Organic short fibre/thermoplastic composites: morphology and thermorheological analysis

A study to evaluate the thermorheological properties of organic in situ com posites with short polymer fibres dispersed in a thermoplastic matrix has b een carried out. High-density polyethylene/Poly(butylene terephtalate) HDPE /PBT, HDPE/EVA-9/PBT and HDPE/(EVA-9-Bu2SnO)/PBT (in situ compatibilised bl ends) were melt blended in a twin-screw extruder, drawn at the die exit and cooled. Morphological results revealed that it is possible to generate fib riliar morphologies for high PET concentration and draw ratios higher than 1. Compatibilisation with in situ generated PBT-g-EVA-9 compatibiliser was achieved. Rheological properties in the melt state and in the solid state w ere used to analyse the compatibilisation and the reinforcing effect of fib rils. Two phenomenological models, Takayanagi and Halpin-Tsai, were used to describe the variations of E ' and tan delta as a function of temperature, (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.