Effect of Surface Treatment of Reinforcing Glass Fabric on the Strength Properties of Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastics Based on Thermoplastic Matrices. Part III: Chemical Treatment

Effect of Irradiation on the Strength Properties of Polyethylene-Matrix Glass-Reinforced Plastics

“…The modification of thermoplastic-matrix GFRPs by irradiation was monitored by measuring the breaking strength of single-ply microplastics (MPs) [1] depending on the radiation dose. Prepared molded MP specimens were irradiated with 60 Co γ -rays from a Gammatok-1000 source at an absorbed dose rate of 0.55 × 10 -3 kGy/s and 23°ë in air and in vacuum.…”

“…A basic reason responsible for to observed results may be surface defects of glass fiber, whose amount and dimensions have to be increased by acid etching of the GF surface [1], as well as by radiation damage to the reinforcing fibers themselves. Thus, the attempt at enhancing the chemical coupling of the PE matrix to the GF surface by surface development turned out to be unsuccessful because of the low modifying effect, regarding the technical and economic aspect.…”

“…As surface modifiers and, simultaneously, potential chain-transfer agents, we used formulations that have shown the greatest modifying effect [1]. We list them in the order of the increasing modifying effect: a polymeric finish based on polyketone (POK) ( σ b = 144 MPa), the industrial silane finish AGM-9 (155 MPa), an industrial starch-based sizing (201 MPa); note that a polyethylene prepreg based on annealed glass cloth has σ b = 60 MPa.…”

“…The polyketone used as a polymeric finish [1] does not form chemical bonds with the GF surface but is able to hold monofilaments together by forming strong hydrogen bonds between polymer carbonyl groups and hydroxyl groups on the GF surface. At the same time, the silane finish AGM-9 is capable of reacting with the surface hydroxyl groups of glass fiber, thus providing the effective bonding of monofilaments together in a glass strand.…”

“…In [1] we considered the role of various modes of chemical treatment of glass-fiber (GF) surface in the formation of adhesion and, hence, strength properties of glass fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRPs) based on a thermoplastic matrix. It was assumed that in the case of nonpolar thermoplastic matrixes with insufficient mechanical and physical connectivity of components, their adhesive interaction at the interface boundary could be enhanced by the formation of near-boundary chemical bonds.…”