Examinations into the mechanical characteristics of PBT/PA6/activated carbon composite materials

Abstract

This study evaluated the mechanical properties of activated carbon (AC) when mixed with PBT/PA6 blends. The PBT/PA6/AC composite was prepared by injection molding with 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10% AC, respectively. The flexural strength increased steadily from PBT/PA6 blend without AC to PBT/PA6/10%AC (31–38 MPa). The impact strength decreases when AC is added to the PBT/PA6 mixture. The notched impact strength is reduced from PBT/PA6 to PBT/PA6/10%AC (4.84–2.64 kJ/m²), and the unnotched impact strength is similarly reduced (38.19–12.99 kJ/m²). The hardness does not change significantly, only ranging from 75.2 to 81.4 shore D. The microstructure of the mixtures observed through SEM images taken at the fracture surfaces indicated that the surfaces were smoother when AC was added to the PBT/PA6 composite. The size and number of AC particles also increased proportionally with the AC content. The study’s results mean that the incorporation of AC into the PBT/PA6 blend, two polymers with distinct properties and poor compatibility, leads to specific interactions and unique mechanical effects upon the addition of a filler such as AC. These novel results hold significant scientific implications in the field of composite materials and can be beneficial for practical applications, particularly in the selection of the appropriate AC ratio to achieve the desired mechanical properties for the PBT/PA6 blend.