Effect of epolene E‐43 as a compatibilizer on the mechanical properties of palm fiber–poly(propylene) composites

Composites of palm fibers and poly(propylene) (PP) were compounded in an extruder at 200°C. The composites were subsequently injection molded into standard tensile specimens for mechanical characterization. The fracture morphology of the specimens was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. It was observed that the composite modulus increased with the increase of fiber content, indicating the existence of adhesion between PP and the much stiffer palm fibers. However, the adhesion was not satisfactory and resulted in a decrease in the composite tensile strength with fiber addition. The compatibilizer Epolene E‐43 was used to minimize this incompatibility between the wood fibers and the PP matrix. The maleated PP additive enhanced the fiber–matrix adhesion, resulting in an improvement in composite performance. Also, small fibers showed better mechanical properties than those of long fibers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 2581–2592, 2004     

Effect of coupling agents on the thermal and mechanical properties of polypropylene–jute fabric composites

Composites with different jute fabric contents and polypropylene (PP) were prepared by compression molding. The composite tensile modulus increased as the fiber content increased, although the strain at break decreased due to the restriction imposed on the deformation of the matrix by the rigid fibers. Moreover, and despite the chemical incompatibility between the polar fiber and the PP matrix, the tensile strength increased with jute content because of the use of long woven fibers. The interfacial adhesion between jute and PP was improved by the addition of different commercial maleated polypropylenes to the neat PP matrix. The effect of these coupling agents on the interface properties was inferred from the resulting composite mechanical properties. Out‐of‐plane instrumented falling weight impact tests showed that compatibilized composites had lower propagation energy than uncompatibilized ones, which was a clear indication that the adhesion between matrix and fibers was better in the former case since fewer mechanisms of energy propagation were activated. These results are in agreement with those found in tensile tests, inasmuch as the compatibilized composites exhibit the highest tensile strength. Scanning electron microscopy also revealed that the compatibilized composites exhibited less fiber pullout and smoother fiber surface than uncompatibilized ones. The thermal behavior of PP–compatibilizer blends was also analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry, to confirm that the improvements in the mechanical properties were the result of the improved adhesion between both faces and not due to changes in the crystallinity of the matrix. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Injection molded noil hemp fiber composites: Interfacial shear strength,fiber strength,and aspect ratio

Noil hemp fiber‐reinforced polypropylene composites were fabricated using intermixer and injection molding machines. X‐ray microtomography and Weibull statistical methods were employed to characterize the aspect ratio distributions of noil hemp fibers in the polypropylene matrices. The influence of fiber content (0–40 wt%) and compatibilizer addition (5 wt%) on IFSS (interfacial shear strengths) was evaluated by means of the modified Bowyer and Bader model. The evaluated IFSSs decreased from 9.7 to 7.2 MPa as the fiber content increased from 10 to 40 wt%. Also, the outcomes indicated increases to IFSSs for the maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP)‐coupled composites than uncoupled ones. They were used to predict theoretical tensile strength of the composites. A good agreement has been found between the theoretical and the experimental tensile strengths of composites indicating that the developed model has excellent capability to predict the tensile strength of noil hemp fiber reinforced polypropylene composites. Ultimately, the influences of interfacial shear strength; fiber strength and fiber aspect ratio were investigated using the developed model to predict composite tensile strengths. POLYM. COMPOS., 213–220, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

长玻纤增强聚丙烯复合材料的制备及力学性能

使用熔融浸渍法制备了长玻璃纤维增强聚丙烯复合材料(LFTPP–G),研究了不同纤维含量、不同牵引速度及不同相容剂马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯(PP-g-MAH)添加量对复合材料力学性能的影响。结果表明,玻璃纤维在复合材料体系中起增强增韧作用,复合材料力学性能随纤维含量增加而升高;提高牵引速度可以提高生产效率,但复合材料的力学性能及纤维分散性能随之降低;相容剂PP-g-MAH的加入改善了玻璃纤维与树脂的界面结合。当使用自制的浸渍装置且玻璃纤维质量分数为50%、牵引速度为30 m/min、相容剂PP-g-MAH质量分数2%时,制得LFTPP–G具有较好的综合力学性能,其缺口冲击强度相较于纯聚丙烯树脂提高了1323%。     

Kudzu fiber‐reinforced polypropylene composite

Kudzu fiber‐reinforced polypropylene composites were prepared, and their mechanical and thermal properties were determined. To enhance the adhesion between the kudzu fiber and the polypropylene matrix, maleic anhydride‐grafted polypropylene (MAPP) was used as a compatibilizer. A continuous improvement in both tensile modulus and tensile strength was observed up to a MAPP concentration of 35 wt %. Increases of 24 and 54% were obtained for tensile modulus and tensile strength, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed improved dispersion and adhesion with MAPP. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed an increase in hydrogen bonding with an increase in MAPP content. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis indicated little change in the melting temperature of the composites with changes in MAPP content. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 1961–1969, 2002     

