Resumo em Inglês:

This paper deals with a new concept that is Functionally Gradient Materials (FGM). The materials developed in this work are constituted by a 430L matrix core and composite materials with this matrix and gradient concentration with NbC reinforcement, from the core to the surface, through different steps. Composite powders of different content in NbC were produced through high energy milling in order to obtain the gradient composition. The morphology and microhardness of these powders were characterised and subsequently were processed through conventional P/M techniques, pressing and sintering. The materials obtained show improved wear behaviour.

Resumo em Inglês:

Poly(o-methylaniline) (poly-o-toluidine, PTOL) was synthesized by chemical oxidation of o-toluidine with ammonium peroxydisulfate in an aqueous 1.0 mol L-1 HCl solution. The progress of polymerization was followed by measuring the open-circuit potential (OCP) of a Pt electrode immersed in the reaction medium with the polymerization time. The chemical synthesis of PTOL was carried out at different monomer:oxidant (M:O) molar ratios (4:1, 2:1, 1.5:1, 1:1, and 0.66:1), and the products obtained were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and X-ray diffraction. The molecular weight and percentage of crystallinity of PTOL are higher for samples synthesized in an excess of the monomer, i.e. at higher M:O ratios. However, the yield of PTOL prepared at higher M:O ratios is considerably low, in particular at a 4:1 M:O ratio, which is the M:O ratio most commonly used in the literature to synthesize polyaniline and its derivatives.

Resumo em Inglês:

This paper discusses the application of ultrasound waves on a Brazilian hardwood, Goupia glabra, to evaluate the sensitivity of the ultrasonic technique to the moisture content in wood. The velocity of ultrasonic wave is sensitive to the material's quality-determining factors; hence, this technique is an important industrial tool to improve the quality control of processes. The nature of the response of velocity of sound to changes in moisture content led us to conclude that moisture gradients during drying exert a dominating effect. The ultrasonic velocity was measured both parallel and perpendicular to the fibers of Goupia glabra during drying from green to 6% moisture content. The results of this study showed that velocity of ultrasonic waves is sensitive to changes in moisture content of lumber during drying. The velocity under dry conditions was always higher than the velocity under more humid conditions, in both directions of propagation.

Resumo em Inglês:

HEMA/MMA/EDMA (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/methyl methacrylate/ethyleneglycol methacrylate) copolymer beads have been synthesized for use in aqueous SEC. This porous chromatographic support consisted of a large average particle size (250 µm) and contained macropores with a median pore size of approximately 880 Å. The material was packed in glass and stainless columns to assess their chromatographic performance. The packed columns were calibrated using narrow molecular weight (MW) distribution standards (dextran) and exhibited a range of molecular weight separation between 40,000 and 2,000,000 daltons. The packing material showed the ability to separate large molecules through the size exclusion mechanism.

Resumo em Inglês:

Three different electrochemical methods confirm the growth processes of polyfurfural on platinum electrodes in aqueous solutions. The electrochemical oxidative polymerization of furfural occurs only with 0.10 mol L-1 potassium biphthalate as the supporting electrolyte. Electrochemical and spectroscopic methods are employed to characterize the polymeric film produced. Based on spectroscopic data, a polymeric structure involving furfural and biphthalate anions is discussed.

Resumo em Inglês:

We have studied the phase transformation kinetics occurring in aluminum alloys containing Mn, Mg, and Mn-Mn-Mg by means of electrical resistivity (rho) and thermoelectric power (deltaS). The alloy samples were annealed isochronally at temperatures ranging from ambient temperature to 615 °C. Both rho and deltaS allowed the separation of several stages of transformation associated to either the precipitation or dissolution of phases that occur during the annealing process. The alloys containing Mn show a strong deltaS growth or a marked r drop between 450 °C and 550 °C, linked to the precipitation of the Mn-rich Al6(Mn,FE) equilibrium phase. While the Mg in aluminum generates a series of maxima and minima of both rho and deltaS associated to the pre-established precipitation sequence: GP Zones <FONT FACE=Symbol>® b</FONT>' phase <FONT FACE=Symbol>® b</FONT> phase, a combination of effects ensues in the Mn- and Mg-containing alloys, the Mg effect being enhanced at temperatures below 350 °C and that of the Mn striking the same behavior above such temperature. Our study ascertains that the Mg speeds up the precipitation and lowers the activation energy of the Al6(Mn,Fe) phase, the latter having been evaluated by the multiple temperature method.

