Effect of enhanced γ‐irradiation on the compatibility of polyethylene terephthalate‐based basalt fiber‐reinforced composites

Abstract

The interface adhesion between a matrix and fibers is widely known as one of the most important factors affecting the properties of polymer‐based composites. To observe the compatibility of a polymeric matrix and inorganic fibers, polyethylene terephthalate (PET)‐based composites that have been reinforced with various contents of basalt fibers in the presence of a small amount of a polyfunctional monomer, trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), were prepared by melt blending and treated via gamma irradiation at various doses. The chemical structure and morphology changes were investigated via gel extraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The mechanical properties and thermal resistance were also studied. The gel fraction results demonstrated that a cross‐linked substance was formed in the composites in the presence of both TMPTA and fibers following irradiation and the maximum gel fraction of PET matrix reached 16 wt%. In addition, the obvious improvement of interfacial adhesion was confirmed by the morphology changes in fracture surface, from which the disappearance of pull‐out holes and plastic deformations of polymeric matrix were observed. As a result of the compatibilization of PET matrix and basalt fibers, both the mechanical strength and the thermal resistance were enhanced, and the optimum amount of TMPTA was 1–3 wt%.

Preparation and property analysis of kaolin/melamine cyanurate/aluminum diethylphosphinate/recycled PET composites

“…2 As one of the five major general engineering plastics, it was also used in electronic and electrical, automotive and instrumentation fields. 3,4 In addition to demanding high mechanical properties of materials, these industries also had strict requirements on flame retardant and safety performance. However, the limit oxygen index (LOI) of PET was only about 21%, and produced a large number of molten droplets during combustion, 5 which limits the development speed to a large extent.…”

“…Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was a kind of unique chemical composition and molecular structure of semi‐crystalline thermoplastic resin, 1 had excellent mechanical properties, electric properties, heat resistance and good creep resistance, frictional resistance and so on, and it's also a thermoplastic polyester production in the largest and lowest price varieties, widely used in chemical fiber, sheet, film, etc 2 . As one of the five major general engineering plastics, it was also used in electronic and electrical, automotive and instrumentation fields 3,4 . In addition to demanding high mechanical properties of materials, these industries also had strict requirements on flame retardant and safety performance.…”

Flexural Properties and Low-Velocity Impact Behavior of Polyamide 11/Basalt Fiber Fabric Laminates

“…Recently, in the context of the growing attraction towards thermoplastic composites able to combine structural performance, recyclability, and lightness, many research efforts dealing with basalt-reinforced materials have been published [ 3 ]. Currently, experimental evidence is available on the preparation and characterization of many thermoplastic polymers, such as polypropylene [ 4 , 5 ], polyethylene [ 6 , 7 ], polyamides [ 8 , 9 ], poly(ethylene terephthalate) [ 10 , 11 ], and poly(lactic acid) [ 12 , 13 ], including basalt fibers. In this wide range of research works, the use of polyamides stands out for their polar structure potentially capable of giving rise, in combination with basalt fibers, to composites with a discrete interfacial affinity [ 14 ].…”