A new technique to improve adhesion of polyaramid fibers to thermoplastic

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/089270579100400303· OSTI ID:6049820

Pitt, W G; Lakenan, J E; Strong, A B ^[1]

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1. Brigham Young University, Provo, UT (USA)

A novel technique is developed to increase interfacial adhesion between organic fibers and thermoplastics. The technique consists of exposing the fiber to a radio-frequency plasma discharge and then immediately coating the fiber with thermoplastic while still in the vacuum environment of the plasma reactor. Increased adhesion is shown using a polyaramid fiber (Kevlar 49) and a polycarbonate resin (Lexan 121). An oxygen-plasma exposure of 4.1 seconds at 24 watts increased interfacial shear strength by 18 percent as evaluated using the critical-filament-length technique. The plasma exposure had no measurable effect on the filament tensile strength or the surface roughness. It is thought that the enhanced adhesion is due to the presence of covalent bonds formed at the interface when free radicals on the fiber are quenched by the thermoplastic. 16 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6049820
• Journal Information: Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials; (United States) Vol. 4; ISSN JTMAE; ISSN 0892-7057
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601* -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
ADHESION
ARAMIDS
DEPOSITION
INTERFACES
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASMA ARC SPRAYING
PLASMA JETS
PLASTICS
POLYMERS
ROUGHNESS
SHEAR PROPERTIES
SPRAY COATING
SURFACE COATING
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TENSILE PROPERTIES
THERMOPLASTICS