On the interaction of molten thermoplastics and fibre surfaces

Abstract The wettability of glass, carbon, and organic fillers (in the form of fibres or fabrics) by powder thermoplastic polymers has been studied. Wettability is the first step in the interaction between the components, a necessary condition for forming an interface, so as to achieve high levels of physico-mechanical properties of plastic laminates. Dependences were obtained of the wetting parameters on the particle size, which is the primary characteristic of powder polymers, and on the chemistry of the polymer and on the time-temperature parameters of the prepreg fabrication. The molecular weight of the polymer was observed to influence the wetting kinetics and spreading behaviour of molten thermoplastics. Keywords: Powder polymerswettabilityplastic laminatesmolten thermoplasticsphysico-mechanical properties