Proposal for master thesis project Dr. Romana Piat, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany Prof.

Puneet Mahajan, Dept. of Applied Mechanics, IIT Delhi Hauz Khas MICROSTRUCTURE CHARACTERIZATION, MODELING AND OPTIMIZATION PTEE/GF COMPOSITES INCORPORATING RECYCLATE Polytetrauoroethylene (PTFE)/glass bre (GF) composites (PTFE/GF composites) are widely used in specific engineering applications like gaskets, bearing and piston rings for the reason of their special properties including low friction, excellent dielectric performance, excellent chemical resistance and high temperature stability [1]. These materials are produced using two new sintering techniques with and without pressure. In the case of composites sintered without pressure, the thermal expansion behavior showed an unusual trace for both virgin and recycled samples, which is demonstrated by increases of the overall expansion in the compression directing by introduction of a small amount glass bre (<15 vol%). It is supposed that this unusual behaviour could relate to pores entrapped and the alignment of the glass bre in the structure. The proposed studies will address this open question.

Fig.1: a), b) SEM photos of recycled PTFE/GF recyclate [1] and c) CT scan with pores in the material.

In the proposed studies firstly the pores distribution obtained by CT (Fig.1c) will be investigated and incorporated in the numerical model of the material. This model will be a combination of the micromechanical and numerical approaches. For calculation of the effective elastic properties and thermal expansion of the material we will utilize an approach which is based on the Mori-Tanaka Model for multiphase materials [2]. In calculation based on this approach the pores will be approximated by ellipsoids. The accuracy of this approximation will be verified by comparing the obtained thermo-mechanical properties to the properties calculated using the FE model of the material with irregular shaped pores [3] and by experimental measurements provided by our colleagues at the University of Exeter, UK (experimental measurements are not included in this thesis). The developed model will be used in understanding the correlation between the material production and its microstructure and behavior. Literature [1] Z. Xi et al. Composites: Part A 43,19992006, (2012). [2] A. Giraud et al. Int J of Solides and Structures, 44, 11, 3756-3772, (2007). [3] B. Drach et al. Int J. of Solids and Structures, 48(18), 2447-2457, (2011).

Detailed time and work schedule of the project (monthly) schedule for 9 months from September 2013 to March 2014:
September German language course Introduction to the project: Work with literature on microstructure and material properties of PTEE /GF Composites and composite production; Homogenization methods for multiphase materials. October German language course Introduction to the project: Analysis of the CT data, providing statistical studies November Development of the homogenization procedure for calculation of the effective elastic properties of the composite and it numerical implementation using MATLAB Development of the homogenization procedure for calculation of the thermal expansion of the composite and it numerical implementation using MATLAB Extraction of the irregular pores shapes and its incorporation in the FE model Calculation of the thermal expansion using this model Comparing results obtained using homogenization, FE model and experimental ones. Studies of the correlation between production process and corresponding microstructure and properties Preparation of the master thesis. March Preparation of the master thesis; Presentation of the obtained results on the institute seminar

December January

February