Abstract
Nanocomposite fibers based on poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were prepared using a method able to disperse graphene in one step into a polymer matrix. The studies were performed for fibers containing four different concentrations of rGO at different take-up velocities. The supermolecular structures of the fibers at the crystallographic and lamellar levels were examined by means of calorimetric and X-ray scattering methods (DSC, WAXS, and SAXS). It was found that the fiber structure is mainly influenced by the take-up velocity. Fibers spun at low and medium take-up velocities contained a crystalline α-form, whereas the fibers spun at a high take-up velocity contained a smectic mesophase. During annealing, the smectic phase transformed into its α-form. The degree of transformation depended on the rGO content. Reduced graphene mainly hindered the crystallization of PBT by introducing steric obstacles confining the ordering of the macromolecules of PBT.
Highlights
Poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) is a commercially important polymeric material with a wide range of applications in bulk, fibers, and films [1]
We describe the process for obtaining PBT fibers enriched with reduced graphene oxide
The nanocomposite components were mixed in the proportions required to obtain the following contents of reduced graphene oxide in a final product of 0.5 wt %, 1 wt %, 1.5 wt %, and 2 wt %, which were marked as PBT + 0.5rGO, PBT + 1rGO, PBT + 1.5rGO, and PBT + 2rGO, respectively
Summary
Poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) is a commercially important polymeric material with a wide range of applications in bulk, fibers, and films [1]. Li et al [41], by using the method of mixing components into the melt, it was possible to obtain a nanocomposite with graphene that was very well dispersed in the polyester matrix, even when its content was 7 wt %. Polymer processing (such as extrusion, injection molding, fiber spinning, and film blowing) undoubtedly involves different types of flow fields (shear, extension, and mixed) For these reasons, an understanding of flow-induced crystallization is essential because it determines the formation of hierarchical structures and the final properties of semicrystalline polymer products. Due to the functionalization of graphene oxide, nanofiller plays a heterogeneous nucleation role and promotes the crystallization behavior of the PBT matrix at low content levels. The changes in the crystallinity, crystallite size, and parameters of the lamellar structure were discussed based on the nucleation mechanism under the confinements introduced by the rGO particles
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