The viscoelastic properties of a halogen-free polymer composition, for cable products

The viscoelastic properties of a halogen-free polymer composition for cable products have been investigated. The influence of temperature parameters, shear rate on the die-swell ratio of the polymer composition has been determined; the dependence of the melt density on a temperature was investigated. The polymer matrix is a mixture of polyolefins (linear low density polyethylene; polyolefin elastomer and maleic anhydride modified linear low density polyethylene) as a flame retardant filler for the polymer composition is trihydrate alumina. The content of flame retardant filler in the polymer composition is 60 %. The polymer composition was manufactured on the compounding line of X-Compound, Switzerland. The investigation of both melt density and die-swell ratio of the polymer composition has been conducted with help of capillary viscometer type IIRT-AM. To determine the density of the melt the ratio of capillary length to diameter L/D=8/2 was used. The results of the study of the dependence of the melt density of the polymer matrix from a temperature of 150–190 °C at different loads showed that this parameter decreases from 789 to 744 kg/m3 and for polymer composition from 1309 to 1268 kg/m3. The die-swell ratio in the case of an increase of the shear rate at temperatures of 150–190°C for the polymer matrix increases from 1,102 to 1,520, and for the polymer composition decreases from 1,056 to 1,018. The investigation results of the dependence of both die-swell ratio of the polymer matrix and the polymer composition on the ratio of the length of the forming tool to the diameter indicates that the die-swell ratio for the polymer matrix was reduced from 1,296 to 1,152, and for the polymer composition from 1,045 to 1,01. It was established that the viscoelastic properties of the halogen-free polymer composition are significantly influenced by: processing temperature, shear rate, melt density, the ratio of the length of the forming tool to the diameter. The research results give a possibility for a reasonable approach for the determination of technological parameters of an insulation, sheathing of power cables and optical cables of microtube construction. It will also allow to quickly adjust the geometrical parameters of the forming tool of cable heads.

Application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in the Deposition Process and Printability Assessment of 3D Printing Using Rice Paste

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was utilized to investigate the deposition process and printability of rice paste. The rheological and preliminary printing studies showed that paste formed from rice to water ratio (100:80) is suitable for 3D printing (3DP). Controlling the ambient temperature at C also contributed to improving the printed sample’s structural stability. The viscoelastic simulation indicated that the nozzle diameter influenced the flow properties of the printed material. As the nozzle diameter decreased (1.2 mm to 0.8 mm), the die swell ratio increased (13.7 to 15.15%). The rise in the swell ratio was a result of the increasing pressure gradient at the nozzle exit (5.48 × 106 Pa to 1.53 × 107 Pa). The additive simulation showed that the nozzle diameter affected both the residual stress and overall deformation of the sample. CFD analysis, therefore, demonstrates a significant advantage in optimizing the operating conditions for printing rice paste.

Numerical Study of the Effect of Thixotropy on Extrudate Swell

The extrusion of highly filled elastomers is widely used in the automotive industry. In this paper, we numerically study the effect of thixotropy on 2D planar extrudate swell for constant and fluctuating flow rates, as well as the effect of thixotropy on the swell behavior of a 3D rectangular extrudate for a constant flowrate. To this end, we used the Finite Element Method. The state of the network structure in the material is described using a kinetic equation for a structure parameter. Rate and stress-controlled models for this kinetic equation are compared. The effect of thixotropy on extrudate swell is studied by varying the damage and recovery parameters in these models. It was found that thixotropy in general decreases extrudate swell. The stress-controlled approach always predicts a larger swell ratio compared to the rate-controlled approach for the Weissenberg numbers studied in this work. When the damage parameter in the models is increased, a less viscous fluid layer appears near the die wall, which decreases the swell ratio to a value lower than the Newtonian swell ratio. Upon further increasing the damage parameter, the high viscosity core layer becomes very small, leading to an increase in the swell ratio compared to smaller damage parameters, approaching the Newtonian value. The existence of a low-viscosity outer layer and a high-viscosity core in the die have a pronounced effect on the swell ratio for thixotropic fluids.

Role of Fly Ash on Strength Properties of Rejuvenated Soil Cement for Pavement Materials

Stabilization with cement is the most commonly used technique for the improvement of soil physical, mechanical, and engineering properties. This research reported on the properties of the rejuvenation for recycled soil cement with incorporation of fly ash (FA). The study showed that the specific gravity of Rejuvenated Soil Cement (RSC) decreased with increasing FA. The free swell ratio and linear shrinkage of RSC were significantly decreased with the increase in FA. The maximum dry unit weight of RSC increased with increasing FA up to the optimum FA content of 20 – 25 %. The optimum water content in compaction was relatively constant with the increase in FA. Particularly, the strength improvement in active zone of FA-RSC was influenced by several factors viz., compaction, packing, rehydration, and pozzolanic reaction. As a result, the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of RSC increased with increase in FA and curing time. This research clearly showed that the rejuvenation of soil-cement with FA as additive was successful. It was also shown that the normalized UCSs of RSC at various curing times could be used to predict the UCSs at 7 and 28 days.

