Preparation and characterization of poly(arylene ether nitriles)/glass fibers/BaTiO3 ternary composites

Poly(arylene ether nitriles) (PEN) copolymers PEN (HQ/RS) was synthesized using 2,6-dicholorobenzonitrile (DCBN) with equal molar of hydroquinone (HQ) and resorcin (RS). Composites of PEN reinforced by glass fiber (GF) and nanometer-sized BaTiO3 particle were prepared through melt blending. Both mechanical and thermal properties of the composites were found improved with the increase of GF as well as BaTiO3 contents. For PEN/GF/BaTiO3 ternary composites, the best mechanical properties were found when the content for GF and BaTiO3 is 8 wt.% and 22 wt.%, respectively. The fractured surfaces of PEN/BaTiO3 composites were examined with SEM and show a characteristic of ductile fracture. The heat distortion temperature (HDT) of 35 wt.% GF reinforced composite is 241 degrees C, nearly an increase ca. 100 degrees C compared to that of the pristine resin. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.