Physico-mechanical behaviour of thermoplastic co-polyester elastomer/polytetrafluroethylene composite with short fibers and microfillers

Abstract

Short fibers and particulate fillers are known to enhance the mechanical properties of the polymers. The type of fiber and filler morphology, size, loading, and dispersion homogeneity influence extensively the composite’s performance. In the present study, various amounts of short fiber (glass and carbon) and micro-scale particles (silicon carbide, alumina and molybdenum disulphide) were systematically introduced into thermoplastic copolyester elastomer/polytetrafluroethylene (TCE/PTFE) composite for reinforcement purpose. The influence of these fibers and fillers on the tensile, flexural, and impact properties was investigated. All composite samples were fabricated using twin-screw extruder followed by injection molding. The incorporation of short glass fiber (SGF) yielded an effective improvement in mechanical properties of TCE/PTFE composite at a fiber loading of 20 wt.%. Choosing the 20 wt.% SGF-reinforced TCE/PTFE composite, short carbon fiber and microparticles were further added in order to achieve additional improvement in the mechanical properties. In fact, synergistic effects were in the form of a further increase in hardness, tensile modulus, flexural and impact strength. Various reasons to explain these effects in terms of reinforcing mechanisms were discussed. Also, dispersion of the fiber and fillers were studied using scanning electron microscopy.