Durch die Kombination verschiedener Werkstoffklassen ermöglichen Hybridverbunde die Entwicklung von Strukturbauteilen, die sich beispielsweise durch eine hohe Festigkeit bei einem gleichzeitig geringen Gewicht auszeichnen. Trotz des großen Einsatzpotentials wurden Hybridverbunde, begründet durch eine kostenintensive und zeitaufwendige Fertigung, bislang nicht für Großserienbauteile vorgesehen. Mit der Konzeption intrinsischer, das heißt einstufiger, Produktionsprozesse wird es jedoch gelingen die Attraktivität zu steigern und damit die Anwendung von Hybridverbunden unter anderem auch in der Automobilindustrie zu etablieren. Exemplarisch soll im Rahmen dieser Arbeit die Entwicklung eines intrinsischen Hybridverbundes für crashbelastete Strukturbauteile simulativ begleitet werden. Der dabei betrachtete Hybridverbund besteht aus einem endlosfaserverstärktem Kunststoff, in den ein metallischer Einleger eingebracht ist. Zur Realisierung der Anbindung der Komponenten sieht das Konzept des Hybridverbundes die Kombination von Form- und Stoffschluss vor. Dabei resultiert der Stoffschluss aus der Beschichtung des metallischen Einlegers, die die Ausbildung eines Interface bewirkt. Zur Realisierung des Formschlusses werden während des überlagerten Umformprozesses lokal Formschlusselemente des metallischen Einlegers in den endlosfaserverstärkten Kunststoff gepresst. Dadurch weisen die resultierenden Bauteile eine komplexe innere Struktur auf, die die simulative Analyse und damit die Bauteilauslegung erschwert. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit besteht in der Modellierung und Simulation dieses intrinsischen Hybridverbundes. Dazu ist zunächst das Materialverhalten aller Komponenten durch adäquate Materialmodelle für große Deformationen abzubilden. Für deren Entwicklung wird ein Konzept zur Materialmodellierung aufgegriffen und erweitert, das die Formulierung auf der Basis direkt verschalteter rheologischer Elemente ermöglicht. Nach entsprechenden Parameteridentifikationen werden die Materialmodelle im Rahmen von Finite-Elemente-Simulationen eines aus dem Hybridverbund gefertigten Demonstratorbauteils angewendet. Dabei ermöglicht das Vorgehen zur Modellerstellung die Berücksichtigung und Bewertung von Einflüssen der intrinsischen Fertigung auf das Bauteilverhalten. / Hybrid parts, combining for example low weight with high strength, are based on the combination of different material classes. Despite an enormous potential for applications, hybrid composites are not well established for large series parts due to the expensive and complex production. To increase the number of applications, intrinsic, i.e. single-step, manufacturing processes are designed. Within this work, the development of an intrinsic hybrid composite for crash-relevant structural parts is supported by simulations. The considered hybrid composite is made up of a fibre-reinforced polymer, in which a metallic insert is integrated. The connection between these components is based on a combination of geometrical form fit and adhesive bonding. On one hand, adhesive bonds result from a coating of the metallic insert. On the other hand, local form fit elements are pressed into the fibre reinforced polymer during the global forming process. Consequently, the resulting parts, manufactured in just one step, show a complex inner structure, which make simulative analyses and dimensioning more difficult. Within the work at hand, the main research goal is the modelling and simulation of this intrinsic hybrid composite. To this end, the mechanical behaviour of all individual components has to be described by appropriate material models at large strains. For those developments, a concept of material modelling, which enables the formulation based on directly connected rheological elements, is adopted and extended. After identifying the according material parameters, these material models are applied within finite element simulations of a demonstrator made up of the hybrid composite. Thereby, the applied procedure for creating finite element models allows to consider and evaluate how the intrinsic manufacturing process affects the mechanical behaviour of the parts.

