Structure and Properties of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene/Liquid Crystal Polymer Blends

Abstract

A liquid crystal polymer (LCP) was used to improve the physical properties of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene (GFRPP). The LCP was beneficial to improve the mechanical and heat resistant properties of the GFRPP/LCP composite. Compared with the GFRPP with 30% (w%) glass fiber (GF), the yield strength and the impact strength for the GFRPP/LCP composites increased by 62.7% and 18.1%, respectively, with a 6.8°C increase in the Vicat softening temperature for a 5% LCP addition to the GFRPP composites. The crystallinity of the polypropylene (PP) matrix for the GFRPP/LCP composites increased for 5% LCP and then decreased with increasing the LCP content. The γ-phase crystals for the PP matrix occurred in the shear layer of the injection molded GFRPP/LCP samples. The improved adhesion interface between the GF and the PP matrix was beneficial to reinforce and toughen the GFRPP/LCP composites with a small addition of the LCP.

Keywords:

• glass fiber reinforced polypropylene
• liquid crystal polymer
• physical properties
• structure

Funding

The authors express great thanks to Chongqing Science and Technology Contract Project (CSTC, 2011AC4121), Chongqing Natural Science Foundation (CSTC, 2010BB4305), and Chongqing Education Commission Science and Technology Project (KJ110809) for financial support.