Equipment Design, Preparation, And Structural Characterization Of Polymeric Gradient Materials

Functionally Gradient Materials (FGM) is a new type of composites whose micro elements, including composites and structure, changed spatially to optimize the property for a specific application. The concept presented with Japanese scientists in the 1980s and has been successfully implemented in a new-type ceramic/metal composite to prepare super heat-resistant materials for aerospace applications. In contrast to the inorganic gradient materials, there have been relatively fewer studies in Polymeric Gradient Materials (PGM), especially in preparing PGM continuously by traditional polymer material processing facilities. For the deficiency in old studies, we are trying to combine the conception of FGM and the technology of polymeric modification, bring up a new processing method to prepare PGM continuously through co-extrusion — gradient distribution — 2-dimensional mixing with conventional polymer material processing facilities. Co-extrusion, gradient distribution and 2-dimensional mixing are fulfilled by two extruders, gradient distribution unit and 2-dimensional mixing units respectively. The aim of this study is to trial-produce the PGM with the new method, to study the feasibility of the processing method and the influence to PGM with different mixing units. The result indicated that different mixing units bring great influence to PGM in gradient structure and the continuous preparation of PGM is available by our method with proper processing conditions. So the method is a new idea for preparation of PGM.