Biocomposites from Musa textilis and polypropylene: Evaluation of flexural properties and impact strength

Abaca (Musa textilis)-reinforced polypropylene composites have been prepared and their flexural mechanical properties studied. Due to their characteristic properties, M. textilis has a great economic importance and its fibers are used for specialty papers. Due to its high price and despite possessing very distinctive mechanical properties, to date abaca fibers had not been tested in fiber-reinforced composites. Analysis of materials prepared showed that, in spite of reduced interface adhesion, flexural properties of the PP composites increased linearly with fiber content up to 50 wt.%. Addition of a maleated polypropylene coupling agent still enhanced the stress transfer from the matrix to the reinforcement fiber. As a result, composites with improved flexural properties were obtained. The mechanical properties of matrix and reinforcing fiber were evaluated and used for modelling both the flexural strength and modulus of its composites. In addition, the impact strength of materials was evaluated. Comparison with mechanical properties of composites reinforced with fiberglass points out the potentiality of abaca-reinforced polypropylene composites as suitable substitutes in applications with low impact strength demands.     

纤维表面处理与基体改性对连续玻纤增强聚丙烯力学性能的影响

考察了连续玻纤的表面处理、基体的接枝改性及接枝单体的种类和接枝产物的加入量对连续玻纤毡增强聚丙烯(CGFRPP) 力学性能的影响, 并通过红外光谱、扫描电镜对CGFRPP 的界面化学作用及界面粘结进行了研究。结果表明, 马来酸酐接枝改性聚丙烯与未经偶联剂处理的玻纤不能形成有效的化学结合, 而与经硅烷偶联剂表面处理的玻纤可发生明显的化学作用, 形成良好粘结, 显著提高CGFRPP 的力学性能; 硅烷偶联剂的种类对以改性PP 为基体的CGFRPP 力学性能的影响不大; 马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯比丙烯酸接枝聚丙烯对CGFRPP 力学性能的改善更为有效。      

PP-g-Si与KH550对聚丙烯/滑石粉体系的增容效果

硅烷接枝聚丙烯（ＰＰ－ｇ－Ｓｉ）对聚丙烯／滑石粉（ＰＰ／Ｔａ）混合体系有一定的增容作用,可使复合材料的力学性能得以提高,占复合材料总质量３．５％的ＰＰ－ｇ－Ｓｉ（相当于含硅烷０．２％）对ＰＰ／Ｔａ体系的增容效果与含０．８％（质量分数）的ＫＨ５５０的增容效果相当,ＫＨ５５０对复合材料中聚丙烯（ＰＰ）的结晶熔融行为基本上无影响。而ＰＰ－ｇ－Ｓｉ能进一步使材料中ＰＰ的结晶峰温和熔融峰温提高。     

回收汽车用废旧塑料制备复合板材的力学性能

以汽车内饰用废弃塑料为主要原料,粉碎后通过添加新的接枝改性聚丙烯短切玻璃纤维制备出复合板材,研究了改性PP和短切玻纤对材料力学性能的影响.结果表明,改性PP的加入有利于改善材料的成形性能.添加新的改性聚丙烯后,复合材料的压缩强度和压缩模量增大,随着改性PP含量的提高,弯曲强度大幅提高而弯曲模量稍有降低;随着短切玻璃纤维含量的提高,材料的弯曲强度及弯曲模量均明显提高.     

Effect of material and process parameters on the mechanical properties of unidirectional and multidirectional flax/polypropylene composites

Unidirectional (UD) and multidirectional (MD) flax/polypropylene composites were studied. Flax with varying retting degree and boiled flax was used as reinforcement for the UD composites and unmodified and maleic acid anhydride modified polypropylene (MAA-PP) was used as matrix. Multidirectional flax/polypropylene composites were manufactured on laboratory scale and on pilot scale. They were made from needle-punched hybrid flax/PP non-wovens. Normally retted flax as well as boiled flax was used. For the specimens made on pilot scale, a third kind of flax, namely bleached flax was also studied. The influence of different process times and temperatures on the mechanical properties of the composites was analysed. Generally, the composites have adequate good mechanical properties. The unidirectional composites of boiled flax combined with MAA-PP show the best mechanical properties. Contrary to the UD composites, flax treatment did not lead to the expected property improvements for MD composites.     

