Thermal and mechanical properties of glass fibre reinforced polyphenylene ether/polystyrene/nylon-6 ternary blends

This paper deals with fabrication and characterization of unique polyphenylene ether/polystyrene/nylon-6/glass composites. Compounding of ternary blends with glass fibres was performed using twin screw co-rotating extruder. Test specimens were fabricated by compression moulding and injection moulding. Effect of maleic anhydride, fibre type (chopped and long), fibre content (30 wt. % and 40 wt. %) and fabrication method (compression moulding and injection moulding) on mechanical and thermal properties was studied. Maleic anhydride negatively influenced mechanical and thermal properties. Composites with 40 wt. % chopped fibres showed superior mechanical strength and those with 30 wt. % long fibres showed superior thermal properties, tensile and flexural moduli. Injection moulded specimens exhibited superior mechanical and thermal properties. The composites were studied for moisture content, density, melt flow index, glass transition temperature, thermal degradation temperature and mechanical properties. Interfacial strength was examined using scanning electron microscopy.