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19 pages, 5818 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Strength and Failure Analysis of Fiber-Wound Composite Gas Cylinder via Numerical Simulation

by Xiaodi Wu, Bo Yang and Song Zhou

Materials 2024, 17(3), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17030717 - 2 Feb 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1509

Based on the classical grid theory and related regulations, a structure model of a fiber-wound composite gas cylinder was designed in this paper. Based on the design results, a finite element model of a fully wound composite cylinder of an aluminum alloy inner [...] Read more.

Based on the classical grid theory and related regulations, a structure model of a fiber-wound composite gas cylinder was designed in this paper. Based on the design results, a finite element model of a fully wound composite cylinder of an aluminum alloy inner liner with a working pressure of 35 MPa was established based on the ABAQUS software, and its stress distribution under working pressure and minimum burst pressure was analyzed. According to engineering experience, the pressure tolerance of composite cylinders can be improved by proper autofrettage pressure before working pressure, so the influence of autofrettage pressure was analyzed in this paper. The optimum autofrettage pressure was selected by setting the autofrettage gradient, and damage analysis was carried out on the cylinder with nominal working pressure of 35 MPa based on the Hashin failure criterion. The results show the initial damage sequence: matrix stretching occurs before the fiber stretching, and the damage generally starts from the spiral-wound layer. The tensile damage first appears in the transition section between the head and the barrel body, and the damage of the spiral-wound layer develops from the inner layer of the wound layer to the outer layer, while the damage of the circumferentially wound layer develops from the outer layer to the inner layer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in High-Performance Polymers and Composites)

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18 pages, 3941 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Bamboo Culm as Potential Fibre for Composite Development

by Balkeshwar Singh, Yalew Dessalegn, Melesse Workneh Wakjira, Cherinet Girma, Ali A. Rajhi and Alaauldeen A. Duhduh

Materials 2023, 16(14), 5196; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16145196 - 24 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1308

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate how age, harvesting seasons, and culm height affect the properties of various bamboo species. The properties of bamboo fibres for composite development in Ethiopia have not been investigated so far. In this study, the properties of Y. alpina [...] Read more.

This study aims to evaluate how age, harvesting seasons, and culm height affect the properties of various bamboo species. The properties of bamboo fibres for composite development in Ethiopia have not been investigated so far. In this study, the properties of Y. alpina and B. oldhamii were scientifically investigated for bamboo culm structural applications and bamboo fibre composite development based on age and the harvesting season. Y. alpina was collected at Injibara and Mekaneselam which are located in east Gojjam and south wollo, whereas B. oldhamii was collected at Kombolcha which is located in south Wollo, Ethiopia. Three representatives of bamboo plants were collected in the three regions, namely from three age groups, across two harvesting months. The highest and lowest moisture content and shrinkage were measured at the ages of one year and three years, respectively, whereas basic densities were measured at the ages of three years and one year. The harvest month of November yields higher moisture content and shrinkage but lower basic densities compared to February. Yushania alpina has a higher moisture content and shrinkage but lower basic densities compared to Bamusa oldhamii. The current research demonstrates that the three-year-old groups and the harvesting month of February produce yields more suited for construction and structural purposes due to the ensuing good dimensional stability after drying. From the highest to the lowest percentage of the degree of crystallinity of the yield, it is that derived from Inj., followed by Meka., and then Kombolcha, respectively. Bamboo fibres have high powder crystals and degradation temperatures which make them suitable for composite development at two year old. Yushania alpina has a higher degree of crystallinity and degradation temperature of cellulose compared to Bambusa oldhamii. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in High-Performance Polymers and Composites)

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14 pages, 3847 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Analysis and Neural Network Modeling of the Rheological Behavior of Xanthan Gum and Its Derivatives

by Madiha Melha Yahoum, Selma Toumi, Salma Hentabli, Hichem Tahraoui, Sonia Lefnaoui, Abdelkader Hadjsadok, Abdeltif Amrane, Mohammed Kebir, Nassim Moula, Amin Aymen Assadi, Jie Zhang and Lotfi Mouni

Materials 2023, 16(7), 2565; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072565 - 23 Mar 2023

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 1534

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to create a mathematical tool that could be used with experimental data to predict the rheological flow behavior of functionalized xanthan gum according to the types of chemical groups grafted onto its backbone. Different rheological and [...] Read more.