Flexural and impact response of woven glass fiber fabric/polypropylene composites

Impact tests with a falling dart and flexural measurements were carried out on polypropylene based laminates reinforced with glass fibers fabrics. Research has shown that the strong fiber/matrix interface obtained through the use of a compatibilizer increased the mechanical performance of such composite systems. The improved adhesion between fibers and matrix weakly affects the flexural modulus but strongly influences the ultimate properties of the investigated woven fabric composites. In fact, bending tests have shown a clear improvement in the flexural strength for the compatibilized systems, in particular when a high viscosity/high crystallinity polypropylene was used. On the contrary, the low velocity impact tests indicated an opposite dependence on the interface strength, and higher energy absorption in not compatibilized composites was detected. This result has been explained in terms of failure mechanisms at the fiber/matrix interface, which are able to dissipate large amounts of energy through friction phenomena. Pull-out of fibers from the polypropylene matrices have been evidenced by the morphological analysis of fracture surfaces after failure and takes place before the fibers breakage, as confirmed by the evaluation of the ductility index.     

汉麻纤维表面改性对其增强聚丙烯复合材料性能及挥发性有机化合物释放影响

通过非织造-热压工艺制备了汉麻纤维增强聚丙烯（HF/PP）复合材料。采用热重-质谱联用仪（TG-MS）研究了HF/PP复合材料的挥发性有机化合物（Volatile organic compounds,VOC）释放来源及汉麻经聚乙烯醇（PVA）改性和尿素改性对HF/PP复合材料VOC释放的影响,同时研究了两种改性方法对HF/PP复合材料热学性能和力学性能的影响。结果表明：HF/PP复合材料中的VOC主要来源于汉麻纤维,改性后的HF/PP复合材料力学性能相比未处理的均有不同程度的提升,尿素改性后,HF/PP复合材料的拉伸强度和弯曲强度达到最大值,较未处理时分别提升了19.32%和15.04%。PVA改性后,HF/PP复合材料的拉伸模量、弯曲模量和剪切强度达到最大值,相比未改性时分别提升了17.72%、15.94%和24.72%。改性后HF/PP复合材料热稳定性能和VOC释放相较未处理时均得到了优化：PVA改性后HF/PP复合材料热稳定性最优,三个阶段总活化能较未处理时提高了121.99%,达到了392.56 kJ·mol^-1,并且HF/PP复合材料热稳定性与界面性能密切相关;尿素及PVA改性后HF/PP复合材料的总VOC（TVOC）释放量相较未处理时均降低。     

原位一步合成CuAl-LDHs-聚磷酸铵及其在聚丙烯阻燃中的应用

采用原位一步法合成铜铝类水滑石（CuAl-LDHs）,通过控制铝酸钠/聚磷酸铵（NaAlO₂/APP）的质量比（0.82~3.28）合成CuAl-LDHs-APP。采用XRD、FTIR、SEM和TG对所制备的CuAl-LDHs及CuAl-LDHs-APP进行表征。采用极限氧指数（LOI）、垂直燃烧（UL-94）测试、弯曲及拉伸试验等考察了CuAl-LDHs/聚丙烯（PP）及CuAl-LDHs-APP/PP复合材料的阻燃性能及力学性能。SEM 观察表明:LDHs结构为片状,随着NaAlO₂与APP质量比的减小,CuAl-LDHs-APP颗粒粒径相应减小,当NaAlO₂与APP的质量比为0.82时,CuAl-LDHs-APP颗粒粒径达到20 nm左右,比表面积为183.5 m2/g。TG分析表明:CuAl-LDHs-APP在高温下有较好的热稳定性。当PP中加入质量分数为20%的CuAl-LDHs及CuAl-LDHs-APP时,LDHs/PP复合材料表面形成炭层;当NaAlO₂与APP质量比不大于1.64时,CuAl-LDHs-APP的添加可抑制PP燃烧时产生的熔滴现象;与CuAl-LDHs/PP复合材料相比,CuAl-LDHs-APP/PP复合材料具有更好的阻燃性能和力学性能;与PP材料相比,CuAl-LDHs-APP/PP复合材料的弯曲强度和拉伸强度等力学性能的下降也不明显。      

