Bonding of air-formed wood fibre/polypropylene fibre composites

The effectiveness of a maleated polypropylene (MAPP) as a coupling agent in wood fibre/polypropylene fibre composites made by non-woven web technology has been evaluated. The composite panels were made with 70 or 85% wood fibre, wiht the MAPP being incorporated in the panels at a level of 1 or 3% by spraying an emulsified form on the wood fibres. Both levels of MAPP significantly increased bending and tensile strength and moduli, and dynamic modulus. At the 70% wood fibre level, impact energy was increased significantly in panels with 3% MAPP. At the 85% wood fibre level, both 1% and 3% MAPP significantly increased impact energy. The MAPP also led to small improvements in water resistance for composites containing 85% wood fibre. The effectiveness of MAPP is believed to be the result of efficient incorporation at the wood/polypropylene interface, thus providing effective coupling of the polar wood component to the non-polar polymer matrix.     

Mechanical properties of maleic anhydride treated jute fibre/polypropylene composites

Abstract

The effect of maleic anhydride (MA) modification of jute fibre on the mechanical properties of jute/polypropylene (PP) composites was studied. Jute fibre, an environmental friendly, low-density renewable material was chemically modified with MA before the incorporation with PP to improve interfacial adhesion between them. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) study showed that the C=C groups of MA attached to jute cellulose reacted with the PP matrix. Jute fibre/PP composite treated with MA displayed higher Young's modulus and dynamic storage modulus owing to the enhanced interfacial adhesion between the fibre and PP matrix. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study showed evidence of the enhanced adhesion and bridging in the interfacial region of the composite as the result of MA modification of jute fibre.     

Sisal fibre/polypropylene composites modified with carboxyl terminated hyperbranched polymer

Abstract

In this study, polypropylene (PP)/sisal fibre (SF)/carboxyl terminated hyperbranched polymer (CTHP) composites were prepared by using short SF as the reinforcement, PP as the matrix and CTHP as a compatiliser. The impact fracture surface of PP/SF composites and the interfacial compatibility between PP and SF were analysed. Experimental results showed that the impact strength and flexural strength of PP/SF composites modified with the CTHP (2 wt-% of SF) were 21·5 and 9·7% higher than that of unmodified systems respectively. The SEM photomicrographs of the fracture surfaces have also shown that PP was highly bonded to the SF in the CTHP treated composites; wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) measurement indicated that the CTHP did not change the crystal structure of PP and was still a-type crystal. Moreover, the addition of a small amount of the CTHP was helpful to improve water resistance of SF/LGF/PP composites.     

A novel silk fibroin/sodium alginate hybrid scaffolds

Porous silk fibroin/sodium alginate hybrid scaffolds were prepared through lyophilization method. Hybrid scaffolds were characterized for morphological and functional properties related to different mixture ratios between silk fibroin and sodium alginate. The silk fibroin/sodium alginate hybrid scaffolds showed a thin‐layer structure and much more irregular rod‐like structure appeared at the layer surface after adding 50% sodium alginate. The results of wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared analysis confirmed that the crystal structure of silk fibroin was not influenced by adding the different contents of sodium alginate, exhibiting the random coil structure in the hybrid scaffolds. The thermal behavior of the hybrid scaffolds exhibited major change with containing 30% sodium alginate or more. The porosity of the scaffolds varied between 92 and 94% with a favorable compressive modulus and stress. The mechanical properties results depicted the hybrid scaffolds containing 10% sodium alginate, with a porosity of 94.0 ± 0.10%, attained the highest compressive modulus and stress for 41 ± 6 and 44 ± 3 kPa, respectively. In addition, mineralization results showed hydroxyapatite crystal growing on the surface of the scaffold. This hybrid biomaterial should offer new and important options to the needs related to biomineralization and tissue engineering, in general. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:129–136, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Transcrystallinity in injection molded polypropylene glass fibre composites

The occurrence of transcrystallinity in polypropylene in the presence of glass fibres under stress was studied. An experiment was designed on a hot-stage polarizing microscope in which it was found that slight mechanical stress at the fibre polymer interface gives rise to surface nucleation and growth of transcrystalline regions. Composites of polypropylene with various concentrations of glass fibres were prepared by injection molding. The observed transcrystalline regions in the injection molded samples were attributed to the availability of sufficient inherent internal stresses. Moreover, an increase in fibre concentration was found to enhance transcrystallinity. This indicated that the internal stresses were increased with increasing fibre population.     

