Reinforcement of Si_3N_4 nanoparticles in polypropylene single fibers through melt extrusion process and their properties

摘要

We have successfully aligned/dispersed the rod and spherical-shaped Si _3N_4 nanoparticles in the polypropylene (PP) fibers through melt extrusion process to fabricate polymer nanocomposite (PNC) single fibers. The alignment/dispersion of Si_3N_4 nanoparticles in PP/Si_3N_4 PNC fibers has been carried out in a systematic manner to produce uniform single fibers. The PNC fibers were first uniformly stretched and stabilized using a two-set Godet machine. The as-extruded single PNC fibers were tested for their thermal and tensile properties. The test results of PNC fibers were compared to neat PP polymer single fibers fabricated using the same procedure as PNC fibers. These results show that the PNC fibers are much (307%) higher in tensile strength and modulus (>1000%) when compared with the neat PP polymer single fibers. The field emission scanning electron microscope results clearly show the alignment of rod-Si_3N_4 nanoparticles in polymer matrix. The differential scanning calorimetry results show ～ 12% increase in crystallinity for rod-Si_3N_4 PNCs when compared with the neat PP single fibers.