can be used as a fluid loss material in a hydraulic fracturing process in which the fracturing fluid comprises a hydrolyzable, aqueous gel. The hydroxyacetic acid condensation product hydrolyzes at formation conditions to provide hydroxyacetic acid, which breaks the aqueous gel autocatalytically and eventually provides the restored formation permeability without the need for the separate addition of a gel breaker [315-317,329]. 

X-Ray irradiation of quartz or silica particles induces an electron-trap lattice defect accompanied by a parallel increase in cytotoxicity (Davies, 1968). Aluminosilicate zeolites and clays (Laszlo, 1987) have been shown by electron spin resonance (e.s.r.) studies to involve free-radical intermediates in their catalytic activity. Generation of free radicals in solids may also occur by physical scission of chemical bonds and the consequent formation of dangling bonds , as exemplified by the freshly fractured theory of silicosis (Wright, 1950 Fubini et al., 1991). The entrapment of long-lived metastable free radicals has been shown to occur in the tar of cigarette smoke (Pryor, 1987). 

Proppants are solid particles used to hold open the fracture after conclusion of the well treatment. Criteria to choose the economically most effective proppant for a given set of formation conditions have been discussed (7 6). While sand is the most commonly used proppant because of its low cost, resin-coated sand, sintered bauxite, and A O particles have also been used because of their greater compressive strength and resistance to dissolution at high temperature and pH (55). While epoxy resins are most commonly used, the use of other resins such as phenol-formaldehyde has been described. 

Acids can sometimes break emulsions within the formation either by reducing the pH or by dissolving fine particles which can stabilize emulsions. Breaking the emulsion reduces fluid viscosity thus increases the fluid carrying capacity of the flow channel. Acids may be used as breakers to reduce the viscosity of acid-sensitive fracturing gels. 

Acids are sometimes used ahead of fracturing fluids to dissolve mineral fine particles and allow more rapid injection of the fracturing fluid. When used as the initial stage of a squeeze cementing treatment, the acid-promoted mineral and drilling mud particle dissolution can result in increased entry of the cement slurry into the desired portions of the formation. 

Both, the mechanism and the extent of particle degradation depend not only on the process type but also on properties of the solid material, and to a large extent on the process conditions. Clift (1996) has stated that attrition is a triple-level problem, i.e., one is dealing with phenomena on three different length and time scales the processing equipment, the individual particles, and the sub-particle phenomenon such as fracture which leads to the formation of fines. The appearance of attrition can, therefore, differ very much between the various applications. For that reason, the following section deals with the various modes of attrition and the factors affecting them. 

For highly fluid coatings that have to solidify rapidly, obviously fast cross-linkings by thermal or radiation activation are effective. A characteristic susceptibility of fibers to fracture with increasing length, because of the statistics of flaw distribution and the many ways in which these flaws can be induced, such as by chance particles, inhomogeneous qualities of the coating, etc., demand unprecedented precision in polymer film formation. However, there are additional factors, such as... 

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