Effect of curing temperature on the morphology of unsaturated polyester resin blended with poly(vinyl acetate)

Phase separation of unsaturated polyester/styrene (UPE/styrene) resin blended with 5 and 10 wt% of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) cured at various temperatures ranging from 75°C to 150°C was studied using low angle laser light scattering (LALS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For UPE/styrene resin blended with 5 wt% PVAc cured at a temperature below 90°C, a discrete phase‐separated structure was observed. As curing temperature was raised above 90°C, SEM micrographs revealed that more and more cured UPE globules fused together with increasing curing temperature. The LALS intensity profile became broader with increasing curing temperature, indicating a less discrete phase‐separated structure at a higher curing temperature. As PVAc content was increased to 10 wt%, SEM micrographs revealed a co‐continuous phase‐separated structure. The LALS intensity decayed slowly from the center of the scattering pattern to a high scattering angle without the appearance of maximum scattering peak intensity. The morphology of the cured sample did not change too much with curing temperature for UPE/styrene resin blended with 10 wt% of PVAc.     

Effect of ortho‐diallyl bisphenol A on the processability of phthalonitrile‐based resin and their fiber‐reinforced laminates

Sluggish and narrow process window of phthalonitrile resin has tremendously limited their wide applications. In this work, a novel phthalonitrile containing benzoxazine (4,4′‐(((propane‐2,2‐diylbis (2H‐benzo [e] [1,3]oxazine‐6,3 (4H)‐diyl) bis(3,1‐phenylene))bis(oxy)) diphthalonitrile, BA‐ph) with ortho‐diallyl bisphenol A (DABPA) was investigated. The processing window of the BA‐ph/DABPA blends were found from 50°C to 185°C, which was significantly broader than that of the pure BA‐ph (120–200°C). The composites were prepared through a curing process involving sequential polymerization of allyl moieties, ring‐opening polymerization of oxazine rings and ring‐forming polymerization of nitrile groups. BA‐ph/DABPA/GF(glass fiber) composite laminates were prepared in this study, and the composite laminate with BA‐ph/DABPA molar ratio of 2/2 showed an outstanding flexural strength and modulus of 560 MPa and 37 GPa, respectively, as well as a superior thermal and thermo‐oxidative stability up to 408 and 410°C. These outstanding properties suggest that the BA‐ph/DABPA/GF composites are suitable candidates as matrices for high performance composites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:150–157, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Epoxy/POSS organic–inorganic hybrids: Viscoelastic,mechanical properties and micromorphologies

A series of epoxy resin (EP)/octa(aminpropyl)silsesquioxane (POSS‐NH₂) organic–inorganic hybrid composites (EP/POSS‐NH₂ 100/0, 95/5, 90/10, and 80/20 wt/wt) were prepared by melt casting and then curing. Viscoelastic and mechanical properties of these composites were studied by dynamic mechanical analysis and mechanical testing, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study of the micromorphologies of the composites and to elucidate the toughening mechanisms of POSS‐NH₂. POSS units incorporated into the epoxy network showed good compatibility with the resin matrix. Phase separation was not observed even at high POSS content (20 wt%). Incorporation of POSS macromer into the epoxy network after curing increased the glass transition temperature, slightly narrowed the temperature range widths of the glass transition, and lowered the intensities of their loss moduli peaks of the resultant composites. The glass transition temperature of EP/POSS‐NH₂ composites increased significantly with increasing POSS content at lower POSS content (<10 wt%), while increased slightly at higher POSS content. Both impact and flexural strengths of the hybrids reached their optimum values when 10 wt% content of POSS was introduced. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:175–179, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Investigation of acrylamide‐modified melamine‐formaldehyde resins as a compatibilizer for kenaf‐unsaturated polyester composites

Kenaf fiber‐reinforced unsaturated polyester (UPE) composites were prepared by compression molding. A novel compatibilizer was prepared from melamine, formaldehyde, and acrylamide. The treatment of kenaf fibers with the compatibilizer significantly increased the flexural properties and reduced the water uptake of the resulting kenaf–UPE composites. The effects of the total solids content, the molar ratios of melamine/formaldehyde/acrylamide, and the pH value of the compatibilizer solution in the treatment of kenaf fibers on the flexural strength, flexural modulus, as well as the water uptake of the kenaf–UPE composites were studied in detail. Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed that the compatibilizer was covalently bonded to kenaf fibers. Scanning electron microscopy images of the fractured kenaf–UPE composites confirmed that the treatment of kenaf fibers with the compatibilizer improved the interfacial adhesion between kenaf fibers and UPE resin. The mechanisms for the improved flexural properties and the reduced water uptake by the treatments of the kenaf fibers were proposed and discussed. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Replacement of styrene with acrylated epoxidized soybean oil in an unsaturated polyester resin from propylene glycol,isophthalic acid,and maleic anhydride

