Wetlay Manufacture of Cellulose Pulp Fiber ReinforcedPoly(trimethylene terephthalate)

摘要

Cellulose pulp fibers generally have aspect ratios ranging up to approximately 150rndepending on their processing. Their high aspect ratios, along with their ribbon-likernshape, provide large amounts of surface area for load transfer from matrix to fiber.rnTherefore, cellulose fibers act not just as fillers in polymer matrix composites, but asrnreinforcements. Cellulose fibers can increase the modulus, strength, and impactrnresistance of various polymers. The pending commercialization of a partially bio-basedrnversion of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) has generated interest in reinforcingrnthis structural thermoplastic polyester with cellulose pulp fibers. This interest has beenrngenerated due to the melt temperature of PTT allowing for processing with cellulosernfibers. The peak melt temperature (～225℃) of PTT is about 30℃ less than the peak meltrntemperature (～255℃) of poly(ethylene terephthalate). The composites of this study wererncompression molded from multiple plies of non-woven, fabric-like prepreg manufacturedrnwith wetlay papermaking equipment. These prepreg sheets contain a mixture ofrnrandomly oriented PTT and cellulose pulp fibers. The specific cellulose pulp fibers usedrnin this study were obtained from reclaimed newspaper and reclaimed kraft paper. Theserncomposites were tested in tension, flexure, and impact. The reinforcement of PTT withrncellulose pulp fibers significantly improved the moduli and impact resistance of the PTT.