Mechanical properties of injection molded long fiber polypropylene composites,Part 1: Tensile and flexural properties

Innovative polymers and composites are broadening the range of applications and commercial production of thermoplastics. Long fiber‐reinforced thermoplastics have received much attention due to their processability by conventional technologies. This study describes the development of long fiber reinforced polypropylene (LFPP) composites and the effect of fiber length and compatibilizer content on their mechanical properties. LFPP pellets of different sizes were prepared by extrusion process using a specially designed radial impregnation die and these pellets were injection molded to develop LFPP composites. Maleic‐anhydride grafted polypropylene (MA‐g‐PP) was chosen as a compatibilizer and its content was optimized by determining the interfacial properties through fiber pullout test. Critical fiber length was calculated using interfacial shear strength. Fiber length distributions were analyzed using profile projector and image analyzer software system. Fiber aspect ratio of more than 100 was achieved after injection molding. The results of the tensile and flexural properties of injection molded long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene with a glass fiber volume fraction of 0.18 are presented. It was found that the differences in pellet sizes improve the mechanical properties by 3–8%. Efforts are made to theoretically predict the tensile strength and modulus using the Kelly‐Tyson and Halpin‐Tsai model, respectively. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:259–266, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastic Engineers     

Process–structure–property relationship in ternary short‐glass‐fiber/elastomer/polypropylene composites

Short‐glass‐fiber (SGF)‐reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites toughened with a styrene/ethylene butylene/styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer were injection molded after extrusion. Furthermore, a maleic anhydride (MA)‐grafted SEBS copolymer (SEBS‐g‐MA) was used as an impact modifier and compatibilizer. The effects of the processing conditions and compatibilizer on the microstructure and tensile and impact performance of the hybrid composites were investigated. In the route 1 fabrication process, SGF, PP, and SEBS were blended in an extruder twice, and this was followed by injection molding. In route 2, or the sequential blending process, the elastomer and PP were mixed thoroughly before the addition of SGF. In other words, either PP and SEBS or PP and SEBS‐g‐MA pellets were premixed in an extruder. The produced pellets were then blended with SGF in the extruder, and this was followed by injection molding. The SGF/SEBS‐g‐MA/PP hybrid fabricated by the route 2 process exhibited the highest modulus, yield stress, tensile stress at break, Izod impact energy, and Charpy drop weight impact strength among the composites investigated. This was due to the formation of a homogeneous SEBS elastomeric interlayer at the SGF and matrix interface of the SGF/SEBS‐g‐MA/PP hybrid. This SEBS rubbery layer enhanced the interfacial bonding between SGF and the matrix of the SGF/SEBS‐g‐MA/PP hybrid. The correlations between the processing, microstructure, and properties of the hybrids were investigated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1384–1392, 2003     

Injection molding of long sisal fiber–reinforced polypropylene: Effects of compatibilizer concentration and viscosity on fiber adhesion and thermal degradation

A two‐step process was used to obtain long sisal fiber‐polypropylene (SF/PP)–reinforced thermoplastic composites, using maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MA‐g‐PP) as a compatibilizer. At a first stage, modified polypropylenes (mPP) were used for an extrusion impregnation process, for the preparation of composite pellets containing about 70 wt% of SF. SF/mPP pellets with a large aspect ratio were prepared by continuous extrusion impregnation of a continuous SF yarn, using a single screw extruder and an adequate impregnation die. The mPP used were MA‐g‐PP and regular polypropylene (PP), modified by reaction with different amounts of an organic peroxide. The composite pellets were thus dry blended with regular PP pellets in an injection machine hopper, and injection molded to obtain composite tensile specimens with a minimum quantity of modified polypropylene, minimum fiber breakage and thermal degradation, and excellent mechanical properties. It is shown that the fiber breakage is reduced to a minimum, even for recycled composites, due to the presence of the low‐viscosity polymer layer wetting the SF fibers. The bulk composite effective viscosity and the fiber breakage extent and thermal degradation during the injection‐molding step are found to be closely related. Blending with much less expensive mPP at the impregnation stage optimizes the amount of expensive MA‐g‐PP. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:613–621, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Fatigue life of coir fiber reinforced PP composites: Effect of compatibilizer and coir fiber contents

The fatigue behavior of polypropylene/coir fiber composites was investigated. Composites were prepared according to an experimental statistical design, in which the independent variables coir fiber and compatibilizer content were varied. The compatibilizer used was maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP‐g‐MA). Compatibilizer free composites were also prepared. Composites were prepared in a corotating twin‐screw extruder and the mechanical behavior of polypropylene/coir fiber composites were assessed through monotonic (tensile) and cyclic (fatigue) tests. Fatigue load controlled tests were conducted under tension–tension loads at a frequency of 6 Hz. The fracture mechanism was accompanied by surface fracture analyses using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated the need for using compatibilizer in the composites; however, increase in compatibilizer content did not affect composite fatigue lifetime. Coir content was the variable with the strongest effect on composite properties; increasing this variable caused significant increase in fatigue life. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 53:2159–2165, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Impact toughness,viscoelastic behavior,and morphology of polypropylene–jute–viscose hybrid composites