Mechanical performance of hybrid rice straw/sea weed polypropylene composites

Rice straw (Rs)/polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared in the different ratio of 5 : 95, 10 : 90, 15 : 85, 20 : 80, 25 : 75, and 30 : 70 (Rs wt % : PP wt %) by an injection molding process. This work investigated the tensile strength (TS), bending strength (BS), and impact strength (IS) of the composites. From the results, it is observed that Rs20 : PP80 mixture composite showed better performance with mechanical properties (TS = 26.2 MPa, BS = 58 N/mm², and IS = 1.7 KJ/mm²) among the composites prepared. Two hybrid composites were also fabricated using 20% Rs, 10% seaweed with 70% PP and 20% Rs, 30% seaweed with 70% PP. In between the two hybrid composites, superior mechanical behavior showed by the hybrid composite in ratio of Rs20 : Sw10 : PP70 with enhanced results such as TS = 28 MPa, BS = 68 N/mm², and IS = 2.5 KJ/mm². Water uptake, simulating weathering, and soil degradation test of different composites were also performed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Tensile properties of wood flour/kenaf fiber polypropylene hybrid composites

Hybrid composites of wood flour/kenaf fiber and polypropylene were prepared at a fixed fiber to plastic ratio of 40 : 60 and variable ratios of the two reinforcements namely 40 : 0, 30 : 10, 20 : 20, 10 : 30, and 0 : 40 by weight. Polypropylene was used as the polymer matrix, and 40–80 mesh kenaf fiber and 60–100 mesh wood flour were used as the fiber and the particulate reinforcement, respectively. Maleic anhydride and dicumyl peroxide were also used as the coupling agent and initiator, respectively. Mixing process was carried out in an internal mixer at 180°C at 60 rpm. ASTM D 638 Type I tensile specimens of the composites were produced by injection molding. Static tensile tests were performed to study the mechanical behavior of the hybrid composites. The hybrid effect on the elastic modulus of the composites was also investigated using the rule of hybrid mixtures and Halpin–Tsai equations. The relationship between experimental and predicted values was evaluated and accuracy estimation of the models was performed. The results indicated that while nonhybrid composites of kenaf fiber and wood flour exhibited the highest and lowest modulus values respectively, the moduli of hybrid composites were closely related to the fiber to particle ratio of the reinforcements. Rule of hybrid mixtures equation was able to predict the elastic modulus of the composites better than Halpin–Tsai equation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Effect of chemical solvents on the technological characteristics of hemp fibre/polypropylene composites

The effects of different chemical solvents on the technological properties of hemp fibre-reinforced polypropylene composites were evaluated in this experimental work. Composite profiles consisting of hemp fibre and polypropylene at 50% weight ratios, with 2% of coupling agent were fabricated using melt compounding followed by injection moulding. The composite specimens were then immersed in CH₃COOH, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, NaOH, NH₃, and C₆H₅NH₂ for different time intervals. Then, the weight loss and mechanical strength of samples were measured. Results indicated that the chemical reagents had significant effect on the weight loss of the composites. The weight loss ratio of the control samples was lower than that of those samples exposure to the chemical solvents. The tensile strength and modulus, and impact strength of composite specimens decreased after exposure to the chemical solvents. The highest mechanical reduction was observed in the case of NaOH. SEM micrographs showed that the extent of degradation increased in composites when they are exposed to chemical solvents.     

