Graphene oxide doped glass fiber production method and glass fiber produced by the method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a production method (100) which enables the mechanical, thermal and flame-retardant properties of glass fiber and composites containing glass fiber to be improved and the graphene oxide to be homogeneously distributed in the glass fiber by adding it to the binder (sizing) used in the glass fiber production process, and to a glass fiber obtained by the method (100).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] GRAPHENE OXIDE DOPED GLASS FIBER PRODUCTION METHOD

[0003] AND GLASS FIBER PRODUCED BY THE METHOD

[0004] Technical Field

[0005] The present invention relates to a production method which enables the mechanical, thermal and flame-retardant properties of glass fiber and composites containing glass fiber to be improved and the graphene oxide to be homogeneously distributed in the glass fiber by adding it to the binder (sizing) used in the glass fiber production process, and to a glass fiber obtained by the method.

[0006] Background of the Invention

[0007] The introduction of graphene oxide into the glass fiber structure significantly improves the performance of the fiber. However, due to the nature of graphene oxide, its homogeneous distribution is difficult and requires complex processes. In the event that graphene oxide is directly applied to the surface of the glass fiber or added into the matrix, it becomes rather difficult to obtain a uniform distribution within the material, which prevents the desired performance from being achieved.

[0008] For this reason, in order to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings, there is a need for a new method to be used in the production of high-performance glass fibers.

[0009] The Chinese patent document no. CN110218001 A, an application included in the state of the art, discloses a graphene-coated composite glass fiber method. In the method mentioned in the said Chinese patent document for uniformly coating fibers with graphene, graphene oxide and glass fibers are first mixed, powder is prepared from the mixture and then coated composite glass fibers are obtained by reducing the solid graphene oxide film with laser. On the other hand, in the said Chinese patent document, the mechanical performance, thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity of composite glass fibers are effectively improved after coating the surface of glass fibers with graphene oxide.

[0010] Summary of the Invention

[0011] An object of the present invention is to realize a production method which enables the mechanical, thermal and flame-retardant properties of glass fiber and composites containing glass fiber to be improved and the graphene oxide to be homogeneously distributed in the glass fiber by adding it to the binder used in the glass fiber production process, and a glass fiber obtained by the method.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to realize a production method which enables graphene oxide to be distributed homogeneously in the glass fiber by adding it into the binder.

[0013] A further object of the present invention is to realize a method and glass fiber which eliminates the loss of performance and difficult production processes that occur due to the poor dispersion of graphene oxide that is not added to the binder in glass fiber production, in the composite material.

[0014] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0015] “Graphene Oxide Doped Glass Fiber Production Method and Glass Fiber Produced by the Method” realized to fulfil the objectives of the present invention is shown in the figure attached, in which:

[0016] Figure l is a flowchart of the inventive method. 100. Method

[0017] 101. Preparing the binder

[0018] 102. Adding graphene oxide to the prepared binder

[0019] 103. Applying the binder containing graphene oxide on glass fiber while it is being produced

[0020] The inventive method (100) which enables the mechanical, thermal and flameretardant properties of glass fiber and composites containing glass fiber to be improved and the graphene oxide to be homogeneously distributed in the glass fiber by adding it to the binder used in the glass fiber production process, comprises the steps of preparing the binder (101); adding graphene oxide to the prepared binder (102); and applying the binder containing graphene oxide on glass fiber while it is being produced (103).

[0021] In the step of preparing the binder (101) of the inventive method (100), an organic coating material, compatible with the matrix with which it will be used and containing mainly 80-97% water and the rest silane coupling agents, film-forming emulsions, lubricants and antistatic agents, is prepared. Silane coupling agents that increase the binding (organic coating material) effect between glass fiber and matrix, form a stronger chemical bond on the fiber surface by interacting with graphene oxide, are compounds containing amino, epoxy, ester, vinyl, alkyl, methacryloxy, ureido, isocyanate and siloxane functional groups. Silane coupling agents are used after their functional ends are hydrolyzed by being stirred in deionized water at room temperature for 15-60 minutes. Silane coupling agent can be generally used at a concentration of 0,05% to 40% depending on the total weight of the binder composition. In one embodiment of the invention, this ratio is between 0,2% and 25%, while the ideal use varies between 1% and 17%. Filmforming emulsions, which enable the binder applied to the fiber surface to be uniformly coated and the graphene oxide to be homogeneously distributed, are polyurethane-, polypropylene-, epoxy- or polyvinylacetate-based film-formers, although they vary depending on the matrix to be used, and their usage amount is between 5% and 95%. Non-ionic lubricants, which optimize the production process by increasing the processability of the fibers, are present in an amount of 0% to 30% of the solid ratio. In one embodiment of the invention, the non-ionic lubricants are preferably present in a solid ratio of 2% to 25%, and most ideally in a solid ratio of 10% to 15%. Cationic lubricants in the form of polyethyleneimine, poly amine salt are also present in a solid ratio of 0% to 30%, preferably in a solid ratio of 2% to 25%, and most ideally in a solid ratio of 10% to 15%. Antistatic agents in the form of quaternary ammonium, tetraethyl ammonium chloride or lithium chloride are preferably present in a solid ratio of 0% to 5%, preferably in a solid ratio of 0,5% to 5%, and most ideally in a solid ratio of 0,5% to 1.5%. After each component is added to the binder mixture, mixing process is applied for 5-30 minutes.

[0022] In the step of adding graphene oxide to the prepared binder (102) of the inventive method (100), graphene oxide, which enables homogeneous distribution on the glass fiber surface and eliminates difficult dispersion processes, is added into the binder prepared between 0.2% and 10% by solid and it is enabled to distribute graphene oxide homogeneously by performing a homogeneous mixing process for 15-60 minutes.

