Feasibility Study: Statistical Modelling of Microstructural Variables in Particulate Filled Composite Materials
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
Particulate reinforced polymers are becoming an increasingly important class of materials particularly with the development of nanotechnology. Modern materials may be composites on many scales containing both fibres and particles. The microstructure of the particulate phase can be very varied. These variations include both changing particle size and distribution. The overall aim of this feasibility study is to explore the role of statistical modelling in defining the microstructural dependence of the mechanical properties of particulate composite materials. The microstructural parameters which will be included in this feasibility study will be particle size and particle distribution. This proposal has been inspired by work currently being undertaken. To obtain the best properties from a particle-modified polymer, it is considered that the particles should be well-dispersed, and each particle should be wetted by the polymer. If this is not the case, then the agglomerates will act as defects resulting in a reduction in performance rather than any enhancement. The material properties affected by poor dispersion include elastic properties (such as stiffness); strength; fracture behaviour, permeability and conductivity. Achieving a good dispersion is a major challenge when preparing formulations. The dispersion of particles in general, and especially nanoparticles, is difficult due to the high surface area and incompatability with the matrix polymer, and generally a surface treatment or compatabiliser is required. However, this does not guarantee that a good stable dispersion will be achieved even when ultrasonication or high-shear mixing is used. Once agglomeration occurs it is very difficult to break up the agglomerates.Assessing the degree of dispersion is very subjective, and the dispersion may vary across the length scales. For example a sample may look homogeneous at the macroscale, but electron microscopy may indicate that the particles are agglomerated at the micro- or nanoscale. What is required to remove this subjectivity is a numerical value of a parameter that quantifies the degree of dispersion. However, to the investigators' knowledge, there are no quantitative methods to assess the dispersion of particles. The qualitative methods currently used generally rely on an operator's opinion, and hence one person's 'good' dispersion is 'poor' to someone else. The ability to provide a numerical value to describe the degree of dispersion will allow faster screening of surface treatments for particles and improved process control. It will provide both academia and industry with the ability to assess and follow the evolution of agglomeration, without the subjectivity attached to current methods.
Organisations
Publications
Taylor AC
(2016)
Toughening of Fast-Curing Epoxy Polymers
Taylor AC
(2013)
Quantifying the Dispersion of Nanoparticles in Adhesives
Hanhan I
(2017)
Quantifying Alumina Nanoparticle Dispersion in Hybrid Carbon Fiber Composites Using Photoluminescent Spectroscopy.
in Applied spectroscopy
Bray, D.J., Taylor, A.C.
(2014)
Handbook of Functional Nanomaterials. Volume 2 - Characterization and Reliability
Bray D
(2012)
Quantifying Nanoparticle Dispersion by Using The Area Disorder of Delaunay Triangulation
in Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series C: Applied Statistics
Bray D
(2013)
The effects of particle morphology on the analysis of discrete particle dispersion using Delaunay tessellation
in Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
Bray D
(2011)
Quantifying nanoparticle dispersion: application of the Delaunay network for objective analysis of sample micrographs
in Journal of Materials Science
Description | A way of quantifying the dispersion of particles in polymers and composites that can help manufacturers develop better materials. |
Exploitation Route | Application of the technique in material development and manufacturing. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Chemicals,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport |
Description | Companies starting to use quantification to describe microstructures to see effect of processing variables. |
First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
Sector | Chemicals,Education,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | CIMComp |
Amount | £57,602 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RGS 109687 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Department | Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Composites |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2013 |
End | 11/2013 |
Description | DSTL |
Amount | £89,904 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Dstlx1000087734 |
Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2014 |
End | 11/2014 |