Inorganic Nanoparticle-Modified Poly(Phenylene Sulphide)/ Carbon Fiber Laminates: Thermomechanical Behaviour

Abstract

Carbon fiber (CF)-reinforced high-temperature thermoplastics such as poly(phenylene sulphide) (PPS) are widely used in structural composites for aerospace and automotive applications. The porosity of CF-reinforced polymers is a very important topic for practical applications since there is a direct correlation between void content and mechanical properties. In this study, inorganic fullerene-like tungsten disulphide (IF-WS2) lubricant nanoparticles were used to manufacture PPS/IF-WS2/CF laminates via melt-blending and hot-press processing, and the effect of IF-WS2 loading on the quality, thermal and mechanical behaviour of the hybrid composites was investigated. The addition of IF-WS2 improved fiber impregnation, resulting in lower degree of porosity and increased delamination resistance, compression and flexural properties; their reinforcement effect was greater at temperatures above the glass transition (Tg). IF-WS2 contents higher than 0.5 wt % increased Tg and the heat deflection temperature while reduced the coefficient of thermal expansion. The multiscale laminates exhibited higher ignition point and notably reduced peak heat release rate compared to PPS/CF. The coexistence of micro- and nano-scale fillers resulted in synergistic effects that enhanced the stiffness, strength, thermal conductivity and flame retardancy of the matrix. The results presented herein demonstrate that the IF-WS2 are very promising nanofillers to improve the thermomechanical properties of conventional thermoplastic/CF composites.

Covalent functionalization/polycarboxylation of tungsten disulfide inorganic nanotubes (INTs-WS2)

“…Considerable research has been conducted on polymer nanocomposites that incorporate WS 2 NPs into matrices of epoxy [40], polystyrene/poly(methylmethacrylate) [41], poly(propylene fumarate) [42], nylon 12 [43], and poly(phenylene) sulphide [44]. Due to the superior mechanical properties of WS 2 NPs, such as high stiffness and strength [45], ultrahigh-performance polymer nanocomposites have been produced [46].…”

Olivine Particle Reinforced Polyphenylene Sulfide Matrix Composites

“…Application areas of PPS are increasing due to its excellent properties. The most important applications areas are aeronautic, aircraft, automobile, rail vehicle, oil rings and electronics [1][2][3][4][5][6].…”

Controlled variation of monomer sequence distribution in the synthesis of aromatic poly(ether ketone)s

“…6 The high crystalline melting points (T m ) of PEKs (typically 340-380 C) result in the retention of significant mechanical strength and stiffness even at temperatures well above their glass transition temperatures (T g s). 7 However, such T m s also require correspondingly high composite fabrication temperatures -up to 420 C. 3,8 In the present article, we report a study of a lower melting but still crystallizable PEK matrix polymer (N1) derived from the nucleophilic polycondensation of 4,4 0 -dihydroxybenzophenone with 1,3-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)benzene ( Figure 2). The synthesis of this polymer (T g ¼ 152 C; T m ¼ 285 C) has been briefly noted in a conference paper, 9 and its combination of a T g somewhat higher than that of PEEK (T g ¼ 143 C; T m ¼ 343 C) and a very much lower T m -potentially enabling more facile processing -suggested to us that it would be worth investigating further as a possible composite matrix.…”

“…Composite materials for aerospace applications have traditionally been based on thermosetting matrix polymers such as the epoxies and bismaleimides, 1,2 but in more recent years the potential advantages of thermoplastic matrices (increased speed of fabrication and greater toughness) have begun to be realized, 3 notably with the introduction of long-fibre composites based on semi-crystalline engineering polymers such as poly(1,4-phenylene sulphide) 4 and the aromatic poly(ether ketone)s (PEKs), poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) 5 and poly(ether ketone ketone) (PEKK; Figure 1). 6 The high crystalline melting points (T m ) of PEKs (typically 340-380 C) result in the retention of significant mechanical strength and stiffness even at temperatures well above their glass transition temperatures (T g s).…”

“…A rigorously alternating structure of this type has been obtained from the electrophilic polycondensation of 4,4 0 -diphenoxybenzophenone with isophthaloyl chloride (Figure 3). 10,11 The resulting semi-crystalline polymer (E1) shows thermal characteristics (T g ¼ 147 C; T m ¼ 310 C) similar to that of the 'nucleophilic' polymer N1 (T g ¼ 152 C; T m ¼ 285 C), though the T m of E1 is noticeably higher.…”