L’utilisation du Polyamide 66 dans l’industrie automobile est en forte croissance car il offre à un bon compromis légèreté/propriétés mécaniques pour les applications de structure. A noter que pendant le service d’un véhicule, les pièces en polyamides sont souvent soumises à des sollicitations mécaniques très sévères aboutissant à une dégradation progressive du matériau. Récemment. E. Mourglia-Seignobos (thèse 2009), a montré que l’endommagement du polyamide 66 implique des mécanismes de cavitation et de microcraquelure dans la phase amorphe. Afin d'améliorer la durabilité de ce matériau, nous avons modifié la cohésion de sa phase amorphe via l'introduction de fonction phénolique à forte interactions intermoléculaires. Nous proposons une méthode de préparation de copolyamides bloc, à base du polyamide 66 et des noyaux phénoliques, par extrusion réactive. Nous montrons que, contrairement à la co-polycondensation classique, la structure cristalline de ces copolymères n’a pas été significativement modifiée, surtout à faible taux de PA6HIA. Les propriétés mécaniques et particulièrement la tenue en fatigue de ces copolymères dépassent largement celles du PA66. Les résultats obtenus mettent en évidence l’impact de la cohésion de la phase amorphe sur les propriétés ultimes de polymères semi-cristallins d’une part, et ouvrent la voie vers une meilleure augmentation de la durabilité de ces matériaux via le perfectionnement de leur phase cristalline d’autre part. / The use of polyamides in the automotive industry has grown significantly over the last years with the demand to reduce vehicle weight and also to increase fuel efficiency. Polyamide 66 having excellent chemical resistance, mechanical strength and toughness becomes the largest engineering thermoplastic used in automotive components. These latter are often submitted to repeated stress during service and their mechanical properties decline progressively until the failure. E. Mourglia-Seignobos (thesis 2009), pointed out that damage of polyamide 66 involves voids nucleation and growth in the amorphous phase. In order to improve the durability of this material, we tailored the cohesive energy of its amorphous phase by introducing phenolic moieties offering strong intermolecular H-bonds interactions. We proposed a preparation method of block copolyamides containing aliphatic polyamide 66 and phenolic groups (PA6HIA) by reactive extrusion. Microstructural characterizations pointed out that crystalline properties of resulting copolymers are not significantly altered at low PA6HIA content and that reactive extrusion is more appropriate than the in-situ copolymerization for the preparation of these materials. We showed that PA66/6HIA copolyamides having undisturbed crystalline features exhibit superior mechanical performance than the standard PA66, particularly longer lifetime under cyclic loading. The results of this work put in evidence the impact of the amorphous phase on the ultimate properties of semi-crystalline polymers in one hand, and open the way to a better increase of the durability of these materials by improving their crystalline features in another hand.

Polyamide 6/SiO2 hybrid materials were produced by a coupled polymerization reaction of three monomeric components namely 1,1′,1′′,1′′′-silanetetrayltetrakis-(azepan-2-one) (Si(ε-CL)4), 6-aminocaproic acid (ε-ACA) and ε-caprolactam (ε-CL) within one process. Si(ε-CL)4 together with ε-ACA has been found suitable as a precursor monomer for the silica and PA6 components. The accurate adjustment of the molar ratio of both components, as well as the combination of the overall process for producing the polyamide 6/SiO2 hybrid material with the hydrolytic ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactam is of great importance to achieve homogeneous products with a low extractable content. Water in comparison with ε-ACA has been found unsuitable as an oxygen source to produce uniformly distributed silica. The procedure was carried out in a commercial laboratory autoclave at 8 bar initial pressure. The molecular structure and morphology of the hybrid materials have been investigated by solid state 29Si