Poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene-co-styrene) Reinforced with Hollow Glass Microspheres: Evaluation of Extrusion Parameters and Their Effects on the Composite Properties

Marina Panozzo Cunha,Laura Berasain Gonella,Matheus Poletto,Ana Maria Colon Grisa,Rosmary Nichele Brandalise

doi:10.1155/2016/9063874

Abstract

Hollow glass microspheres (HGMs) filled poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene-co-styrene) (ABS) composites were prepared by means of a twin-screw extruder. S038 HGMs were incorporated at different percentages of 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 wt%. The HGMs were added into the twin-screw extruder at two different feeding zones, and the effect of HGMs loading and specific feeding zone addition on the composites produced was evaluated with regard to morphological, thermal, rheological, physical, and mechanical properties. As a result, the composite density was reduced while the thermal stability, storage modulus, complex viscosity, and tensile and flexural modulus were improved when compared with the ABS matrix. The results also indicate that the addition of 5.0 wt% of HGMs at the feeding zone closer to the die maintains the integrity of the HGMs and promotes composites with higher mechanical properties and lower density when compared with the composites obtained with the addition of HGMs closer to the hopper.

Highlights

Marine, aerospace, and automotive structural applications strive for low density materials having high strength, modulus, and damage tolerance [1,2,3]
scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs of the 7.5 wt% Hollow glass microspheres (HGMs) composites are shown in Figure 2 with incorporation at the feeding zone (Z1) and at the central feeding zone (Z2)
It could be seen that the HGM kept their integrity after extrusion at Z2, but considering the magnitude of Figure 2(c) micrographs (350x), higher number of HGMs is noticed in the observed region, with reinforcement agglomeration, as compared with the morphology of Figure 2(a) (350x)

Summary

Introduction

Aerospace, and automotive structural applications strive for low density materials having high strength, modulus, and damage tolerance [1,2,3]. The regulatory requirements on low CO2 emission and environmental concerns [2] are a challenge for automotive industries to promote vehicle weight reduction without compromise of its performance. Polymer composite materials reinforced with hollow glass microspheres are generally designed to comprise low density materials with higher mechanical performance [2,3,4,5,6]. Poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene-co-styrene) (ABS) is employed in the automotive industry, normally in the interior of vehicles as a function of its impact strength and outstanding balance between strain, modulus of elasticity, and tensile and flexural strength, combined to its low cost [4, 7]. Acrylonitrile monomer contributes to the property of thermal and chemical resistance, while butadiene monomer provides impact resistance and flexibility and styrene monomer adds to processability and stiffness [9]

Methods

Results

Conclusion