Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
Sol-gel glass processing of poly (benzobisthiazole) (PBZT) films increased the compressive strength of PBZT/PEEK film laminates by more than four times, with the potential for further improvement indicated. This was accomplished by infiltrating sol-gel glass precursor reagents into microfibrillar regions of PBZT film, forming PBZT/sol--gel glass microcomposites that combined the high compressive strength of glass with the exceptional strength and toughness of PBZT ordered polymer. The presence of glass within PBZl/sol-gel microcomposite films inhibited the buckling of microfibrils during film compression, greatly increasing the resistance of the films to compressive failure. The use of sol-gel glass compositions that fuse at temperatures within thermal stability limits of PBZT (600 C) should further improve PBZI film compressive strength.
Preliminary experiments involving sol-gel processing of PBZT fibers did not show improvements in fiber compressive strength. Microscopic analysis of treated fibers indicated that fiber abrasion and kinking had occurred during batch processing steps.
The results of our continuing efforts to achieve 100 Ksi compressive strength in PBZT films and fibers will be discussed.