The effects of surface treated carbon fibers and CaCO3 nanoparticles inclusions on the mechanical performances of PA6/ABS-based composites

The mechanical and morphological characteristics of PA6/ABS (60/40)-based hybrid composite containing HNO3-treated short carbon fibers (HSCF) and CaCO3 nanoparticles have been experimentally studied. A counter-rotating twin-screw extruder and an injection molding machine were employed to produce different samples containing 10 wt % of HSCF and 0, 2, 5 and 8 wt % of CaCO3 nanoparticles. The SEM observations indicated high-quality adhesion between HNO3-surface treated carbon fibers and PA6/ABS polymer matrix. In addition, the morphological studies showed that the inclusion of CaCO3 nanoparticles caused a significant effect on the ABS particle dispersion in PA6/ABS matrix. The mechanical properties assessments revealed that the incorporation of 10 wt % HSCF into the PA6/ABS can significantly improve tensile strength (82%), tensile modulus (107%), flexural strength (98%), flexural modulus (104%) and impact resistance (24%). The inclusion of CaCO3 nanoparticles, in the presence of 10 wt % HSCF, led to the noticeable improvements of tensile strength (128% for 2 wt % CaCO3), tensile modulus (199% for 5 wt % CaCO3), flexural strength (146% for 5 wt % CaCO3), flexural modulus (204% for 5 wt % CaCO3) and impact resistance (46% for 2 wt % CaCO3). The surface treatment of carbon fibers, dispersion conditions of nanoparticles and ABS phase in polymeric matrix were found to be the major important factors affecting the mechanical properties.