In this investigation, we studied the impact toughness and viscoelastic behavior of polypropylene (PP)–jute composites. In this study, we used viscose fiber as an impact modifier and maleated PP as a compatibilizer. The toughness of the composites was studied with conventional Charpy and instrumental falling‐weight impact tests. The composites’ viscoelastic properties were studied with dynamic mechanical analysis. The results show that the incorporation of viscose fibers improved the impact strength and toughness to 134 and 65% compared to those of the PP–jute composites. The tan δ peak amplitude also increased with the addition of the impact modifier and indicated a greater degree of molecular mobility. The thermal stability of the composites was evaluated with thermogravimetric analysis. The addition of 2 wt % maleated polypropylene (MAPP) to the impact‐modified composite improved the impact strength and toughness to 144 and 93%, respectively. The fiber–matrix morphology of the fracture surface and the Fourier transform infrared spectra were also studied to ascertain the existence of the type of interfacial bonds. Microstructural analysis showed the retention of viscose fibers in the composites compared to the more separated jute fibers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 42981.     

Investigation on the use of coir fiber as alternative reinforcement in polypropylene

Polypropylene/coir fiber composites were prepared according to an experimental statistical design, in which the independent variables, coir fiber, and compatibilizer content, were varied. The compatibilizer used was maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP‐g‐MA). Compatibilizer free composites were also prepared. Composites were processed in a corotating twin‐screw extruder and submitted to mechanical and morphological analyses. The effects of the independent variables on the mechanical properties were assessed through tensile strength, elongation at break, flexural modulus, and impact strength. The morphological properties were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated the need for using compatibilizers in the composites due to the incompatibility of PP and coir fiber. The variable with the strongest effect on the properties was coir content, whose increase caused increase in tensile strength, impact strength and elastic modulus, and decrease in elongation at break. The presence of PP‐g‐MA was fundamental to achieving the aforementioned results. The effect of increasing compatibilizer content was only observed for the elastic modulus. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

玻纤增强PP热塑性片材的制备及力学性能研究

采用熔融浸渍法制备了玻璃纤维毡增强聚丙烯（PP）热塑性复合片材；通过在PP中加入复合改性PP改善了基体与增强纤维间的相容性；考察了相容剂、PP种类及玻纤毡种类对复合片材的影响。结果表明，相容剂的加入可使复合片材的拉伸强度提高29％、拉伸模量提高23％、弯曲强度提高42％、弯曲模量提高25％；高熔体质量流动速率PP可使片材的弯曲与冲击性能进一步改善。连续玻纤毡和长玻纤毡增强PP复合片材，前者综合力学性能良好，而后者则冲击强度较弱、弯曲性能加强。     

Effects of processing conditions on the mechanical performance of maleic anhydride compatibilized in-situ composites of polypropylene with liquid crystalline polymer

Maleic anhydride compatibilized blends of isotactic polypropylene (PP) and thermotropic liquid crystaline polymer (LCP) were prepared either by the direct injection molding (one-step process), or by twin-screw extrusion blending, after which specimens were injection molded (two-step process). The morphology and mechanical properties of these injection molded in situ LCP composites were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Izod impact testing, static tensile, and dynamic mechanical measurements. SEM observations showed that fine and elongated LCP fibrils are formed in the maleic anhydride compatibilized in situ composites fabricated by means of the one-step process. The tensile strength and modulus of these composites were considerably close to those predicted from the rule of mixtures. Furthermore, the impact behavior of LCP fibril reinforced composites was similar to that of the glass fiber reinforced polymer composites. On the other hand, the maleic anhydride compatibilized blends prepared from the two-step process showed lower mechanical performance, which was attributed to the poorer processing behavior leading to the degradation of PP. The effects of the processing steps, temperatures, and compatibilizer addition on the mechanical properties of the PP/LCP blends are discussed.     

