Film stacking method

Extensive interface research is crucially essential for developing long-life, cost-effective, multilayer, polycrystalline, thin-film stacks for SECS. Microchemical analysis and other interface measuring techniques must be employed to solve the interfacial stability problems in the stacks. Important topical areas in solar materials interface science include thin films grain, phase, and interfacial boundaries corrosion and oxidation adhesion chemisorption, catalysis, and surface processes abrasion and erosion photon-assisted surface reactions and photoelectrochemistry and interface characterization methods. 

Nonwoven mats of cellulose microfibrils were also used to prepare polyurethane composite materials via film stacking method [160], Water-redispersible nanofibrillated cellulose in powder form was recently prepared from refined bleached beech pulp by carboxymethylation and mechanical disintegration [161], However, the carboxymethylated sample displayed a loss of crystallinity and strong decrease in thermal stability limiting its use for nanocomposite processing. 

Very recently, in our group, enhanced self-reinforced PP composites based on commercial PP fabrics were obtained by the film stacking method followed by compression molding introducing different contents of micron-sized quartz particles in the matrix films (unpublished results). Simultaneous improvements of composite tensile strength, ductility and fracture toughness were observed from the addition of quartz to the polymer matrix (Table 14.1). Enhanced degree of consohdation was obtained for the composites with quartz as evidenced from the improved mechanical properties and by SEM observations. This was also confirmed by acoustic emission analysis in situ in tensile tests. 

Laminated biocomposites were prepared from biodegradable PLA and pineapple leaf fibers by compression molding by the film stacking method (35). The pineapple leaf fibers were either untreated or... 

A method of manufacturing thermoplastic composite materials by a modified film stacking process was patented [131] involving sandwiching sheets of unidirectional carbon... 

Phillips LN, Murphy DJ, Properties of carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastics moulded by the film-stacking method. Royal Aircraft Est, Technical Report TR-76140, 1976. 

The film stacking method is a technique where the fiber reinforcement is sandwiched between films of the same polymer, and then hot pressing is apphed to consolidate them together. Note that the melting of the matrix-giving film should start at lower temperature than the reinforcement. This technique has been apphed to a wide range of polymers, such as poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) [6-7], polypropylene (PP) [8-11], polyethylene (PE) [10,12] and polylactic acid (PLA) [13]. 

Novel SPCs will be produced by combining new methods e.g., electrospinning of fibers) with well established ones e.g., film stacking). Microfibrillar and nanofibrillar SPCs, recently developed by Fakirov et at [19,20,70-75], may be of great, practical relevance. In addition to their excellent mechanical performance, they represent an attractive way to achieve a nniform nanoscale dispersion of the reinforcing constituent. 

Applications under review in transmission concern (i) transparent polymeric matrices containing one additive (ii) transparent polymeric matrices containing a multicomponent additive package (Hi) additive distribution analysis (using the multi-film stacking method) (iv) interactions and degradations in the solid-state (v) quality control and (vi) polymer melts. 

Figure 10.13 Schematic drawing of film-stacking method.

Schematic of the process for making natural fibre (e.g., jute)-PLA composites using a film-stacking method (source Plackett eta ., 2003). 

The film stacking method is a technique where the fiber reinforcement is sandwiched between films of the same polymer, and then hot pressing is applied to... 

Khondker, O. A., Ishiaku, U. S., Nakai, A., Hamada, H. Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of Unidirectional Jute/PP Composites Using Jute Yams by Film Stacking Method. Journal of Polymers and Environment. 2005,13, 115-126. 

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