Commercial unsaturated polyester (UPE) resins typically contain a high amount of volatile toxic styrene. A non‐volatile acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) was found to be an excellent replacement of styrene in a commercially available UPE resin [designated as Styrene‐(PG‐IPA‐MA)] that is derived from propylene glycol (PG), isophthalic acid (IPA), and maleic anhydride (MA) in terms of the mechanical properties of the resulting kenaf fiber‐reinforced composites. The AESO‐(PG‐IPA‐MA) resins had low viscosity and long pot life below 70°C for a typical fiber‐reinforced composite application. AESO and PG‐IPA‐MA were not able to form a strong polymer matrix individually for fiber‐reinforced composites. However, a combination of AESO and PG‐IPA‐MA saw strong synergistic effects between them. The flexural, tensile, and water absorption properties of kenaf fiber‐reinforced composites made from AESO‐(PG‐IPA‐MA) resins were comparable with or even superior to those from the Styrene‐(PG‐IPA‐MA) resin. The AESO/(PG‐IPA‐MA) weight ratio was investigated for maximizing the mechanical properties of the kenaf fiber‐reinforced composites. The curing mechanism of the AESO‐(PG‐IPA‐MA) resins is discussed in detail. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43052.     

An investigation for the effect of recycled matrix on the properties of textile waste cotton fiber reinforced (T‐FRP) composites

The main objective of this research is to study the effect of recycled low density polyethylene (r‐LDPE) matrix on the tensile, impact, and flexural properties of the novel textile waste cotton fiber reinforced (T‐FRP) composites. For this purpose, the T‐FRP composites were manufactured by using two different matrix types; namely, virgin LPDE (v‐LDPE) and r‐LDPE, with different waste cotton fiber content. All composites were compatibilized by maleic anhydride‐LDPE (MA‐LDPE) in order to increase the interfacial adhesion between fibers and matrices. Differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analyzer studies were performed in order to characterize the materials. The results have shown that best tensile and flexural properties have been obtained from the composites with the content of 30 wt% cotton fiber, 5 wt% maleic anhydride‐LDPE, and 65 wt% recycled LDPE matrix. However, the impact properties of the composites were decreased drastically compared to the pure LDPE matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1231–1240, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Acrylated epoxidized soybean oil as a styrene replacement in a dicyclopentadiene‐modified unsaturated polyester resin

Nonvolatile and nonhazardous acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) was investigated as a replacement for hazardous styrene in a commercial unsaturated polyester (UPE) resin [a mixture of styrene and a dicyclopentadiene (DCPD)‐modified UPE (DCPD–UPE)]. DCPD–UPE was prepared from ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, maleic anhydride, and DCPD. Mixtures of AESO and DCPD–UPE [AESO–(DCPD–UPE) resins] were found to be homogeneous, easily pourable solutions at room temperature. The glass‐fiber‐reinforced composites from the AESO–(DCPD–UPE) resins were comparable or even superior to those from the mixture of styrene and DCPD–UPE in terms of the flexural and tensile strengths. The viscoelastic properties of the cured AESO–(DCPD–UPE) resins and the corresponding glass‐fiber‐reinforced composites were characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis. The viscosities and pot lives of the AESO–(DCPD–UPE) resins as a function of the temperature were studied. The curing mechanism of the AESO–(DCPD–UPE) resins is discussed. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46212.     

Simultaneous effects of silanized coal fly ash and nano/micro glass fiber on fracture toughness and mechanical properties of carbon fiber‐reinforced vinyl ester resin composites

In this study, the simultaneous effects of both silanized coal fly ash (S‐CFA) and nano/micro glass fiber (nGF) on fracture toughness and mechanical properties of vinyl ester (VE) resin filled with carbon fiber‐based composite materials were investigated. The CFA was treated with (3‐trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate to introduce the methacryloxy groups into the surface of CFA, and was confirmed by using FTIR technique. The nGF and S‐CFA with different weight ratios were well mixed with VE resin by using of high‐speed mechanical stirrer, and ultrasonic technique before using as matrices for fabrication of carbon fiber‐based composite materials via sheet molding compound (SMC) method and hot curing processing. Many characteristics of both cured VE resin composites and carbon fiber‐based composite were examined such as mechanical properties, fracture toughness, and morphology. The results showed that by adding of both 0.1 wt% nGF and 1 wt% S‐CFA into VE resin the tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, K_IC, impact strength as well as the Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness (G_IC) of VE composites and carbon fiber based composites get optimum values and increased about 61.39%; 39.83%; 36.21%; 103.1%; 81.79%; 48.61%, respectively when compared with pristine materials. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:584–591, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Replacement of styrene with acrylated epoxidized soybean oil in an unsaturated polyester resin from propylene glycol and maleic anhydride

A nonvolatile, vegetable‐oil based chemical, acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) was investigated as a replacement of volatile and toxic styrene in one of commercial UPE resins styrene‐(PG‐MA) that is a mixture of styrene and a UPE plastic from propylene glycol and maleic anhydride (PG‐MA). Neither AESO nor PG‐MA was capable of forming a strong matrix, respectively, for glass fiber‐reinforced composites. However, a mixture of AESO and PG‐MA resulted in glass fiber‐reinforced AESO‐(PG‐MA) composites that were comparable or even superior to those from styrene‐(PG‐MA) in terms of the flexural and tensile properties. Effects of AESO contents on the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the glass fiber‐reinforced AESO‐(PG‐MA) composites were investigated. Resin viscosity and resin pot life as a function of temperature were studied. The curing mechanism of the AESO‐(PG‐MA) resins is also discussed. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45056.     

Preliminary study on preparation of unsaturated polyester resin/natural rubber latex blends in the presence of dispersion aids

The objective of this research was to study the possibility of blending unsaturated polyester resin (UPE resin) with 5, 10, and 15 parts per hundred resin (phr) natural rubber latex (NRL) in the presence of dispersion aids in order to improve the impact resistance of UPE resin. Three types of dispersion aids, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), toluene, and ammonia, were used in this study in amounts of 10, 15, 20 and 25 wt % of the NRL. These blended mixtures were cured at room temperature using methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKPO) as an initiator and cobalt octoate as an accelerator. It was found that, regardless of the type of dispersion aid, the impact strength of blended UPE samples was higher than that of the pure UPE samples, and at 20 wt % toluene in 15‐phr NRL, the sample had the highest impact strength. However, because of low elastic modulus, characteristic of NRL, the tensile strength and flexural strength of the blended samples decreased as the NRL content of the blends increased. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 4238–4241, 2006     

Thermo‐physical,thermal degradation,and flexural properties of betel nut husk fiber reinforced vinyl ester composites

This study aims to investigate the thermo‐physical, mechanical, and thermal degradation properties of betel nut husk (BNH) fiber reinforced vinyl ester (VE) composites. These properties were evaluated as a function of fiber maturity, fiber content, and fiber orientation. Thermo‐physical properties were analyzed experimentally using a hot disk TPS method. The introduction of BNH was found to reduce the thermal conductivity of neat VE. The thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of BNH reinforced VE composites decreased with the increase in fiber content. Short fiber BNH reinforced VE composites showed the lowest thermal conductivity as compared to the unidirectional and random nonwoven composites. The TGA analysis shows lower resin transition peak for the BNH reinforced VE composites than the peak of neat VE. Fiber maturity had a notable effect on the flexural modulus of the BNH fiber reinforced VE composites. Incorporation of 10 wt% BNH fibers into the composite has increased the composites' flexural modulus by 46.37%. However, further increases in the fiber content reduced both flexural strength and modulus of the composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:2008–2017, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Short glass fiber reinforced ABS and ABS/PA6 composites: Processing and characterization