高强高韧GF／PP复合材料的研究

通过在短玻(GF)增强聚丙烯(PP)中添加聚烯烃弹性体(POE),并用马来酸酐对PP进行接枝交联的方法, 制备了高冲击韧性GF／PP复合材料。在该材料中,短切玻璃纤维的加入大幅度提高了材料的拉伸、弯曲强度,而POE 则通过产生形变等方式,提高了材料的冲击韧性;在其中加入马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯增加界面结合力,可使GF／PP／POE 复合体系表现出良好的综合力学性能,其拉伸强度为51．9 MPa,弯曲强度为68．1MPa,冲击韧性为44．2 kJ／m2。     

反应性相容剂的制备及其在PP/玻璃纤维复合材料中的应用

以马来酸酐(MAH)为接枝单体、丙烯酸-2-羟乙酯为共聚单体,利用熔融接枝技术对聚丙烯(PP)进行改性;以MAH/丙烯酸-2-羟乙酯熔融接枝改性PP为相容剂,研究相容剂对PP/玻璃纤维复合材料结构和性能的影响。结果表明:与未接枝PP相比,熔融接枝PP分子上接枝了MAH和—OH基团,而且熔融接枝反应对PP的熔点和热稳定性具有明显影响。另外,随着接枝PP含量的增加,PP/玻璃纤维复合材料的力学性能明显改善。当接枝PP含量为15%时,复合材料的拉伸强度提高了32%,冲击强度提高了13%,表明采用熔融共接枝工艺制备的PP具有优良的增容、偶联和分散效果。     

长玻璃纤维增强聚丙烯复合材料的韧性

以玻璃纤维和聚丙烯为原料,制备了长玻璃纤维增强聚丙烯(LFT-PP)复合材料,研究了基体韧性、纤维长度和界面相容剂对LFT-PP韧性的影响。结果表明LFT-PP韧性随基体韧性增加而增加;当玻璃纤维长度从2.06mm增加到4.66mm时,LFT-PP的悬臂梁缺口冲击强度从134.4J/m提高到238.0J/m,增加了约80%;添加界面改性剂降低了LFT-PP悬臂梁缺口冲击强度,从311.4J/m降为181.8J/m。     

Water absorption and mechanical properties of PP/HIPS hybrid composites filled with wood flour

Water absorption and mechanical performance of the injection‐molded hybrid composites prepared from different ratios of two polymer blends (57 wt%), two compatibilizers (3 wt%), and two wood species (40 wt%) were investigated. The ratio of polypropylene and high‐impact polystyrene (HIPS) gradually increased in the blend (from 10 to 30 wt%). Styrene–ethylene–butylene–styreneblock copolymer and maleic anhydride‐grafted PP (MAPP) were used as compatibilizer (3 wt%). The shore D hardness of the PP/wood composites was improved by the incorporation of the HIPS. The HIPS/wood flour composites showed higher tensile modulus but lower tensile strength than the PP/wood composites. The water resistance of the PP/wood composites decreased with increasing HIPS content. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:863–869, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

剑麻纤维/聚丙烯木塑复合材料的热氧老化性能研究

以剑麻纤维(SF)、聚丙烯(PP)为原料,经熔融共混、模压成型工艺制备木塑复合材料。探讨了SF/PP复合材料的力学性能、热性能随老化时间和SF含量的变化规律,借助扫描电镜对复合材料老化前后的冲击断面进行微观结构分析。结果表明:老化后复合材料的冲击强度、弯曲强度和弯曲模量随剑麻含量的增加而降低;同时,复合材料中PP相的结晶速率、结晶度也有所降低,但复合材料的热稳定性基本没有变化。     

粉末浸渍长玻璃纤维增强聚丙烯的注塑

采用粉末浸渍的方法制备连续玻璃纤维增强聚丙烯预浸料,经切割获得长纤维增强聚丙烯粒子,探索了材料的注塑工艺,研究了注塑后材料的力学性能及其影响因素。结果表明,粉末浸渍的长纤维增强聚丙烯经注塑后可获得力学性能的制品;随着预浸料切割长度的增长、纤维含量的增加,材料的力学性能提高;在基体聚丙烯中添加接枝极性基团的功能化聚丙烯,可改善体系的界面结合,提高材料的力学性能,但功能化聚丙烯的含量超过一定值后,材料的冲击强度有所下降;控制注塑时的模具温度,可以改变材料的一些力学性能。     

Long jute fiber‐reinforced polypropylene composite: Effects of jute fiber bundle and glass fiber hybridization

Two types of long jute fiber pellet consisting of twisted‐jute yarn (LFT‐JF/PP) and untwisted‐jute yarn (UT‐JF/PP) pellets are used to prepare jute fiber–reinforced polypropylene (JF/PP) composites. The mechanical properties of both long fiber composites are compared with that of re‐pelletized pellet (RP‐JF/PP) of LFT‐JF/PP pellet, which is re‐compounded by extrusion compounding. High stiffness and high impact strength of JF/PP composites are as a result of using long fiber. However, the longer fiber bundle consequently affects the distribution of jute fiber. The incorporation of 10 wt % glass fibers is found to improve mechanical properties of JF/PP composites. Increasing mechanical properties of hybrid composites is dependent on the type of JF/PP pellets, which directly affect the fiber length and fiber orientation of glass fiber within hybrid composites. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41819.     