The main objective of this study was to create a mathematical tool that could be used with experimental data to predict the rheological flow behavior of functionalized xanthan gum according to the types of chemical groups grafted onto its backbone. Different rheological and physicochemical analyses were applied to assess six derivatives synthesized via the etherification of xanthan gum by hydrophobic benzylation with benzyl chloride and carboxymethylation with monochloroacetic acid at three (regent/polymer) ratios R equal to 2.4 and 6. Results from the FTIR study verified that xanthan gum had been modified. The degree of substitution (DS) values varying between 0.2 and 2.9 for carboxymethylxanthan gum derivatives were found to be higher than that of hydrophobically modified benzyl xanthan gum for which the DS ranged from 0.5 to 1. The molecular weights of all the derivatives were found to be less than that of xanthan gum for the two types of derivatives, decreasing further as the degree of substitution (DS) increased. However, the benzyl xanthan gum derivatives presented higher molecular weights varying between 1,373,146 (g/mol) and 1,262,227 (g/mol) than carboxymethylxanthan gum derivatives (1,326,722–1,015,544) (g/mol). A shear-thinning behavior was observed in the derivatives, and the derivatives’ viscosity was found to decrease with increasing DS. The second objective of this research was to create an ANN model to predict one of the rheological properties (the apparent viscosity). The significance of the ANN model (R² = 0.99998 and MSE = 5.95 × 10⁻³) was validated by comparing experimental results with the predicted ones. The results showed that the model was an efficient tool for predicting rheological flow behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in High-Performance Polymers and Composites)

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12 pages, 4158 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Polyborosilazanes with Controllable B/N Ratio for Si–B–C–N Ceramics

by Yanpei Dang, Tianhao Li, Yangzhong Zhao, Liantai Duan, Jianning Zhang, Ke Chen, Liu He, Qing Huang, Chuanzhuang Zhao and Yujie Song

Materials 2023, 16(3), 1053; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031053 - 25 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1651

Abstract

Polyborosilazanes with controllable B/N ratio were synthesized using high-boron-content m-carborane, dichloromethylsilane, and hexamethydisilazane. After high-temperature pyrolysis, Si–B–C–N quaternary ceramics with SiC and B₄C as the main phases were obtained. The B/N ratio in the precursors corresponded to the change in [...] Read more.

Polyborosilazanes with controllable B/N ratio were synthesized using high-boron-content m-carborane, dichloromethylsilane, and hexamethydisilazane. After high-temperature pyrolysis, Si–B–C–N quaternary ceramics with SiC and B₄C as the main phases were obtained. The B/N ratio in the precursors corresponded to the change in the feeding ratio of carborane and dichloromethylsilane. The effects of boron content and B/N ratio on the ceramic precursors and microphase structure in Si–B–C–N quaternary ceramics were explored in detail through a series of analytical characterization methods. A high boron content results in a significant increase in the ceramic yield (up to 71 wt%) of polyborosilazanes, and at the same time, the B/N molar ratio was regulated from 28.4:1 to 1.62:1. The appearance of the B₄C structure in the Si–B–C–N quaternary ceramics through the regulation of the B/N ratio, has rarely been reported. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in High-Performance Polymers and Composites)

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23 pages, 12399 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbonate Lake Sediments in the Plastics Processing-Preliminary Polylactide Composite Case Study: Mechanical and Structural Properties

by Grzegorz Borkowski, Agnieszka Martyła, Marta Dobrosielska, Piotr Marciniak, Ewa Gabriel, Julia Głowacka, Marek Jałbrzykowski, Daria Pakuła and Robert E. Przekop

Materials 2022, 15(17), 6106; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15176106 - 2 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1613

Abstract

In this study, the influence of carbonate lake sediments (Polylactide/Carbonate Lake Sediments–PLA/CLS) on the mechanical and structural properties of polylactide matrix composites was investigated. Two fractions of sediments originating from 3–8 and 8–12 m were analysed for differences in particle size by distribution [...] Read more.

In this study, the influence of carbonate lake sediments (Polylactide/Carbonate Lake Sediments–PLA/CLS) on the mechanical and structural properties of polylactide matrix composites was investigated. Two fractions of sediments originating from 3–8 and 8–12 m were analysed for differences in particle size by distribution (Dynamic Light Scattering–DLS), phase composition (X-ray Diffraction–XRD), the presence of surface functional groups (Fourier Transform-Infrared–FT-IR), and thermal stability (Thermogravimetric Analysis–TGA). Microscopic observations of the composite fractures were also performed. The effect of the precipitate fraction on the mechanical properties of the composites before and after conditioning in the weathering chamber was verified through peel strength, flexural strength, and impact strength tests. A melt flow rate study was performed to evaluate the effect of sediment on the processing properties of the PLA/CLS composite. Hydrophobic-hydrophilic properties were also investigated, and fracture analysis was performed by optical and electron microscopy. The addition of carbon lake sediments to PLA allows for the obtention of composites resistant to environmental factors such as elevated temperature or humidity. Moreover, PLA/CLS composites show a higher flow rate and higher surface hydrophobicity in comparison with unmodified PLA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in High-Performance Polymers and Composites)

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13 pages, 2511 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Simple Method for Preparation of Highly Conductive Nitrogen/Phosphorus-Doped Carbon Nanofiber Films

by Tongzhou Chen, Yongbo Chi, Xingyao Liu, Xiwen Xia, Yousi Chen, Jian Xu and Yujie Song

Materials 2022, 15(17), 5955; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15175955 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1880

Abstract

Heteroatom-doped conductive carbon nanomaterials are promising for energy and catalysis applications, but there are few reports on increasing their heteroatom doping content and conductivity simultaneously. In this manuscript, we use 2-(4-aminophenyl)-5-aminobenzimidazole as the diamine monomer to prepare polyamic acid with asymmetric structural units [...] Read more.

