Glassy carbon manufacture using rapid photonic curing

Photonic curing was explored as a rapid method for producing glassy carbon coatings, reducing processing time from ~ 20 h for conventional thermal processing down to ~ 1 min. A resole-type thermoset polymer resin coated on steel foil was used as a precursor, placed in a nitrogen purged container and exposed to high energy light (~ 27 J/cm2 per pulse for up to 20 pulses). Comparison samples were produced at 800 °C using a conventional nitrogen purged thermal route. For both photonic and conventionally produced coatings, Raman spectroscopy and primary peak XPS data showed sp2 bonded carbon, indicative of bulk glassy carbon. This transformation evolved with increasing number of pulses, and therefore amount of energy transferred to the coating. The produced coatings were resilient, highly smooth, with no evidence of surface defects. XPS analysis indicated greater sp3 content at the immediate surface (5–10 nm) for photonic cured carbon compared with thermally cured carbon, likely due to the local environment (temperature, atmosphere) around the surface during conversion. The ability to rapidly manufacture glassy carbon coatings provides new opportunities to expand the window of applications of glassy carbons in coatings towards large-scale high volume applications.

Flexural Behavior of a Novel Textile-Reinforced Polymer Concrete

Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) has gained attention from the construction industry due to its light weight, high tensile strength, design flexibility, corrosion resistance, and remarkably long service life. Some structural applications that utilize TRC components include precast panels, structural repair, waterproofing elements, and façades. TRC is produced by incorporating textile fabrics into thin cementitious concrete panels. Premature debonding between the textile fabric and concrete due to improper cementitious matrix impregnation of the fibers was identified as a failure-governing mechanism. To overcome this performance limitation, in this study, a novel type of TRC is proposed by replacing the cement binder with a polymer resin to produce textile reinforced polymer concrete (TRPC). The new TRPC is created using a fine-graded aggregate, methyl methacrylate polymer resin, and basalt fiber textile fabric. Four different specimen configurations were manufactured by embedding 0, 1, 2, and 3 textile layers in concrete. Flexural performance was analyzed and compared with reference TRC specimens with similar compressive strength and reinforcement configurations. Furthermore, the crack pattern intensity was determined using an image processing technique to quantify the ductility of TRPC compared with conventional TRC. The new TRPC improved the moment capacity compared with TRC by 51%, 58%, 59%, and 158%, the deflection at peak load by 858%, 857%, 3264%, and 3803%, and the toughness by 1909%, 3844%, 2781%, and 4355% for 0, 1, 2, and 3 textile layers, respectively. TRPC showed significantly improved flexural capacity, superior ductility, and substantial plasticity compared with TRC.

Influence of Pressure and Temperature on the Strength Properties of a Laminate Produced by the RTM Method

This paper discusses the effect of pressure on the content of microvoids and defects inside laminates fabricated under different pressures, by vacuum methods. Two basic vacuum methods resin transfer molding (RTM) and vacuum bag method were used in this paper. A glass mat with an alignment angle of (0□/90□) and a mass of 450 g/cm2 was used to produce the laminate, and a polymer resin was used as the matrix. Special attention was paid to the technological parameters of both processes. A mathematical analysis of the most important parameters which include flow rate, permeability, and gelation temperature has been carried out. In addition, the resin temperature is used to reduce the viscosity of the resin to facilitate its flow through the reinforcement, and in the final stage of production to control the chemical reactions occurring in the mold. The pressure is chosen so that the resin flow is continuous. The synchronization of these two parameters and the measurement of the time in which they occur are called the “cure cycle”. In the final step of the study, the composite was subjected to a static tensile test, using specimens of two different dimensions (scale effect) to evaluate the effect of microvoids and microcracks created by the processes on the strength of the material.

Pengaruh Konsentrasi Resin dan Suhu Pemanas Awetan pada Penyempurnaan Lipatan Permanen Kain Poliester 100%

Permanent press by using resin will increase the resistance of the desired material properties. The refinement process to obtain permanent fold properties in polyester fibers is obtained by forming a polymer resin layer on the surface of the fabric. The more resin used, the less the ability of the fabric to come back from the crease, so the permanent crease finish will be more permanent. However, with more and more resin polymerizing on the surface, the fabric will be stiffer and can reduce the tensile strength of the fiber, the occurrence of the resin polymerization process is influenced by the temperature of the preserved heating when the temperature is less then the resin is not formed perfectly or if the temperature is too high it can cause damage to the fiber. This test was carried out on 100% polyester fabric with variations in the concentration of melamine formaldehyde resin 40 g/l, 50 g/l, 60 g/l, 70 g/l and variations in the curing temperature of 1600C, 1700C, 1800C, 1900C. Tests carried out include re-testing of the folds and tensile strength of the fabric. The results showed that the optimum conditions achieved in this experiment were at a concentration of melamine formaldehyde resin of 60 g/l with a preserved heating temperature of 1700C, a low folding angle value of 740 was obtained with a tensile strength value that above the minimal standards, namely the warp 75.7 Kg and weft 22.7 Kg.

