High resolution ultrasonic rayleigh wave interrogation of a thermally aged polymeric surface

Date of Award

2010

Degree Name

Ph.D. in Materials Engineering

Department

Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering

Advisor/Chair

Advisor: Robert A. Brockman

Abstract

While polymer based materials offer many benecial properties, they are inherently susceptible to environmental degradation over time. This type of degradation, especially for thermal oxidative aging, occurs predominantly within a thin surface layer often less than 200 um thick. A nondestructive technique for characterizing this layer has been developed that uses high resolution laser detection of displacements generated by a surface traveling ultrasonic Rayleigh wave. This research evaluates the potential of the technique to quantify the degree and depth of surface degradation caused by thermal aging. Rayleigh surface waves are useful because the measurement parameters depend directly on the mechanical properties of the degraded material, and the frequency of operation determines the ultrasonic depth of penetration. The measurements show sensitivity to polymeric thermal degradation, and feasibility is demonstrated for measuring surface layer depth with a frequency sweep. This research establishes the fundamental relationships between the developed ultrasonic procedures and its potential applications to thermal oxidative polymeric aging through finite element simulation, a representative aging experiment, and appropriate data analyses.

Keywords

Rayleigh waves Industrial applications, Polymers Nondestructive testing, Polymers Surfaces Deterioration, Polymers Fatigue, Ultrasonic testing, Thermal stresses

Rights Statement

Copyright © 2010, author

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