International audienceThe viscoelastic properties of the cell wall of the tropic hardwood Carapa procera are investigated by means of nanoindentation tests. Three types of nanoindentation tests are undertaken: creep, continuous stiffness measurement (CSM) and nanoscale dynamic mechanical analysis (Nano-DMA), corresponding to the increased loading rate and so the response of wood cell wall to the loading in a relatively large time scale. It is found that the creep rate is dependent on the applied stress and the relation can be described by the rule of power law. Regarding the dynamic properties (i.e., storage modulus and damping coefficient) in the frequency range of 10-240 Hz, it is shown that the storage modulus increases monotonically, while the damping coefficient decreases. By using the traditional dynamic mechanical thermal analysis as a reference method, the phase transition behavior of wood cell wall can be successfully characterized by the Nano-DMA in a large frequency scale. A dependence of the storage modulus and damping coefficient on the penetration depth is quantified by the CSM tests

The high velocity spraying experiments for preparing WC-Co ceramic coatings were carried out by using an electro-thermal explosion directional spraying device. The transient parameters of both the discharge circuit and the voltage applied to the WC-Co sheet were measured. Velocity of the shock wave in the explosive spraying nozzle was approximately measured and that was described with a one-directional piston model. The velocity of molten particles of WC-Co ceramics was estimated to be about 3162m/s. The microstructures and micro-hardness of the WC-Co coating, the interface between the coating and substrate were analyzed in details. The visible WC grain diameter of the coating ranges from 70 to 350nm, and the average value is 195nm. A metallurgical bonding layer with a thickness of about 1 was found at the interface. The values of micro-hardness of the coating are 1-1.4 times of the original one, and the micro-hardness near the interface is much higher than that of the substrate

Statistical evolution of microvoids in a particle-filled polymer under plate impact is theoretically studied. Based on the constitutive equations of the material recently obtained by the authors, the velocity of the propagation of one-dimensional strain wave caused by the plate impact is analyzed, and the evolution of the microdamage is calculated. It is shown that the microvoid evolution is influenced by several factors, such as particle size-dispersity, average radius of particles, and the adhesive energy of the interface. The numerical results show that there is a sensitive crest of the impact velocity for microvoid evolution. If the impact velocity reaches the critical value corresponding to the peak value of the crest, the microvoids accumulation will increase rapidly, and it may lead to the dynamic failure of the material.

A series of carbon nanotube (CNTs) and stainless steel fiber (SSFs) filled nylon 6 (PA6) conductive composites were synthesized for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications. The materials were prepared by the melt blending method with CNTs weight fraction of 1 and 3 wt% and SSFs of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 wt%. The shielding effectiveness, electrical resistance and crystallization behaviors were measured. The results indicate that the shielding effectiveness and electrical properties can be improved by increasing either SSFs or CNTs contents. Higher content of CNTs can bring forward the percolation threshold and enhance the shielding effectiveness to 51.8 dB. Due to the nanoconfinement/multiple nucleation effects, PA6 crystallization behavior is influenced by adding the CNTs and SSFs.