Heteroatom-doped conductive carbon nanomaterials are promising for energy and catalysis applications, but there are few reports on increasing their heteroatom doping content and conductivity simultaneously. In this manuscript, we use 2-(4-aminophenyl)-5-aminobenzimidazole as the diamine monomer to prepare polyamic acid with asymmetric structural units doped with phosphoric acid (PA) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as innovative composite precursors, which are then electrospun into nanofiber films. After stabilization and carbonization, the electrospun fibers are converted into N/P co-doped electrospun carbon nanofiber films (ECNFs) with high heteroatom content, including 4.33% N and 0.98% P. The morphology, structure, and conductivity of ECNFs were systematically characterized. The ECNFs doped with 15 wt.% PA exhibited conductivity that was 47.3% higher than that of the ECNFs undoped with PA, but the BET surface area decreased by 23%. The doped PA in the precursor nanofibers participated in the cyclization of PAN during thermal stabilization, as indicated by infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis results. X-ray diffraction and Raman results indicate that a moderate amount of PA doping facilitated the formation of ordered graphitic crystallite structures during carbonization and improved the conductivity of ECNFs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in High-Performance Polymers and Composites)

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16 pages, 7859 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Relative Positions of Defect to Inclusion on Nanocomposite Strength

by Jiaqin Wang and Vincent B. C. Tan

Materials 2022, 15(14), 4906; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15144906 - 14 Jul 2022

Viewed by 1361

Abstract

It is generally accepted that material inhomogeneity causes stress concentrations at the interface and thus reduces the overall strength of a composite. To overcome this reduction in strength, some groups experimented on coating the nanoinclusions with a layer of rubbery material, aiming for [...] Read more.

It is generally accepted that material inhomogeneity causes stress concentrations at the interface and thus reduces the overall strength of a composite. To overcome this reduction in strength, some groups experimented on coating the nanoinclusions with a layer of rubbery material, aiming for higher energy absorption. However, representative volume element (RVE) nanocomposite models, established with randomly distributed core–shell nanoparticles and single nanoparticle cells, show that the enhancement in strength observed in some experiments remains elusive computationally. By including a pre-existing crack in the matrix of the RVE, the stress concentration at the crack tip is reduced for cases where the nanoparticle and precrack are aligned away from the loading direction. This suggests that stress concentrations around inherent defects in materials can sometimes be reduced by adding nanoparticles to improve material strength. The effect is reversed if the crack and nanoparticle are aligned towards the loading direction. Parametric studies were also carried out in terms of the relative stiffness of the nanoparticle to the matrix and crack length. Validation tests were performed on 3D RVEs with an elliptical crack as the initial defect, and the results match with the 2D findings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in High-Performance Polymers and Composites)

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14 pages, 1978 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antioxidant Effect of Nanoparticles Composed of Zein and Orange (Citrus sinensis) Extract Obtained by Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction

by Ana G. Luque-Alcaraz, Miranda Velazquez-Antillón, Cynthia N. Hernández-Téllez, Abril Z. Graciano-Verdugo, Nadia García-Flores, Jorge L. Iriqui-Razcón, María Irene Silvas-García, Aldo Zazueta-Raynaud, María J. Moreno-Vásquez and Pedro A. Hernández-Abril

Materials 2022, 15(14), 4838; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15144838 - 12 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2133

Abstract

In the present research, an orange extract (OE) was obtained and encapsulated in a zein matrix for its subsequent physicochemical characterization and evaluation of its antioxidant capacity. The OE consists of phenolic compounds and flavonoids extracted from orange peel (Citrus sinensis) [...] Read more.

In the present research, an orange extract (OE) was obtained and encapsulated in a zein matrix for its subsequent physicochemical characterization and evaluation of its antioxidant capacity. The OE consists of phenolic compounds and flavonoids extracted from orange peel (Citrus sinensis) by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The results obtained by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that zein nanoparticles with orange extract (NpZOE) presented a nanometric size and spherical shape, presenting a hydrodynamic diameter of 159.26 ± 5.96 nm. Furthermore, ζ-potential evolution and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques were used to evaluate the interaction between zein and OE. Regarding antioxidant activity, ABTS and DPPH assays indicated no significant differences at high concentrations of orange peel extract and NpZOE; however, NpZOE was more effective at low concentrations. Although this indicates that ultrasonication as an extraction method effectively obtains the phenolic compounds present in orange peels, the nanoprecipitation method under the conditions used allowed us to obtain particles in the nanometric range with positive ζ-potential. On the other hand, the antioxidant capacity analysis indicated a high antioxidant capacity of both OE and the NpZOE. This study presents the possibility of obtaining orange extracts by ultrasound and coupling them to zein-based nanoparticulate systems to be applied as biomedical materials functionalized with antioxidant substances of pharmaceutical utility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in High-Performance Polymers and Composites)

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