Reactions of Al-PTFE under Impact and Quasi-Static Compression

Abstract

Conventionally, the Al-PTFE is thought to be inert under quasi-static or static loads. However, here we reported an initiation phenomenon of Al-PTFE under quasi-static compression. Quasi-static tests suggest that reacted Al-PTFE samples had much higher toughness than unreacted samples. Dynamic test showed that the energy level needed to initiate the material was similar for quasi-static compression (88–100 J) and dynamic impact (77–91 J). The difference in density indicates that unreacted Al-PTFE has a higher crystallinity, which leads to the lower toughness. SEM images show numerous PTFE fibrils in unreacted composites which made the sample harder to crack and initiate.