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Published on: March 12, 2014
Self-Reinforced Nylon 6 Composite for Smart Vibration Damping
Bidita Salahuddin1, Rahim Mutlu1,2, Tajwar A Baigh3
1ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science and Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Innovation Campus, Squires Way, North Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
Abstract:
Passive vibration control using polymer composites has been extensively investigated by the engineering community. In this paper, a new kind of vibration dampening polymer composite was developed where oriented nylon 6 fibres were used as the reinforcement, and 3D printed unoriented nylon 6 was used as the matrix material. The shape of the reinforcing fibres was modified to a coiled structure which transformed the fibres into a smart thermoresponsive actuator. This novel self-reinforced composite was of high mechanical robustness and its efficacy was demonstrated as an active dampening system for oscillatory vibration of a heated vibrating system. The blocking force generated within the reinforcing coiled actuator was responsible for dissipating vibration energy and increase the magnitude of the damping factor compared to samples made of non-reinforced nylon 6. Further study shows that the appropriate annealing of coiled actuators provides an enhanced dampening capability to the composite structure. The extent of crystallinity of the reinforcing actuators is found to directly influence the vibration dampening capacity.
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