Submitted to: American Physical Society
Publication Type:
Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: March 24, 2004
Publication Date: March 24, 2004
Citation: Barone, J.R. 2004. Polyethylene/keratin fiber composites with varying polyethylene crystallinity [abstract]. American Physical Society. Paper No. P29.001.
Technical Abstract: Short-fiber reinforced composites are made from keratin fibers and polyethylenes of varying crystallinity. This offers a chance to study polymer/fiber physical interactions. In other words, the chemical nature of the polymer and fiber is kept constant, and the molecular architecture of the polymer is varied. It is found that low crystallinity polyethylenes are reinforced by keratin fibers but high crystallinity polyethylenes are not. The keratin fibers inhibit crystallinity in low crystallinity polyethylenes but enhance crystallinity in high crystallinity polyethylenes. For a given polyethylene, the state of crystallinity is changed through thermal treatment and the physical properties assessed. Scanning electron microscopy shows increased interaction, i.e., better wetting of the fibers by the polymer, for the low crystallinity polyethylenes. A model is presented that describes composite properties as a function of fiber properties and matrix crystallinity.
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