芳纶浆粕对膨胀阻燃聚丙烯性能影响

采用芳纶浆粕(PPTA-pulp)对膨胀阻燃聚丙烯(PP)进行增强改性,通过一步共混法制备了PPTA-pulp-膨胀型阻燃剂(IFR)/PP阻燃复合材料,考察了PPTA-pulp用量对PPTA-pulp-IFR/PP复合材料的力学性能、阻燃性能及热稳定性能的影响。结果表明,当硅烷偶联剂KH-550处理的PPTA-pulp质量比为5%时,膨胀阻燃复合材料的力学性能达到最佳: 拉伸强度40.0 MPa,冲击强度56.9 J·m^-1,极限氧指数LOI 28%,垂直燃烧等级达到UL-94 V-0级。复合材料的热稳定性能提高,炭残余量增加。SEM观察表明,PPTA-pulp经KH-550处理后,浆粕纤维与基体树脂的结合性较好。     

Influence of compatibilizing system on morphology,thermal and mechanical properties of high flow polypropylene reinforced with short hemp fibers

Simultaneous influence of polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (MAPP) and silane-treated hemp fibers (HF) on morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of high-flow polypropylene (PP) modified with poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene] (SEBS) was studied in this paper. The addition of SEBS reduced the efficiency of MAPP in PP composites with HF, thus silane-treated fibers (HFs) were used to improve polymer–fiber interface. Thermal stability of HF was improved after silane treatment and less than 2% weight loss was observed at 240 °C in composites with 30 wt% HF. Better dispersion of fibers and better efficiency in enhancing static and dynamic mechanical properties of PP, doubling its strength and stiffness were observed in composites with treated fibers compared to untreated ones. High ability to absorb and dissipate energy and well-balanced strength and stiffness were showed by PP modified with SEBS and MAPP containing 30 wt% HFs. These composites were studied as an alternative to conventional PP/glass fibers composites for injection molding of small to medium auto parts.     

Expanded graphite nanoplatelets as coupling agents in glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites

The interfacial adhesion between E-glass fibers and various types of nanomodified polypropylene (PP) matrices have been investigated on single-fiber model composites. In particular, an evaluation of the fiber–matrix interfacial shear strength was performed by the fragmentation tests on model composites prepared by using PP matrices containing various amounts (up to 7 wt%) of expanded graphite nanoplatelets (xGnP).The presence of xGnP in the polymer matrix resulted in a remarkable increase of the interfacial shear strength values (up to a factor of about 6 for a 7 wt% content of xGnP) if compared to neat PP. Moreover, wettability measurements in various liquids evidenced that the work of adhesion of the polymer matrix with respect to glass fiber, was improved by the presence of xGnP.     

功能化石墨烯-SiO2协同增强增韧聚丙烯复合材料的制备与性能

先采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了氧化石墨烯（GO）-SiO₂杂化材料,再与聚丙烯（PP）进行熔融共混制备了GO-SiO₂/PP复合材料。分别采用FTIR、XRD、XPS、DSC、SEM、动态热机械分析（DMA）、拉伸及冲击等测试手段对填料及GO-SiO₂/PP复合材料的结构与性能进行了表征。FTIR和XPS分析表明,GO已经成功获得功能化。力学性能测试结果证实,GO-SiO₂对PP基体具有良好的强韧化协同改性作用,且优于SiO₂/PP及GO/PP复合材料体系。固定GO-SiO₂中GO与SiO₂的质量比为1∶1,当填料GO-SiO₂的质量分数为0.1wt%时,GO-SiO₂/PP复合材料的拉伸强度和冲击强度分别为38.9 MPa和7.6 kJ/m²,与纯PP基体相比分别提高了29.4%和66.3%。DSC测试表明,GO-SiO₂/PP复合材料中PP的熔融温度和结晶温度分别为167.4℃和111.7℃,与纯PP相比分别提高了4.7℃和5.2℃。DMA测试表明,GO-SiO₂的加入使GO-SiO₂/PP复合材料的储能模量增大,损耗模量峰向更高温度移动。SEM观察表明,当加入少量的GO-SiO₂时,填料能均匀的分散在基体中,但GO-SiO₂过多时,则容易形成团聚。     

The reuse of nonmetals recycled from waste printed circuit boards as reinforcing fillers in the polypropylene composites

