학술논문

Lightweight Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Composites with Surface Modified Hollow Glass Microspheres for Use in Rotational Molding: Thermal, Rheological and Mechanical Properties
Document Type
article
Source
Polymers, Vol 11, Iss 4, p 624 (2019)
Subject
polymer matrix composites
poly(ε-caprolactone)
hollow glass microspheres
rotational molding
silanization
morphology
rheological properties
mechanical properties
Organic chemistry
QD241-441
Language
English
ISSN
2073-4360
Abstract
In this work, novel composites based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) were prepared and characterized in terms of morphological, thermal, rheological and mechanical properties. Hollow glass microspheres (HGM), alone or surface modified by treatment with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) in order to enhance the compatibility between the inorganic particles and the polymer matrix, were used to obtain lightweight composites with improved properties. The silanization treatment implies a good dispersion of filler particles in the matrix and an enhanced filler–polymer adhesion. The addition of HGM to PCL has relevant implications on the rheological and mechanical properties enhancing the stiffness of the material. Furthermore, the presence of HGM strongly interferes with the crystallization behavior and thermo-oxidative degradation of PCL. The increase of PCL crystallization rate was observed as a function of the HGM amount in the composites. Finally, rotational molding tests demonstrated the possibility of successfully producing manufactured goods in PCL and PCL-based composites on both a laboratory and industrial scale.