Novel polyurethane elastomer continuous carbon fiber composites: Preparation and characterization

Abstract

AbstractPreparation and characterization of novel polyurethane (PUR)–carbon fiber (CF) composites are reported. The reinforcement of PUR elastomers was achieved using unidirectional continuous CFs with different coatings (uncoated and epoxy and polyester resin coatings) by applying molding for the preparation of PUR‐CF composites. Considerable reinforcement of PUR was attained even at relatively low CF content, e.g., maximum stress and Young's modulus of PUR‐CF composite at CF content 3% (m/m) were found to be 3–5 and 4–10 times higher than those of the PUR‐matrix, respectively. In addition, a linear relationship between the Young's modulus and the CF content was found as well as linear variation of maximum stress with the CF content was also observed. The adhesion of CF to the PUR‐matrix was strong in each case as concluded from the strain–stress and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations. However, the extent of reinforcement of PUR at a given CF content was found to depend greatly on the coatings of CF, and increased in the following order: epoxy resin < polyester resin < uncoated. The effect of the coating of CF on the reinforcement of PUR is also discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 287–292, 2007