and 13C NMR spectroscopy, DSC and FTIR spectroscopy and electron microscopy measurements. / Dieser Beitrag ist aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Los nuevos ferrocarriles de Alta Velocidad Española (AVE) suponen, respecto a su predecesor, la línea Madrid-Sevilla, un incremento en la velocidad máxima, pasando de los 280-300 km/h de la línea original a los 350 km/h que se pretende alcanzar en los nuevos trazados. Este incremento de velocidad origina mayores solicitaciones que afectan a la superestructura de la vía y, por ello, se hace necesario un redimensionado de todos los parámetros de diseño del trazado. Entre los componentes de la superestructura se encuentra el sistema de sujeción. Este sistema está constituido por un conjunto de pequeños elementos de vía que fijan el carril a la traviesa dando continuidad estructural a la vía. El sistema de sujeción cobra mayor importancia debido a este incremento de los esfuerzos originado por el aumento de las velocidades, convirtiéndose en un elemento clave de la superestructura de vía. Esta Tesis, pretende, en primer lugar, encontrar el sistema óptimo de sujeción que se adapte a las exigencias establecidas por la administración en el "Pliego de bases para el suministro de sujeciones" para ferrocarriles de alta velocidad. En segundo lugar, una vez definido el sistema, analizar el comportamiento de la sujeción, tanto desde el punto de vista individual de cada componente, como desde el punto de vista global. Este análisis incluye la totalidad de propiedades importantes del sistema, desde las mecánicas, ya sean estáticas o dinámicas, hasta las eléctricas, pasando, entre otras, por las de durabilidad y deterioro. También, se estudiarán las posibles variaciones sufridas por estas propiedades en función de parámetros externos, como pueden ser los de carácter ambiental, e internos propios del sistema de sujeción. / The new Spanish High Speed Railways (AVE) involve, regarding its predecessor, Madrid-Seville line, an increase in the maximum speed, going from 280-300 km / h of the original line to 350 km / h that expects in the new routes. This speedup produces greater efforts that affect the superstructure of the track and, therefore, resizing of all design parameters of the track is required. The fastening system is among the components of the superstructure. This system is made up of a set of small track pieces that fasten the rail to the sleeper giving structural continuity to the track. The fastening system is becoming more important because of this greater efforts caused by the increased speeds, becoming a key element of the track superstructure. The aim of this thesis is, first, to find the optimum fastening system that well suits the requirements set by the administration in the "Terms for the supply of fasteners" for high speed railways. Secondly, this thesis, once the system has defined; analyzes the behaviour of the fastening, both from the point of view of individual component, and from a global perspective. This analysis includes all the important properties of the system, from the mechanical properties, whether static or dynamic, to the electrical properties, besides the hardness and deterioration. Also, the possible changes undergone for these properties depending of external parameters, such as the environmental measure, and own internal parameters of the fastening system were studied.

[pt] Nos últimos anos surgiram algumas alternativas para as tubulações de aço carbono que são a grande maioria no transporte de petróleo e gás, com grande destaque para os materiais poliméricos, principalmente por apresentarem baixa densidade em relação aos metais, boa resistência à corrosão e boa processabilidade. Além disso, os polímeros apresentam maior facilidade de manutenção e instalação, tornando-os economicamente viáveis. No entanto, esses materiais podem sofrer degradação quando expostos a produtos químicos e ao calor. O objetivo desse trabalho e avaliar a variação das propriedades mecânicas das poliamidas 12 e dos polietilenos de alta densidade quando envelhecidos em água durante 6 meses a temperatura ambiente e a 70 graus Celsius, tendo em vista que a