Preparation and processing of molecular composites of rigid-rod and flexible-chain polymers from soluble complexes

1994 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael F. Roberts ◽  
Samson A. Jenekhe
Keyword(s):  
Flexible Chain ◽  
Molecular Composites ◽  
Rigid Rod ◽  
Soluble Complexes

Morphology of High-Performance Rigid-Rod Polymer Fibers and Molecular Composites

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 338-339
Author(s):  
W.W. Adams ◽  
S. J. Krause
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Liquid Crystalline ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Tensile Modulus ◽  
Commercial Development ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Molecular Composites ◽  
Rigid Rod

Rigid-rod polymers such as PBO, poly(paraphenylene benzobisoxazole), Figure 1a, are now in commercial development for use as high-performance fibers and for reinforcement at the molecular level in molecular composites. Spinning of liquid crystalline polyphosphoric acid solutions of PBO, followed by washing, drying, and tension heat treatment produces fibers which have the following properties: density of 1.59 g/cm3; tensile strength of 820 kpsi; tensile modulus of 52 Mpsi; compressive strength of 50 kpsi; they are electrically insulating; they do not absorb moisture; and they are insensitive to radiation, including ultraviolet. Since the chain modulus of PBO is estimated to be 730 GPa, the high stiffness also affords the opportunity to reinforce a flexible coil polymer at the molecular level, in analogy to a chopped fiber reinforced composite. The objectives of the molecular composite concept are to eliminate the thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between the fiber and the matrix, as occurs in conventional composites, to eliminate the interface between the fiber and the matrix, and, hopefully, to obtain synergistic effects from the exceptional stiffness of the rigid-rod molecule. These expectations have been confirmed in the case of blending rigid-rod PBZT, poly(paraphenylene benzobisthiazole), Figure 1b, with stiff-chain ABPBI, poly 2,5(6) benzimidazole, Fig. 1c A film with 30% PBZT/70% ABPBI had tensile strength 190 kpsi and tensile modulus of 13 Mpsi when solution spun from a 3% methane sulfonic acid solution into a film. The modulus, as predicted by rule of mixtures, for a film with this composition and with planar isotropic orientation, should be 16 Mpsi. The experimental value is 80% of the theoretical value indicating that the concept of a molecular composite is valid.

Morphology of Rigid-Rod Molecular Composites: An Overview

1988 ◽  
Vol 134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Krause
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Morphological Characterization ◽  
High Ratio ◽  
Structure Property ◽  
Chain Polymer ◽  
Specific Strength ◽  
Composite Systems ◽  
Molecular Composites ◽  
Rigid Rod

ABSTRACTRigid-rod molecular composites are a new class of high performance structural polymers which have high specific strength and modulus and also high thermal and environmental resistance. A rigid-rod, extended chain polymer component is used to reinforce a matrix of a ductile polymer with the intent of achieving a “composite” on the molecular level. After synthesis, the key to producing a molecular composite is to control morphology to disperse the reinforcing rod molecules as finely as possible in the matrix polymer. Individual rod molecules or bundles of molecular rods must have dimensions which result in a high ratio of length to width (aspect ratio) for efficient reinforcement. To achieve this, the reinforcing rod component must not phase separate at any stage of processing. Morphological characterization techniques, which can measure the orientation and dispersion (or, conversely, the degree of phase separation) of rod molecules provide the tools for correlating theoretically predicted and experimentally observed mechanical properties. Various morphological techniques which have been applied to molecular composite systems will be reviewed, including wide angle x-ray scattering and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Structure-property correlations for molecular composite systems will be discussed with regard to models for mechanical properties. Application of new morphological techniques will also be discussed.

Recent Advances in Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Rigid-Rod Molecular Composites

1989 ◽  
Vol 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Krause ◽  
Wen-Fang Hwang
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Low Voltage ◽  
Orientation Distribution ◽  
Short Fiber ◽  
Chain Polymer ◽  
Structural Applications ◽  
Molecular Composites ◽  
Rigid Rod ◽  
Aromatic Heterocyclic

ABSTRACTRigid-rod molecular composites are a new class of high performance structural polymers which have high specific strength and modulus and also high thermal and environmental resistance. The concept of using a rigid-rod, extended chain polymer to reinforce a ductile polymer matrix at the molecular level has been demonstrated with morphological and mechanical property studies for aromatic heterocyclic systems, but new materials systems and processing techniques will be required to produce thermoplastic or thermoset molecular composites. Improved characterization and modeling will also be required. In this regard, new results on modeling of mechanical properties of molecular composites are presented and compared with experimental results. The Halpin-Tsai equations from ‘shear-lag’ theory of short fiber composites predict properties reasonably well when using the theoretical modulus of rigid-rod molecules in aromatic heterocyclic systems, but newer matrix systems will require consideration of matrix stiffness, desired rod aspect ratio, and rod orientation distribution. Application of traditional and newer morphological characterization techniques are discussed. The newer techniques include: Raman light scattering, high resolution and low voltage SEM, parallel EELS in TEM, synchrotron radiation in X-ray scattering, and ultrasound for integrity studies. The properties of molecular composites and macroscopic composites are compared and it is found that excellent potential exists for use of molecular composites in structural applications including engineering plastics, composite matrix resins, and as direct substitutes for fiber reinforced composites.

Bisbenzocyclobutene: A thermoset matrix host for rigid-rod molecular composites

1989 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. H. Chuah ◽  
L.-S. Tan ◽  
F. E. Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Composites ◽  
Rigid Rod

Characterization of Polyquinoline Blends Using Small Angle Scattering

1989 ◽  
Vol 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Li Wu ◽  
John K. Stille ◽  
Joseph W. Tsang ◽  
Alex J. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Small Angle ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Flexible Chain ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Molecular Dispersion ◽  
Angle Scattering ◽  
Scattering Measurements ◽  
Rigid Rod ◽  
Scattering Contribution

ABSTRACTTo determine the compatibility between the rigid rod and the flexible chain polyquinolines, both small angle x-ray and neutron scattering measurements were conducted on blends containing deuterated flexible chains. The scattering intensities from both x-ray and neutron were reduced to their absolute scales in order to remove the scattering contribution from microvoids which tended to overshadow the signal of molecular origin. Quantitative information regarding the molecular dispersion in a 50/50 rigid rod and flexible chain blend was obtained. The result indicated that this material was partially segregated but not to the point of single component phases.

Nanostructure and molecular dynamics in rodlike polyimide/flexible-chain polyimide molecular composites

2002 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir A. Bershtein ◽  
Larisa M. Egorova ◽  
Pavel N. Yakushev ◽  
Oto Meszaros ◽  
Petr Sysel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Flexible Chain ◽  
Molecular Composites

Rigid-rod molecular composites via ionic interactions

Polymer ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1376-1379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loon-Seng Tan ◽  
Fred E. Arnold ◽  
Hoe H. Chuah
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Interactions ◽  
Molecular Composites ◽  
Rigid Rod
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