Resumo em Inglês:

In this work, the feldspar used as a flux in typical porcelain was replaced by waste glass, and the resulting batch composition contained 50% kaolin, 25% quartz and 25% waste glass. The properties of this porcelain with glass powder (GP) were compared to traditional porcelain (TP), which utilizes feldspar. The samples were fired at different temperatures, ranging from 1200 °C to 1400 °C. Technical parameters, such as water absorption, modulus of rupture and K IC, phase analysis by XRD, and microstructure by SEM were analysed. The results indicated that the lower fracture toughness and MOR of GP is a consequence of the peculiar microstructure of this porcelain. The reduction in firing temperature and the use of a cheaper substitute for feldspar makes GP also an attractive economical alternative.

Resumo em Inglês:

Damaging of composite laminates was monitored during fatigue tests, revealing the formation and propagation stages for compressive, tensile, or alternate cyclic loading. Two different laminate stacking sequences, with different number of layers, were tested. The laminates consisted of E-glass fibers reinforced orthoftalic polyester resin (FGRP) shaped as mats or (bi-direction) woven fabric textile. Preliminary density, calcination tests and static compressive and tensile mechanical tests were carried out. Then, tensile (R = 0.1), compressive (R = 10) and alternate axial (R = - 1) fatigue tests were performed at different maximum stresses. Tensile cyclic loading resulted in crack formation and propagation confirming the findings reported in other studies. On the other hand, damage from alternate and compressive fatigue depicted peculiar features. Less extended damage and better fatigue resistance were observed for the laminate with symmetrically distributed layers.

Resumo em Inglês:

To understand the principles of polymer modification and its interference in the formation of some phases of Portland cement composites, several techniques are adopted such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric Analysis. In this study, these techniques were adopted to verify the influence of VA/VeoVA copolymer in seven pastes of high-early-strength portland cement twenty-eight days old, being four pastes with different polymer content and the same water/cement ratio, and the other three with extra water content increased by polymer content. In addition, scanning electronic microscopy was employed to verify the formation of copolymer film. The results showed possible interaction between acetate anion from the partial hydrolysis of copolymer and Ca++ ion from C2S and C3S hydration. Moreover, the magnitude of the decrease of portlandite formation is directly affected by water/cement ratio. By SEM analyses, the formation of two matrices, being one organic and the other inorganic, was also observed.

Resumo em Inglês:

In a PWR nuclear power plant, the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) contains the fuel assemblies and reactor vessels internals and keeps the coolant at high temperature and high pressure during normal operation. The RPV integrity must be assured all along its useful life to protect the general public against a significant radiation liberation damage. One of the critical issues relative to the VPR structural integrity refers to the pressurized thermal shock (PTS) accident evaluation. To better understand the effects of this kind of event, a PTS experiment has been planned using an RPV prototype. The RPV material fracture behavior characterization in the ductile-brittle transition region represents one of the most important aspects of the structural assessment process of RPV's under PTS. This work presents the results of fracture toughness tests carried out to characterize the RPV prototype material behavior. The test data includes Charpy energy curves, T0 reference temperatures for definition of master curves, and fracture surfaces observed in electronic microscope. The results are given for the vessel steel in the "as received" and normalized conditions. This way, the influence of the normalizing treatment on the fracture properties of the steel could be evaluated.

Resumo em Inglês:

Composite structures for aerospace applications are mainly made by the well-known prepreg technology. In order to achieve adequate prepreg processing schedules, and consequently maximum fiber strength utilization, one has to know in deep the cure kinetics of matrix, which held the fibers together. This work describes a procedure to study the cure kinetic and has as example how aromatic amine hardeners influence the cure kinetics of an epoxy resin used in advanced composites. The investigation was carried out by using the DSC technique and it was found that depending on the system used the cure kinetics of the formulation obeys order n or autocatalytic order.

Resumo em Inglês:

Synthetic porous ceramics can be used as three-dimensional scaffolds for bone repair. The aim of this work is to correlate process parameters with scaffolds structural characteristics. The factorial 2 level experimental design was chosen to study the effect of the Ca/P ratio (1.58 or 1.67), calcination temperature (1000 or 1150 °C) and porogen content (20 or 40%) on the calcium phosphate samples characteristics. The influence of such parameters was determined by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and image analysis. It was observed that phase composition was basically a function of the Ca/P ratio of the raw material. The use of the porogen did not alter the hydroxyapatite (HA)/tricalcium phosphate (TCP) content, but induced changes in the relative content of TCP phase (alpha or beta). It is possible to design a porous sample with defined characteristics, and the model herein used can be considered as having a good predictive power.

Resumo em Inglês:

Organophilic clays were prepared using a bentonite from the town of Boa Vista, state of Paraíba, Brazil, and a quaternary ammonium salt (Genamin CTAC-50). The materials obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The results showed a good gasoline, toluene, diesel fuel and kerosene adsorbing capacity.