temperatura de serviço desses materiais varia entre 70 a 80 graus Celsius. Para a caracterização do material foram realizados, ensaio mecânicos de tração, impacto de excitação por impulso sonoro, como a caracterização por microscopia eletrônica. Os resultados das caracterizações das amostras após envelhecimento foram comparados com os resultados obtidos dos materiais originais, de forma a percebermos que todas as amostras sofreram variações em suas propriedades mecânicas. A temperatura ambiente as amostras de PEAD sofreram um aumento em sua rigidez, aumentando sua resiliência, reduzindo sua resistência ao impacto, reduzindo também a tensão de escoamento e reduzindo seu amortecimento. Já para as amostras de PEAD envelhecidas a 70 graus Celsius houve uma redução na sua rigidez e tensão de escoamento, no entanto houve um aumento em sua resistência ao impacto e na resiliência do material. Para as poliamidas 12 envelhecidas a temperatura ambiente houve uma significativa redução na sua rigidez, na sua tensão de escoamento e tensão máxima, houve um aumento na resiliência do material coerente com um aumento da resistência ao impacto e um aumento no amolecimento. A 70 graus Celsius a poliamida 12 mostrou uma redução na sua rigidez, tensão de escoamento e tensão máxima, houve um aumento na resiliência e na resistência ao impacto, seguido de uma redução no amolecimento. Em todas as situações de envelhecimento as PEAD sofreram uma degradação na cor do material, o que não ficou tão visível para as poliamidas 12 principalmente para o envelhecimento a temperatura ambiente. Sendo assim o comportamento mecânico dos polímeros foi influenciado pela temperatura, sempre acarretando variações em suas propriedades mecânicas e dependendo da situação podendo ser mais ou menos relevante. / [en] In recent years, some alternatives have emerged for carbon steel pipelines, which are the majority in the transport of oil and gas, with a great prominence for polymeric materials, mainly due to their low metal density, good corrosion resistance and good processability. In addition, the polymers present greater ease of maintenance and installation, making them economically viable. However, such materials may be degraded when exposed to chemicals and heat. The objective of this work is to evaluate the variation of the mechanical properties of polyamides 12 and high density polyethylenes when aged in water for 6 months at ambient temperature and at 70 degrees Celsius, considering that the service temperature of these materials ranges from 70 to 80 degrees Celsius. For the characterization of the material, mechanical tests of traction, impact and excitation by sonorous impulse were carried out, such as the characterization by electron microscopy. The results of the characterization of the samples after aging were compared with the results obtained from the original materials, in order to realize that all the samples suffered variations in their mechanical properties. At ambient temperature samples of HDPE increased their stiffness, increasing their resilience, reducing their impact resistance, also reducing the yield stress and reducing their damping. However, for HDPE samples aged 70 degrees Celsius, there was a reduction in their stiffness and yield stress, however, there was an increase in their impact strength and material resilience. For polyamides 12 aged at ambient temperature there was a significant reduction in stiffness, flow stress and maximum stress, there was an increase in the resilience of the material consistent with an increase in impact strength and an increase in softening. At 70 degrees Celsius polyamide 12 showed a reduction in stiffness, yield stress and maximum stress, there was an increase in resilience and impact strength, followed by a reduction in softening. In all aging situations the HDPE suffered a degradation in the color of the material, which was not so visible for the polyamides 12 mainly for aging at ambient temperature. Thus, the mechanical behavior of the polymers was influenced by temperature, always leading to variations in their mechanical properties and depending on the situation, being more or less relevant.

