2009, IPF

[no abstract available]

2009, Lehmann, Dieter

[no abstract available]

2009, Schneider, K., Schone, A., Jun, T.-S., Korsunsky, A.M.

Complex structural changes occur in semi-crystalline polymers during deformation. In (nano-)filled systems the situation becomes even more complicated, since not only phase changes may take place, but also local (interfacial) failure between phases may occur. To help identify specific processes taking place within these systems, simultaneous small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) measurements were performed using synchrotron radiation during in situ deformation. Using a highly focused beam, spatially resolved local information can be extracted by scanning the beam across the deformed/damaged region within the sample. The characteristic changes in the different phases are presented and discussed. While the study of WAXS patterns gives insight into the orientation and dimensions of the crystallites, SAXS provides information about the mutual arrangement of phases and the interfacial failure phenomena. Based on the analysis of the results obtained in our experiments it will be shown that the first changes in the crystalline phase appear long before macroscopic yielding of the sample is reached, i.e. the onset of irreversible deformation takes place. In the post-yield regime radical changes are observed in both the long- and short-range structures. It is concluded that the presence of nano-fillers exerts a strong influence on the establishment of microcrystalline structure, and hence also on the deformation behaviour at the microscopic scale.

2009, Krause, Beate, Petzold, Gudrun, Pegel, Sven, Pötschke, Petra

In order to assess the dispersability of carbon nanotube materials, tubes produced under different synthesis conditions were dispersed in aqueous surfactant solutions and the sedimentation behaviour under centrifugation forces was investigated using a LUMiFuge stability analyzer. The electrical percolation threshold of the nanotubes after melt mixing in polyamide 6.6 was determined and the state of dispersion was studied. As a general tendency, the nanotubes having better aqueous dispersion stability showed lower electrical percolation threshold and better nanotube dispersion in the composites. This indicates that the investigation of the stability of aqueous dispersions is also able to give information about the nanotubes inherent dispersability in polymer melts, both strongly influenced by the entanglement and agglomerate structure of the tubes within the as-produced nanotube materials. The shape of the nanotubes in the aqueous dispersions was assessed using a SYSMEX flow particle image analyzer and found to correspond to the shape observed from cryofractured surfaces of the polymer composites. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

2009, Calvimontes, A., Grundke, K., Müller, A., Stamm, M.

For a comprehensive study of Sheet Moulding Compound (SMC) surfaces, topographical data obtained by a contact-free optical method (chromatic aberration confocal imaging) were systematically acquired to characterise these surfaces with regard to their statistical, functional and volumetrical properties. Optimal sampling conditions (cut-off length and resolution) were obtained by a topographical-statistical procedure proposed in the present work. By using different length scales specific morphologies due to the influence of moulding conditions, metallic mould topography, glass fibre content and glass fibre orientation can be characterized. The aim of this study is to suggest a systematic topographical characterization procedure for composite materials in order to study and recognize the influence of production conditions on their surface quality. © 2009 by the authors.

2009, IPF

[no abstract available]

2009, Krause, Beate, Pötschke, Petra, Häußler, Liane

Polyamide 6 (PA6) and polyamide 6.6 (PA66) were filled with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) using small scale melt mixing under variation of processing conditions, including temperature, rotation speed, and mixing time. In PA66 an electrical percolation threshold of 1 wt% MWNT was found which is lower than that of PA6 at 2.5-4 wt%. In both cases mixing conditions influenced strongly the dispersion and distribution of CNT and the electrical volume resistivity, whereas crystallisation behaviour was only slightly changed. With increasing mixing energy input remaining agglomerates were less in number and smaller, leading to better dispersion. On the other hand, in samples containing 5 wt% MWNT in PA6 electrical volume resistivity showed a minimum at a quite low energy input and then increased considerably with further input of mixing energy. This increase may be related to MWNT breaking during mixing and encapsulation of MWNT by the polyamide chains. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.