Tensile properties and creep response of polypropylene fibre composites with variation of fibre diameter

The mechanical properties and morphology of polypropylene (PP) long‐fibre reinforced random poly(propylene‐co‐ethylene) (PPE) composites (50/50 % vol/vol) have been investigated with reference to the fibre diameter with constant length. There is an improvement in the mechanical properties of PPE matrix by incorporation of long PP fibres into the matrix. The elastic modulus of the composite increased with decrease in the fibre diameter to 50 µm, to 0.91 GPa, which was 5 times higher than for pure PPE. However, composite stiffness decreased with decreasing fibre diameter of less than 50 µm and this is discussed in term of the fibre stiffness, packing, stress concentration and aspect ratio. Creep resistance of the composites showed the same behaviour. Morphology of the composites was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. This showed that there was a thin layer of matrix on the reinforcement, which was attributed to good impregnation and wetting of the fibres. Moreover, prediction of tensile modulus using the Cox model correlated well with experimental data. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

纳米二氧化硅改性聚丙烯复合材料研究进展

介绍了近年来纳米二氧化硅改性聚丙烯复合材料的研究进展,综述了纳米二氧化硅粒子表面处理和添加增容剂改性的主要方法,阐述了纳米粒子与聚合物相容性的提高对复合材料各项性能的改善作用,并讨论了不同纳米二氧化硅颗粒结构对复合材料性能的影响,最后展望了其在改善聚合物渗透性、阻燃性、导电性等方面的发展前景。     

Seaweed as novel biofiller in polypropylene composites

Based on former exploratory research, we used seaweed (SW) fiber as a novel biofiller for the production of polypropylene (PP) biocomposites. Maleic anhydride‐grafted polypropylene (MAPP) and a CNT masterbatch (CESA) were applied as compatibilizers. Mechanical properties, crystallization behavior, dynamic mechanical performance as well as interfacial morphology were characterized. SW fiber was successfully incorporated in the PP matrix in terms of mechanical reinforcement. Accelerated crystallization process of PP matrix was observed. DMA results also indicated the favorable adhesion between SW fiber and PP matrix, which could be confirmed by SEM characterization. The effect and efficiency of MAPP and CESA as compatibilizers were evaluated. Moreover, potential flame retardancy of SW fibers for PP matrix was observed, and satisfying results warrant further investigations. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Preparation of polypropylene fiber/banana fiber composites by novel commingling method

Short natural fiber thermoplastic composites are usually fabricated by melt mixing or solution mixing followed by conventional methods like injection molding or compression molding. In melt mixing, the fibers are subjected to high shear and this damage the natural fiber. In solution mixing, the use of the organic solvent is essential and its use is hazardous. Development of a novel method commingling to prepare polypropylene (PP)/short natural fiber composite is the main objective of this study. The influence of fiber loading on the mechanical properties of the composites prepared by the above method has been evaluated. The applications and limitations of several equations to predict physical properties such as tensile strength and modulus of the composites have been described. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Lewis acidic polypropylene for compatibilization of polypropylene/microsilica composites

Polypropylene (PP) was compounded with submicron size silica filler particles (microsilica, μSi) up to 30 wt‐%. In addition, three external compatibilizers, with characteristic functionalities, were studied to examine their influence in the mechanical properties of the PP/μSi composites. As a result, the modulus of the composite increased while the other tensile values deteriorated in correlation with increased filler concentration. The addition of an external compatibilizer reduced this deterioration, but the reduction was dependent on the type of the compatibilizer used. The influence of an acid functionalized compatibilizer was unsubstantial while the fluorosilane and the Lewis acidic phenylsilane functionalized polypropylenes acted as effective compatibilizers. In addition to examining the tensile properties, the toughness of the composites was evaluated as well. The microsilica filler was found to act as toughening agent since the Brittle‐to‐Ductile transition point of the composite increased by 2‐3 orders of magnitude at high filler concentrations. However, this increase in the toughness was rapidly lost when an effective compatibilizer was used to bind the filler with the matrix. This observation was consistent with the common understanding of the filler toughening mechanism, where particle‐matrix debonding is a prerequisite for facilitating the plastic stretch of the polymer ligaments between filler particles. In our case, however, the few filler aggregates in the polymer matrix also played a crucial role. While in uncompatibilized composites the filler aggregates remained passive (could not be seen at the fracture surface), the addition of an effective compatibilizer activated these aggregates to promote crack initiation and/or propagation. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

