Extensional processing behavior of thermoplastics reinforced with a melt processable glass

This work was concerned with investigating the processing behavior of therm oplastics reinforced with a melt processable phosphate glass under extensio nal flows at temperatures used for forming and shaping operations, Injectio n molded blends consisting of polyetherimide (PEI) and polphenylene sulfide (PPS) reinforced with 30-60 wt% phosphate glass were exposed to uniaxial a nd planar deformation at temperatures above the T-g of the phosphate glass (234 degreesC) to evaluate the effects on the morphology and mechanical pro perties of the composites. Tensile testing at elevated temperatures (250-30 0 degreesC) was used to evaluate the forming behavior and ascertain the con ditions most suited for the deformation of the composite blends. A temperat ure approximately 35 degreesC above the T-g of the P-glass was found to off er conditions most conducive to the deformation of the PEI/P-glass blends. The phosphate glass reinforced PEI was found to offer greater retention of properties and smoother surfaces than tin E-glass filled material when expo sed to shearfree deformation similar to that seen in a process such as ther moforming. For PPS based composites, the application of planar shearfree de formation near the melting point of the PPS (approximate to 283 degreesC) r esulted in the elongation of the phosphate glass phase which sen-ed to enha nce the stiffness of the composite blends along the principal deformation d irection.