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At least 145 records · Page 8

Reproducibility of PMR-15 graphite polymide material

Investigation was made into the reproducibility of PMR polyimide/graphite prepreg reinforcement and the influence of these variabilities on processing characteristics and final composite properties. The purpose of these investigations was to establish specification controls and limits of acceptance/rejection on incoming materials. Prepreg samples were chemically analyzed and the results compared to the processing and property results of the resulting composites. The findings from these comparisons are discussed.

Hoggatt, J. T.↗

Through Thickness Thermal Gradients in Thick Laminates During Cure, Influence on Tg and Modulus

Carbon fiber composites are materials of great interest to the aerospace industry because of their light weight and high strength properties. Composite use in high load bearing applications such as roto-craft gearing requires manufacturing parts that are 1.5 inches thick and beyond. Very thick composite parts (laminates) produce thermal gradients and temperature spikes due to the heat released by resin polymerization and cross-linking during composite cure. It is believed that these thermal gradients will cause internal stresses to build-up inside these ultra-thick laminates during the cure-cycle, yielding parts with non-uniform mechanical properties throughout the thickness of the laminate. The goal of this study is to identify these thermal gradients and determine the magnitude of difference in mechanical properties generated by them.

Mechanical Properties↗

Probabilistic composite micromechanics

Probabilistic composite micromechanics methods are developed that simulate expected uncertainties in unidirectional fiber composite properties. These methods are in the form of computational procedures using Monte Carlo simulation. A graphite/epoxy unidirectional composite (ply) is studied to demonstrate fiber composite material properties at the micro level. Regression results are presented to show the relative correlation between predicted and response variables in the study.

Stock, T. A.↗

A probabilistic approach to composite micromechanics

Probabilistic composite micromechanics methods are developed that simulate expected uncertainties in unidirectional fiber composite properties. These methods are in the form of computational procedures using Monte Carlo simulation. A graphite/epoxy unidirectional composite (ply) is studied to demonstrate fiber composite material properties at the micro level. Regression results are presented to show the relative correlation between predicted and response variables in the study.

Stock, T. A.↗

Structure-to-property relationships in addition cured polymers. II - Resin Tg and composite initial mechanical properties of norbornenyl cured polyimide resins

PRM (polymerization of monomeric reactants) methodology was used to prepare thirty different polyimide oligomeric resins. Monomeric composition as well as chain length between sites of crosslinks were varied to examine their effects on glass transition temperature (Tg) of the cured/postcured resins. An almost linear correlation of Tg versus molecular distance between the crosslinks was observed. An attempt was made to correlate Tg with initial mechanical properties (flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength) of unidirectional graphite fiber composites prepared with these resins. However, the scatter in mechanical strength data prevented obtaining as clear a correlation as was observed for the structural modification/crosslink distance versus Tg. Instead, only a range of composite mechanical properties was obtained at the test temperatures studied (room temperature, 288 and 316 C). Perhaps more importantly, what did become apparent during the attempted correlation study was: (1) that PMR methodology could be used to prepare composites from resins that contain a wide variety of monomer modifications, and (2) that these composites almost invariably provided satisfactory initial mechanical properties as long as the resins selected were melt processable.

Alston, William B.↗

1400 and 1500 K Compressive Creep Properties of an NiAl/AlN Composite

Compressive creep properties of an NiAl/AlN(p) composite produced by a reaction milling process were investigated at 1400 and 1500 K and at slow strain rates, to investigate the relative strength of this composite at high temperatures, and to determine if the consolidation technique affects the 1400 K creep properties. Results indicate that the stress exponent of the NiAl/AlN(p) composite was similar to that for unreinforced NiAl. However, the activation energy for the composite was found to be more than twice that measured in the unreinforced matrix. Oxidation did not affect the composite at 1400 K, but a significant attack was observed in a sample subjected to fast deformation at 1500 K.

Whittenberger, J. D.↗

LARC-IA: A flexible backbone polyimide

A new linear, aromatic, thermoplastic polyimide, prepared from oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA) and 3,4'-oxydianiline (ODA) in diglyme and identified as LARC-IA, was synthesized and evaluated. The monomers are relatively inexpensive and physiologically safe. Molecular weight was controlled by use of a monofunctional anhydride, phthalic anhydride (PA), in order to promote controlled flow and wetting properties. The polymer is considered a safe alternative to commercially available LARC-TPI which is prepared with an expensive diamine of uncertain carcinogenicity. The evaluation was based primarily on the polymer's adhesive properties as determined by thermal and water boil exposure of lap shear specimens. Strengths were determined at room temperature, 177, 204 and 232 C before and after exposure to determine the adhesive system's durability to adverse environments over a period of time. Other properties (FWT, G(1c), film and composite properties) were examined which were determined to be typical of a high temperature polyimide. Results of the study show a favorable comparison to LARC-TPI, a commercially available polyimide.

