The Birth of Ordered Polymer Technology for Air Force Applications

1988 ◽  
Vol 134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred E. Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Structural Material ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Liquid Crystalline ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Fiber Reinforced Composites ◽  
Reinforced Composites ◽  
Ladder Polymers ◽  
Rigid Rod ◽  
Aromatic Heterocyclic

ABSTRACTSince the late seventies, the Air Force Materials Laboratory and Air Force Office of Scientific Research has had a very energetic program in lyotropic liquid crystalline rigid-rod polymers. The objective of the multifaceted program was the attainment of mechanical properties for a structural material comparable with those currently obtained from fiber reinforced composites. This paper will describe the orgins of this program as derived from the unique aggregation properties of aromatic heterocyclic ladder polymers.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF POROSITY ON ULTRASONIC CHARACTERISTIC PARAMETERS AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF GLASS FIBER REINFORCED COMPOSITES

2012 ◽  
Vol 06 ◽  
pp. 646-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Ma ◽  
Fushun Liu
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Ultrasonic Attenuation ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Fiber Reinforced Composites ◽  
Metallographic Analysis ◽  
Void Content ◽  
Reinforced Composites ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Characteristic Parameters ◽  
Distribution Shape

Voids are inevitable in the fabrication of fiber reinforced composites and have a detrimental impact on mechanical properties of composites. Different void contents were acquired by applying different vacuum bag pressures. Ultrasonic inspection and ablation density method were adopted to measure the ultrasonic characteristic parameters and average porosity, the characterization of voids' distribution, shape and size were carried out through metallographic analysis. Effects of void content on the tensile, flexural and interlaminar shear properties and the ultrasonic characteristic parameters were discussed. The results showed that, as vacuum bag pressure went from -50kPa to -98kPa, the voids content decreased from 4.36 to 0.34, the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient decreased, but the mechanical strengths all increased.

Recent Advances in Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Rigid-Rod Molecular Composites

1989 ◽  
Vol 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Krause ◽  
Wen-Fang Hwang
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Low Voltage ◽  
Orientation Distribution ◽  
Short Fiber ◽  
Chain Polymer ◽  
Structural Applications ◽  
Molecular Composites ◽  
Rigid Rod ◽  
Aromatic Heterocyclic

ABSTRACTRigid-rod molecular composites are a new class of high performance structural polymers which have high specific strength and modulus and also high thermal and environmental resistance. The concept of using a rigid-rod, extended chain polymer to reinforce a ductile polymer matrix at the molecular level has been demonstrated with morphological and mechanical property studies for aromatic heterocyclic systems, but new materials systems and processing techniques will be required to produce thermoplastic or thermoset molecular composites. Improved characterization and modeling will also be required. In this regard, new results on modeling of mechanical properties of molecular composites are presented and compared with experimental results. The Halpin-Tsai equations from ‘shear-lag’ theory of short fiber composites predict properties reasonably well when using the theoretical modulus of rigid-rod molecules in aromatic heterocyclic systems, but newer matrix systems will require consideration of matrix stiffness, desired rod aspect ratio, and rod orientation distribution. Application of traditional and newer morphological characterization techniques are discussed. The newer techniques include: Raman light scattering, high resolution and low voltage SEM, parallel EELS in TEM, synchrotron radiation in X-ray scattering, and ultrasound for integrity studies. The properties of molecular composites and macroscopic composites are compared and it is found that excellent potential exists for use of molecular composites in structural applications including engineering plastics, composite matrix resins, and as direct substitutes for fiber reinforced composites.

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