Inorganic whiskers reinforced bismaleimide composites

The whisker-reinforced polymer composites have good friction and wear properties and widely used in many fields. Potassium titanate (K₂Ti₆O₁₃) whiskers have good properties, lower prices and show good foreground in whisker-reinforced polymer matrix composites. The surface properties of the whisker are vital for the performance of the reinforced composites. In this paper, the friction and wear properties of potassium titanate whiskers reinforced bismaleimide copmposites and the surfaces of whiskers treated by coupling agents were studied. Two coupling agents, a silane compound (KH550) and a titanate (NDZ311) were selected to treat the surface of K₂Ti₆O₁₃ whiskers, respectively. Three whisker-reinforced BMI composites, K₂Ti₆O₁₃/BMI, K₂Ti₆O₁₃ (KH550)/BMI and K₂Ti₆O₁₃ (NDZ311)/BMI, were prepared and their tribological behaviors were investigated. Results show that the wear-resistance of the matrix improved by the incorporation of whiskers into the matrix, while the improvement efficiency is depended on the nature of the surface of whiskers and whisker content. The composite containing KH550 treated whiskers has the best wear-resistance, and that containing untreated whiskers has the poorest wear-resistance among the three composites. Experiment results were explained from the point of the interfacial adhesion between the matrix and whiskers as well as the surface morphologies of worn surface and wear particles of the matrix and composites.