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Polyimide (PI) films with excellent heat resistance and outstanding mechanical properties have been widely researched in microelectronics and aerospace fields. However, most PI films can only be used under ordinary conditions due to their instability of dimension. The fabrication of multifunctional PI films for harsh conditions is still a challenge. Herein, flexible, low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and improved mechanical properties films modified by carboxylated carbon nanotube (C-CNT) were fabricated. Acid treatment was adapted to adjust the surface characteristics by using a mixture of concentrated H2SO4/HNO3 solution to introduce carboxyl groups on the surface and improve the interfacial performance between the CNT and matrix. Moreover, different C-CNT concentrations of 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 wt.% were synthesized to use for the PI film fabrication. The results demonstrated that the 9 wt.% and 5 wt.% C-CNT/PI films possessed the lowest CTE value and the highest mechanical properties. In addition, the thermal stability of the C-CNT/PI films was improved, making them promising applications in precise and harsh environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the mechanical behavior and energy dissipation of architectural membrane materials under multistage cyclic loading, the deformation behavior, energy dissipation, and damage characteristics of four kinds of warp-knitted and woven polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane materials were analyzed using multistage cyclic loading experiments. The results show that, compared with the uniaxial tensile strength, the peak values of the cyclic loading and unloading of the four material samples are lower in the warp direction but higher in the fill (weft) direction. Under multistage cyclic loading, the loading and unloading moduli of the warp knitting membrane increase with the increase in fabric density. At the same fabric density, the loading modulus and the unloading modulus are smaller than those of the warp knitting material. The total absorbed strain energy, elastic strain energy, and dissipation energy of the fill samples are higher than those of the warp samples at a low load level but lower than those at a high load level. PVC membrane materials' use strength should be controlled below a 15% stress level under long-term external force loading. In the cyclic loading process, the four PVC membrane materials are viscoelastic–plastic, so it is reasonable to define the damage variable based on the accumulation of plastic deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]