Synthesis and characterization of silane-grafted polyphenylene sulfide

A novel polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) modified by silane grafting and water cross-linking technology has been prepared using suspension grafting. Fourier transform infrared and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic spectra demonstrated the achievement of silane grafting and subsequent water cross-linking. The grafting degree could be adjusted by altering the silane/PPS molar ratio, reaction temperature, reaction time, and so on. Wide angle x-ray diffraction analysis showed that the crystallinity and crystal size of the modified PPS decreased with increase in the grafting degree. Differential scanning calorimeter results also confirmed that the crystallinity and crystallization temperature decreased with the increase in the grafting degree. The silane-grafted PPS exhibited two weight loss stages in thermogravimetric curves, and the initial thermal decomposition temperature was much higher than the processing temperature. Therefore, the silane-grafted PPS is thermally stable enough to be used as a high-performance polymer and polymer matrix for structural applications. The extent of silane grafting plays a key role in the improvement of the impact toughness of the silane-grafted PPS. With the increasing silane grafting degree, the impact strength of the silane-grafted PPS/neat PPS blends obviously increased.