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Role of fibrillation on Poisson's ratio of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Vavlekas, Dimitrios A.

Abstract

The polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) paste extrusion was studied to elucidate the role of structure formation (fibrillation) on the Poisson’s ratio of final products such as stents and other implants. In particular two types of PTFE have been studied in capillary extrusion using dies having different reduction ratios (RR) and die entrance angles. The extrudates collected at different processing conditions, were tested in uniaxial extension to assess their mechanical properties. The tensile modulus, yield stress and ultimate tensile strength of the obtained extrudates were found to be increasing functions of reduction ratio, although the opposite effect was found for the ultimate elongational strain. Moreover, a PTFE paste was extruded using a capillary rheometer at various temperatures through cylindrical dies of different reduction ratios (1-D structure samples). Uniaxial tensile experiments were performed on the collected extrudates using the SER at different temperatures and Hencky strain rates. A nonlinear viscoelastic model (Matsuoka) was used to model the transient tensile results. An empirical model was also developed to predict the tensile ultimate strength as a function of processing conditions such as temperature and die reduction ratio, as well as, the testing operating conditions i.e., temperature and Hencky strain rate. PTFE flat profiles were extruded using slit dies, which promoted orientation of fibrils in two directions (2-D structure samples). Uniaxial tensile experiments were performed on the collected extrudates using the SER at different temperatures and Hencky strain rates to determine mechanical properties. Poisson’s ratio was determined using image analysis and the results were compared using data from the 1-D structure samples. Polarized Raman spectroscopy was used to gain additional information on the degree of fibril orientation at different locations along and across the width and length of the extrudates. Finally, a simple model was derived for the density change in tensile deformation by taking into the account the Poisson’s ratio and the strain recovery. Results of the Raman spectra and the strain recovery coefficient from density changes, were found to be in agreement with the fibril structure/morphology obtained from SEM micrographs.

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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International