Thesis (Ph.D)--Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010. / Committee Chair: Bauchau, Olivier; Committee Member: Hodges, Dewey; Committee Member: Makeev, Andrew; Committee Member: Ozbay, Serkan; Committee Member: Ruzzene, Massimo. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.) / Dielectric elastomers (DEs) have attracted significant attention in recent years and have been found to provide excellent overall performance in actuation-based application. This thesis will introduce the fundamentals of DEs, derive the field and finite element equations for simulating its deformation, and then focus on numerically studying electromechanical instabilities, in particular electrostatically driven creep and the effect of pre-stretch on surface (creasing) instabilities. First, a nonlinear, dynamic finite element model coupled with a finite deformation viscoelastic constitutive law is utilized to study the inhomogeneous deformation and instabilities resulting from the application of a constant voltage to dielectric elastomers. Theoretical studies are performed of two problems that have been experimentally observed, i.e. electromechanical snap-through instability and bursting drops in a dielectric elastomer. In general, increasing the viscoelastic relaxation time leads to an increase in time needed to nucleate the electromechanical instability. However, it is found that the time needed to nucleate the instability of these two cases scales with the relaxation time. Second, the effect of pre-stretch on the performance of dielectric elastomers is studied. Two cases are studied, the electromechanical snap-through instability under equibiaxial pre-stress, and a strip under uniaxial pre-stretch. It is found that prestress markedly increases the stability of the elastomers, while pre-stretch increases the critical field for electro-creasing instability. / 2031-01-01

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-13T13:28:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-08-08. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2016-01-13T13:33:44Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000853119.pdf: 5284349 bytes, checksum: 9ee98ca9fa72d94d257ef878b46e5398 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O presente trabalho teve por objetivo o desenvolvimento de compósitos poliméricos através da mistura de resíduo de couro (RC), a ser utilizado como carga, com elastômeros termoplásticos obtidos por meio da compatibilização de polietileno de baixa densidade (PEBD) com borracha natural (BN) obtida a partir do látex de seringueira (clone de Hevera Brasiliensis), juntamente com agentes de cura, visando à vulcanização da BN, para que desta forma se obtivesse melhores propriedades do material. As amostras foram produzidas em um Reômetro de Torque (HAAKE, utilizando rotores tipo roller. Após o processo de reometria, as amostras foram termoprensadas para que ocorresse a vulcanização da fase elastomérica e moldagem dos corpos de prova. Os TPEs e os compósitos foram caracterizados por meio de análises mecânicas, morfológicas, estruturais e térmicas. Diante dos resultados obtidos, pretende-se direcionar o novo material para aplicações tecnológicas a fim de ser utilizado na fabricação peças de automóveis, engrenagens, entre outros. Com este novo material visa-se também direcionar uma aplicação ao resíduo de couro bovino, que é um material abundante e indesejável gerado na industrialização do couro, que pode causar sérios danos ambientais devido ao crono presente em sua estrutura / This work aimed at the development of polymr composites by mixing leather waste (RC), to use as filler, with thermoplastic elastomers obtained by the compatibility of low density polyethylene (LDPE) with natural rubber (NR) obtained latex form the rubber tree (NR) obtained latex from the rubber three (Hevea brasileiensis clone), together with curing agents, vulcanizing order to BN, for which thereby obtain the best properties of the material. The samples were produced on a HAAKE torque rheometer using roller type rotors. After the processes of rheometer, samples were pressed to occur term vulcanization of the elastomeric phase and molding of speciments. The TPEs and composites were characterized by means of mechanical, morphological, structural and thermal analysis. Based on these results, we intend to drive new material for technological applications to be used in manufacturing automobile parts, gears, among others. With this new material also pretends to direct an application to the reside of bovide leather, which is an abundant and undersirable material generated in the manufacturing of leather, which can cause serious environmental damage due to the chromium present in its structure

