MEF452 Composite Materials

and Design/MST G 522

Advanced CompositesL5
BITS Pilani Dr. Sachin Waigaonkar
K K Birla Goa Campus
Last class

• Molecular Weight (MW)

• Molecular Weight Distribution and its importance
• MFI as measure of MW
• Effect of Density and MFI on material properties

BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus

Finding Tg using Dynamic Mechanical
Analyser (DMA)

BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus

Finding Tg using DMA

BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus

Tg and Tm Values of Common Polymeric
Materials
Material Tg (0C) Tm(0C)
LDPE -110 115
HDPE -90 137
PTFE -97 327
PP -18 175
Nylon 6,6 57 265
Polyester (PET) 69 265
PVC 87 212
PS 100 240
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Thermosetting Polymers

• Network structure of primary covalent bonds.

• Thermoset polymers can be cross linked by heat or
combination of heat and pressure.
• Other may be cross linked by chemical reaction at room
temperature.
• Can not be reheated and remelted.

BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus

Advantages of Thermosetting Plastics

• High rigidity
• High thermal stability
• High dimensional stability.
• Resistance to creep.
• Light weight.
• High electrical and thermal insulation property.

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Methods of processing

• Usually processed by compression and transfer

moulding.
• Many thermosets are used in the form of moulding
compounds.
• It has two major ingredients:
• -Resin containing curing agent, hardeners and
plasticizers
• - Fillers and reinforcing materials.

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About Mechanical Properties

• Densities of thermosetting plastics are slightly

higher than thermoplastics.
• Tensile strength of most are low. ( 28 MPa to
100 MPa).
• However, with high amount of glass filling these
can be improved as high as 207 MPa.
• Glass filled thermosets have very high impact
strength also.
• Maximum use temperature varies from 77-2880C

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Phenolic Resins

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Phenolic Resins

BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus

Phenolic Resins

• First thermosetting materials synthesized under

trade name Bakelite.
• Produced by condensation polymerisation
between phenol and formadehyde.
• For cross linking at least one of the reactants
should have more reaction sites than needed for
polymerisation.
• Phenol has three active sites ( more than one
needed for just polymerisation).
• This permits cross linking of polymer.

BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus

Resoles and Novolacs

• Condensation polymerisation can be done two

different conditions which produce two different
intermediates viz. Resoles and Novolacs.
• In resoles condensation is performed in alkali
solutions with excess formaldehyde.
• It is carefully controlled to prevent cross linking.
• A linear non cross linked polymer liquid, resole, is
produced.
• Resole can be stored and shipped for subsequent
moulding.
• When moulding cross linking is achieved by simple
heating the viscous liquid.

BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus

Formation of Resoles

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Novolacs

• Novolacs are formed by reacting phenol and

formaldehyde in acid solution with insufficient
formaldehyde.
• The reaction results in a non cross linked polymer in the
form of powder.
• Novolacs do not cross link only by addition of heat but
require curing agents.
• Most common curing agent is Hexamethylene tetra
amine or Hexa.
• Hexa is heat activated, so moulding is normally done
under the action of heat and pressure to compress the
powder.
• Also called two-stage resin

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Formation of Novolacs

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About Phenolic Resins

• Usually very brittle, so need reinforcement to

increase strength and toughness.
• Large number of OH groups gives excellent
adhesive qualities.
• Hence widely used as adhesives in:
• Plywoods,
• PCB,
• Foundry shells and cores,
• Brake linings and
• Grinding wheels ( Grit mixed with phenolic
powder and moulded to desired shape)

BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus

About Phenolic Resins

• Non flammability is also an important property.

• This is used in interior of airplanes, rocket nozzles,
etc.
• Low thermal conductivity: used in pan handles, bases
for toasters, knobs for appliances, motor housings,
etc.
• Dark colour is inherent characteristic of phenolic
resins.
• High electrical insulation: used for electrical switches,
circuit breakers, radio cabinets, connectors, etc.
• Mould breathing is necessary during moulding as
water is by-product.

BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus