Impact strength and crystallization behavior of nano-SiOx/poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) composites with heat-treated PPS

The effects of heat treatment on the crystal structure and impact strength of poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) and nano-SiOx/PPS nanocomposites were studied. The molecular weight of heat-treated neat PPS was increased by 28% due to the crosslinking reaction that changed its crystal morphology. Also, the crystallinity was reduced by 18%, leading to an improvement of the Izod impact strength by 66%. Nano-SiOx/PPS composites were manufactured by intensive compounding with 3 wt.-% nano-SiOx particles treated by an epoxy functional group. Test results showed that the Izod impact strength of nano-SiOx/heat-treated PPS composites was 91% better and the crystallinity 27% less compared to the same properties of "as recieved" neat PPS. Nano-SiOx has a high specific surface area and a high surface energy; its grafted epoxy group promotes interfacial adhesion with the PPS matix, hence increasing the Izod imact strength of the nanocomposites.