Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2008. / Additional advisors: Uday K. Vaidya, Derrick R. Dean, Nikhilesh Chawla, Mark Weaver. Description based on contents viewed Oct. 7, 2008; title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the Internet.

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Properties of plasticized thermoplastic com and pulse starches and their blends with poly (lactic acid) (PLA) were studied. Water and glycerol acted as plasticizer components for a ratio of starch/glycerol/water (wt/wt) fixed at 50/36/14 based on previous studies. PLA was used in blends to improve the properties of thermoplastic starch (TPS). Maleic anhydride (MA) was used as a coupling agent to increase the miscibility of PLA and TPS phases. Cloisite 30B, a type of organoclay, was added into the material system to improve the properties of blends. In order to enhance the hydrophobicity, alkyl ketene dimmer (AKD), used as a sizing agent, were introduced to material system. Both internal and surface sizing methods were applied. Measurements of rheological and mechanical properties were performed on a Rosand capillary rheometer and Instron tensile testing machine. The thermal and morphological properties of blends were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. The contact angles were measured using a goniometer equipped with a video camera and a computer with drop shape analysis software for calculating the contact angles. The use of maleic anhydride as a coupling agent significantly improved the tensile strength and modulus of blends and the blend morphologies were more homogeneous. Improvements in tensile strength and modulus were achieved as Cloisite 30B nanoclay was used as a filler in TPS/PLAgMA blends. Some hydrophobicity was obtained for blends with Cloisite 30B. Blends ofTPS/PLAgMA/clay showed shear-thinning behaviors at 150°C . . / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

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Resumo: A utilização de matrizes termoplásticas de elevado desempenho tem evoluído progressivamente como uma alternativa para aplicações aeronáuticas, dentre estas destaca-se o PPS (polisulfeto de fenileno). Durante sua vida útil, as aeronaves são expostas a uma grande variedade de condições ambientais que, associadas aos diversos tipos de carregamentos, encontram-se sujeitas a diversos tipos de tensões mecânicas. Dentre os processos disponíveis de união de peças a soldagem por resistência elétrica para compósitos vem sendo considerada, consistindo este processo na atuação de uma corrente elétrica entre as partes a serem unidas gerando o calor necessário para que ocorra a fusão da matriz. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar o efeito da temperatura, umidade e salinidade na resistência ao cisalhamento e no comportamento dinâmico mecânico do compósito PPS/fibras contínuas soldado pelo método de resistência elétrica. Com esta finalidade, placas de PPS reforçadas com camadas de tecidos de fibras de carbono e de vidro (compósito híbrido) foram soldadas pelo método de resistência elétrica. Os materiais, soldado e não soldado, foram caracterizados pelas técnicas de microscopia óptica, ultrassom, TGA (termogravimetria) e TMA (análise termomecânica). Após a realização desta caracterização inicial, os materiais soldados foram condicionados em ambiente higrotérmico, rico em névoa salina e em câmara de choque térmico e, posteriormente, foram ensaiados pelos métodos de cisalhamento ILSS e Iosipescu além de análise térmica por DMA (análise dinâmico-mecânica). De acordo com os resultados obtidos, todos os condicionamentos utilizados alteraram as propriedades de cisalhamento e temperatura de transição vítrea do material soldado / Abstract: The thermoplastic matrixes applications are continually increasing as an alternative for aeronautical applications. Among them, the PPS (polyphenilene sulphate) presents a linear structure and high crystallinity (60-65%). During lifetime, airplanes are exposed to a large variety of environmental conditions, which, associated to many kinds of loadings, make them susceptible to many mechanical tensions. One of the junction processes, the resistance welding consists in the actuation of an electric current between the parts to be jointed, creating heat until the matrix starts to soften/merge. The objective of this work is to evaluate the effect of temperature, moisture and salinity on the shear mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of the carbon fiber/PPS composite, welded with the electric resistance method. Therefore, hybrid carbon PPS plates were welded to glass PPS with the electric resistance method. The welded and non-welded materials were characterized by microscopy, ultra-sound, TGA and TMA. Then, the welded materials were conditioned in hygrothermal environment, saline fog and thermal shock. The conditioning samples are tested by the ILSS and Iosipescu shear method, and DMA thermal analysis. According to the results, the conditioning has altered the shear and vitreous transition properties of the welded materials / Orientador: Edson Cocchieri Botelho / Coorientador: Luiz Cláudio Pardini / Banca: Michelle Leali Costa / Banca: José Maria Fernandes Marlet / Mestre

One of the most important areas of the application of industrial microwave technology for materials processing is curing polymers and polymer based composites, and this is currently in a state of considerable flux. Curing of thermosetting composites in multi-mode applicators and joining of a range of thermoplastics in ridged waveguides have been some of the major achievements in the field. This research extends the applications horizon of microwaves in the area of random fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites joining and places emphasis on the development of facilities and methodologies aiming at maximising bond quality. It discusses the fixed frequency microwave equipment used, including a 0.8 kW variable control power generator operating at 2.45 GHz, waveguide and a tuning piston designed for obtaining a standing wave at the seam of the butted and lapped test pieces. The effect of power input and cycle time is detailed together with the underlying principles of test piece material interactions with the electromagnetic field. The process of heterogenous joining, with filler material, or primer, of 33% by weight of random glass fibre reinforced nylon 66, polystyrene (PS) and low density polyethylene (LDPE), thermoplastic composites is mentioned together with the process of autogenous joining of 33% by weight of random carbon fibre reinforced polystyrene (PS) and low density polyethylene (LDPE). The weldability dependence on the dielectric constant, dielectric loss, and hence loss tangent of these materials is also described and investigated. Measurements of the dielectric properties were carried out using the waveguide transmission, probe kit and resonant cavity techniques. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for surface analysis was carried out to assess if the filler material had diffused into the parent thermoplastic composite materials. Bond strength measurements of the welded thermoplastic composites were obtained using tensile shear tests. A variable frequency microwave (VFM) facility was also used to join the thermoplastic composites and bond strength results obtained were compared with those procured by the fixed frequency microwave configuration. From the measured data of LDPE/GF (33%), PS/GF (33%) and nylon 66/GF (33%), it was found that at relatively high temperatures and frequencies, these materials became less reflective and permitted more microwave energy to be absorbed. At the same time, their dielectric loss factor increased with temperature and frequency and enabled more of the absorbed energy to be converted to heat. Therefore, within limits, higher temperatures and higher frequencies were more suitable for microwave-assisted joining of the three materials tested. As to the primer/filler, only liquid rapid Araldite was found to be the most favourable in microwave-assisted joining of fibre reinforced thermoplastic (FRTP) composites because of its considerably high value of loss tangent. Another important finding was that the dielectric probe method was found to be the recommended technique to use for measurements of �ՄS and tan �� in microwave joining of materials out of all the methods applied. However, for low loss materials, the values of tan �� need to be acquired through the resonance cavity method.