Short Fiber Reinforced Blends

Short Fiber Reinforced Blends are partial case of ternary composites, i.e. composites prepared of three ingredients. In particular they can be considered as a combination of an immiscible polymer blend and a short fiber reinforced composite. These blends have the potential to integrate the easy processing solutions available for short fiber reinforced composites with the high mechanical performance of continuous fiber reinforced composites. The performance of these complex, ternary systems is controlled by their morphology.

Depending on the aspect ratio of the filler particles (length/diameter) and their compatibility to the polymeric components one can achieve different morphologies: "(i)" filler contained within the dispersed phase, "(ii)" within the matrix phase or "(iii)" at the interface between the two phases. If the fibers are sufficiently long and are preferentially wetted by the dispersed phase an effectively continuous network comprised of fibers welded together by the dispersed phase can be created (Figure 1). In such manner a pseudo-continuous fibrous reinforcement is spontaneously formed during the processing step and a composite material with better mechanical performance can be obtained.

References

*Malchev. Short Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Blends. Phd thesis, Delft University of Technology, 2007.
*Xanthos and Narh. Product design with glass fiber reinforced polymer blends, with potential applications in recycling. "Polymer Composites", 19(6):768-780, 1998.
*Inberg et al. Long fiber reinforcement of polypropylene/polystyrene blends. "Polymer Engineering and Science", 39(2):340-346, 1999.
*Kulichikhin et al. Rheological, mechanical, and adhesive properties of thermoplastic-LCP blends filled by glass fibers. "Polymer Engineering and Science", 37(8):1314-1321, 1997.
*Tjong and Meng. Microstructural and mechanical characteristics of compatibilized polypropylene hybrid composites containing potassium titanate whisker and liquid crystalline copolyester. "Polymer", 40(26):7275-7283, 1999.
*Zheng et al. Flow properties and morphology of PC/LCP blends affected by the addition of glass fiber and resulted mutual influences. "International Polymer Processing", 18(1):3-11, 2003.
*Maeng et al. Effects of preferential encapsulation of glass fibre on the properties of ternary GF/PA/PP blends. "Polymer Composites", 21:41-50, 2000.
*Venderbosch et al. Fibre-reinforced composites with tailored interphases using PPE/epoxy blends as a matrix system. "Composites Part A-Applied Science and Manufacturing", 27(9):895-905, 1996.
*Meijer et al. Processing of thermoplastic polymers using reactive solvents. "High Performance Polymers", 8(1):133-167, 1996.
*Noh et al. Interfacial component of glass fiber in ternary composites of GF/PC/PP: effect of the preferential encapsulation of glass fiber. "Polymer", 42(6):2695-2700, 2001.
*Laura et al. Effect of glass fiber surface chemistry on the mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced, rubber-toughened nylon 6. "Polymer", 43(17):4673-4687, 2002.
*Benderly et al. Structuring of binary PP/PA-6 blends and ternary PP/PA-6/GF blends. "Polymer Composites", 17(3):343-352, 1996.
*Fisher et al. The effect of interface characteristics on the morphology, rheology and thermal behaviour of three-component polymer alloys. "Polymer Composites", 23:34-48, 2002.
*Li et al. Rheological and mechanical properties of PC/HDPE/glass fiber composites. "Polymers & Polymer Composites", 10(8):619-626, 2002.

ee also

* Composite materials

External links

* [http://www.pslc.ws/macrog/level3.htm The Macrogalleria - Immiscible Polymer Blends]