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Electro‐copolymerization of acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate onto graphite fibers
Author(s) -
Chang J.,
Bell J. P.,
Shkolnik S.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1987.070340605
Subject(s) - acrylonitrile , copolymer , materials science , methyl methacrylate , monomer , methyl acrylate , polymer chemistry , methacrylic acid , butyl acrylate , polymerization , acrylate , polymer , chemical engineering , composite material , engineering
Electro‐copolymerization of methyl acrylate, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, and methyl methacrylate with acrylonitrile onto graphite fibers has been successfully done in our laboratory. The coatings are relatively uniform and their properties, especially their modulus, can be systematically varied by controlling the monomer ratio in the eletrolyte solution. This technique is being used to introduce a ductile interlayer of contrlled composition and thickness between the composite fibers and matrix. Copolymers of methyl acrylate and acrylonitrile formed by this technique are random copolymers, with T g ′s varying from 10 to 90°C. These copolymers have fairly high molecular weight, in the range of 100,000 g/mol. Monomer reactivity ratios were determined, based upon free radical polymerization kinetics, from cyclic voltammetry. An indirect initiation mechanism is suggested. Bonding between interlayer and matrix can be improved by introducing vinyl monomers with proper functional groups, capable of reacting with the epoxy resin, at the last stage of the electropolymerization process.