In this study acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (ABS) terpolymer was reinforced with 3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APS)‐treated short glass fibers (SGFs). The effects of SGF concentration and extrusion process conditions, such as the screw speed and barrel temperature profile, on the mechanical properties of the composites were examined. Increasing the SGF concentration in the ABS matrix from 10 wt% to 30 wt% resulted in improved tensile strength, tensile modulus and flexural modulus, but drastically lowered the strain‐at‐break and the impact strength. The average fiber length decreased when the concentration of glass fibers increased. The increase in screw speed decreased the average fiber length, and therefore the tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural modulus, and impact strength were affected negatively and the strain‐at‐break was affected positively. The increase in extrusion temperature decreased the fiber length degradation, and therefore the tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural modulus, and impact strength increased. At higher temperatures the ABS matrix degraded and the mechanical strength of the composites decreased. To obtain a strong interaction at the interface, polyamide‐6 (PA6) at varying concentrations was introduced into the ABS/30 wt% SGF composite. The incorporation and increasing amount of PA6 in the composites broadened the fiber length distribution (FLD) owing to the low melt viscosity of PA6. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural modulus, and impact strength values increased with an increase in the PA6 content of the ABS/PA6/SGF systems due to the improved adhesion at the interface, which was confirmed by the ratio of tensile strength to flexural strength as an adhesion parameter. These results were also supported by scanning electron micrographs of the ABS/PA6/SGF composites, which exhibited an improved adhesion between the SGFs and the ABS/PA6 matrix. POLYM. COMPOS. 26:745–755, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Toughened carbon fiber fabric‐reinforced pCBT composites

Toughened carbon fiber‐fabric reinforced polymerized cyclic butylene terephthalate (pCBT) composites were obtained by chemical modification of cyclic butylene terephthalate (CBT) with small amounts of epoxy resin and isocyanates as chain extenders. Homogeneous CBT/epoxy and CBT/isocyanate blends were prepared by melt blending the components in a lab‐scale batch mixer at low temperatures and high shear rate. Melt blending was stopped before the ring‐opening polymerization of CBT could start. The modified CBT was the starting material for carbon fiber fabric‐reinforced pCBT composites (fiber content at about 65 wt%) which were prepared by ring‐opening polymerization during compression molding using a simple powder prepreg method. Interlaminar shear strength, flexural strength, and failure strain of the chemically modified composites increased up to 60% with respect to unmodified pCBT composites. Nevertheless, the flexural moduli slightly decreased due to the toughening effect of the chain extender on the pCBT matrix. Drop weight impact tests revealed that the energy absorption of the modified composites was relatively higher as compared to unmodified pCBT composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:1453–1460, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

酚醛树脂/镀银碳纤维导热复合材料的制备与性能

采用化学镀的方法在碳纤维(CF)上镀一层银膜,然后采用搅拌混合的方法制备了酚醛树脂/镀银碳纤维(Ag-CF)导热复合材料,通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射仪(XRD)、X射线能量色散光谱仪(EDS)等方法对其结构和性能进行表征。结果表明,大量的银粒子均匀分布在CF表面;酚醛树脂/Ag-CF导热复合材料的导热系数、冲击强度和拉伸强度随着Ag-CF含量的增加而逐渐增加;Ag-CF的含量为7.0 %时,酚醛树脂/Ag-CF导热复合材料的综合性能最优,此时其导热系数为1.25 W/(m·K),冲击强度和弯曲强度分别为66.7 kJ/m2和139.2 MPa;残炭率为30 %时,添加量为7.0 %的复合材料对应温度为 500 ℃,高于纯酚醛树脂的 450 ℃。     

Grafting of natural rubber for preparation of natural rubber/unsaturated polyester resin miscible blends

Graft copolymers of natural rubber and polystyrene were synthesized by free‐radical grafting of styrene monomer onto natural rubber in latex form. The obtained graft copolymers and unsaturated polyester (UPE) resin were mixed and cast at room temperature using methyl ethyl ketone peroxide as an initiator and Co‐octoate as an accelerator. The samples prepared from ungrafted natural rubbers exhibited the aggregation of the rubber component, whereas the samples prepared from grafted natural rubbers showed good dispersion of the rubber component in a glassy matrix of UPE resin. It was found that the amount of polystyrene grafted onto natural rubber and the graft copolymer content in polymer blend significantly affect the mechanical properties of the blend samples. An increase in the amount of hard and brittle polystyrene in glassy matrix of UPE resin overshadowed the impact‐absorbing ability of the rubber component, causing the impact strength of the blend samples to be lower than that of pure UPE resin. On the other hand, an increase in easily elongated uncrosslinked rubber molecules, as the graft copolymer content in blend samples increased, resulted in a decrease in their flexural strength. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 1496–1503, 2004     

