Keyword: «climatic tests»

This paper presents the results of comparative studies of the physical and mechanical properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and modified polymer composite materials (PCM) before and after bench full-scale tests at the climatic test site in Yakutsk. It is established that in the conditions of the sharply continental climate of Yakutia, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and a composite containing 5 wt. % of carbon fibers of the brand "Belum" are aging by the fourth month of exposure. In this regard, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene was modified not only with carbon fibers to increase the physico-mechanical and tribotechnical parameters, but also a stabilizer of the SO-4 brand produced by NIOH SB RAS was introduced. Based on the conducted studies, it was found that the additional modification of the UHMWPE-UV composite with a stabilizer of the CO-4 brand leads to a slowdown in the photo-oxidative processes of the composite in the open air, which has a positive effect on the preservation of physical and mechanical parameters for a long time under the influence of adverse climatic factors. This fact allows us to predict the high performance of products made of the developed material in the conditions of the sharply continental climate of Yakutia.

Composite polymeric materials are materials with designed and specified properties for use in various operating conditions and material operating environments. To obtain certain properties of CM, various methods of its manufacture and compositions of components are used. One of the modern directions in the development of CM is the production with a combination of various multilayer fibrous materials for the optimal anisotropic structure of the resulting material. To obtain increased physical, mechanical and technological properties of the resulting CM, the components of the composite, manufacturing technology and methods for modifying the binder were determined. This article substantiates the production of a hybrid CM by the infusion method for further climate testing and research into the influence of various operating environments on the CM characteristics and replenishment of the data bank to create materials used in the conditions of the North and the Arctic.

Research about the influence of a cold climate on the structure and elastic-strength properties of polymer composite materials is carried out in order to predict the kinetics of the development of degradation of the surface of a composite material during climatic aging, as well as to develop recommendations on methods for protecting existing and creating new promising polymer composite materials. The exposure of samples was carried out at the open site of the test site of the Institute of Physics and Technology Problems of the North for 24 and 48 months. As markers of degradation of the polymer binder in basalt and fiberglass textolites, we used the index of the average range of surface inhomogeneities, open porosity, density, absorption bands of IR spectra, and the index of equilibrium moisture content, diffusion coefficient before and after exposure to climatic factors.

The results of the study of the effect of hydrocarbon media (industrial hydraulic oil brand I-20A and all-season universal semi-synthetic engine oil Gazprom Neft Diesel Premium 10W-40), and ambient temperatures on the properties of mass-produced rubber brand 98-1 are presented. The samples were exposed under the constant influence of low temperatures, indoors at a temperature of 20–23oC and with a cyclic temperature change in order to simulate the operation of equipment in garage storage conditions. It has been established that at room temperature and under conditions of cyclic temperature changes, the greatest changes in indicators occur, which is due to the intensive course of diffusion processes in contact with rubbers with hydrocarbon media. At full-scale exposure under the influence of low temperatures, the change in properties is minimal.

Accelerated climatic tests of extruded composites based on UHMWPE have been carried out. It has been established that stearic acid, used as a plasticizer, is washed out when exposed to climatic factors. At the same time, a significant degradation of the physical and mechanical characteristics of materials is observed. It has also been shown that the addition of a CO-4 stabilizer as an antioxidant improves the climatic resistance of materials based on UHMWPE, however, their fluidity and extrudability noticeably worsen.