Strengthening fibers

PVA has a unique use as a strengthening fiber in conjunction with weaker materials such as merino wools in the weaving of delicate fabrics, from which it can afterward be removed by water washing. A major portion of the polymer produced is reacted with aldehydes to form the corresponding poly(vinyl formal), poly(vinyl acetal), and poly(vinyl butyral) ... 

An interesting structure can be found in wood, for example in the different layers of conifer tracheids, where helically arranged cellulose micro-fibril bundles are found (Fig. 9.7). The spiral-Uke lay-up and the angle of the strengthening fibers in the stem walls and of cellulose micro-fibril bundles in the cell walls is optimized according to the types and combinations of... 

The cellulose dissolving potential of the amine oxide family was first realized (79) in 1939, but it was not until 1969 that Eastman Kodak described the use of cycHc mono(/V-methy1amine-/V-oxide) compounds, eg, /V-methylmorpho1ine-/V-oxide [7529-22-8] (NMMO), as a solvent size for strengthening paper (80) by partially dissolving the cellulose fibers. 

Composite Strengthening. An alternative strengthening method which holds great promise for producing advanced high temperature aUoys involves the incorporation of fibers or lamellae of a strong, often brittle phase, in a relatively weak, ductile, metallic matrix. This technique has been... 

Two approaches have been taken to produce metal-matrix composites (qv) incorporation of fibers into a matrix by mechanical means and in situ preparation of a two-phase fibrous or lamellar material by controlled solidification or heat treatment. The principles of strengthening for alloys prepared by the former technique are well estabUshed (24), primarily because yielding and even fracture of these materials occurs while the reinforcing phase is elastically deformed. Under these conditions both strength and modulus increase linearly with volume fraction of reinforcement. However, the deformation of in situ, ie, eutectic, eutectoid, peritectic, or peritectoid, composites usually involves some plastic deformation of the reinforcing phase, and this presents many complexities in analysis and prediction of properties. 

A variety of materials has been proposed to modify the properties of asphaltic binders to enhance the properties of the mix (112), including fillers and fibers to reinforce the asphalt—aggregate mixture (114), sulfur to strengthen or harden the binder (115,116), polymers (98,117—121), mbber (122), epoxy—resin composites (123), antistripping agents (124), metal complexes (125,126), and lime (127,128). AH of these additives serve to improve the properties of the binder and, ultimately, the properties of the asphalt—aggregate mix. 

Equations (3.84) and (3.85) can be solved for the critical that must be exceeded to obtain fiber strengthening of the composite material ... 

FIGURE 6.21 Collagen fibers are stabilized and strengthened by Lys-Lys cross-links. Aldehyde moieties formed by lysyl oxidase react in a spontaneous nonenzymatic aldol reaction. 

When used as substitutes for asbestos fibers, plant fibers and manmade cellulose fibers show comparable characteristic values in a cement matrix, but at lower costs. As with plastic composites, these values are essentially dependent on the properties of the fiber and the adhesion between fiber and matrix. Distinctly higher values for strength and. stiffness of the composites can be achieved by a chemical modification of the fiber surface (acrylic and polystyrene treatment [74]), usually produced by the Hatschek-process 75-77J. Tests by Coutts et al. [76] and Coutts [77,78] on wood fiber cement (soft-, and hardwood fibers) show that already at a fiber content of 8-10 wt%, a maximum of strengthening is achieved (Fig. 22). 

It is important to note material such as those plastics or wood that are weak in either tension or compression will also be basically weak in shear. For example, concrete is weak in shear because of its lack of strength in tension. Reinforced bars in the concrete are incorporated to prevent diagonal tension cracking and strengthen concrete beams. Similar action occurs with RPs using fiber filament structures. 

On the other hand, fiber reinforcement makes the composite strong. Moreover, the matrix can be reinforced in the required direction by design, which ensures the maximum utilization of the fiber-properties. A disadvantage in fiber composites is that the fibers are able to transmit loads only in the directions of their axis and there is less strengthening effect in the direction perpendicular to the axis, and in some cases even weakening may occur. 

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