The feasibility of reusing nonmetals recycled from waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) as reinforcing fillers in the polypropylene (PP) composites is studied by using both mechanical and vicat softening temperature (VST) tests. The concentration of Cu leaded from the composites is also tested. The mechanical test shows that both tensile and flexural properties of the nonmetals/PP composites can be significantly improved by adding the nonmetals into PP. The maximum increment of tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength and flexural modulus of the PP composites is 28.4%, 62.9%, 87.8% and 133.0%, respectively. As much as 30 wt% nonmetals recycled from waste PCBs can be added in the PP composites without violating the environmental regulation. The VST test shows that the presence of nonmetals can improve the heat resistance of the nonmetals/PP composites for their potential applications. The optimum particle is the fine or medium nonmetals recycled from waste PCBs, and the optimum content of the nonmetals is 30 wt% basing on the comprehensive consideration. All the above results indicate that the reuse of nonmetals as reinforcing fillers in the PP composites represents a promising way for recycling resources and resolving the environmental pollutions.     

Studies of surface-modified wood flour/polypropylene composites

Wood flour (WF)/polypropylene (PP) composites have been made by extrusion and hot press compression molding. The composite water uptake and flexural properties were investigated. The composite fracture surfaces were studied by SEM. WF esterified with octanoyl chloride was used in WF/PP composites to improve the composites’ water resistance. Maleated polypropylene (MAPP) was also studied and compared with esterification by acid chlorides. Esterification by octanoyl chloride reduced the composite water uptake. However, the C₈ chain is still not long enough to form effective entanglements with the PP matrix. So, despite enhancements in hydrophobic interactions, flexural strengths and flexural moduli decreased. MAPP (MW = 47000) polymer chains can entangle with the matrix polypropylene molecules. Therefore, when MAPP’s maleic anhydride functions esterify WF surface hydroxyls, improved water resistance and composite flexural properties were achieved. The modifier chain length is of critical importance and more important than the surface density of hydrophobic groups for improving WF–PP interfacial adhesion and composite mechanical performance.     

混杂工艺对椰壳-大麻/聚丙烯复合材料力学性能的影响

采用正交分析法,讨论混杂工艺和复合工艺对椰壳-大麻/聚丙烯（PP）复合材料力学性能的影响。结果表明,混杂处理后的椰壳-大麻/PP复合材料的力学性能均比相同复合工艺条件下的大麻/PP复合材料有较大程度的改善。椰壳纤维与大麻纤维质量比对混杂椰壳-大麻/PP复合材料力学性能影响最大,且混杂椰壳-大麻/PP复合材料的力学性能随椰壳纤维含量的增加而线性增大;混杂针刺毡中PP纤维质量分数对混杂椰壳-大麻/PP复合材料的抗弯强度影响较大,最初混杂椰壳-大麻/PP复合材料的抗弯强度随PP纤维质量分数的增加而减小,随后又随PP纤维质量分数的增加有一定程度的增大,而混杂椰壳-大麻/PP复合材料的抗拉强度则随PP纤维质量分数的增大而线性减小;混杂椰壳-大麻/PP复合材料的力学性能随复合层压温度的升高呈下降趋势。      

The effect of fibre content on the mechanical properties of glass fibre mat/polypropylene composites

Glass fibre mat was prepared by the fibre mat-manufacturing machine developed in our laboratory. Glass fibre mat reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites were fabricated with the variation of glass fibre content. Tensile, flexural and high rate impact test was conducted to investigate the effect of glass fibre content on the mechanical properties of the glass fibre mat/PP composite. Deformation and fracture behaviour of the glass fibre mat/PP composites was investigated to study the relationship with the mechanical property data. The tensile and flexural modulus increased with the increment of glass fibre content. However, the tensile and flexural strengths exhibited maximum values and showed a decrease at the higher glass fibre content than this point. The impact absorption energy also exhibited a similar result with the tensile and flexural property data.     

Fabrication and mechanical properties of glass fibre–carbon fibre polypropylene functionally gradient materials

Hybrid fibre mat reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites with carbon(CF) and glass fibre (GF) were prepared and four kinds of functionally gradient materials (FGM) were fabricated by changing the spatial distribution of GF and CF. To measure the mechanical properties of FGMs and hybrid composites, flexural tests and instrumented impact tests were performed. The flexural strengths and the flexural moduli of hybrid composites increased following the rule of mixture as the relative volume content of CF increased. On the other hand, the total impact absorption energy of hybrid composites decreased with the increment of CF relative volume content. Compared with GF–CF PP isotropic hybrid composite, the composites with compositional gradient showed similar flexural strengths, but characteristic flexural moduli. Especially, sandwich-type FGMs with a CF-rich outer layer and a GF-rich inner layer exhibited higherflexural moduli than others. Total impact absorption energies of four FGMs were also similar, but the ratios of crack initiation energy,Ei, to crack propagation energy, Ep, or ductility index, were quite different.     

