Method of sizing of fibers and articles manufactured from the same
The method includes the steps of functionalizing a polyaryletherketone (PAEK) polymer, and blending the PAEK polymer with water to form a sizing composition. The method may further include the step of applying the sizing composition to a fiber. The method may further include the step of heating the fibers, coated with sizing composition, for example to between 300C-400C. In some methods, the functionalized PAEK polymer comprises functionalized polyetherketoneketone (PEKK). In yet other methods, the functionalized PAEK polymer comprises sulfonated PEKK (sPEKK).
1. A method of sizing a fiber comprising the steps of:
functionalizing a polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) polymer by sulfonation to form sPEKK;
combining the sPEKK with water to form a sizing composition;
applying the sizing composition to the fiber;
heating the sized fiber to approximately 150° C. to evaporate the water in the applied sizing composition,
wherein the sPEKK remains water soluble after the step of heating to evaporate.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of combining the sPEKK with water to form a sizing composition includes adjusting a ratio of the sPEKK to the water to vary viscosity of the sizing composition.
3. The method of sizing fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the step of functionalizing a polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) polymer by sulfonation to form sPEKK yields sPEKK that is approximately 25% sulfonated.
4. A method of sizing a fiber comprising the steps of:
functionalizing a polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) polymer by sulfonation to form sPEKK;
combining the sPEKK with water to form a sizing composition;
applying the sizing composition to the fiber;
heating the applied sizing composition to a temperature at or above the defunctionalization temperature of the sPEKK, wherein the temperature causes functional groups to detach from the sPEKK.
5. A method of sizing a fiber comprising the steps of:
functionalizing a polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) polymer by sulfonation to form sPEKK;
combining the sPEKK with water to form a sizing composition;
applying the sizing composition to the fiber;
wherein the step of functionalizing a polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) polymer by sulfonation to form sPEKK yields sPEKK that is approximately 25% sulfonated.
6. The method of claim 5 , comprising a step of heating the applied sizing composition to a temperature at or above the defunctionalization temperature of the sPEKK, wherein the temperature causes functional groups to detach from the sPEKK.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising a step of heating the sized fiber to approximately 150° C. to evaporate the water in the applied sizing composition.
8. The method of claim 7 , comprising, after the step the of heating the sized fiber to approximately 150° C. to evaporate the water in the applied sizing composition, a further step of heating the applied sizing composition to a fusion point of the sPEKK, wherein the applied sizing composition is heated to between 300° C. and 400° C.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of heating the applied sizing composition to a fusion point of the sPEKK causes one or more functional groups to detach from the sPEKK.