Submitted by Aelson Maciera (aelsoncm@terra.com.br) on 2017-05-25T19:49:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissBDQ.pdf: 27222907 bytes, checksum: eb17b232bd0096bfa1e0fb1dd7f4bf74 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-05-30T13:44:57Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissBDQ.pdf: 27222907 bytes, checksum: eb17b232bd0096bfa1e0fb1dd7f4bf74 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-05-30T13:45:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissBDQ.pdf: 27222907 bytes, checksum: eb17b232bd0096bfa1e0fb1dd7f4bf74 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-30T13:50:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissBDQ.pdf: 27222907 bytes, checksum: eb17b232bd0096bfa1e0fb1dd7f4bf74 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-10-06 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / In this study nanocomposites of polyamide-6 (PA-6) reinforced with silica nanoparticles (SiO2) were prepared in order to promote improved mechanical properties for engineering applications. The nanoparticles’ surfaces were chemically modified with the silane agent 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (3- APTMS) to improve the chemical and physical interactions between them and the PA-6 matrix. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy (FT-IR) showed that 3-APTMS grafting on nanoparticles surface was accomplished. The nanocomposites mixing process was studied in two forms: by torque rheometry, using a torque rheometer internal mixer; and in a co-rotating and intermeshing twin-screw extruder. A preliminary study of the influence of processing variables at the torque rheometer on the degradation of polyamide-6 matrix was performed. The results showed that the greater the filling volume of the mixture in the chamber and the rotational speed of the rheometer’s rotors, the lower the degradation of the polyamide-6. Based on this preliminary study, compositions with 1, 2, and 4 % weight of SiO2 nanoparticles, both unmodified and chemically modified with 3-APTMS were prepared in the torque rheometer. The nanocomposites were compression molded and it was observed that nanocomposites reinforced with 1 wt.% SiO2, both unmodified and surface-modified, presented the best tensile properties. For the nanocomposite samples processed in the twin-screw extruder, the influence of relevant variables – nanoparticle content, chemical surface modification, physical form of the fed PA-6 (granule and powder), rotational speed of screws and extruder feed rate – on mechanical, thermal, and dynamic-mechanical properties were studied. The samples were afterwards injection molded and it was observed that the samples produced using 1 wt.% surface-modified and 100% finely ground PA-6 showed the higher tensile modulus and yield strength values. / Neste estudo foram preparados nanocompósitos de poliamida 6 (PA6) reforçados com nanopartículas de sílica (SiO2), com o objetivo de promover melhoria de propriedades mecânicas para aplicações de engenharia. A superfície das nanopartículas foi modificada quimicamente com o agente silano 3-aminopropiltrimetoxisilano (3-APTMS) para melhorar as interações químicas e físicas entre elas e a matriz de PA6. Análises de ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN) e espectroscopia de absorção no infravermelho por transformada de Fourier (FT-IR) mostraram que houve sucesso na funcionalização das nanopartículas com o agente silano. O processo de mistura dos nanocompósitos foi estudado de duas formas: por meio de reometria de torque em um misturador interno; e em extrusora com rosca dupla co-rotacional e interpenetrante. Um estudo preliminar da influência das variáveis de processamento no reômetro de torque sobre a degradação da poliamida 6, mostrou que quanto maior o volume de preenchimento da câmara de mistura e a velocidade de rotação dos rotores do reômetro, menor foi a degradação da poliamida 6. Com base neste estudo preliminar, foram preparadas no reômetro de torque composições com 1, 2 e 4% em massa de nanopartículas de SiO2 não modificadas e modificadas quimicamente com 3- APTMS. Os nanocompósitos obtidos foram moldados por compressão, tendo sido observado que os nanocompósitos reforçados com 1 %m. de SiO2 não modificada apresentaram as melhores propriedades mecânicas de resistência à tração e deformação na ruptura em ensaio de tração, enquanto os nanocompósitos com 1 %m. de nanosílica modificada apresentaram as melhores propriedades mecânicas de módulo elástico também no ensaio de tração. Para as amostras de nanocompósitos processadas na extrusora de rosca dupla, foram estudadas as influências do teor de nanopartículas, da modificação química superficial, da forma física da PA6 alimentada (grânulo e pó), da velocidade de rotação das roscas e da taxa de alimentação da extrusora sobre as propriedades mecânicas, térmicas e dinâmico-mecânicas. Posteriormente, os corpos de prova foram moldados por injeção e observou-se que a amostra cuja composição polimérica foi de 100% de PA6 fina e reforçada com 1 %m. de nanosílica modificada superficialmente pelo agente silano 3- APTMS apresentou os maiores valores de módulo de elasticidade e de tensão no escoamento no ensaio mecânico sob tração.