碱处理对竹纤维及竹纤维增强聚丙烯复合材料性能的影响

为探究竹纤维表面能对纤维与树脂的粘附功及复合材料界面的影响,采用碱处理对竹纤维进行表面改性,通过模压工艺制备了竹纤维增强聚丙烯(PP)复合材料。研究了碱处理对竹纤维性能、竹纤维与PP间的粘附功及对竹纤维/PP复合材料力学性能的影响,采用SEM研究了不同浓度碱处理后竹纤维表面形貌的变化。结果表明:随着碱浓度的增加,竹纤维断裂强度呈现一定波动,当碱浓度为1wt%时竹纤维断裂强度达到最大值;竹纤维与PP的粘附功与竹纤维极性比密切相关,竹纤维极性比越小,粘附功越大;随着碱浓度增大,竹纤维与PP间粘附功与竹纤维/PP复合材料剪切性能呈现相同的趋势,并且都在碱浓度为20wt%时达到最大值,此时竹纤维与PP的粘附功较未处理时提高了67.18%;竹纤维/PP复合材料剪切性能较未处理时提高了23.29%;复合材料弯曲强度在碱浓度为5wt%时达到最大值,相比未处理时提高了23.13%。     

Jute/polypropylene composites I. Effect of matrix modification

Natural fibre-reinforced polymers can exhibit very different mechanical performances and environmental aging resistances depending on their interphase properties, but most studies have been focused on fibre surface treatment. Here, investigations of the effect of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAHgPP) coupling agents on the properties of jute fibre/polypropylene (PP) composites have been considered with two kinds of matrices (PP1 and PP2). Both mechanical behaviour of random short fibre composites and micro-mechanical properties of single fibre model composites were examined. Taking into account interfacial properties, a modified rule of mixture (ROM) theory is formulated which fits well to the experimental results. The addition of 2 wt% MAHgPP to polypropylene matrices can significantly improve the adhesion strength with jute fibres and in turn the mechanical properties of composites. We found that the intrinsic tensile properties of jute fibre are proportional to the fibre’s cross-sectional area, which is associated with its perfect circle shape, suggesting the jute fibre’s special statistical tensile properties. We also characterised the hydrophilic character of natural fibres and, moreover, humidity environmental aging effects. The theoretical results are found to coincide fairly well with the experimental data and the major reason of composite tensile strength increase in humidity aging conditions can be attributed to both improved polymer–matrix and interfacial adhesion strength.     

改性介孔硅-ESO/聚丙烯三元体系复合材料增强增韧机制

以改性介孔硅为主要补强剂,聚丙烯(PP)为基体树脂,环氧大豆油(ESO)为增塑剂和稳定剂,通过熔融挤出注塑方法制备了改性介孔硅-ESO/PP体系复合材料。通过XRD、SEM、光学显微镜(OM)、偏光显微镜(PLM)及力学性能测试对介孔硅与ESO增强增韧PP的机制进行分析。结果表明:改性介孔硅、ESO二者同时填充PP制备改性介孔硅-ESO/PP复合材料时,三者界面以物理交联或化学接枝的结合方式形成了空间网状结构,改性介孔硅均匀分散在PP基体中;改性介孔硅添加量一定时,随ESO用量增加,改性介孔硅-ESO/PP复合材料弯曲强度稍微下降,但抗冲击强度、硬度都得到提高,当改性介孔硅用量为20%(与PP的质量比)、ESO用量为2.5%(与PP的质量比)时,综合性能较好。改性介孔硅本身的高模量及粒子在聚合物熔体中的异向成核促进了基体树脂结晶,以及良好的界面结合及分散性,这是增强的主要原因。ESO分子插入聚合物分子链间,削弱了聚合物分子链间的移动性,一定程度降低了基体结晶度等是增韧的主要原因。改性介孔硅使α晶型PP转变为具有更高冲击强度β晶型PP,与ESO二者协同作用,能增强增韧,但是过多的ESO使介孔硅粒子集中在材料的表面,导致其表面硬度增大。