A Novel Approach to Monitor the Curing of Composite Materials in Closed Tools by the Use of Ultrasonic Spectroscopy

With an ever broadening use of composite materials manufacturers are in high demand of efficient curing cycles to reduce costs and speed up production cycles. One method to to archive this goal is active cure monitoring to determine the exact time of curing needed. This article provides a novel method to measure the cure inside of closed tools by using ultrasonic spectroscopy. For this a simple experiment is used to show the change of the ultrasonic spectrum during the cure of an epoxy. The results clearly show a direct correlation of amplitude and state of cure where the amplitude reaches a global minimum at the glass point.

Elastic properties of heavy oil sands: Effects of temperature, pressure, and microstructure

We have investigated the elastic properties of heavy oil sands influenced by the multiphase properties of heavy oil itself and the solid matrix with regard to temperature, pressure, and microstructure. To separately identify the role of the heavy oil and solid matrix under specific conditions, we have designed and performed special ultrasonic measurements for the heavy oil and heavy oil-saturated solids artificial samples. The measured data indicate that the viscosity of heavy oil reaches [Formula: see text] at the temperature of glass point, leading the heavy oil to act as a part of a solid frame of the heavy oil sand sample. The heavy oil is likely movable pore fluid accordingly once its viscosity dramatically drops to approximately [Formula: see text] at the temperature of liquid point. The viscosity-induced elastic modulus of heavy oil in turn makes the elastic properties of heavy oil-saturated grain solid sample to be temperature dependent. In addition, the rock physics model suggests that the microstructure of heavy oil sand is transitional; consequently, the solid Gassmann equation underestimates the measured velocities at the low temperature range of the quasisolid phase of heavy oil, whereas overestimates when the temperature exceeds the liquid point. The heavy oil sand sample has a higher modulus and approaches the upper bound due to the stiffer heavy oil itself acting as a rock frame as the temperature decreases. In contrary, heavy oil sand displays a lower modulus and approaches the lower bound when the heavy oil becomes softer as the temperature goes up.

Experimental Investigation of Casting Shape Memory Polyurethane

It is feasible to polymerize SMPU from MDI, PBA, BDO and DMF. Each component has a good ductility, but there are insufficient in terms of strength, glass-point temperature, crack resistance and implosion tendencies. The formulation (PBA: BDO: MDI: DMF=1: 3: (3-4): (7-8)) is recommended. SMPU polymerized by this proportion has good comprehensive properties. The effect of the two-step prepolymerization method, especially the full polymerization method is satisfactory. The composite Materials obtained from powders and particles by hot press molding and that formed by cotton fabric have good ductility. Finally, some suggestions are proposed about implosion preventing, casting crack preventing and development technology.

New Elastomers Derived from Copolymers of Tetrahydrofuran and Propylene Oxide

The homopolymers of tetrahydrofuran, polytetramethylene glycols, may be chain-extended to form polyurethane elastomers. These materials, while possessing a low glass point temperature, suffer from cold hardening, and it was decided to investigate copolymers of tetrahydrofuran and propylene oxide as elastomer ingredients. The preparation of these copolymers has been achieved by use of a boron trifluoride etherate polymerization catalyst. Details are given of the properties of both the copolymer and derived elastomers at nominal compositions in the range 50–85 weight per cent of tetrahydrofuran. The copolymers described were synthesized as ingredients for castable elastomers, and in consequence viscosity effects are important. It has been found that no significant increase in viscosity occurs until the tetrahydrofuran content exceeds 75 weight per cent. This indicates that each side methyl group exerts a screening effect over an average of 13 atoms of the polymer backbones. The mechanical testing of the derived elastomers indicates that the copolymerization of tetrahydrofuran and propylene oxide leads to material possessing a low glass point temperature and much better physical properties than the homopolymer of propylene oxide. The elastic properties of a chain-extended diol are dependent on the degree of crosslinking and on the incidence of network deficiencies. Network deficiencies are caused by the presence of monofunctional species in the copolymeric diols, and a novel technique for determining diol monofunctionality based on analysis of physical test data was evolved for these studies.