Effects of crystalline morphologies on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforcing polymerized cyclic butylene terephthalate composites
T. Yu, C. M. Wu, C. Y. Chang, C. Y. Wang, S. P. Rwei
Vol. 6., No.4., Pages 318-328, 2012
DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2012.35
DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2012.35
Corresponding author: C. M. Wu 
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
Carbon/polymerized cyclic butylene terephthalate (pCBT) composites were prepared through a modified film stacking technique. Three crystalline morphologies of carbon/pCBT composites were obtained at different crystallization temperatures. Tensile, flexural, short beam shear and impact tests were conducted. The low crystallinity carbon/pCBT samples were crystallized at 185°C with spherulitic structure which leads to form the large area spherulite/transcrystalline boundary regions. Consequently, the crack initiated and propagated along with ‘weak’ spherulite/transcrystalline boundary regions, which were resulted low mechanical properties. Carbon/pCBT sample crystallized at 210°C with high crystallinity and highly disordered spherulitic crystallites without spherulite/transcrystalline boundary lines or boundary crystals exhibits the highest mechanical properties.
