Tuning the mechanical properties of glass fiber-reinforced bismaleimide-triazine resin composites by constructing a flexible bridge at the interface

Experimental Study of Thermal and Fire Reaction Properties of Glass Fiber/Bismaleimide Composites for Aeronautic Application

Thermal behavior and fire reaction properties of aerial glass fiber (GF)/bismaleimide (BMI) composites were tested using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermogravimetric coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-FTIR), cone calorimeter, limiting oxygen index, and smoke density chamber. The results showed that the pyrolysis process was one stage in a nitrogen atmosphere with the prominent volatile components of CO₂, H₂O, CH₄, NO_x, and SO₂. The release of heat and smoke increased with the increase in heat flux, while the time required to reach hazardous conditions decreased. The limiting oxygen index decreased monotonically from 47.8% to 39.0% with increasing experimental temperature. The maximum specific optical density within 20 min in the non-flaming mode was greater than that in the flaming mode. According to the four kinds of fire hazard assessment indicators, the greater the heat flux, the higher the fire hazard, for the contribution of more decomposed components. The calculations of two indices confirmed that the smoke release in the early stage of fire was more negative under flaming mode. This work can provide a comprehensive understanding of the thermal and fire characteristics of GF/BMI composites used for aircraft.

A novel carbazole based bismaleimide monomer: Synthesis, characterization, thermal and optical properties

In this study, a novel bismaleimide monomer: Carbazole-Bismaleimide (Cz-BisMI) was introduced to the literature as a first. Cz-BisMI was synthesized by a catalytic cyclodehydration reaction of 3,6-bismalemic acid carbazole which is an intermediate product obtained by an imidization reaction of 3,6-diamino carbazole. Then, the chemical structure of Cz-BisMI was elucidated by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and LC-MS spectroscopies. The thermal properties of Cz-BisMI were investigated by DSC in comparison with a commercial bismaleimide monomer, 4,4-bismaleimidophenylmethane (DPM-BisMI). Cz-BisMI has a melting point of 192°C and also, the onset temperature of the exothermic curve was measured as 293°C. Furthermore, it was determined that Cz-BisMI has a 35.6 percent larger processing window than DPM-BisMI. The spin-coated films of Cz-BisMI showed a high refractive index in the range of 1.61 to 1.50 between 400 and 650 nm with good transparency of over 85%. On the other hand, a new poly(bismaleimide): P(Cz-BisMI)s containing carbazole units was prepared by the self-polymerization process of Cz-BisMI. P(Cz-BisMI)s showed a high thermal transition temperature of 356°C. In conclusion, Cz-BisMI is a viable choice as a bismaleimide monomer for the development of opto-electronic materials due to its enhanced optical properties and thermal behavior.

Cross-Linking of Polypropylene with Thiophene and Imidazole

In this work, two novel routes to synthesis cross-linked polypropylene (PP) are introduced by using two different precursors (2-thiophenemethyl amine (TMA) and 1-(3 aminopropyl) imidazole (API)), both cross-linked with 1,1′-(methylenedi-4,1-phenylene) bismaleimide (BM) at two different annealing temperature values (T = 50 °C and T = 150 °C). Both Diels–Alder (DA) and Michael addition reactions were successfully performed with TMA and API, respectively, albeit with different reactivity. Imidazole clearly shows a higher reactivity compared to thiophene. In addition, an increase in annealing temperature leads to a higher degree of cross-linking. The highest degree of cross-linking was obtained by the imidazole product after annealing at 150 °C (IMG1A150) as evident from the highest complex viscosity (|η*|) value of IMG1A150. A difference in rheology and thermal properties between the imidazole and thiophene cross-linked products was also observed. However, both products have superior melt properties and thermal stability compared with the starting material. They show processability at high temperatures. The melt flow behavior and de-cross-linking at higher temperatures can be tuned depending on the choice of imidazole or thiophene. This study shows an advance on the cross-linked PP processing and its product performances for further application on the commercial scale.

