Polycarbonates with improved carbon fiber-matrix interphase
Various embodiments disclosed relate to a composition. The present invention includes a polycarbonate component and a carbon fiber component including an activated surface. An interface can be formed between the polycarbonate component and the carbon fiber component.
1. A composition comprising:
a polycarbonate component comprising a repeating unit comprising an electrophilic side chain, the repeating unit having the structure
wherein R 1 has the structure:
wherein each R 2 is independently chosen from:
and —H,
wherein at least one R 2 is an ester, and
wherein R 3 is (C 1 -C 16 ) alkyl;
a carbon fiber component comprising an activated surface wherein the activated surface comprises a nucleophilic group; and
an interface between the polycarbonate component and the carbon fiber component.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the nucleophilic group is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxy group, a carboxyl group, an amino group, and a combination thereof.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the carbon fiber component comprises one or more carbon fibers.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the polycarbonate component further comprises a polycarbonate copolymer comprising a repeating unit derived from a bisphenol derivative, wherein the polycarbonate copolymer has a random, block, or alternating configuration.
5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein R 1 is meta, ortho, or para substituted in a backbone of the polycarbonate copolymer.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the repeating unit comprising the electrophilic side chain has the structure:
wherein R 3 is (C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl.
7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein R 3 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl and combinations thereof.
8. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the polycarbonate copolymer has a random configuration.
9. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the polycarbonate copolymer has the structure:
10. A method of forming a composite material comprising:
contacting the composition of claim 1 with a mold;
heating the mold; and
applying pressure to the mold;
wherein the composite material is formed.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein heating the mold comprises curing the composition.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the mold is heated to a temperature ranging from about 100° C. to about 350° C.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the mold is heated to temperature ranging from about 200° C. to about 350° C.