Balzano Veronica, Mariconda Annaluisa, Acocella Maria Rosaria, Raimondo Marialuigia, D'Amato Assunta, Longo Pasquale, Guadagno Liberata, Longo Raffaele
Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy.
Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via Dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy.
Polymers (Basel). 2025 Jun 22;17(13):1735. doi: 10.3390/polym17131735.
The possibility of reinforcing polymeric matrices with multifunctional fillers for improving structural and functional properties is widely exploited. The compatibility between the filler and the polymeric matrix is crucial, especially for high filler content. In this paper, polymeric matrices of Nylon 6,6 with pyrene chains were successfully synthesized to improve the compatibility with carbonaceous fillers. The compatibility was proven using graphite as a carbonaceous filler. The different properties, including thermal stability, crystallinity, morphology, and local mechanical properties, have been evaluated for various filler contents, and the results have been compared to those of synthetic Nylon 6,6 without pyrene chain terminals. XRD results highlighted that the compatibilization of the composite matrix may lead to an intercalation of the polymeric chains among the graphite layers. This phenomenon leads to the protection of the polymer from thermal degradation, as highlighted by the thermogravimetric analysis (i.e., for a filler content of 20%, the beginning degradation temperature goes from 357 °C for the non-compatibilized matrix to 401 °C for the compatibilized one and the residual at 750 °C goes from 33% to 67%, respectively. A significant improvement in the interphase properties, as proven via Atomic Force Microscopy in Harmonix mode, leads to a considerable increase in local mechanical modulus values. Specifically, the compatibilization of the matrix hosting the graphite leads to a less pronounced difference in modulus values, with more frequent reinforcements that are quantitatively similar along the sample surface. This results from a significantly improved filler distribution with respect to the composite with the non-compatibilized matrix. The present study shows how the thermoplastic/filler compatibilization can sensitively enhance thermal and mechanical properties of the thermoplastic composite, widening its potential use for various high-performance applications, such as in the transport field, e.g., for automotive components (engine parts, gears, bushings, washers), and electrical and electronics applications (heat sinks, casing for electronic devices, and insulating materials).
利用多功能填料增强聚合物基体以改善其结构和功能特性的可能性已得到广泛应用。填料与聚合物基体之间的相容性至关重要，尤其是对于高填料含量的情况。在本文中，成功合成了带有芘链的尼龙6,6聚合物基体，以提高与碳质填料的相容性。使用石墨作为碳质填料证明了这种相容性。针对不同的填料含量评估了包括热稳定性、结晶度、形态和局部力学性能在内的不同性能，并将结果与没有芘链端基的合成尼龙6,6的结果进行了比较。X射线衍射结果突出表明，复合基体的增容作用可能导致聚合物链插入石墨层之间。这种现象导致聚合物免受热降解，热重分析突出显示了这一点（即，对于20%的填料含量，起始降解温度从未增容基体的357℃升至增容基体的401℃，750℃时的残留量分别从33%升至67%）。通过原子力显微镜在谐波模式下证明，相间性能有显著改善，导致局部力学模量值大幅增加。具体而言，含有石墨的基体的增容作用导致模量值的差异不太明显，沿样品表面有更频繁且定量相似的增强作用。这是由于相对于未增容基体的复合材料，填料分布有显著改善。本研究表明热塑性/填料增容如何能灵敏地增强热塑性复合材料的热性能和力学性能，拓宽其在各种高性能应用中的潜在用途，例如在运输领域，用于汽车部件（发动机部件、齿轮、衬套、垫圈）以及电气和电子应用（散热器、电子设备外壳和绝缘材料）。
