Preparation and performance of nano-SiO2 stabilized Pickering emulsion type sizing agent for glass fiber

The nano-SiO2 particles modified by silane coupling agent A-1100 were used for preparing the vinyl ester resin (VE) Pickering emulsion. The stable emulsion could be served as the film former of sizing agent for glass fiber (GF). The influence of the wettability and the addition amount of nano-SiO2 on the stability of film former emulsion was explored. The effect of nano-SiO2 Pickering emulsion type sizing agent on the properties of GF was investigated. SEM images show that there existed a layer of sizing agent film with nano-SiO2 particles evenly on the GF surface. The abrasion resistance of the sized GF reached 3,579 times and the stiffness was 69 mm. The strand integrity also performed well. The fracture strength of GF bundles treated by Pickering emulsion type sizing agent increased by 28.6% to 0.504 N/Tex compared with that of the unsized GF bundles. The interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of GF/VE composites sized by self-made sizing agent which contained nano-SiO2 has improved, compared to the unsized GF reinforced VE composite. POLYM. COMPOS., 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers