RESUMO
Polymer foam that provides good support with high energy return (low energy loss) is desirable for sport footwear to improve running performance. Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) foam is commonly used in the midsole of running shoes. However, EVA foam exhibits low mechanical properties. Conventional mineral fillers are usually employed to improve EVA's mechanical performance, but the energy return is sacrificed. Here, we produced nanocomposite foams from EVA and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) using a chemical foaming process. Two kinds of CNT derived from the upcycling of commodity plastics were prepared through a catalytic chemical vapor deposition process and used as reinforcing and nucleating agents. Our results show that EVA foam incorporated with oxygenated CNT (O-CNT) demonstrated a more pronounced improvement of physical, mechanical, and dynamic impact response properties than acid-purified CNT (A-CNT). When CNT with weight percentage as low as 0.5 wt% was added to the nanocomposites, the physical properties, abrasion resistance, compressive strength, dynamic stiffness, and rebound performance of the EVA foams were improved significantly. Unlike the conventional EVA formulation filled with talc mineral fillers, the incorporation of CNT does not compromise the energy return of the EVA foam. From the long-cycle dynamic fatigue test, the CNT/EVA foam displays greater properties retention as compared to the talc/EVA foam. This work demonstrates a good balanced of mechanical-energy return properties of EVA nanocomposite foam with very low CNT content, which presents promising opportunities for lightweight-high rebound midsoles for running shoes.
RESUMO
Al-Mg-Si series aluminum alloy is a heat-treatment-strengthened alloy. Research on the impact resistance of Al-Mg-Si series aluminum alloy is of great significance to expand its application in engineering. Taking 6082-T6 aluminum alloy as the concrete research object, using the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) device, the dynamic mechanical response of the material under different temperatures and average strain rates was studied, and the service performance of the material under extreme conditions was determined. The absolute temperature rise was introduced to optimize the existing constitutive model. The results show that when the environment temperature is 298.15~473.15 K under high-speed impact, the internal thermal softening effect of the material is dominant in the competition with the work hardening, resulting in a decrease in the flow stress of the material. Through the analysis of the real stress-strain curve, it was found that the elastic modulus of the material was negatively correlated with the strain rate, negatively correlated with the temperature, and showed an obvious temperature-softening effect. Yield strength was negatively correlated with temperature and positively correlated with strain rate, which showed an obvious strain rate hardening effect. Based on SEM microscopic analysis, it was found that under given conditions, adiabatic shear bands appeared in some samples, and their internal structures demonstrated obvious change. It was judged that when high-speed impact occurs, cracks are induced at the shear bands, and the cracks will continue to develop along the adiabatic shear bands, resulting in many oblique cracks which will gradually become larger and eventually lead to material failure. Finally, based on the model, the strain rate and temperature softening terms were improved, and a rise in adiabatic temperature rise was introduced. The improved model can better describe the strain rate effect of the material and accurately describe its flow stress. It provides a theoretical basis for the engineering application of materials.