Performance of Potassium Titanate Whisker Reinforced PPESK Composites

A group of poly (phthalazinone ether sulfone ketone)/potassium-titanate-whisker (PPSEK/whisker) composites was prepared by coprecipitation from solution. The whisker surface was modified using titanate coupling agent prior to blending. The tensile, impact, morphology and thermal properties of the moulded composites were investigated. The measurements showed that the tensile strength and impact strength of the composites increased with increasing whiskers content up to 10 to 20 phr, thereafter they showed a decrease in the whiskers content reached 40 phr. At the same time, the modulus of the composites increased with increasing whiskers content. Scanning electron microscopy studies revealed that the whiskers within the composites were dispersed uniformly by treated with coupling agent. Finally, thermogravimetric analysis showed that the heat resistance of the composites tended to increase with increasing whisker content. The results were analysed and discussed in terms of established models of the behaviour of short-fiber reinforced composites.