Morphological,Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene and Vermiculite Blends

Morphological, thermal and mechanical properties of blends prepared from polypropylene (PP) and 1, 3 and 5 wt% of vermiculite (VMT) were studied. The samples were prepared in a twin-screw extruder. The addition of maleic anhydride-functionalized polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) was also investigated. The blend morphologies were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal properties of the composites were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The DSC results showed that PP crystallizes on cooling at higher temperatures as VMT content increases. The increase in crystallization temperature was most evident for blends with 5 wt% VMT. The TGA results showed that the use of VMT particles to fill polypropylene increased the thermal stability of the composite. The mechanical properties, tensile modulus and tensile strength at yield point of the PP improved by the presence of VMT.     

Fabrication and Mechanical Characterization of Jute Fabrics: Reinforced Polyvinyl Chloride/Polypropylene Hybrid Composites

Jute fabrics such as reinforced polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and a mixture of PVC and PP matrices-based composites (50 wt% fiber) were prepared by compression molding. Tensile strength (TS), bending strength (BS), tensile modulus (TM), and vbending modulus (BM) of jute fabrics' reinforced PVC composite (50 wt% fiber) were found to be 45 MPa, 52 MPa, 0.8 GPa, and 1.1 GPa, respectively. The effect of incorporation of PP on the mechanical properties of jute fabrics' reinforced PVC composites was studied. It was found that the mixture of 60% PP and 40% PVC matrices based composite showed the best performance. TS, BS, TM, and BM for this composite were found to be 65 MPa, 70 MPa, 1.42 GPa, and 1.8 GPa, respectively. Degradation tests of the composites for up to six months were performed in a soil medium. Thermo-mechanical properties of the composites were also studied.     

Bamboo fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites: A study of the mechanical properties

A new type of bamboo fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP) composite was prepared and its mechanical properties were tested. To enhance the adhesion between the bamboo fiber and the polypropylene matrix, maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MAPP) was prepared and used as a compatibilizer for the composite. The maleic anhydride content of the MAPP was 0.5 wt %. It was found that with 24 wt % of such MAPP being used in the composite formulation, the mechanical properties of the composite such as the tensile modulus, the tensile strength, and the impact strength all increased significantly. The new composite has a tensile strength of 32–36 MPa and a tensile modulus of 5–6 GPa. Compared to the commercially available wood pulp board, the new material is lighter, water-resistant, cheaper, and more importantly has a tensile strength that is more than three times higher than that of the commercial product. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 1891–1899, 1998     

Study of effect of old corrugated cardboard in properties of polypropylene composites: Study of mechanical properties,thermal behavior,and morphological properties

The investigation of the economical use of lignocellulose waste, which is one of the environmental problems facing nations, is ongoing. In this study, waste cardboard paper fiber reinforcing polypropylene (PP) composites was developed. In order to modify the PP matrix maleated PP (MA‐g‐PP) a 5 wt% and a grafting rate of 1 and 2 wt% was used as a compatibilizer. The effects of fiber and compatibilizer content as well as graft content are evaluated by mechanical, thermal property measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The compatibilizer improved all mechanical properties significantly. Thus, the tensile strength of MA‐g‐PP‐containing composites increases compared to PP/cardboard composites paper content increases. However, the tensile modulus of a PP‐based composite increases with an increase in paper fiber with the compatibilizer having little effect. SEM revealed that the addition of MA‐g‐PP generates strong interactions between a PP matrix and paper fibers. However, the addition of the MA‐g‐PP compatibilizing agent gives a significant improvement on the crystallization of the composites, whereas the compatibilized PP/old corrugated cardboard (OCC) composites have higher crystallinity (Xc) than uncompatibilized PP/OCC composites. The MA‐g‐PP also diminished the water absorption in the composites. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:231–238, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

剑麻纤维增强聚丙烯复合材料的制备及性能研究

制备了剑麻纤维增强聚丙烯（PP）复合材料,考察了纤维含量及马来酸酐接枝PP（MPP）增容剂对复合材料孔隙率及力学性能的影响,并采用修正的数学模型分别对复合材料的拉伸强度和拉伸弹性模量进行预测。结果表明,随着纤维含量的增加,复合材料的孔隙率先增大后减小,纤维质量分数为30％时孔隙率达到最大值。未添加MPP增容剂时,复合材料的拉伸及弯曲性能在纤维质量分数小于30％时变化幅度较小,40％时则有较大幅度提高;冲击强度随着纤维含量增加而提高。当添加MPP增容剂时,复合材料的力学性能随纤维含量的增加而提高。拉伸性能的预测结果与实测结果比较一致。     

