No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the Internet.

The study deals with the chemical and flame retardant (FR) treatment of woven flax fabric and preparation and characterization of flax reinforced phenolic composites. Sheets of flax fabric were subjected to chemical treatments using NaOH and silane coupling agents. A phosphate-based flame retardant (DAP) was applied to decrease the flammability of the flax fabric. The effect of the chemical treatments and FR treatments on the thermal and flammability properties of the fabric and composites was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), vertical flame resistance test and cone calorimeter. The mechanical properties of the flax fabric and composites, before and after environmental ageing, were investigated. Ageing studies were carried out by exposing the samples in an environmental chamber at specified conditions for two weeks. TGA results showed that the treatment of the fabric with FR shifts the decomposition temperature to lower level and increases the char residue. Vertical flame resistance testing showed that FR treatment of the flax fabric improved the flammability properties. There was no after flame and afterglow observed for FR treated flax fabric due to self-extinguishment after removal of the flame. Flax Fabric without FR burned completely and there was no result for the char length due to the complete destruction of the fabric. The FR treatment, however, seemed to have had a negative effect on the tensile strength of the flax fabric. This was further intensified upon exposure of FR treated flax fabric to high temperatures during ageing studies which drastically reduced the tensile strength by more than 90%, and the flax fabric were found to be brittle and darker in visual appearance. TGA results of flax/phenolic composites showed that for composites containing chemically treated and FR treated flax fabric the decomposition temperatures shifted to lower temperatures; however there was no significant difference in the amount of char residue. Untreated flax/phenolic composites exhibited the lowest char residue. Cone calorimeter results showed that the peak heat release rate (PHRR), smoke production rate (SPR) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission rate was reduced for the flax/phenolic composite produced using FR treated flax fabric. The tensile strength of these composites was reduced while there was an increase in modulus value. Exposure of the FR treated composites to high temperatures further reduced the tensile strength and increased the E-modulus. Both FR treated and untreated composites changed in colour and the FR treated composites were found to be brittle after exposure to high temperatures.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-159). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-159). Also available on the Internet.

No description available.

Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering MSc (Mechanical Engineering) / Aramid fibre reinforced epoxy composites were hybridised by the addition of electrospun PAN (polyacrylonitrile) and ECNF (electrospun carbon nanofibre) doped PAN nanomats. One of the major concerns in polymer composites is the effect of the interlaminar properties on the overall mechanical properties of the composite. Electrospun carbon nanofibres were used as doping agents within PAN nanofibres, and coated in between aramid epoxy laminates to improve the interlaminar properties. PAN nanomats and ECNF doped PAN nanomats were created by the use electrospinning on the surface of aramid fibre sheets. Multiscale hybrid aramid reinforced composites were then fabricated. Mechanical characterization was carried out to determine the effect of PAN and CNF doped PAN nanofibre mats on aramid fibre reinforced epoxy. It was found that PAN reinforced nanomats had improved the mechanical properties and more specifically, when doped by ECNFs, the volume fraction of ECNFs played a vital role. An addition of 1% vol. CNF doped 0.1% vol. PAN reinforcement within a 30% vol. aramid fibre composite (control composite), improved the tensile strength and elastic modulus by 17.3% and 730% respectively. The 0.5% vol. PAN reinforced AFC (aramid fibre composite) specimens revealed a major increase in the flexural strength by 9.67% and 12.1%, when doped by both 0.5% vol. ECNFs and 1% vol. ECNFs respectively. The 0.5% vol. CNF doped reinforcement increased the impact energy by over 40%, for both the 0.1% vol. and 0.2 % vol. PAN reinforced aramid hybrid specimens. The 0.5% vol. CNF doped 0.5% vol. PAN had increased by 30% when compared to a non-doped sample. Morphological studies indicated interlaminar shearing between plies was affected by CNF agglomerations. This was discovered when determining the impact properties of the multiscale doped hybrid composites. Electrospun nanofibres however, assisted in improving the interlaminar regions within aramid epoxy by mechanical locking within the epoxy, and creating an adhesive bond using Van der Waals forces and electrostatic charges between nanofibre and macro fibre. Hybridising aramid epoxy with the use of nanofibres assisted in improving various mechanical properties. Impact degradation was one disadvantage of hybridising using CNF doped PAN nanofibre reinforcements. / MT2017

Thesis (Sc.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 1981. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIENCE. / Vita. / Bibliography: leaves 288-296. / by Steven Minh Dinh. / Sc.D.

No description available.

The design of a fabric composite heat pipe has been completed. It is composed of two end caps, between which a fluid containment liner composed of metal foil and an outer structural layer composed of a ceramic fabric is stretched. The interior of the heat pipe is layered with a ceramic fabric wick. This heat pipe is being constructed currently at Oregon State University. The heat pipe test facility has been designed and built. Final assembly of the various components is now under way. This test facility consists of a vacuum chamber with a coolant jacket on the outside. Inside this chamber a test stand is placed which is composed of radiation shields and a supporting stand for the heat pipe and the heaters. Experimental work has been performed to ensure material compatibility of the metal foils used as a fluid containment liner. Specific materials tested include copper, aluminum, titanium, FEP teflon and three ceramic fabrics. These materials have been exposed to a variety of working fluids for up to 5000 hours at various sub-boiling temperatures. The best combinations of materials include aluminum or copper and acetone, or titanium and water. The least compatible combinations included aluminum or copper and water. An experimental apparatus to measure the wettability of candidate ceramic fabric wicks was designed and built. This apparatus included a pressure chamber to allow measurements to be taken at elevated pressures and temperatures. The liquid front velocity in one meter lengths of unwetted samples of ceramic fabrics was measured. A computer was used to determine liquid front position at 30 finite points along the fabric sample. Analysis of the data allowed calculation of a constant composed of two wicking parameters to be measured. Analysis of various analytical methods for predicting these parameters was performed. / Graduation date: 1993