Processing Analysis of Nanoparticle Filled PTFE: Restrictions and Limitations of High Temperature Production

In this research work, unfilled and monofilled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were investigated. The applied fillers were graphene, alumina (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>), boehmite alumina (BA80) and hydrotalcite (MG70). Graphene and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3<...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Levente Ferenc Tóth, Patrick De Baets, Gábor Szebényi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
Series:Polymers
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/9/2044
Description
Summary:In this research work, unfilled and monofilled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were investigated. The applied fillers were graphene, alumina (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>), boehmite alumina (BA80) and hydrotalcite (MG70). Graphene and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> are already known in the literature as potential fillers of PTFE, while BA80 and MG70 are novel fillers in PTFE. Materials were produced by room temperature pressing—free sintering method with a maximum sintering temperature of 370 °C. The mass loss and decomposition analyses were carried out by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in two different ways. The first was a sensitivity analysis to gain a better view into the sintering process at 370 °C maximal temperature. The second was a heating from 50 °C up to 1000 °C for a full-scale decomposition analysis. BA80 is a suitable filler for PTFE, as most of its functional groups still existed after the sintering process. Both PTFE and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> had high thermal stability. However, when Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> was incorporated in PTFE, a remarkable mass loss was observed during the sintering process, which indicated that the decomposition of PTFE was catalysed by the Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> filler. The observed mass loss of the Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-filled PTFE was increased, as the Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> content or the applied dwelling time at a 370 °C sintering temperature increased.
ISSN:2073-4360