Progar, Donald J.↗

Remote determination of exposure degree and iron concentration of lunar soils using VIS-NIR spectroscopic methods

On the Moon, space weathering processes such as micrometeorite bombardment alter the optical properties of lunar soils. As a consequence, lunar soil optical properties are a function not only of composition, but of degree of exposure on the lunar surface as well. In order to accurately assess the compositional properties of the lunar surface using remotely acquired visible and near-infrared spectroscopic data, it is thus necessary either (1) to compare optical properties only of soils characterized by similar degrees of exposure or (2) to otherwise normalize or remove the optical effects due to exposure. Laboratory spectroscopic data for lunar soils are used to develop and test remote spectrocopic methods for determining degree of exposure and for distinguishing between the optical effects due to exposure and those due to composition. A method employing a ratio between reflectances within and outside of the 1 micrometer Fe(2+) crystal field absorption band was developed for remotely identifying highland soils that have reached a steady-state maturity. The relative optical properties of these soils are a function solely of composition and as such can be directly compared. Spectroscopic techniques for accurate quantitative determination of iron content for lunar highland soils are investigated as well. It is shown that approximations of the 1 micrometer Fe(2+) absorption band depth using few to several channel multispectral data or spectroscopic data of inadequate spectral range cannot be used with confidence for compositional analysis. However, band depth measurements derived from continuum-removed high spectral resolution data can be used to calculate the weight percent FeO and relative proportion of iron-bearing silicates in mature lunar highland and mare/highland mixture soils. A preliminary effort to calibrate telescopic band depth to laboratory soil measurements is described.

Fischer, Erich M.↗

Thermoplastic composite matrices with improved solvent resistance

In order to improve solvent resistance of aromatic thermoplastic polymers, ethynyl-terminated aromatic sulfone polymers (ETS), sulfone/ester polymers (SEPE) containing pendent ethynyl groups, and phenoxy resin containing pendent ethynyl groups are synthesized. Cured polysulfones and phenoxy resins containing ethynyl groups on the ends or pendent on the molecules exhibited systematic behavior in solvent resistance, film flexibility, and toughness as a function of crosslink density. The film and composite properties of a cured solvent-resistant ETS were better than those of a commercially available solvent sensitive polysulfone. The study was part of a NASA program to better understand the trade-offs between solvent resistance, processability and mechanical properties which may be useful in designing composite structures for aerospace vehicles.

Hergenrother, P. M.↗

Matrix density effects on the mechanical properties of SiC/RBSN composites

The room temperature mechanical properties were measured for SiC fiber reinforced reaction-bonded silicon nitride composites (SiC/RBSN) of different densities. The composites consisted of approx. 30 vol percent uniaxially aligned 142 micron diameter SiC fibers (Textron SCS-6) in a reaction-bonded Si3N4 matrix. The composite density was varied by changing the consolidation pressure during RBSN processing and by hot isostatically pressing the SiC/RBSN composites. Results indicate that as the consolidation pressure was increased from 27 to 138 MPa, the average pore size of the nitrided composites decreased from 0.04 to 0.02 microns and the composite density increased from 2.07 to 2.45 gm/cc. Nonetheless, these improvements resulted in only small increases in the first matrix cracking stress, primary elastic modulus, and ultimate tensile strength values of the composites. In contrast, HIP consolidation of SiC/RBSN resulted in a fully dense material whose first matrix cracking stress and elastic modulus were approx. 15 and 50 percent higher, respectively, and ultimate tensile strength values were approx. 40 percent lower than those for unHIPed SiC/RBSN composites. The modulus behavior for all specimens can be explained by simple rule-of-mixture theory. Also, the loss in ultimate strength for the HIPed composites appears to be related to a degradation in fiber strength at the HIP temperature. However, the density effect on matrix fracture strength was much less than would be expected based on typical monolithic Si3N4 behavior, suggesting that composite theory is indeed operating. Possible practical implications of these observations are discussed.

Bhatt, Ramakrishna T.↗

A new readily processable polyimide

As part of an effort to develop tough solvent resistance thermoplastics for potential use as structural resins on aerospace vehicles, a new processable polyimide was evaluated. The synthesis involved the reaction of a new diamine, 1,3-bis 2-(3-aminophenoxy)ethyl ether, with 3,3',4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride to form the polyamic acid and subsequent conversion of it to the polyimide. Various physical properties such as thermal stability, solvent resistance, glass transition temperature, crystalline melt temperature, melt viscosity and mechanical properties such as fracture toughness, adhesive, film and composite properties are reported. Of particular interest is the extremely high titanium to titanium tensile shear strength obtained for this polyimide.