Regenerated cellulose fibers as impact modifier in long jute fiber reinforced polypropylene composites: Effect on mechanical properties,morphology, and fiber breakage

Polypropylene/jute fiber (PP‐J) composites with various concentrations of viscose fibers (VF) as impact modifiers and maleated polypropylene (MAPP) as a compatibilizer have been studied. The composite materials were manufactured using direct long fiber thermoplastic (D‐LFT) extrusion and compression molding. The effect of fiber length, after the extrusion process, on composites mechanical performance and toughness was investigated. The results showed that the incorporation of soft and tough VF on the PP‐J improved the energy absorption of the composites. The higher impact strength was found with the addition of 10 wt % of the impact modifier, but the increased concentration of the impact modifier affected the tensile and flexural properties negatively. Similarly, HDT values were reduced with addition of viscose fibers whereas the addition of 2 wt % of maleated polypropylene significantly improved the overall composite properties. The microscopic analysis clearly demonstrated longer fiber pullouts on the optimized impact modified composite. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41301.     

长玻纤增强PP/PA6合金材料的性能

以连续长玻璃纤维为增强材料,以聚丙烯(PP)与尼龙(PA)6树脂为基体,以马来酸酐接枝PP(PP-g-MAH)作为相容剂,经过双螺杆挤出机和特制的浸润装置制备了长玻纤增强PP/PA6合金材料。通过常规力学性能、球压痕硬度、耐划伤、热变形温度等测试和微观结构分析,考察了PA6含量及其与PP-g-MAH质量比对合金材料强度、刚性、常低温冲击性能、硬度、耐刮擦以及耐热性能的影响。结果显示,当PA6/PP-g-MAH质量比为2,即PA6含量为10份,PP-g-MAH含量为5份时,合金材料的综合性能达到最佳;当PA6/PP-g-MAH质量比低于2时,PA6特性优势随着其含量增加而提升,而当PA6/PP-g-MAH质量比高于2时,相容剂不足以增容PP/PA6两相,综合性能有所衰减。所制备的长玻纤增强PP/PA6合金材料具有较好的强度、刚性、韧性、硬度以及更好的–40℃冲击性能,且其密度低,耐刮擦性能优异,在特殊领域如电动工具外壳具有广阔的应用前景。     

加工方法对动态硫化的聚丙烯/三元乙丙橡胶/甲基丙烯酸锌复合材料的力学性能影响

通过三种不同的加工手段,制备了动态硫化的聚丙烯(PP)/三元乙丙橡胶(EPDM)/甲基丙烯酸锌(ZDMA)复合材料。结果表明,Haake密炼机制备的复合材料综合性能较佳,并且较低的加工温度能够获得综合性能较好的PP/EPDM/ZDMA复合材料。力学性能的数据表明,EPDM的加入,在降低了PP拉伸强度的同时,增加了PP的韧性,而加入ZDMA则进一步提高了复合材料的冲击强度。     

Bamboo fiber reinforced polypropylene composites and their mechanical,thermal, and morphological properties

Short bamboo fiber reinforced polypropylene composites were prepared by incorporation of various loadings of chemically modified bamboo fibers. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MA‐g‐PP) was used as compatibilizer to improve fiber–matrix adhesion. The effects of bamboo fiber loading and modification of the resin on the physical, mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of the bamboo reinforced modified PP composites were studied. Scanning electron microscopy studies of the composites were carried out on the interface and fractured surfaces. Thermogravimetric analysis and IR spectroscopy were also carried out. At 50% volume fraction of the extracted bamboo fiber in the composites, considerable increase in mechanical properties like impact, flexural, tensile, and thermal behavior like heat deflection temperature were observed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

EOC-g-MAH共混增韧SGF/PP泡沫复合材料的制备及力学性能

采用型内二次发泡工艺制备了马来酸酐接枝乙烯-1-辛烯共聚物(EOC-g-MAH)共混增韧短玻璃纤维(SGF)/聚丙烯(PP)泡沫复合材料,考察了EOC-g-MAH含量对复合材料的泡孔形貌、微观结构和力学性能的影响。结果表明,EOC-g-MAH的引入改善了泡沫体的发泡效果,平均孔径减小约35%,泡孔密度提高近4倍且分布均匀。SGF与基体间的界面结合得到显著增强,且EOC-g-MAH在SGF表面形成了颗粒黏附结构,大幅提高了SGF/PP泡沫复合材料的冲击韧度,并在质量分数为8%时达到最大值,增幅为77%。随着EOC-g-MAH质量分数的增加,SGF/PP泡沫复合材料的抗弯强度先增加后降低,而压缩强度则呈近似线性下降的变化趋势。