Abstract:

Composite poly(phenylene sulphide) (PPS) fibres and nonwovens were obtained by the melt blowing method. A specially designed twin screw extruder was used which allowed to perform several mixing cycles prior to final extrusion. Multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbonyl iron microparticles were used as the additives. To obtain possibly good dispersion of the modifiers in the polymer melt, the CNTs were first dispersed in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and Fe microparticles were dispersed in polyethylene wax. Rheological characteristics of the melts and bulk composites, such as viscosity, loss and storage moduli, are similar to those reported by other groups; however, the contents of additives must be lower than in the case of bulk materials to assure satisfactory melt spinability. The fibres obtained show satisfactory mechanical characteristics and electromagnetic screening efficiency in the GHz region.