Effect of a Coupling Agent on the Interfacial Adhesion between Polyketone Fiber and Silicone Rubber
Polyketone fiber, a newly developed super fiber, has a tenacity and modulus similar to the p aramid fiber, and can be used for reinforcing mechanical rubber goods (MRG) such as tires, hoses, and protective gloves. However, the typical interfacial interac tion between the polyketone fiber and the polymer matrix is relatively weak, such that the inclusion of polyketone fibers could create defects in the composites, which can easily result in failure. Therefore, it is necessary to modify fiber surfaces to improve wettability for optimization of the fiber matrix interfacial bonding. In this study, the interfacial adhe sion between polyketone fibers and a silicone rubber matrix was enhanced by surface treatments using coupling agents to modify the surface morphological and chemical properties of the polyketone fibers. The effects of coupling agent treatments on the sur face of the fiber and interfacial adhesion of the Polyketone/Silicone rubber composites were characterized using dynamic contact angle analysis and X ray photoelectron spec troscopy (XPS) Morphological changes were observed, by varying the coupling agent content, using a scanning electron microscope (SEM)