Preparation of a sub-100 nm-thick polyetherimide coating layer with nano-TiO2 particles on poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) fiber surface

摘要

To improve the UV resistance of poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fibers, a sub-100 nm-thick coating layer was prepared on PBO fibers by evaporating the suspension of polyetherimide (PEI)-encapsulated nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles absorbed around the fiber surface. The effects of this evaporation-induced surface modification on the structure and properties of PBO fibers were investigated. The content ratio of nano-TiO2 particles to PEI, the contents of nano-TiO2 particles and PEI, and the evaporation method greatly influenced the surface modification of the PBO fibers, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy observation. TiO2, 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, and PEI were confirmed to exist on the suitably treated PBO fiber surfaces by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The PEI coating layer containing nano-TiO2 particles was clearly observed by transmission electron microscopy of a treated PBO fiber cross section. The nano-TiO2 particle content of the treated fibers was studied by thermogravimetric analysis. The UV resistance of the PBO fibers was improved after surface modification, which was confirmed by single-fiber tensile strength test. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46852.