Resumo em Inglês:

Thermoplastic composites have been applied in a wide variety of industrial products, showing recently a great potential to be used in aeronautical field. The objectives of this work were to evaluate the fiber/matrix interface of carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene-based matrices after tensile and impact tests and also to compare the mechanical test results of the manufactured laminates. The laminates were prepared by stacking carbon fiber fabric style Plain Weave (CF) and films of four different polypropylene matrices, described as (a) polypropylene-PP, (b) polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer-PP-PE, (c) PP-PE with an interfacial compatibilizer-AM1 and (d) PP-PE containing an elastomeric modifier-AM2. The composites were processed using hot compression molding. The mechanical testing results showed that the CF-AM1 laminate family presented the lowest impact strength and the highest tensile strength values when compared to the other laminates. SEM analysis observations of both tensile and impact fractured specimens of the CF-PP/PE-AM1 specimens revealed a stronger fiber/matrix interface. The CF-PP/PE-AM2 laminate showed a lower tensile strength and higher impact strength values when compared to the CF-PP/PE-AM1 one. PP-PE and PP laminates presented the lowest impact strength values.

Resumo em Inglês:

Four families of carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRC) used in aeronautical industry were evaluated by flexural and interlaminar shear tests. It is also characterized three families of non-conditioned and conditioned CFRC by compression test. The composites were obtained by hand lay-up process in autoclave by using prepregs based on epoxy matrices (F155 and F584) and carbon fiber fabric reinforcements (PW-"Plain Weave" and 8HS-"Eight Harness Satin"). The F155-epoxy matrix was cured at 121 °C and the F584-epoxy type at 177 °C. After molding, the laminates were cut in specimens attending the ASTM D790 for the flexural test, the ASTM D2344 for the interlaminar shear test (ILSS) and the ASTM D3410 for the compressive test. The compressive tests were performed for testing the specimens before and after hygrothermal conditioning. The results show that the F584-epoxy matrix laminates present higher mechanical properties when compared to the F155-epoxy ones. The shear-tested samples observed by scanning electron microscopy and that ones tested in flexural, analyzed by stereoscopy, revealed that the fractured surfaces present typical aspects. The compressive results show that the hygrothermal conditioning caused the decrease of the compressive strength in, approximately, 8-20% depending on the laminate type. The failure modes of the tested specimens were evaluated showing good agreement with the literature.

Resumo em Inglês:

Several studies have found that the non-uniform distribution of reinforcing elements in a composite material can markedly influence its characteristics of elastic and plastic deformation and that a composite's overall response is influenced by the physical and geometrical properties of its reinforcing phases. The finite element method, Eshelby's method and dislocation mechanisms are usually employed in formulating a composite's constitutive response. This paper discusses a composite material containing SiC particles in an aluminum matrix. The purpose of this study was to find the correlation between a composite material's particle distribution and its resistance, and to come up with a mathematical model to predict the material's elastic behavior. The proposed formulation was applied to establish the thermal stress field in the aluminum-SiC composite resulting from its fabrication process, whereby the mixture is prepared at 600 °C and the composite material is used at room temperature. The analytical results, which are presented as stress probabilities, were obtained from the mathematical model proposed herein. These results were compared with the numerical ones obtained by the FEM method. A comparison of the results of the two methods, analytical and numerical, reveals very similar average thermal stress values. It is also shown that Maxwell-Boltzmann's distribution law can be applied to identify the correlation between the material's particle distribution and its resistance, using Eshelby's thermal stresses.

Resumo em Inglês:

This work addresses the formation of nanofibers (with hundred of nanometers) by using electrospinning (electrostatic deposition) aiming at applications as sensors. Different quantities of a colloidal dispersion of graphite particles were blended with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and N,N dimethylformamide (DMF), resulting in a series of solutions with carbon concentrations ranging from 0 to 25%. Precipitation was observed depending on the concentration of carbon added to the precursor blend. As a consequence, the relative viscosity decreases, due to PAN molecules removal from the solution by carbon particles adsorption, forming precipitates. The resulting fibers show an irregular shape, as observed by SEM and the diameters decrease with the increase of the carbon concentration in the precursor blend. The incorporation of carbon particles in the fibers was confirmed by FTIRS and Raman spectroscopy.

Resumo em Inglês:

Alumina-based composites have been developed in order to improve the mechanical properties of the monolithic matrix and to replace the WC-Co material for cutting tool applications. Al2O3 reinforced with refractory carbides improves hardness, fracture toughness and wear resistance to values suitable for metalworking applications. Al2O3-NbC composites were uniaxially hot-pressed at 1650 °C in an inert atmosphere and their mechanical properties and microstructures were analyzed. Sintered density, average grain size, microhardness and fracture toughness measurements and microstructural features were evaluated. Results have shown that the mechanical properties of alumina-NbC are comparable to other carbide systems. Microstructural analysis has shown that the niobium carbide particles are mainly located at the grain boundaries of alumina grains, which is an evidence of the "pinning effect", produced by NbC particles.