Reinforcements for thermoplastics

Lyocell tibers have been explored in blends. Chang et al. [141] prepared Lyocell based blends. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) (EVOH), and poly(acrylic acid-co-maleic acid) (PAM) were used as fillers in blends with lyocell produced through solution blending. The results showed that blends with PVA exhibit the best tensile properties. Thus, Lyocell fibers have recently been used as reinforcement for thermoplastic fiber composites. 

Submicron reinforcement n. Very fine whiskers that, when used as reinforcements for thermoplastic resins, are short enough to flow through restricted gates without breaking, yet have aspect ratios well over 200, adequate for good isotropic strength development in the composite. However,... 

Description The main fibrous reinforcement for thermoplastics and thermosets, giving high tensile ... 

Glass fibers are manufactured commercially for use as reinforcements for thermoplastics and thermoset resins (usually crosslinked aliphatic polyesters). They are generally about 10 pm in diameter. 

Over the last years natural fibres, e.g. hemp, flax, abaca and many more, got increasing attention as reinforcements for thermoplastic polymers, because of the good mechanical properties in relation to then-density [4]. Theoretic considerations in terms of reinforcement with natural fibres are rather difficult, because the fibres are not straight, but wrinkled and also the diameter of the fibres is not constant over the whole length, nevertheless some work has been pubhshed here [5, 6]. 

Future prospects for thermoplastics and thermoplastic composites 7.5.5 Short fibre reinforced thermopiastics to compete with LFRT... 

There are numerous studies and some industrialization of fibre reinforced engineering thermoplastic uses in aeronautics, for example ... 

Poly[2,2 -(m-phenylene-5,5 -benzimidazole)] (PBI) is a very high glass transition temperature (Tg 430°C), commercially available material. It possesses excellent mechanical properties, but is difficult to process into large parts and has high moisture regain and poor thermo-oxidative stability at temperatures above approximately 260 °C. Polyimides, especially the thermoplastic polyimides, offer attractive thermo-oxidative stability and processibility, but often lack the thermal and mechanical characteristics necessary to perform in applications such as the matrix for high use-temperature (over 300 °C) structural composites (for example, carbon fiber reinforced) for aerospace use. The attempt to mitigate... 

Reinforcement with short fibres is important for thermoplasts and thermosets. With the former, very short fibres (glass or other) are blended into the polymer the latter allow the use of longer fibres. The effect is a 3- to 5-fold increase of the stiffness and a 1.5 to 3-fold increase in strength. 

Currently glass fiber is the overwhelmingly dominant reinforcement (90-95% ) used for thermoplastics. Various other materials make up the remaining 5-10% with perhaps asbestos running a far distant second. The use of synthetic, organic fiber reinforcements on the other hand has been very limited. Although isolated applications document their utiliza-... 

Membrane Fabrication, Lamination and Reinforcement. The thermoplastic copolymer of TFE and PVEX monomer can be extruded or molded into a thin film by conventional methods. Extrusion is most appropriate for continuous production of large membranes because it facilitates control of film thickness. Lamination can be performed with a roll press to obtain multilayer membrane. To improve their mechanical properties, membranes are generally reinforced with an inert material such as fabric made of PTFE (67, 68), fibriled PTFE (69), or wire netting (70). 

Lenzing P84. [Lenzing AG] Aromatic polyimide high performance thermoplastic used fin prod, of needle felts for high temp, filtration, as reinforcement for FIFE, as competing, ingred. for inj. moldable polymers. ... 

Pocan . [Bay6r] PBT w PET polyester, some glass at mineral reinforced engineering thermoplastic for automotive, consumer, industrial/mech., elec elec-tionic markets. 

Xenoy . [GE nasties GE Plastics Ltd.] Thermoplastic alloys, some glass reinforced for biow molding, structural foam tpplics., automotive exterku body parts, fluid handling equip., medical prods., Ughtweight lawnmower casings. 

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