TESTING OF MODIFIED COAL TAR PITCH AS POLYMER MATRIX IN COMPOSITE MATERIALS

Abstract

Structural compositional polymeric materials are one of the most common materials of present time. The basis of polymeric matrix of these materials are different polymers. Production of polymers is a compound process that determines their high cost. Having regard to the high demand for polymeric composites the search of cheaper ones is very actual today. Coal tar pitch is a unique product with a rich set of properties, among which are polymeric ones. Coal tar pitch is cheaper than classical polymers and it characterized by resistance to acids, alkalis, water, does not put on biodestruction under the influence of various microorganisms, has low thermal conductivity. Modification of coal tar pitches provides a wide opportunity to adjust and change their properties. This opens a new direction - the use of coal tar pitch chemical potential for creating the disperse-filled compositional polymeric materials. Past studies have shown the possibility of active influence on polymeric properties of coal tar pitch by modifying with chemical additives such as polyvinyl chloride and polymer of polyolefin line with intergrafted functional groups. The results of thermochemical and structural changes indicate that between coal tar pitch and modifiers the chemical and physico-chemical interaction takes place. Reactions of polymerization and polycondensation leads to the structuring of coal tar pitch, increasing the strength of structure, thermal stability. The obtained pitch composite has relatively high mechanical properties and thermal stability. The obtained material for all parameters can be attributed to the hard-burning polymer composite what gives it a cogent advantage comparably to thermoplastic polymers. Tests of modified coal tar pitch as a polymer matrix showed that it can successfully compete with classical polymers in order to create compositional materials.