Diphenolic acid-modified PAMAM/chlorinated butyl rubber nanocomposites with superior mechanical, damping, and self-healing properties

Based on its excellent damping properties, traditional rubber has been widely used in various industries, including aerospace, rail transit and automotive. However, the disadvantages of effective damping area, unstable damping performance, easy fatigue, and aging, greatly limited the further application of rubber materials. Thus, it is important to develop novel modified rubber damping materials. Herein, polyamidoamine dendrimers with terminal-modified phenolic hydroxyl and amine groups (G2 PAMAM-H) were designed and used as modifiers to improve the damping performance of chlorinated butyl rubber (CIIR). The results showed that the modification of G2 PAMAM by diphenolic acid can avoid its aggregation in the CIIR matrix. CIIR/G2 PAMAM-H nanocomposites exhibited high tan δ _max of 1.52 and wide damping temperature region of 140°C (tan δ > 0.55)at a very low loading (4.32 wt.%), which were strongerthan that of pure CIIR and CIIR/G2 PAMAM nanocomposites. In addition, these nanocomposites also exhibited a unique self-healing ability by multiple hydrogen bonds, which can effectively extend the life of the rubber material in actual production. Therefore, the dendrimer modification provided unique development opportunities for elastomers in certain highly engineered fields, such as vehicles, rail transit, aerospace, etc.

Enhancement of Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Bismaleimide Using a Graphene Oxide Modified by Epoxy Silane

A thermosetting resin system, based on bismaleimide (BMI), has been developed via copolymerization of 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone with a newly synthesized graphene oxide modified using epoxy silane (ES-GO). The effect of ES-GO on the thermomechanical and mechanical properties of cured modified resin was studied. To evaluate the efficiency of the modified BMI systems, the composite samples using glass fiber cloth were molded and tested. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that the cured sample systems displays a high char yield at lower concentrations of ES-GO (≤0.5 wt.%), suggesting an improved thermal stability. Using dynamic mechanical analysis, a marked increase in glass transition temperature (Tg) with increasing ES-GO content was observed. Analysis of mechanical properties reveals a possible effect of ES-GO as a toughener. The results also showed that the addition of 0.3 wt.% ES-GO maximizes the toughness of the modified resin systems, which was further confirmed by the result of analysis of fracture surfaces. At the same time, a molded composite with ES-GO showed improved mechanical properties and retention rate at 150 °C as compared to that made with neat resin.

Stress generation in mandibular anterior teeth restored with different types of post-and-core at various levels of ferrule

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Pertinent evidence regarding the mechanical integrity of mandibular anterior teeth restored with a post-and-core is limited.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this finite element analysis study was to compare the impact of the post type (glass fiber post-and-resin core or cast post-and-core) along with the ferrule effect on the stress fields generated in endodontically treated mandibular lateral incisors and canines.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Three-dimensional models of the segmented mandible were developed. Mandibular incisors and canines with or without a 2-mm circular ferrule and restored with a cast post-and-core or glass fiber post-and-resin core were simulated and subjected to linear elastic static analysis. The principal stress values were calculated. von Mises equivalent stresses were used to evaluate the stress.

RESULTS

Maximum principal stresses in dentin were highest in incisors, with a ferrule. Stress parameters in composite resin core in both incisors and canines were critically close to the tensile failure limit of the core material. Cast post-and-cores cemented in incisors without a ferrule accumulated the highest stresses, exceeding the tensile failure limit of resin-modified glass ionomer cement.

CONCLUSIONS

Tooth preparation with a ferrule led to a remarkable rise in stress in the dentin of mandibular incisors but favored the mechanical integrity of the restoration.

Monitoring Damage Propagation in Glass Fiber Composites Using Carbon Nanofibers

In this work, we report the potential use of novel carbon nanofibers (CNFs), dispersed during fabrication of glass fiber composites to monitor damage propagation under static loading. The use of CNFs enables a transformation of the typically non-conductive glass fiber composites into new fiber composites with appreciable electrical conductivity. The percolation limit of CNFs/epoxy nanocomposites was first quantified. The electromechanical responses of glass fiber composites fabricated using CNFs/epoxy nanocomposite were examined under static tension loads. The experimental observations showed a nonlinear change of electrical conductivity of glass fiber composites incorporating CNFs versus the stress level under static load. Microstructural investigations proved the ability of CNFs to alter the polymer matrix and to produce a new polymer nanocomposite with a connected nanofiber network with improved electrical properties and different mechanical properties compared with the neat epoxy. It is concluded that incorporating CNFs during fabrication of glass fiber composites can provide an innovative means of self-sensing that will allow damage propagation to be monitored in glass fiber composites.

Poly(thiolactone) homo- and copolymers from maleimide thiolactone: synthesis and functionalization

We describe the synthesis of a thiolactone-functionalized maleimide (MITla), its copolymerization into poly(thiolactone) homo- and copolymers via controlled or free radical polymerization (CRP or FRP) techniques, and subsequent modification.