A novel bio-based hyperbranched waterborne polyurethane sizing agent with superior UV-resistance and interfacial properties for CF/PA6 composites

On account of environment concerns and the gradually depletion of fossil resources, a hyperbranched waterborne polyurethane (HWPU) serving for sizing agent of carbon fibers (CF) was designed based on bio-based materials. Hyperbranched chain extender named CAG was synthesized by citric acid (CA) and glycerol as HWPU precursor. Tartaric acid (TA) was coordinated with nano titanium dioxide (TiO2) through two –COOH groups, which was introduced to HWPU as the chain extender, leading to a significant improvement in ultraviolet (UV)-resistant of the sizing agent. The interfacial performance promotion of CF reinforced nylon 6 (CF/PA6) composites contributed by the HWPU sizing agent were systematically investigated. In contrast to the untreated CF composites, the mechanical performance arrived the best improvement after sizing by concentration of 1.5 wt%, which exhibited a dramatic promote of 44.9% in interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), 58.7% in interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and 43.3% in flexural strength. Extraordinary, the treated CF composites remained over 98% of mechanical performance after a week of unremitting ultraviolet irradiation, signifying the outstanding UV-resistance of the TiO2 modified HWPU sizing agent.