[0023] In the step of applying the binder containing graphene oxide on glass fiber while it is being produced (103) of the inventive method (100), the binder containing homogeneously distributed graphene oxide is applied to be coated as a thin film layer on the glass fibers flowing with the help of the applicator while glass fibers are being produced by being fed into the production line of glass fibers, which can be in continuous or discontinuous form as filaments, twisted yarns or rovings. The glass fiber is obtained after the raw materials in the form of sand, kaolin, limestone, colemanite are mixed and melted in high-temperature furnaces and transformed into glass fibers after turning into molten glass by being vitrified. The produced glass fiber material consists of 90%-99.7% glass and the rest consists of the binder.

[0024] The said invention relates to a glass fiber doped with graphene oxide, which is obtained by following the steps of the method (100) described above, and has improved mechanical, thermal and flame-retardant properties.

[0025] The graphene oxide doped glass fiber produced by the inventive method (100) offers mechanical durability, thermal and electrical improvement, flame-retardant properties and easy dispersion possibilities. Graphene oxide doping increases the tensile strength and impact resistance of glass fiber. Graphene oxide added into the binder improves thermal and electrical conductivity. Graphene oxide improves the flame-retardant performance of the material. The addition of graphene oxide into the binder eliminates dispersion problems and simplifies the production process.

[0026] Within these basic concepts; it is possible to develop various embodiments of the inventive “Graphene Oxide Doped Glass Fiber Production Method (100) and Glass Fiber Produced by the Method (100)”; the invention cannot be limited to examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method (100) which enables the mechanical, thermal and flame-retardant properties of glass fiber and composites containing glass fiber to be improved and the graphene oxide to be homogeneously distributed in the glass fiber by adding it to the binder used in the glass fiber production process; characterized by the steps of: preparing the binder (101); adding graphene oxide to the prepared binder (102); and applying the binder containing graphene oxide on glass fiber while it is being produced (103).

2. A method (100) according to Claim 1; characterized in that in the step of preparing the binder (101), an organic coating material, compatible with the matrix with which it will be used and containing mainly 80-97% water and the rest silane coupling agents, film-forming emulsions, lubricants and antistatic agents, is prepared.

3. A method (100) according to Claim 1 or 2; characterized in that in the step of preparing the binder (101), silane coupling agents that increase the binding effect between glass fiber and matrix, form a stronger chemical bond on the fiber surface by interacting with graphene oxide, are selected from the compounds containing amino, epoxy, ester, vinyl, alkyl, methacryloxy, ureido, isocyanate and siloxane functional groups; and the silane coupling agent is used at a concentration of 0,05% to 40%, more specifically of 0,2% to 25%, and ideally between 1% and 17%, depending on the total weight of the binder composition.

4. A method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized in that in the step of preparing the binder (101), film-forming emulsions, which enable the binder applied to the fiber surface to be uniformly coated and the graphene oxide to be homogeneously distributed, are polyurethane-,polypropylene-, epoxy- or polyvinylacetate-based film-formers, although they vary depending on the matrix to be used, and their usage amount is between 5% and 95%.

5. A method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized in that in the step of preparing the binder (101), non-ionic lubricants, which optimize the production process by increasing the processability of the fibers, are used in an amount of 0% to 30% of the solid, more preferably in a solid ratio of 2% to 25%, and most ideally in a solid ratio of 10% to 15%.

6. A method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized in that in the step of preparing the binder (101), cationic lubricants in the form of polyethyleneimine, poly amine salt are also present in a solid ratio of 0% to 30%, preferably in a solid ratio of 2% to 25%, and most ideally in a solid ratio of 10% to 15%.

7. A method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized in that in the step of preparing the binder (101), antistatic agents in the form of quaternary ammonium, tetraethylammonium chloride or lithium chloride are preferably present in a solid ratio of 0% to 5%, preferably in a solid ratio of 0,5% to 5%, and most ideally in a solid ratio of 0,5% to 1.5%.

8. A method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized in that in the step of preparing the binder (101), after each component is added to the binder mixture, mixing process is applied for 5-30 minutes.

9. A method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized in that in the step of adding graphene oxide to the prepared binder (102), graphene oxide, which enables homogeneous distribution on the glass fiber surface and eliminates difficult dispersion processes, is added into the binder preparedbetween 0.2% and 10% by solid and it is enabled to distribute graphene oxide homogeneously by performing a homogeneous mixing process for 15-60 minutes.

10. A method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized in that in the step of applying the binder containing graphene oxide on glass fiber while it is being produced (103), the binder containing homogeneously distributed graphene oxide is applied to be coated as a thin film layer on the glass fibers flowing with the help of the applicator while glass fibers are being produced by being fed into the production line of glass fibers, which can be in continuous or discontinuous form as filaments, twisted yams or rovings.

11. A method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized in that in the step of applying the binder containing graphene oxide on glass fiber while it is being produced (103), the glass fiber is obtained after the raw materials in the form of sand, kaolin, limestone, colemanite are mixed and melted in high- temperature furnaces and transformed into glass fibers after turning into molten glass by being vitrified.

12. A method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized in that in the step of applying the binder containing graphene oxide on glass fiber while it is being produced (103), the produced glass fiber material consists of 90%-99.7% glass and the rest consists of the binder.

13. A glass fiber doped with graphene oxide, which is obtained by following the preceding steps of the method (100), and has improved mechanical, thermal and flame-retardant properties.

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