Mechanical and dielectric properties of ECR-glass/polyimide-based composites.

Electrical corrosion resistance (ECR) glass fibers have drawn the attention of the research community owing to their outstanding properties and applicability. Thus, studying its reinforcing influence on the polyimide (PI) matrix remains an important research topic. In this paper, samples of the ECR powder-reinforced PI matrix composites were produced using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. The influence of the ECR at different weight concentrations on the crystallinity and microstructure as well as on the mechanical and dielectric properties of the ECR/PI matrix composites was examined using XRD, SEM, nanoindentation tests, and LCR meter. The ECR powder particles were uniformly dispersed into the PI matrix using 3D-turbula mixer, as revealed by SEM images. The mechanical properties of the PI matrix were noticed to be improved by ECR addition. However, in comparison with the pure PI, the ECR/PI matrix composite reinforced with 20 wt% ECR-glass depicted improved hardness by 19.8%, stiffness by 53.8%, and elastic modulus by 64.4 wt%. Furthermore, the ECR/PI matrix composite loaded with 20 wt% ECR showed low dielectric constant and dielectric loss compared to the pure PI sample. In addition, its electrical conductivity was also reduced nearly by 37.3% on exposure to 10 kHz. Finally, the findings suggest the cost-effective means of developing PI composites and their potential for mechanical load-bearing and insulation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]