Supermolecular Structure of Poly(butylene terephthalate) Fibers Formed with the Addition of Reduced Graphene Oxide.

ABSTRACT: Nanocomposite fibers based on poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were prepared using a method able to disperse graphene in one step into a polymer matrix. The studies were performed for fibers containing four different concentrations of rGO at different take-up velocities. The supermolecular structures of the fibers at the crystallographic and lamellar levels were examined by means of calorimetric and X-ray scattering methods (DSC, WAXS, and SAXS). It was found that the fiber structure is mainly influenced by the take-up velocity. Fibers spun at low and medium take-up velocities contained a crystalline ?-form, whereas the fibers spun at a high take-up velocity contained a smectic mesophase. During annealing, the smectic phase transformed into its ?-form. The degree of transformation depended on the rGO content. Reduced graphene mainly hindered the crystallization of PBT by introducing steric obstacles confining the ordering of the macromolecules of PBT.

SUBMITTER: Slusarczyk C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7407616 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature