Enhancing the resistance against oxidation of polyphenylene sulphide fiber via incorporation of nano TiO2SiO2 and its mechanistic analysis

Polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) fiber is easily oxidized at high temperature, thus vastly restricting its applications. In this study, PPS/TiO2SiO2 fibers were prepared via melt spinning, and the resistance against oxidation and other properties were characterized. The results show that the spinnability, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of PPS/TiO2SiO2 fibers improved, and the dynamic oxidation induction temperature increased in the range 10.7-13.1 °C, and the retention rate of tensile strength maintained up to 80%. The improvement in the resistance against oxidation of PPS/TiO2SiO2 fibers is the results of comprehensive effects characterized by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The sulfur element of PPS formed coordinate bond with nano TiO2SiO2, thus weakening the oxidation activity. Furthermore, a part of the free surface hydroxyls of nano TiO2SiO2 formed aromatic hydrogen with PPS thus weakening the crosslinking reaction. The results herein offer useful insights towards the development of antioxidant PPS fiber for high-temperature applications.