高性能木纤维增强聚丙烯复合材料的制备

采用双螺杆挤出机制备了木纤维（松木粉）增强聚丙烯（PP）复合材料，并对其力学性能及形态结构进行了研究。结果表明，用马来酸酐接枝PP（PP-g-MAH)作增容剂可有效地增加基体与木纤维之间的粘合作用，使木纤维增强PP复合材料的拉伸强度，弯曲强度和弯曲弹性碍都得到很大提高；在木纤维增强PP复合材料中加入三元乙丙橡胶（EPDM）进行增韧，可在高木纤维含量下使复合材料基本保持纯PP的力学性能。     

Short jute fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites: Effect of compatibilizer

Jute fibers were chopped to approximately 100 mm in length and then processed through a granulator having an 8-mm screen. Final fiber lengths were up to 10 mm maximum. These fibers along with polypropylene granules and a compatibilizer were mixed in a K-mixer at a fixed rpm, 5500, and dumped at a fixed temperature, 390°F, following single-stage procedure. The fiber loadings were 30, 40, 50, and 60 wt %, and at each fiber loading, compatibilizer doses were 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 wt %. The K-mix samples were pressed and granulated. Finally, ASTM test specimens were molded using a Cincinnati injection molding machine. At 60% by weight of fiber loading, the use of the compatibilizer improved the flexural strength as high as 100%, tensile strength to 120%, and impact strength (unnotched) by 175%. Remarkable improvements were attained even with 1% compatibilizer only. Interface studies were carried out by SEM to investigate the fiber surface morphology, fiber pull-out, and fiber–polymer interface. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 329–338, 1998     

Steam‐exploded residual softwood‐filled polypropylene composites

Residual softwood sawdust was pretreated by a steam‐explosion technique. It was used as a natural filler in polypropylene (PP)‐based composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis and tensile properties of these materials were studied. The influence of filler loading, steam‐explosion severity, and coating the fiber with a functionalized compatibilizer, such as maleic anhydryde polypropylene (MAPP), on the mechanical behavior of the composite was evaluated. The results were analyzed in relation with scanning electron microscopy observations, and surface energy (dispersive and polar components) and apparent specific area measurements. Experimental data indicate a better compatibility between MAPP‐coated fiber and PP with respect to the untreated one. The coating treatment of the softwood fiber was found to promote interfacial adhesion between both components, and to enhance the tensile properties of the resulting composite. This reinforcing effect was well predicted from theoretical calculations based on a mean field approach (Halpin‐Kardos model). The steam‐explosion pretreatment severity increased the surface energy and apparent specific surface, and resulted in a loss of the fiber entirety. The sorption behavior of these composite materials was also performed. It was found that the composites absorb more water, as the filler content is higher. MAPP coating provided protection from water uptake in the interphase region. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 1962–1977, 1999     

Deformation mechanisms and mechanical properties of modified polypropylene/wood fiber composites

Mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms of polypropylene (PP)/wood fiber (WFb) composites modified with maleated polypropylene as compatibilizer and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) as impact modifier have been studied. The addition of maleated polypropylene to the unmodified polypropylene/wood fiber composite enhances the tensile modulus and yield stress as well as the Charpy impact strength. SBR does not cause a drop in the tensile modulus and yield strength because of the interplay between decreasing stiffness and strength by rubber modification and increasing stiffness and strength by good interfacial adhesion between the matrix and fibers. The addition of both maleated polypropylene and rubber to the polypropylene/wood fiber composite does not result in an improvement of effects based on maleated polypropylene and rubber, which includes possible synergism. The deformation mechanisms in unmodified polypropylene/wood fiber composite are matrix brittle fracture, fiber debonding and pullout. A polymeric layer around the fibers created from maleated polypropylene may undergo debonding, initiating local plasticity. Rubber particle cavitation, fiber pullout and debonding were the basic failure mechanisms of rubber-toughened polypropylene/wood fiber composite. When maleated polypropylene was added to this composite, fiber breakage and matrix plastic deformation took place. Polym. Compos. 25:521–526, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Effect of macromolecular coupling agent on the property of PP/GF composites

Silane‐grafted polypropylene manufactured by a reactive grafting process was used as the coupling agent in polypropylene/glass‐fiber composites to improve the interaction of the interfacial regions. Polypropylene reinforced with 30% by weight of short glass fibers was injection‐molded and the mechanical behaviors were investigated. The results indicate that the mechanical properties (tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and Izod impact strength) of the composite increased remarkably as compared with the noncoupled glass fiber/polypropylene. SEM of the fracture surfaces of the coupled composites shows a good adhesion at the fiber/matrix interface: The fibers are coated with matrix polymer, and a matrix transition region exists near the fibers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 71: 1537–1542, 1999     

丙纶纤维自增强聚丙烯树脂的研究

以丙纶纤维为增强体,聚丙烯树脂为基体,采用热压成型的方法制备丙纶纤维/PP复合材料板材.研究了不同热压温度、不同纤度的丙纶纤维用量对复合材料力学性能的影响.结果表明:本实验最佳热压温度为195℃,在此温度下,随着纤维用量的增加,复合材料的拉伸强度呈先升后降的趋势,在用量为15%时达到最高点,纤度为240D的丙纶纤维/P...     