Neste trabalho, compósitos de elastômero termoplástico de poliuretano (TPU) foram preparados com diferentes teores de argila (0, 1, 3 e 10% m/m). A argila Cloisite 30B (C30B) foi incorporada na matriz de TPU via processamento por fusão (extrusora de dupla rosca; compósitos TPU-E) e polimerização em massa (compósitos TPU-S). O método de síntese foi a polimerização em duas etapas do poliol poliéster (Mw = 2000 g mol-1) e do di-isocianato de 4,4’ difenil metano (MDI) com 1,4-butanodiol como extensor de cadeia. A dispersão da argila e seu efeito sobre as propriedades mecânicas dos compósitos foram investigadas. A caracterização dos compósitos de TPU com argila foi realizada através da microscopia eletrônica de varredura, da microanálise de energia dispersiva e da difração de raios-X. As propriedades mecânicas foram avaliadas através da resistência à tração e ao rasgamento. O TPU-E com 3% de argila apresentou os melhores resultados com aumento nos valores de tensão, alongamento e energia na ruptura (28%, 35% e 88%, respectivamente), quando comparado ao TPU-E (amostra sem argila). As análises de calorimetria diferencial de varredura e termogravimetria, para os compósitos TPU-S e TPU-E, indicaram que a argila não afetou adversamente as temperaturas de transição vítrea, fusão e degradação da matriz polimérica. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2015-10-07T13:20:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Leandro Pizzatto.pdf: 1572867 bytes, checksum: 306111faad8ed59c87806a4380ddba8c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-07T13:20:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Leandro Pizzatto.pdf: 1572867 bytes, checksum: 306111faad8ed59c87806a4380ddba8c (MD5) / In this study thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites were obtained with different nanoclay contents (0, 1, 3 for all cases and 10 wt% in some cases). The nanoclay Cloisite 30B (C30B) was dispersed in the TPU matrix by melt processing (twin-screw extruder; TPU-E composites) and during bulk polymerization (TPU-S composites). The synthesis method involved the two-step bulk polymerization of polyesterpolyol (Mw = 2.000 g mol-1) and diphenylmethanediisocyanate (MDI) with 1,4-butanediol as the chain extender. The dispersion state of the nanoclay particles and its effect on the mechanical properties of the composites was investigated. The characterization of TPU/nanoclay composites was carried out by means of scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersion microanalysis and X-ray diffraction. The mechanical characterization was performed through determination of the tensile and tear strengths. The TPU-E 3 wt% composite showed the best improvement with increases in stress, strain, and energy at break (28%, 35%, and 88%, respectively), compared to the TPU-E (sample without nanoclay). The differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry analyses for the TPU-S and TPU-E composites indicated that the nanoclay did not affect the glass transition, melt, and degradation temperatures of the polymeric matrix.

This thesis describes work to create a variety of thin-film photonic devices based upon liquid crystalline materials. Firstly, a variety of liquid crystal phases are polymer- templated by combining a liquid crystalline material with photo-polymerisable reactive mesogens. Upon photo-curing, a polymer scaffold, which is a template of the original phase, is formed with liquid crystal molecules in interstitial sites. This liquid crystal is removed to yield a polymer scaffold which can be used to template the original phase. Here, polymer-templating is used to template the smectic A liquid crystal alignment onto nematic liquid crystals for the first time; this results in materials with improved contrast ratios and faster response times than conventional nematic devices. Next, a study is performed to compare the electro-optic properties of polymer-templated and polymer-stabilised chiral nematic liquid crystals. The enhanced tuning range of polymer-templated liquid crystals is applied to create a polymer-templated liquid crystal laser and to electrically tune its emission wavelength. Subsequently, thin-film elastomeric liquid crystal lasers are created. The lasing wavelength of these films can be reversibly and selectively tuned without hysteresis by subjecting them to a mechanical stress. Finally, work is performed to study the potential of inorganic materials for use in liquid crystal lasers. Transition metal clustomesogens (liquid crystalline materials that contain highly emissive molybdenum clusters) and inorganic-organic perovskites are considered here. The dispersal and emissive properties of clustomesogens in liquid crystals are studied, and they are used to create circularly polarised light sources with a polarisation that can be controlled using electric fields. Layered structures of inorganic- organic perovskite and liquid crystal are created; these exhibit enhanced amplified spontaneous emission. Then, perovskites are used as the gain materials in distributed feedback lasers for the first time. These lasers may be wavelength-tuned by varying the grating spacing of the structure.

Masters of Science / Sometimes, dental impressions need to be transported to distant laboratories. It has been reported that the temperature in a vehicle can reach up to 66C when the outdoor temperature is 38C. These temperatures may be reached during South African summers. The objective of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of temperature and time on the dimensional stability of two elastomeric impression materials. Methodology: Specimens consisted of impressions made of an ISO-specified test-block featuring a pattern of grooves. Materials used were polyether (Impregum Penta) and polyvinylsiloxane (Affinis Precious regular body). Using an SLR camera and standardized technique, the specimens were photographed at 2 different temperatures (21°C and 66°C) and 3 time intervals (30min, 8hrs and 14 days). This resulted in a total of 12 groups (n=10) to be compared. Digital images of the impressions were calibrated and measured using digital analyzing software. These distances were used to evaluate the mean % dimensional change (%DC) for each group. VEPAC module of Statistica 10 was used for the statistical analysis. To analyze exactly where the differences lied, a Fisher LSD correction was applied to correct for multiple pair wise comparisons. Results: Comparing polyether with silicone, there was no difference in the mean %DC for specimens kept at 21°C for 8hrs (polyether=0.364; silicone=0.237). Neither was there a difference between polyether and silicone when heated to 66°C, cooled off, and measured after 8hrs (polyether=0.306; silicone=0.297) or after 14 days (polyether=-0.272; silicone=-0.093). For both polyether and silicone, the mean %DC of the groups exposed to 66°C, cooled off and measured after 8hrs (polyether=0.306; silicone=0.297) differed significantly when compared to the group measured after 14 days (polyether=-0.2723; silicone=-0.092) (P<0.0001 and P=0.0029 resp). For both polyether and silicone, the mean %DC of the groups exposed to 66°C, cooled off and measured after 8hrs (polyether=0.306; silicone=0.297) did not differ when compared to the 21°C (polyether=0.364; silicone=0.237). Conclusions: Within limitations of this study, both materials were heat-sensitive. It is recommended that materials return to 21°C before casting. Despite statistical differences, all results were within ISO specifications of maximum 1.5%DC.

