[Molecular composite resins reinforced with polyaramides (Part 1). Molecular interaction between N-Octylated-Poly-p-Phenylene Terephthalamide (PPTA) as core molecule and PMMA and Polystyrene (PS) as matrices].
Molecular composite PMMA resin (Oct-PPTA-PMMA) can be reinforced with poly-N-octyl-p-phenylene terephthalamide (Oct-PPTA) as rigid core molecule. Compounding 3 wt% of Oct-PPTA to PMMA increased compressive, diametral and bending strength by 10 to 15%. The molecular interaction between Oct-PPTA as the core molecule and PMMA as a polar matrix and polystyrene (PS) as a non-polar matrix was examined with respect to dynamic viscoelasticity. Compounding 3 wt% of Oct-PPTA (Oct-PPTA-PS) to PS decreased compressive, diametral and bending strength by 15 to 30%. The dynamic storage modulus (G') value of Oct-PPTA-PS is lower than G' of PS in the region from rubbery state to viscous flow state. These results reveal a significant effect of the polar groups on the molecular interaction between the core molecule and matrices in the molecular composites compounding Oct-PPTA as core molecule.