Evaluation of Die Swell Behavior During Capillary Extrusion of Poly(lactic acid)/ High density polyethylene Blend Melts

Poly lactic acid (PLA) and High density polyethylene (HDPE) have been blended in a Brabender plastograph in the molten state. The melt die swell of the blends has been studied by using a capillary rheometer. Effects of the capillary dimensions, shear stress, shear rate, temperature and blending ratio on die swell of PLA/HDPE blend melts were investigated. The results showed that die swell ratio decreased with increasing of capillary length and temperature while it increased with increasing of shear stress, shear rate and capillary diameter. It was also found that the plots of die swell versus blending ratio go through a maximum for blending ratio PLA/HDPE (60/40).

Experimental Investigation on Carbonation Behavior in Lime-Stabilized Expansive Soil

The carbonation behavior of lime-stabilized expansive soil is important for assessing the stabilization efficiency from the perspective of durability. In this study, the accelerated carbonation tests, measurement of pH value distribution, and the free swell ratio tests were conducted to investigate the evolutions of carbonation depth, carbonation extent, and expansive potential of lime-stabilized expansive soil. XRD, MIP, and SEM techniques were adopted as supplements to reveal the carbonation mechanism. Results demonstrated that the carbonation depth of lime-stabilized expansive soil increased significantly as time elapsed; however, the rate of increase reduced when the carbonation time increased. Higher carbonation depth was obtained at higher temperature and CO2 concentration and lower relative humidity, which was described by an empirical model. Fully, partly, and noncarbonated zones were subsequently presented with an increase in the depth of the soil. The expansive potential of lime-stabilized expansive soil was partially recovered during carbonation. The obtained linear relationships between the free swell ratio and pH value were adopted to describe the evolution of expansive behavior with carbonation time and depth. In microstructural analysis, the conversion of portlandite into calcium carbonate was significant, which resulted in changes in microstructure and controlled the carbonation behavior.

Numerical Comparisons on the Effects of Wall Thickness on Extrudate Swell of Traditional Extrusion and Gas-Assisted Extrusion for Plastic Microtubules

In this study, the effect of wall thickness on the extrudate swell of plastic microtubules was investigated by using the finite element numerical method. For the traditional extrusion and gas-assisted extrusion, under the same process parameters, the extrudate swell ratios of plastic microtubules with the different wall thicknesses were all obtained. Moreover, to analyze the difference between the traditional extrusion and gas-assisted extrusion, the physical fields distributions, such as flow velocities, pressure and the stresses distributions of plastic microtubules with the different wall thicknesses under two kinds different extrusions were also obtained and compared. Numerical results show that, for the traditional extrusion, the extrudate swell ratio decreases with the increasing of the wall thickness, but for the gas-assisted extrusion, the swell ratios are equal to 0 and not changed. In addition, from the viewpoints of physical fields distributions, for the traditional extrusion, with the increasing of the wall thickness, the velocities, pressure and stresses of melt are all decreased, which result in the reducing of the extrudate swell phenomenon. However, for the gas-assisted extrusion, the X velocity, pressure, and stresses are all equal to 0, which results in the elimination the extrudate swell phenomenon of plastic microtubules.

Numerical Studies for the Effects of Viscoelastic Constitutive Parameters on the Extrudate Swell of Plastic Micro-Tubes

The effects of four difference viscoelastic constitutive parameters, i.e., viscosity, relaxation time, ε and ξ on the extrudate swell of plastic micro-tubes were studied by using the numerical method. Numerical results show that the extrudate swell of plastic micro-tube increases with the increase of the relaxation time, but decreases with the increase of ε and ξ. In addition, the extrudate swell ratio of plastic micro-tube is not changed with the increase of the viscosity of melt. To ascertain the effect of four different viscoelastic constitutive parameters on the extrudate swell of plastic micro-tube, the physical field distributions, i.e., flow velocity, shear rate, shear stress, and first normal stress difference distributions of melt were obtained, respectively. Results show that the extrudate swell phenomenon of plastic micro-tube is closely dependent on the elastic energy storage of melt induced by the above mentioned physical field distributions, especially at the outlet of die.