PROCESSING OF INTRACTABLE POLYMERS USING REACTIVE SOLVENTS .2. POLY(2,6-DIMETHYL-1,4-PHENYLENE ETHER) AS A MATRIX MATERIAL FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPOSITES

The application of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) (PPE) as a m atrix material for continuous carbon fibre reinforced composites has b een studied. Owing to the intractable nature of PPE, melt impregnation is not feasible and therefore a solution impregnation route was explo red using epoxy resin as a reactive solvent. The introduction of epoxy resin results in enhanced flow and reduced processing temperatures, e nabling the processing of PPE and the preparation of high quality comp osites. Upon curing the homogeneous epoxy/PPE solutions, phase separat ion is initiated and the epoxy resin is converted into a dispersed pha se. In composites, the epoxy resin preferentially accumulates at the p olar fibre surfaces present, resulting in an epoxy layer around the fi bre and consequently a high level of interfacial adhesion. For high fi bre volume fractions (> 50%), a morphology of epoxy-coated. fibres in a pure PPE matrix is obtained. Owing to this unique morphology, the re sulting thermoplastic composite materials reveal outstanding mechanica l properties with a pronounced synergy in mode-II interlaminar toughne ss and impact performance.