Aparecida M. Kawamoto

Otimização da interface/interfase de compósitos termoplásticos de fibra de carbono/PPS pelo uso do poli(ácido âmico) do tipo BTDA/DDS

In the present work two different manufacturing techniques of thermoplastic composites are investigated: the conventional hot compression molding and the aqueous suspension prepregging. The first one involves the impregnation of the reinforcement with molten polymer; while the second one uses aqueous polymeric suspensions, where the reinforcement impregnation occurs by its contact with the particle aqueous suspension of a polymeric matrix. This technique combines the powder polymeric matrix with another polymer which forms the suspension, a poly(amic acid - PAA). In this technique, both polymers are deposited simultaneously on the reinforcement during the impregnation. In a second phase of the processing, the PAA is thermally converted in a polyimide (PI) that can form an interphase region between the reinforcement and the polymer matrix. The objective of this study is the synthesis and the characterization of a PAA, based on BTDA/DDS, and the evaluation of its influence on the interphase region in the poly(phenilene sulphite) (PPS)/carbon fiber composite. DSC and TG results show the success of the PAA synthesis and its conversion into PI, which exhibits thermal stability up to 396 °C. The processed composite by polymeric aqueous suspension showed interlaminar shear strength (56.3 MPa) 12.6% higher than the composite obtained by conventional hot compression molding (50.0 MPa). Fracture surface analyses confirm these results, showing that the use of PAA improves the PPS/carbon fiber interphase.

Determination of CHN content in energetic binder by MIR analysis

Azide polymers samples were analyzed by FT-MIR in order to develop a quantitative methodology to determine the C, H and N content in energetic polymers used in propellants. The elemental analysis data were used as reference. The FT-MIR results show a good agreement with CHN analysis. A good linear relationship was obtained suggesting that the methodology developed in the CTA laboratory can be used for quality control of these energetic polymers.

Síntese de um poli (ácido âmico) para aplicação como interfase em compósitos termoplásticos de alto desempenho

This work is aimed at presenting the synthesis of a poly (amic acid) (PAA) to be used as interphase precursor in the manufacturing of high performance thermoplastic composites. Thermoplastic composites comprising a rigid reinforcement and a ductile matrix have their mechanical properties strongly dependent on the load transfer mechanism between the reinforcement and matrix. For this reason, the interface/interphase region plays a fundamental hole in the final properties of the composite materials. PAA appeared as an alternative to improve the fiber/matrix adhesion when it is transformed in polyimide (PI) favoring the link between the reinforcement and the thermoplastic matrix. This work shows the PAA synthesis from BTDA and DHPr reagents and its conversion into PI by imidization in a liquid medium. Mass spectrometry analysis confirmed the synthesis of PAA from the precursor reagents and the FTIR analysis evaluated the success of the conversion of PAA into PI. DSC and TGA analysis of the PI determined their glass transition (~213 °C) and decomposition (~310 °C) temperatures, respectively. These results motivate the use of PAA/PI as precursor of interphase to obtain thermoplastic composites with processing temperatures below 310 °C.