This work studied the rheological and mechanical properties of polyamide 12 modified montmorillonite clays and bentonita (the organo-modified commercial montmorillonite and a bentonite modified by various routes. Two polyamides 12 were used for the polyamide matrix, a virgin and another reprocessed. The polyamide 12 reprocessed was derived from tailings lines of fluid transport in automotive vehicles. Ten different compositions were prepared in single-screw extruder, and subsequently molded test specimens by injection. For formulations reprocessed polyamide 12, were added 5 to 7 wt.% of a commercial organo-modified montmorillonite ( I44P ) and the virgin polyamide 12 , 3 and 5 wt.%. For virgin polyamide matrix, also formulations were studied with 3 and 5% by weight of bentonite treated with Agent Titanate. The nanocomposite structure formation was evaluated by X-ray diffraction. For all developed formulations, mechanical and rheological tests, and their results were correlated performed: polyamide matrices, the content and the treatments of the clays. Clay dispersion and morphology of the fracture surface were analyzed by SEM. The analysis results showed distinct mechanical and rheological behaviors depending on the type of matrix, the degree of dispersion of clay, content and type of treatment of clays. There was formation of nanocomposites for polyamide 12 modified with I44P clay and composites for polyamide 12 modified bentonite. The rheological properties confirm the increase of the elastic properties of the nanocomposites due to the restriction to macromolecular mobility. The addition of organophilic commercial montmorillonite (I44P) promoted the increased stiffness of the nanocomposites without significant loss of toughness. / Este trabalho estudou as propriedades reológicas e mecânicas de poliamida 12 modificadas com montmorilonitas, sendo uma montmorilonita organofilica comercial (I44P) e montmorilonita sódica (bentonita) modificada por diversas rotas. Para a matriz de poliamida, foram utilizadas duas poliamidas 12, sendo uma virgem e a outra reprocessada oriunda de rejeito de linhas de transporte de fluídos em veículos automotores. Foram preparadas dez composições diferentes em extrusora monorrosca e, posteriormente, moldados corpos de prova por injeção. Para as formulações de poliamida 12 reprocessada, foram adicionados 5 e 7% em massa de montmorilonita organofílica comercial e para a poliamida 12 virgem, 3 e 5%. Para esta mesma matriz de poliamida virgem, também foram estudadas formulações com 3 e 5% em massa das bentonitas tratadas com agente titanato. A formação de estrutura de nanocompósitos foi avaliada por difração de raios-X. Para todas as formulações desenvolvidas, foram realizados ensaios mecânicos e reológicos, e seus resultados correlacionados com: as matrizes de poliamida, o teor e os tratamentos das argilas. A dispersão da argila e a morfologia da superfície de fratura foram avaliadas por MEV. Os resultados das análises mostraram comportamentos mecânicos e reológicos distintos em função do tipo de matriz, grau de dispersão das argilas, o teor e o tipo de tratamento das argilas. Houve formação de nanocompósitos para poliamida 12 modificada com a argila I44P e de compósitos para poliamida 12 modificada com bentonitas. As propriedades reológicas confirmam o aumento das propriedades elásticas dos nanocompósitos devido à restrição a mobilidade macromolecular. A adição da montmorilonita organofilica comercial (I44P) promoveu o aumento da rigidez dos nanocompósitos sem perdas significativas da tenacidade.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:36:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Leandro Cardoso da Silva.pdf: 4262718 bytes, checksum: ac43795cdc56049895a5038a95097702 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-01-27 / Mounts are considered structural parts. Generally, mounts utilize metals such as aluminum and steel. These metals have high fatigue strength and its degradation temperature transmitted by the engines is very small. This work aimed to study the replacement of the aluminum mounts engine by glass fiber reinforced polyamide composite in order to reduce the mass. Polyamide reinforced with fiberglass is the choice that offers the best compromise of a recyclable material, with adequate thermal and fatigue resistance. The composite used was the commercial polyamide PA66 with 0%, 30%, 35%, 50% glass fiber. This study will focus mainly on the fatigue properties of the composite at temperatures of engine operation. The fatigue tests of the composite with glass fiber additions were performed on flexure specimens at 120°C. The fatigue behavior of the composite was analyzed using the staircase method. The results obtained in fatigue tests showed that the polyamide with 50% glass fiber has the lowest deflection. The observations of the fracture surfaces of the tested specimens were made by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). These observations by SEM showed an excellent adhesion of glass fiber in the polyamide. Analyzes will also be conducted by simulation using the Finite Element Method (FEM) from fatigue results and the conditions of use of the component. The comparison by the FEM of the mounts manufactured of glass fiber reinforced polyamide composite and of aluminum alloy indicated similar results with respect to stress levels. The fatigue tests results and of the simulation by finite element method showed a good possibility of substitution of the aluminum alloy by glass fiber reinforced polyamide composite in the mounts, with a reduction in weight of 0.2 kg (32%). / Os coxins são considerados dentro das classificações automobilísticas como peças estruturais. Geralmente, os coxins utilizam metais como o alumínio e o aço em seus suportes. Esses metais oferecem grande resistência à fadiga e sua degradação na temperatura transmitida pelos motores é muito pequena. Devido à necessidade de diminuir a massa e reduzir o custo, este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a substituição do suporte de alumínio do coxim do motor pelo compósito de poliamida reforçado com fibra de vidro. O compósito de poliamida é a escolha que melhor oferece o compromisso de um material reciclável, com resistência térmica e à fadiga, devido às suas propriedades mecânicas serem comparáveis às do alumínio. O compósito utilizado foi à poliamida comercial PA 6.6 com 0%, 30%, 35%, 50% de fibra de vidro. Este estudo focará principalmente nas propriedades em fadiga do compósito nas temperaturas de trabalho e nas análises de simulação decorrentes das propriedades obtidas e das condições de utilização do componente. Os ensaios de fadiga do compósito de poliamida com adições de porcentagens variadas de fibra de vidro foram executados em corpos de prova do tipo de flexão a 120°C. O comportamento em fadiga do compósito foi analisado utilizando-se o método staircase. As observações das superfícies de fratura dos corpos de prova ensaiados foram feitas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura e evidenciaram a excelente aderência da poliamida na fibra de vidro. Os resultados obtidos nos ensaios de fadiga, esforços máximos e esforços excepcionais permitiram concluir que o compósito de poliamida com 50% de fibra de vidro apresenta a menor deflexão. A comparação pelo Método de Elementos Finitos do suporte do coxim do motor em compósito de poliamida com reforço de fibra de vidro e da liga de alumínio indicou, de uma maneira geral, resultados similares com relação aos níveis de tensão. Contudo, os valores de deflexão apresentaram valores sistematicamente maiores no compósito. Os resultados dos ensaios mostram um bom comportamento do compósito de poliamida, dando indícios sobre a viabilidade de utilização na substituição da liga de alumínio, com uma redução em massa de 0,2 kg (32%).

