Keyword: «polymer composite materials»

The results of the elastic-strength properties of PCM, orderly reinforced with basalt-carbon fabrics, exposed for 12 months in an open polygon in a sharply continental climate for the impact of natural climatic factors on the basis of the Center for Collective Use of the Federal Research Center of the Yakutsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Yakutsk, are presented.

The objects of study in this work were polymer composite materials based on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with fillers such as kaolin Al4[Si4O10](OH)8, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and carbon fiber (CF). Filler modification methods were used, such as mechanical activation, ultrasonic (US) dispersion, and hybrid filling. The results of mechanical and tribological characteristics of new PCM compositions based on PTFE are presented. It has been established that the wear resistance of composites, compared to the wear resistance of the original PTFE, increases from 315 to 1090 times, depending on the content and type of filler.

The absence of reliable methods for predicting the durability of polymer composite materials (PCMs) in Arctic environments increases operational risks and costs. This study aims to develop a combined semi-empirical method for estimating the remaining service life of PCMs under extreme conditions. The proposed approach integrates the superposition of climatic factors with the minimization of the standard deviation between calculated and experimental data. Calculations are automated using the Delphi programming environment. Validation on polymer fiber composites demonstrated model convergence for retrospective intervals of at least seven years. The method supports the prediction of residual service life over a 15-year period.

The article examines the biodegradation of polymer composites (glass, carbon, and basalt plastics) by bacteria, mold fungi, and their consortia at various temperatures, humidity, and exposure time. The biological contamination was assessed using microscopy, and structural changes were revealed: the formation of new functional groups and the cleavage of polymer chains caused by climatic aging and biodegradation.

This work presents the results of an assessment of the effectiveness of a polymer composition for the bioprotection of materials based on basalt fiber against fungal attack. An advantage of the proposed method is its simplicity and cost‑effectiveness, since its implementation does not require complex technological equipment or expensive components. The protective polymer composition obtained and used in the method increases the resistance of basalt‑fiber reinforced plastic reinforcement in a mycological environment and can be used to protect materials from biological damage when in contact with soil and soilborne microscopic fungi.