Polyamide/Polyethylene/Carbon Fibre Polymer Nanocomposites

Polyamide and polyethylene are well known as engineering thermoplastic materials that are widely used in industrial applications for their good mechanical and thermal properties. The paper presents the study of the new nanostructured polymer composites based on polyamide/ compatibilizers/polyethylene/carbon fibres nanoparticles-PA/PE-g-MA/PE/CF in order to obtain, by injection, centre pivot liner, centre plates, and other components for the railway industry, with impact resistance higher than 5-8 kJ/m², abrasion resistance below 100 mm3, resistance to temperatures of -40 - 240°C, resistance to impact and to outdoor applications, with temperatures ranging from -40 to +60°C, in rain, snow or sunshine. The influence of carbon fibres nanoparticles (CF) on the rheological and physico-mechanical properties of the polyamide was studied. The nanocomposites based on polyamide/ compatibilizers/ polyethylene/carbon fibres nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transformation infrared spectrum (FT-IR) and in terms of physico-mechanical properties. The studied nanocomposites have higher values compared to the blank samples, and the requirements of the railway of impact strength of 5 KJ/m2. Carbon fiber concentrations greater than 1.5% result in decreases in impact strength values, similar to traction resistance values, but not lower than standard values. This leads to the conclusion that the percentages of carbon fibers in the range of 0.1-1.5% achieve maximum values of physical-mechanical parameters.