Polyethylene (PE) resins being non-polar in nature and having a high degree of crystallinity have limited miscibility and compatibility when blended with polar polymers. The miscibility and compatibility of these blends are generally worsened when they are prepared by direct injection moulding without a precompounding process. Such situations are commonly encountered in particular by polymer converters when blending colour and/or additive concentrates, commonly known as masterbatches. Typically, masterbatches are mixtures containing high loading of pigments and/or additives predispersed in a suitable solid vehicle (commonly known as carrier) such as a polyethylene resin. These masterbatches are usually used for the colouration of a wide range of polymers and the carrier used must therefore be compatible with these matrix (host) polymers. The preliminary stage of this study involved the investigation of the properties of blends based on high density polyethylene (HDPE) and a range of engineering thermoplastics (ABS, PC, PBT, PA6), prepared by injection moulding. Five different types of compatibilisers namely, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, ethylene-methyl acrylate (EMA) copolymer, ethylene-glycidyl methacrylate (E-GMA) copolymer, ethylene-methyl acrylateglycidyl methacrylate (E-MA-GMA) terpolymer and maleic anhydride grafted HDPE (HDPE-g-MAH) copolymer were evaluated with respect to their efficiencies in compatibilising HDPE with the four engineering polymers. The pre-compounded HDPE/compatibiliser binary blends at 2 different blend ratios (1:1 and 3:1) were added at 15 wt% concentration to each engineering thermoplastics and test samples were produced directly by injection moulding. Results of mechanical testing and characterisation of the blends showed that glycidyl methacrylate compatibilisers, E-MA-GMA, in particular have the most universal compatibilising effectiveness for a range of engineering thermoplastics including ABS, PC, PBT, and PA6. Blends compatibilised with E-MA-GMA compatibiliser had the best notched impact performance irrespective of matrix polymer type. The presence of an acrylic ester (methyl acrylate) comonomer in E-MA-GMA resulted in increased polarity of the ii compatibiliser leading to improved miscibility with the polar matrix polymers demonstrated by fine blend morphologies, melting point depression and reduction in crystallinity of the HDPE dispersed phase. The second stage of this study involved the reactive modification of HDPE using a low molecular weight di-functional solid diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) type epoxy resin compatibilised with HDPE-g-MAH in an attempt to improve its compatibility with ABS, PBT and PA6. The maleic anhydride moieties in HDPE-g-MAH served as reactive sites for anchoring the epoxy moieties while the HDPE backbone was miscible with the HDPE resin. An excessive amount of reactive groups resulted in the formation of crosslinked gels while the addition of EVA co-compatibiliser helped in the reduction of gel content and further improved the dispersion of the epoxy. The effectiveness of epoxy grafted HDPE (with and without EVA co-compatibiliser) in compatibilising ABS/HDPE, PBT/HDPE, and PA6/HDPE was investigated by injection moulding of 5 wt% functionalised HDPE with these matrix polymers into test bars for mechanical testing, and characterisation by differential scanning calorimtery (DSC) and optical microscopy. The reactively functionalised HDPE blends, improved the mechanical properties of ABS and PA6 blends especially with EVA as co-compatibiliser. However, the mechanical properties of PBT blends were unmodified by the functionalised HDPE which was believed to be due to end-capping of the PBT chain-ends by ungrafted epoxy resins.

Objectives. Polyamide-12 (PA) is a flexible material suited for denture bases and clasping. This study investigated its potential aging effects with a focus on surface roughness, color stability, and elasticity. Methods. PA specimens (Valplast) of 40 × 10 × 2mm and equally measuring PMMA specimens (Palapress) as control were fabricated. Color changes after storage in air, water, coffee, and red wine (n = 10) were measured using the CIE L*a*b color specification. Elasticity after thermocycling (1000, 3000, and 7000 cycles, n = 15) was measured by three-point bending testing. Mean surface roughness (Ra) was determined after storage in the liquids mentioned above and thermocycling (n = 10). Results. Tukey’s HSD test (P < 0.05) revealed statistically significant color changes of PA in red wine (ΔE = 4.27 after 12 days, EΔE = 6.90 after 12 days) and coffee (ΔE = 3.93 after 36 days) but no color changes in PMMA. Elastic modulus of PA was 845MPa and not affected by thermocycling (Tukey’s HSD test, P > 0.81). Dry specimens showed significantly decreased elasticity (P < 0.001). Mean surface roughness (PA 0.20 μm, PMMA 0.28 μm) did not change significantly after thermocycling or storage (Mann-Whitney U-test, 0.16 < P < 0.65). Significance. PA exhibited a higher susceptibility to discoloration than PMMA. Neither surface roughness nor elasticity of PA was altered by artificial aging.