HYBRID GLASS-FIBRE REINFORCED THERMOPLASTIC NANOCOMPOSITES

摘要

Thermoplastic montmorillonite-based nanocomposites show significant property improvements with respect to unmodified polymers, including increased dimensional stability, heat distortion temperature, stiffness, strength, and flame retardance. The use of nano-sized fillers also offers far greater versatility in terms of processing than conventional fillers, although they may significantly increase the melt viscosity at low concentrations, with potentially adverse consequences for processing. In the present work, the feasibility of integrating thermoplastic polypropylene nanocomposite matrices into conventional fibre-reinforced composites has been investigated. Two basic processing routes were considered: long glass fibre-reinforced composites based on co-woven yarns, and glass mat reinforced composites. In each case satisfactory impregnation and consolidation were demonstrated and flexural tests on the glass mat reinforced composites indicated use of a nanocomposite matrix to lead to significant stiffness improvements for a given glass fibre content.