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High shear melt‐processing of fiberglass‐reinforced poly(trimethylene) terephthalate composites
Author(s) -
Lynch Jennifer Krystyna
Publication year - 2015
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.42714
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , compounding , toughness , composite number , ultimate tensile strength , fabrication , thermoplastic , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
As the demand for polymer‐matrix composites (PMC) expands in order to replace traditional materials, processing of the PMC is increasingly vital, as the morphology and properties are processing dependent. Typically, thermoplastic PMCs are processed in at least two heat‐intensive steps, including a pre‐compounding step in order to achieve good mixing followed by a part fabrication step. The key aim of this study is to prepare a fiberglass‐reinforced poly (trimethylene terephthalate) (FG‐PTT) composite using a one‐step, high shear melt‐processing method that achieves both compounding and part fabrication. The morphology, thermal properties, and mechanical properties are characterized to determine the effect of FG reinforcement on this renewable biopolymer. This novel method produces a FG‐PTT composite with superior mixing and tensile strength, as well as enhanced toughness, in one processing step, reducing polymer degradation and fiber attrition, as well as, time, energy, and cost requirements. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132 , 42714.