Tuesday, 1 November 2005 - 12:35 PM
207a
Effect of Particle Size on the Mechanical Properties of Pc/Pbt Blend Composites
Wade S. DePolo1, Don Baird
2, and Gregorio Velez
1. (1) Virginia Poytechnic Institute, 154 Randolph Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, (2) Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 133 Randolph Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061
Ternary blends based on polycarbonate (PC), poly[butylene terephthalate] (PBT), and fine particles (» 1-2 um in diameter) are typically compounded at particle loadings ranging from 6–12% by weight in order to achieve a flexural modulus on the order of 3 GPa. This is advantageous for the production of exterior vehicle body panels, but the high loading levels that are required to obtain such a high modulus also significantly increase the weight or density of the part. Therefore, in an effort to maintain the flexural modulus of particle filled PC/PBT composites while reducing the particle loading level, and, hence, the density, fine particles were substituted with their nano-sized counterparts at particle loadings of 1%, 2%, 3%, and 6% by weight with a PC/PBT blend ratio of 60/40. At all particle loadings the flexural modulus of the composites generated with the nano-particles was much greater than that of the composites reinforced with micron-size particles, which can be attributed to the higher aspect ratio of the nano-particles. At a 1% loading of nano-particles, the flexural modulus was 20% greater than that of the unfilled matrix and equivalent to the composite generated with 6% by weight of micron-sized particles. This leads to a 3% reduction in density. Further modulus enhancement with increasing nano-particle loading was minimal (< 3% at a nano-particle loading of 6%) and can be attributed to agglomeration of the nano-particles at the higher loading levels as observed by TEM. It is interesting to note that the nano-particles were preferentially located in the PBT phase, which should help to improve the thermal properties (linear coefficient of thermal expansion) of the filled PC/PBT composites.
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