Effect of Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN) Thermoplastic Resin on Flexural Strength of Fibre-Reinforced Composite and the Penetration of Bonding Resin into Semi-IPN FRC Post

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) thermoplastic resin on the flexural strength of fibre-reinforced composite (FRC) with different IPN polymer compositions. The penetration of bonding resin into semi-IPN FRC posts was also evaluated. The IPN thermoplastic resin used was UDMA-MMA monomer with either PMMA (0.5%, 2%, 5%) or PMMA-copolymer (0.5%, 2%). A no added IPN polymer resin was also made. Mixed resin was impregnated to S- and E-glass fibre rovings. These resins and resin impregnated fibres were used for flexural strength (FS) test. To evaluate the penetration of bonding resin into semi-IPN post, SEM observation was done with various impregnation time and polymerization mehods (hand-light- and oven-cure). The result of FS was recorded from 111.7 MPa (no-IPN polymer/no-fibre-reinforcement) to 543.0 MPa (5% PMMA/S-glass FRC). ANOVA showed that there were significant differences between fibre-reinforcement and no-fibre-reinforcement (p < 0.01) both in S- and E-glass fibre groups, and between 0.5% PMMA and 5% PMMA in the S-glass FRC group. SEM micrographs showed that the penetration layers of bonding resin into hand-light cured semi-IPN posts were different according to impregnation time. Fibre reinforcement is effective to improve flexural strength. The depth of penetration layer of bonding resin into semi-IPN matrix resin was improved when a hand-light cure was used.

Viscoelastic Properties of Cell Structures Manufactured Using a Photo-Curable Additive Technology—PJM

This research paper reviews the test results involving viscoelastic properties of cellular structure models made with the PolyJet Matrix—PJM additive technology. The designed test specimens were of complex cellular structure and made of three various photo-curable polymer resin types. Materials were selected taking into account the so-called “soft” and “tough” material groups. Compressive stress relaxation tests were conducted in accordance with the recommendations of standard ISO 3384, and the impact of the geometric structure shape and material selection on viscoelastic properties, as well as the most favorable geometric variants of the tested cellular structure models were determined. Mathematica and Origin software was used to conduct a statistical analysis of the test results and determine five-parameter functions approximating relaxation curves. The most favorable rheological was adopted and its mean parameters determined, which enables to match both printed model materials and their geometry in the future, to make a component with a specific rheological response. Furthermore, the test results indicated that there was a possibility of modelling cellular structures within the PJM technology, using support material as well.

EFFICIENCY OF MODIFYING ADDITIVES IN POWDER COATING MATERIALS

Rapid rates of development in production of powder coatings are, in comparison to liquid paint-and-lacquer materials, evidence of their importance, high effectiveness and prospectivity. The increase in popularity of powder coatings can be explained by their environmental adequacy and attractiveness from the perspective of the environmental protection as well as high effectiveness related to the possibility of obtaining high quality protective and decorative coatings during the one-layer application. At the same time, it is obvious that during modern powder coating-and-lacquer materials have not exhausted all possibilities of improving pharmaceutical compositions and expanding the assortment as well as modernizing their production technology the relatively short period of their development. The composition of the thermosetting powder coating contains five key components: polymer resin, hardener, pigments, fillers and functional additives. In general, the polymer resin and hardener play a key role in ensuring necessary mechanical characteristics and lifespan of the powder coating. In this case, the role of functional (modifying) additives is extremely important to obtain characteristics that are often fundamentally required to meet predetermined technical specifications of the products and needs of end users. Additives play an important role in forming properties of powder coatings and coatings based on them as they have become their integral part for several main reasons: because of control of rheological properties, surface defects as well as light and temperature stabilization of coatings. The study deals influence of modifying additives on properties of the powder coating. The authors using rheological and degassing modifying additives with different nature of the main active substance. It was found that the additives based on the acrylate polymer adsorbed on the silicon dioxide in the form of Byk-3900P and on the polyoxyethylene derivative of the castor oil in the form of Luvotix R400 decreasing the surface tension in the coating film, which, in its turn, contributes to the increase in the wettability of base during the melting of the powder coating, decrease the ‘orange peel’ effect during the cross-linking, reduction in pinholes on the obtained surface and improvement of mechanical characteristics of the coating. At the same time, rheological additives based on the bentonite in the form of Luvogel 4B and on the hydrophilic silicon dioxide in the form of Cab-o-sil M5 cause the increase in the surface tension in the coating film, which, in its turn, leads to the worsening of flow, appearance and mechanical characteristics of the powder coating.