聚丙烯／弹性体／纳米SiO2复合材料性能研究

以聚丙烯（PP）为基体,以弹性体（POE、TPU）和纳米SiO2为改性剂,采用熔融共混法制备了PP／弹性体／纳米SiO2复合材料,研究了材料的力学性能、动态力学性能、结晶性能与流变性能。结果表明,弹性体和纳米粒子的加入具有明显的协同增韧效应;弹性体和纳米SiO2促进PP的结晶,TPU和纳米SiO2有更好的结晶成核作用;弹性体和纳米粒子使复合材料的模量、复合粘度增大。     

Tensile properties of polypropylene/kaolin composites

Tensile properties of isotactic polypropylene filled with particulate kaolin fillers were evaluated in the composition range 0–60 wt % kaolin. Tensile modulus increased with filler concentration while breaking elongation and tensile strength decreased. The modulus increase was attributed to the restriction on the molecular mobility of the polymer imposed by kaolin particles. The decrease in elongation was also an effect of this restriction coupled with interference to stress transfer by the filler particles. Generation of discontinuity in the composite structure through formation of stress concentration points accounted for the tensile strength decrease. Morphology studies by SEM also indicated the introduction of stress concentration points by the presence of bare and nonadherent kaolin particles and their agglomerates with sharp edges in these composites.     

PP/木粉复合材料的热性能

以聚丙烯(PP)/木粉(WF)复合材料(WPC)为对象,研究了WF及马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯(PP-g-MAH)含量对WPC热性能的影响。PP和WF的熔融热焓分别为75.84 J/g和189.50 J/g,而w(WF)为10%,20%,30%,40%,50%的WPC的熔融热焓分别为54.99,40.37,38.66,27.34,22.09 J/g,加入PP-g-MAH后,WPC熔融热焓值有所提高。所有WPC在200～750℃的热分解都是分两步完成的,WF含量越高,两步分解现象越明显,第一步失重率越大;WPC每步分解的起始分解温度及峰值温度均有所提高,WPC对热更稳定。     

Strengthening of polypropylene fibre

Conclusions It has been shown that elongation of polypropylene fibre at a temperature above the melting point of the unoriented polymer is accompanied not only by an increase in structure orientation, but also by formation of a denser structure, which ensures a high fibre strength.All-Union Scientific Research Institute for Synthetic Fibres (VNIIV). Translated from Khimicheskie Volokna, No. 5, pp. 12–13, September–October, 1969.     

Influence of foaming technology on fibre breakage in long fibre-reinforced polypropylene composites parts

It is generally believed that the residual fibre length is one of the most important factors influencing on the mechanical properties of fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composites. In this study, long-glass fibre-reinforced polypropylene (LGFRPP) with initial fibre lengths of 12?mm was prepared and then moulded into parts via conventional injection moulding (CIM) and foamed injection moulding (FIM). The design of experiment (DOE) based on the Taguchi method was first used to determine the optimised processing conditions to increase the residual fibre length of the LGFRPP. The results indicated that foaming conditions have a substantial influence on the residual fibre length of the foamed samples. Based on the DOE, a set of optimised processing condition was selected, and two representative samples of CIM and FIM were carefully investigated using dynamical mechanical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, etc. The experimental results further showed that the residual fibre length and the mechanical properties of the LGFRPP FIM components were better than those of the CIM components. It was also determined that there is a close relationship between the fibre breakage and the mechanical performance.