Polymer/carbon nano fiber composite fibers

Carbon nano fibers (typical diameter 50 to 200 nm) and nanotubes are being used for reinforcing polymers. Carbon nano fibers (CNFs) have been blended in poly(p-phenelyene benzobisthiazole) (PBZT) by in situ polymerization, and fibers were spun using dry-jet wet spinning. In addition, CNF morphology has been studied using high resolution transmission electron microscopy both in the pristine fiber as well as in the PBZT/CNF composite. In our previous work, CNFs have been dispersed in polypropylene (PP), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) by melt blending and fibers spun from them using conventional melt spinning conditions. Results of these melt spinning studies will be reviewed. In all four matrices, nano fibers show good dispersion. PP and PMMA composites containing carbon nano fibers exhibit improved modulus as compared to the pristine polymeric fiber from the parent matrix processed under comparable conditions. PMMA/CNF composite fibers also exhibit significantly reduced thermal shrinkage when compared to the control PMMA fibers.