Nanoclusters and Electron Irradiation Effect on Mechanical Properties of Polyimide-Based Composite

What is it about?

Properties of composite materials irradiated by electrons have been studied. Effects of lavsan and montmorillonite nanocluster fillers on mechanical properties of polyimide-based polymer film materials have been studied. Catastrophic destruction models adequately describing stress-strain relationship curves for all test composites have been suggested.

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Why is it important?

Fillers addition allowed developing tailor-made materials. Physical and mechanical properties of output materials within a wide range can be modified by filler concentration change and synthesis technologies due to their structure. Up to 5 % wt PET filler addition into polyimide resulted in composite mechanical properties improvement (plasticity by 6 times and strength by 1.5 times). It occurred due to structuring processes of polyimide nanochains with PET nanoframe. MM filler concentration increase up to 1 % wt resulted in σ decrease by 30 % comparing to polyimide. Addition of 0.25 % wt resulted in sharp plasticity increase (twofold). The change in mechanical properties of composite materials with MM filler occurred due to weakening of the molecular bonds of matrix macromolecules. Complex effects of fillers and electron irradiation on mechanical properties of materials resulted in dissimilar changes. Electron irradiation of 5 % wt PET resulted in plasticity increase by 3.8 times and strength increase by 36 % due to processes of polyimide chains and lavsan macromolecules cross-linking. Electron irradiation of a composite with MM filler resulted in plasticity increase (twice as much comparing to irradiated PI and by ~ 18 % comparing to non-irradiated PI). It occurred due to interlayer water in filler and –НОН– radical release from filler into matrix, which resulted in radical and polyimide macromolecule cross-linking and then to material hydrolytic destruction. Various models of uniaxial loading of materials were suggested. Exponential model gave the better compliance with experimental data.

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