POLYAMIDE WASTE/ POLYSTYRENE/ CARBON FIBRES NANOCOMPOSITES: OBTAINING AND CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract

In this paper were obtained waste/polymeric nanocomposites - polyamide waste (PAW) and polystyrene (PS), compatibilized with maleic anhydride grafted polystyrene, and reinforced with carbon nanofibers (CF). PolyamideWaste / polystyrene (PAW / PS) composites are studied because both components are relatively cheap, with beneficial properties, and can be processed by injection. Compatibility of polymer and waste compounds can be achieved by adding a grafted copolymer, the segments of which have physical or chemical affinity with the two immiscible homopolymers. In this case, maleic anhydride grafted polystyrene (PS-g-MA) was used. Carbon fiber composites are considered to be a new generation of materials with predetermined properties, in this case impact resistance. The combined effects of carbon fiber and compatibilizing polymer (PS-g-MA) have been studied on the structure, and rheological and physicomechanical properties of PAW / PS-g-MA / PS / CF composites. The studied nanocomposites have higher values compared to the control sample �PA, and the Romanian Railway Authority requirements of impact resistance of 5 KJ/m2. Carbon fiber concentrations above 1.5% cause slight drops in impact resistance values, similar to tensile strength, but not lower than control sample values. This conclude that the percentages of carbon fibers in the range of 0.1-1.5% reach the maximum values of physico-mechanical parameters.