CRYSTALLIZATION BEHAVIOR OF POLYPHENYLENE SULFIDE (PPS) AND PPS CARBON-FIBER COMPOSITES - EFFECT OF CURE

Abstract

The effect of cure on the crystallization rates of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) and PPS/carbon fiber composites has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The crystallization rate of PPS increased with increasing degree of cure. The carbon fiber acted as a nucleating agent to enhance the crystallization rate of PPS. The fully cured PPS seemed to be saturated with nucleating sites formed through the cure reaction. Therefore, the presence of carbon fibers gave little effect on the crystallization rate of the fully cured PPS.