Improved mechanical and thermal properties of bamboo–epoxy nanocomposites

Natural fiber‐reinforced hybrid composites based on bamboo/epoxy/nanoclay were prepared. Ultrasound sonication was used for the dispersion of nanoclay in the bamboo–epoxy composites. The morphology of bamboo–epoxy nanocomposites was investigated by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. The results show that there exists an optimum limit in which the mechanical properties of composites improved by continuously increasing the nanoclay content. The tensile and flexural strength of bamboo–epoxy nanocomposites with 3 wt% nanoclay increased by 40% and 27%, respectively, as compared to pure composites. The highest value of impact strength was obtained for 1 wt% nanoclay content bamboo–epoxy nanocomposites. The enhanced impact strength of bamboo–epoxy nanocomposites was one of the key advantages brought by nanofiller. The results show that incorporation of nanoclay substantially increases the water resistance capability and thermal stability of bamboo–epoxy nanocomposites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

一种低粘度双马树脂及其复合材料的性能研究

对一种适用于RTM工艺的低粘度双马树脂QY8911-Ⅳ进行了研究,考察了树脂体系的粘度特性和固化特性,并对不同后固化温度下的树脂固化物的耐热性、力学性能及吸水性等进行了全面考察。结果表明,该树脂体系具有粘度低(80℃为200mPa·s)、固化收缩小(1%)、耐热性好(T_g为260℃)、力学性能好(弯曲强度为170 MPa、冲击强度为20 kJ/m~2)和吸水率低(0.39%)等特点。选择合适的注射工艺和固化工艺,以此树脂为基体,采用RTM工艺,制备出了碳布增强的复合材料,并对其力学性能进行了测试,其弯曲强度和冲击强度分别为754 MPa和110.9 kJ/m~2。     

Effects of novolac resin modification on mechanical properties of carbon fiber/epoxy composites

The epoxy resin matrix of carbon fiber (CF)‐reinforced epoxy composites was modified with novolac resin (NR) to improve the matrix‐dominated mechanical properties of composites. Flexural strength, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), and impact strength were measured with unfilled, 7 wt% NR, 13 wt% NR, and 18 wt% NR filled to epoxy to identify the effect of adding NR on the mechanical properties of composites. The results showed that both interfacial and impact properties of composites were improved except for flexural property. The largest improvement in ILSS and impact strength were obtained with 13 wt% loading of NR. ILSS and impact strength were improved by 7.3% and 38.6%, respectively, compared with the composite without NR. The fracture and surface morphologies of the composite specimens were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Intimate bonding of the fibers and the matrix was evident with the content of 7–13 wt% NR range. Decrease of crosslinking density and formation of NR transition layer were deduced with adding NR. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effects of polyol molecular weight on properties of benzoxazine–urethane polymer alloys

Recently, a new thermoset resin namely benzoxazine (BA) resin has been developed. The polymer possesses several outstanding properties, such as, ease of synthesis, low viscosity, near‐zero shrinkage, lack of by‐product upon curing, high thermal stability, and high mechanical property. Moreover, the benzoxazine resins can be alloyed with various types of resins because of the various function groups in their structure. In this work, urethane elastomer (PU) is used to enhance toughness of the polybenzoxazine. The effects of polyol molecular weights on the properties of BA: PU polymer alloys are investigated. The experiment reveals that the similar curing peaks of the matrices at various polyol molecular weights, with the same urethane mass fraction, in the resin mixtures are obtained. The glass transition temperature increases from 160°C of polybenzoxazine to 240–245°C in the 70:30 BA:PU system. In addition, the char yield increases when the higher molecular weight of polyol is added. The flexural modulus of polybenzoxazine decreases from 6.2 GPa to be in the range of 2.2–2.8 GPa when 30 wt% of PU is presented in the alloys. Furthermore, the synergism with ultimate flexural strength is observed in the 90:10 BA:PU alloy for all molecular weights of the polyol used. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Performance enhancement of nylon/kevlar fiber composites through viscoelastically generated pre‐stress

Kevlar‐29 fibers have high strength and stiffness but nylon 6,6 fibers have greater ductility. Thus by commingling these fibers prior to molding in a resin, the resulting hybrid composite may be mechanically superior to the corresponding single fiber‐type composites. The contribution made by viscoelastically generated pre‐stress, via the commingled nylon fibers, should add further performance enhancement. This paper reports on an initial study into the Charpy impact toughness and flexural stiffness of hybrid (commingled) nylon/Kevlar fiber viscoelastically pre‐stressed composites at low fiber volume fractions. The main findings show that (i) hybrid composites (with no pre‐stress) absorb more impact energy than Kevlar fiber‐only composites; (ii) pre‐stress further increases impact energy absorption in the hybrid case by up to 33%; (iii) pre‐stress increases flexural modulus by ∼40% in the hybrid composites. These findings are discussed in relation to practical composite applications. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:931–938, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers