The Effect of Glass Fiber on the Notched Izod Impact Strength of Polybutylene Terephthalate/Glass Fiber Blends’

Abstract

Improving the fire resistance of polymer and construction materials is an urgent requirement today. This article aims to study the incorporation of Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), a versatile polymer used in most glass fiber (GF) combination fields, to study their fire resistance and impact resistance for manufacturing battery housings. We conducted injection molding and scanning electrode microscopy (SEM) and had the expected results. The impact strength of PBT/GF samples measured according to ASTM D256 is 4.69, 4.43, 3.71, 4.67, and 6.28 kJ/m2. The PBT/25% GF sample achieved the highest average impact range of 6.28 kJ/m2. The suitable GF content in the mixture is from 20–30%. Combined with SEM microstructure, it was found that the content and density of GF distribution have a positive effect on the mixture, making the bond between them remarkably tight and robust. Thanks to the property of GF, which is non-flammable, it makes the material more effective fire resistant. This research is the basis for scientific developments that help solve the problem of impact resistance of this new plastic in production and is a premise for other research purposes in the future.