Effect of sawdust surface treatment and compatibilizer addition on mechanical behavior,morphology, and moisture uptake of polypropylene/sawdust composites

Polypropylene/sawdust composites were investigated to assess the effect of sawdust surface treatment and compatibilizer addition on polymer/fiber adhesion. Two silane coupling agents were used for sawdust surface treatment: vinyl‐tris (2‐methoxyethoxy) silane and (3‐aminopropyl)triethoxysilane. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene was used as compatibilizer. Composites were prepared in a corotating twin‐screw extruder coupled to a Haake torque rheometer and submitted to tensile and bending tests as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moisture uptake tests were also performed. Results showed that incorporation of untreated sawdust to polypropylene (PP) caused reduction in composite tensile strength and increase in stiffness. When the only treatment used was surface modification with silane coupling agents, no significant changes were observed in mechanical properties. However, when compatibilizer was added to the composites, tensile strength was increased, and % elongation at break reduced, indicating improved system compatibility. The composite presenting the highest increase in tensile strength was that containing sawdust treated with amino silane in addition to the compatibilizer. SEM analyses corroborated the mechanical property results. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Preparation of polypropylene/nanoclay composite fibers

Melt spinning of nanoclay (NA)/polypropylene (PP) composites into textile fibers is studied. The synthetic NA Perkalite F100 is prone to be exfoliated in PP matrix. With the help of a maleic anhydride‐grafted low‐molecular‐weight PP as compatibilizer (Epolene E43), a highly exfoliated PP/NA composite was successfully prepared. However, the prepared PP/NA composite shows a poor spinnability because of the phase separation between Epolene E43 and PP matrix. The combination of two different groups of compatibilizers, which are Polybond 1001 (acrylic acid‐grafted PP) for the dispersion of NA and Epolene G3216 (maleic anhydride‐grafted PP‐based copolymer) for the exfoliation of NA, can solve this problem. The PP/NA composite prepared by these two compatibilizers can be smoothly spun into fiber at the NA concentration below 1.9 wt%, which is found to be the percolation concentration of formation of NA network structure in PP matrix. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 53:2035–2044, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Fracture toughness of modified polypropylene/poly(styrene‐ran‐butadiene) blends

Fracture toughness of polypropylene (PP)/poly(styrene‐ran‐butadiene) rubber (SBR) blends as a function of concentration of maleic anhydride (MA) in the maleated polypropylene (MAPP) compatibilizer was investigated under uniaxial static and impact loading conditions. The addition of MAPP to the unmodified PP/rubber blend enhanced the tensile modulus and yield stress as well as the Charpy impact strength. The maximum values were recorded at 1.0 wt% grafted MA in the compatibilizer. V‐shaped blunt‐notched specimens exhibited typical ductile behavior and no breakage of the specimens occurred during the impact fracture tests. Sharp‐notched specimens of uncompatibilized and low‐content MA blends broke in a semibrittle manner, supported by a rapid crack propagation process. Increasing MA content in the blends led to semibrittle‐to‐ductile transition characterized by stable crack propagation. Fracture mechanics experiments, supplemented by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were also employed to obtain a better understanding of the fracture and deformation behavior. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Banana/Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Hybrid Composites: Fabrication and Performance Evaluation

Hybrid composites of Polypropylene (PP) reinforced with intimately mixed short banana and glass fibers were fabricated using Haake twin screw extruder followed by compression molding with and without the presence maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) as a coupling agent. Incorporation of both the fibers into PP matrix resulted in an increase in tensile, flexural and impact strength with an increasing level of fiber content upto 30 wt% at banana: glass fiber ratio of 15:15 wt% and 2 wt% of MAPP. The rate of water absorption for the hybrid composites decreased due to the presence of glass fiber and coupling agent. The effect of fiber loading in presence of coupling agent on the dynamic mechanical properties has also been analyzed to investigate the interfacial properties. An increase in the storage modulus (E′) of the treated composite indicates higher stiffness. The tan δ spectra confirms a strong influence of fiber contents and coupling agent on the α and β relaxation processes of PP. The nature of fiber matrix adhesion was examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the tensile fractured specimen. Thermal measurements were carried out employing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) which indicated a decrease in the crystallization temperature and thermal stability of PP with the incorporation of MAPP treated banana and Glass fiber.