Harris, F. W.↗

A new readily processable polyimide

As part of an effort to develop tough solvent resistance thermoplastics for potential use as structural resins on aerospace vehicles, a new processable polyimide was evaluated. The synthesis involved the reaction of a new diamine, 1,3-bis 2-(3-aminophenoxy)ethyl ether, with 3,3',4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride to form the polyamic acid and subsequent conversion of it to the polyimide. Various physical properties such as thermal stability, solvent resistance, glass transition temperature, crystalline melt temperature, melt viscosity and mechanical properties such as fracture toughness, adhesive, film and composite properties are reported. Of particular interest is the extremely high titanium to titanium tensile shear strength obtained for this polyimide.

Harris, F. W.↗

Humidity effects on soluble core mechanical and thermal properties (polyvinyl alcohol/microballoon composite) type CG extendospheres, volume 2

This document constitutes the final report for the study of humidity effects and loading rate on soluble core (PVA/MB composite material) mechanical and thermal properties under Contract No. 100345. This report describes test results procedures employed, and any unusual occurrences or specific observations associated with this test program. The primary objective of this work was to determine if cured soluble core filler material regains its tensile and compressive strength after exposure to high humidity conditions and following a drying cycle. Secondary objectives include measurements of tensile and compressive modulus, and Poisson's ratio, and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) for various moisture exposure states. A third objective was to compare the mechanical and thermal properties of the composite using 'SG' and 'CG' type extendospheres. The proposed facility for the manufacture of soluble cores at the Yellow Creek site incorporates no capability for the control of humidity. Recent physical property tests performed with the soluble core filler material showed that prolonged exposure to high humidity significantly degradates in strength. The purpose of these tests is to determine if the product, process or facility designs require modification to avoid imparting a high risk condition to the ASRM.

Source record↗

Computerized multilevel analysis for multilayered fiber composites

A FORTRAN 4 computer code for the micromechanics, macromechanics, and laminate analysis of multilayered fiber composite structural components is described. The code can be used either individually or as a subroutine within a complex structural analysis/synthesis program. The inputs to the code are constituent materials properties, composite geometry, and loading conditions. The outputs are various properties for ply and composite; composite structural response, including bending-stretching coupling; and composite stress analysis, including comparisons with failure criteria for combined stress. The code was used successfully in the analysis and structural synthesis of flat panels, in the buckling analysis of flat panels, in multilayered composite material failure studies, and lamination residual stresses analysis.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Computerized multilevel analysis for multilayered fiber composites.

A FORTRAN IV computer code for the micromechanics, macromechanics, and laminate analysis of multilayered fiber composite structural components is described. The code can be used either individually or as a subroutine within a complex structural analysis/synthesis program. The inputs to the code are constituent materials properties, composite geometry, and loading conditions. The outputs are various properties for ply and composite; composite structural response, including bending-stretching coupling; and composite stress analysis, including comparisons with failure criteria for combined stress. The code was used successfully in the analysis and structural synthesis of flat panels, in the buckling analysis of flat panels, in multilayered composite material failure studies, and lamination residual stresses analysis.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Probabilistic Micromechanics and Macromechanics for Ceramic Matrix Composites

The properties of ceramic matrix composites (CMC's) are known to display a considerable amount of scatter due to variations in fiber/matrix properties, interphase properties, interphase bonding, amount of matrix voids, and many geometry- or fabrication-related parameters, such as ply thickness and ply orientation. This paper summarizes preliminary studies in which formal probabilistic descriptions of the material-behavior- and fabrication-related parameters were incorporated into micromechanics and macromechanics for CMC'S. In this process two existing methodologies, namely CMC micromechanics and macromechanics analysis and a fast probability integration (FPI) technique are synergistically coupled to obtain the probabilistic composite behavior or response. Preliminary results in the form of cumulative probability distributions and information on the probability sensitivities of the response to primitive variables for a unidirectional silicon carbide/reaction-bonded silicon nitride (SiC/RBSN) CMC are presented. The cumulative distribution functions are computed for composite moduli, thermal expansion coefficients, thermal conductivities, and longitudinal tensile strength at room temperature. The variations in the constituent properties that directly affect these composite properties are accounted for via assumed probabilistic distributions. Collectively, the results show that the present technique provides valuable information about the composite properties and sensitivity factors, which is useful to design or test engineers. Furthermore, the present methodology is computationally more efficient than a standard Monte-Carlo simulation technique; and the agreement between the two solutions is excellent, as shown via select examples.

Murthy, Pappu L. N.↗