Effects of Glass Fiber on the Properties of Polyoxymethylene/Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Composites

The effects of epoxy-functionalized glass fiber (GF) on the electrical conductivity, crystallization behavior, thermal stability, and dynamic mechanical properties of polyoxymethylene (POM)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites are investigated. The electrical resistivities of POM/5%-20% TPU/1% MWCNT composites are significantly reduced by nine orders of magnitude after the addition of 20% GF because of the formation of TPU-coated GF structure facilitating the construction of conductive networks. GF has no obvious influence on the crystallization temperature, melting temperature, and degree of crystallinity of POM in POM/TPU/MWCNT composites because of their relatively bigger size compared with POM chains and MWCNTs. The storage moduli of POM/TPU/MWCNT composites are improved by the addition of GF, indicating that POM/TPU/MWCNT/GF composites are promising materials with good electrical and mechanical properties. (C) 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers