Investigations on the interactions between Li-TFSI and glass fibers in the ternary PP/GF/Li-TFSI composites

The polypropylene/glass fiber (PP/GF) composites with excellent antistatic performance and improved mechanical properties have been reported by incorporation of a very small amount of the organic salt, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Li-TFSI), into the PP/GF composites. It was considered that GF could play the role as the pathways for the movements of ions in the ternary composites. In this work, the interactions between Li-TFSI and glass fiber and the effects of such interactions on the physical properties of the composites have been systematically investigated. Three types of glass fibers with different aEuro center dot OH group concentrations have been prepared in order to compare the interactions between GF and Li-TFSI. It was found that the aEuro center dot OH group concentrations on the surface of glass fiber have significant effects on interactions between glass fibers and Li-TFSI. Such interactions are crucial for both the antistatic and mechanical performances of the final PP/GF/Li-TFSI composites. The investigation indicated that the GF with high aEuro center dot OH group concentrations confined the movement of TFSI-, which decreased the antistatic properties of PP/GF/Li-TFSI composites. On the other hand, the GF with low aEuro center dot OH group concentrations inhibited the absorption of Li-TFSI onto the GF, which also hindered the formation of Li-TFSI conductive pathway. The best antistatic performance of the ternary composites can be achieved at the intermediate aEuro center dot OH concentrations on the GF.