Please read the abstract (Synopsis) in the section 00frontof this document / Thesis (PhD (Chemical Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Chemical Engineering / unrestricted

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stacks require sealing around the perimeter of the cells to prevent the gases inside the cell from leaking. Elastomeric materials are commonly used for this purpose. The overall performance and durability of the fuel cell is heavily dependent on the long-term stability of the gasket. In this study, the degradation of three elastomeric gasket materials (silicone rubber, commercial EPDM and a developed EPDM 2 compound) in an accelerated ageing environment was investigated. The change in properties and structure of a silicone rubber gasket caused by use in a real fuel cell was studied and compared to the changes in the same silicone rubber gasket material brought about by accelerated aging. The accelerated aging conditions were chosen to relate to the PEM fuel cell environment, but with more extreme conditions of elevated temperature (140°C) and greater acidity. Three accelerated ageing media were used. The first one was dilute sulphuric acid solution with the pH values of 1, 2 and 4. Secondly, Nafion® membrane suspended in water was used for accelerated ageing at a pH 3 to 4. Finally, diluted trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solution of pH 3.3 was chosen. Weight change and the tensile properties of the aged gasket samples were measured. In addition, compression set behaviour of the elastomeric seal materials was investigated in order to evaluate their potential sealing performance in PEM fuel cells. The results showed that acid hydrolysis was the most likely mechanism of silicone rubber degradation and that similar degradation occurred under both real fuel cell and accelerated aging conditions. The effect of TFA solution on silicone rubber was more aggressive than sulphuric acid and Nafion® solutions with the same acidity (pH value) suggesting that TFA accelerated the acid hydrolysis of silicone rubber. In addition, acid ageing in all three acidic solutions caused visible surface damage and a significant decrease in tensile strength of the silicone rubber material, but did not significantly affect the EPDM materials. EPDM 2 compound had a desirable (low) compression set value which was similar to silicone rubber and much better than the commercial EPDM. It also showed a very good performance in the fuel cell test rig conforming that it a potential replacement for silicone rubber in PEMFCs.

Neste trabalho, compósitos de elastômero termoplástico de poliuretano (TPU) foram preparados com diferentes teores de argila (0, 1, 3 e 10% m/m). A argila Cloisite 30B (C30B) foi incorporada na matriz de TPU via processamento por fusão (extrusora de dupla rosca; compósitos TPU-E) e polimerização em massa (compósitos TPU-S). O método de síntese foi a polimerização em duas etapas do poliol poliéster (Mw = 2000 g mol-1) e do di-isocianato de 4,4’ difenil metano (MDI) com 1,4-butanodiol como extensor de cadeia. A dispersão da argila e seu efeito sobre as propriedades mecânicas dos compósitos foram investigadas. A caracterização dos compósitos de TPU com argila foi realizada através da microscopia eletrônica de varredura, da microanálise de energia dispersiva e da difração de raios-X. As propriedades mecânicas foram avaliadas através da resistência à tração e ao rasgamento. O TPU-E com 3% de argila apresentou os melhores resultados com aumento nos valores de tensão, alongamento e energia na ruptura (28%, 35% e 88%, respectivamente), quando comparado ao TPU-E (amostra sem argila). As análises de calorimetria diferencial de varredura e termogravimetria, para os compósitos TPU-S e TPU-E, indicaram que a argila não afetou adversamente as temperaturas de transição vítrea, fusão e degradação da matriz polimérica. / In this study thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites were obtained with different nanoclay contents (0, 1, 3 for all cases and 10 wt% in some cases). The nanoclay Cloisite 30B (C30B) was dispersed in the TPU matrix by melt processing (twin-screw extruder; TPU-E composites) and during bulk polymerization (TPU-S composites). The synthesis method involved the two-step bulk polymerization of polyesterpolyol (Mw = 2.000 g mol-1) and diphenylmethanediisocyanate (MDI) with 1,4-butanediol as the chain extender. The dispersion state of the nanoclay particles and its effect on the mechanical properties of the composites was investigated. The characterization of TPU/nanoclay composites was carried out by means of scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersion microanalysis and X-ray diffraction. The mechanical characterization was performed through determination of the tensile and tear strengths. The TPU-E 3 wt% composite showed the best improvement with increases in stress, strain, and energy at break (28%, 35%, and 88%, respectively), compared to the TPU-E (sample without nanoclay). The differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry analyses for the TPU-S and TPU-E composites indicated that the nanoclay did not affect the glass transition, melt, and degradation temperatures of the polymeric matrix.

The behavior of anisotropic materials has been the object of much recent research® The high strength to weight ratio needed by aerospace structures has necessitated the use of exotic, composite materials which generally exhibit anisotropic behavior® These materials cannot be fully utilized unless analytical techniques are used which take maximum advantage of their anisotropic behavior.