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Polymer nanocomposite powders and melt spun fibers filled with silica nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Rottstegge Y. K. Qiao J.,
Zhang X.,
Zhou Y.,
Xu D.,
Han C. C.,
Wang D.
Publication year - 2006
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.25162
Subject(s) - materials science , fumed silica , composite material , nanocomposite , polypropylene , differential scanning calorimetry , crystallinity , scanning electron microscope , crystallization , polymer , contact angle , fiber , melt spinning , chemical engineering , physics , thermodynamics , engineering
Abstract Nanocomposite powders from polypropylene filled with surface modified and unmodified fumed silica have been prepared from polymer solution to achieve improved mixing and have been forwarded to fiber melt spinning. The surface of the fumed silica was modified with dodecyl alkoxy silanes. Crystallization velocity and viscosity of the PP nanocomposites thereof were determined to ensure good melt spinning processing conditions for all composite compositions. Upon addition of untreated filler particles, a shear thinning and an increased crystallization velocity of the polymer melt was found, while only minor changes were detected in the presence of surface modified fumed silica particles. The composites and the polymer fibers made from these powder composites by melt spinning were mainly characterized by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and solid‐state NMR. The unmodified fumed silica was found to have a strong influence on the mechanical fiber properties, while the surface modified silica only a small one. Fibers were additionally characterized with respect to the uniformity, the PP crystallinity, moisture absorption, and the water contact angle. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 218–227, 2007