Fabrication and mechanical properties of glass fiber‐reinforced wood plastic hybrid composites

To fully utilize the resource in the municipal solid waste (MSW) and improve the strength and toughness of wood plastic composites, glass fiber (GF)‐reinforced wood plastic hybrid composites (GWPCs) were prepared through compounding of recycled high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) from MSW, waste wood fibers, and chopped GF. Mechanical tests of GWPCs specimens with varying amounts of GF content were carried out and the impact fractured surface of GWPCs was observed through scanning electron microscope (SEM). The tensile strength of GWPCs and the efficiency coefficient values were predicted by Kelly‐Tyson method. The results indicated that the tensile strength and impact strength of GWPCs could be improved simultaneously by adding type L chopped GF (L‐GF), and would be dropped down when type S chopped GF (S‐GF) was included. The tensile strength of GWPCs was well accordant with the experimental result. The efficiency coefficient values of S‐GF and L‐GF are ?0.19 and 0.63, respectively. Inspection of SEM micrographs indicated that L‐GF had achieved full adhesion with the plastic matrix through addition of maleic anhydride‐g‐polyethylene. The main fracture modes of GWPCs included pullout of GF, broken of matrix, and interfacial debonding. Because of the synergistic effects between hybrid components in GF/wood fiber/HDPE hybrid system, a special 3D network microstructure was formed, which was the main contribution to the significant improvement in the tensile strength and impact strength of L‐GF‐reinforced hybrid composites. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Polyester composites of short pineapple fiber and glass fiber: Tensile and impact properties

The tensile and impact performance of intimately mixed (IM) hybrid composites based on glass fiber (GF) and pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) was investigated. The composite was fabricated at constant volume fraction of fiber 0.3 V_f (fiber 0.3 and matrix 0.7). Keeping the volume fraction of matrix a constant (0.7 V_f), we have varied the PALF/GF ratio from 0 to 1. Incorporation of 0.1 volume fraction of GF increases the tensile strength of the hybrid composite by about 28%. The tensile strength showed a further increase when the volume fraction is changed to 0.7 and 0.9 V_f of GF. Intimately mixed hybrid composites exhibited higher impact strength than the individual fiber composites; the composite of PALF/GF ratio 70:30 showed maximum impact strength of 1203 J/m. A positive hybrid effect is observed for impact properties. Scanning electron micrographs of the fractured surfaces were examined to understand the fiber‐matrix adhesion. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

玻纤毡增强聚丙烯复合材料的增容及力学性能

通过玻璃纤维(GF)毡与双螺杆挤出相容剂改性聚丙烯(PP)膜的多层叠合,以熔融浸渍法制得PP基GF毡增强热塑性塑料(GMT)复合材料,研究了相容剂PP接枝马来酸酐(PP-g-MAH)和PP接枝丙烯酸(PP-g-AA)的用量(为PP基体质量的百分数)及其复配改性,以及相容剂改性PP基体分布和毡体种类对GMT力学性能的影响。结果表明,PPg-MAH可明显提高GMT的拉伸与弯曲性能,但降低了冲击性能;PP-g-AA可明显提高GMT的冲击性能,但不利于拉伸与弯曲性能的提高,只有当PP-g-AA用量超过5%后,拉伸性能才有所提升。在PP-g-MAH用量为3%的条件下,将其与不同用量的PP-g-AA进行复配改性没有对GMT力学性能产生协同作用。在各相容剂用量相近(3%~3.5%)的情况下,与相容剂复配改性GMT相比,以两层PP-g-AA改性PP为芯层、PP-g-MAH改性PP为上下表面层作为改性基体分布时,GMT拉伸与弯曲强度分别提高17%和27%、缺口冲击强度提高48%;而以两层PP-g-MAH改性PP为芯层、PP-g-AA改性PP为上下表面层作为改性基体分布时,在不损失强度与刚性的同时,缺口冲击强度提高了88%。采用连续GF毡的GMT力学性能比采用短切GF毡的GMT高,尤其是缺口冲击强度提高了89.6%。     

Effect of interfacial interaction on the crystallization and mechanical properties of PP/nano‐CaCO3 composites modified by compatibilizers

To investigate the effect of interfacial interaction on the crystallization and mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP)/nano‐CaCO₃ composites, three kinds of compatibilizers [PP grafted with maleic anhydride (PP‐g‐MA), ethylene–octene copolymer grafted with MA (POE‐g‐MA), and ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer grafted with MA (EVA‐g‐MA)] with the same polar groups (MA) but different backbones were used as compatibilizers to obtain various interfacial interactions among nano‐CaCO₃, compatibilizer, and PP. The results indicated that compatibilizers encapsulated nano‐CaCO₃ particles, forming a core–shell structure, and two interfaces were obtained in the compatibilized composites: interface between PP and compatibilizer and interface between compatibilizer and nano‐CaCO₃ particles. The crystallization and mechanical properties of PP/nano‐CaCO₃ composites were dependent on the interfacial interactions of these two interfaces, especially the interfacial interaction between PP and compatibilizer. The good compatibility between PP chain in PP‐g‐MA and PP matrix improved the dispersion of nano‐CaCO₃ particles, favored the nucleation effect of nano‐CaCO₃, increased the tensile strength and modulus, but reduced the ductility and impact strength of composites. The partial compatibility between POE in POE‐g‐MA and PP matrix had little effect on crystallization and mechanical properties of PP/nano‐CaCO₃ composites. The poor compatibility between EVA in EVA‐g‐MA and PP matrix retarded the nucleation effect of nano‐CaCO₃, and reduced the tensile strength, modulus, and impact strength. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Role of reactive compatibilization in preparation of nanosilica/polypropylene composites

The effect of reactive compatibilization on the mechanical properties of nanosilica filled polypropylene (PP) composites was studied in this work. First, the nanoparticles were grafted with poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) by solution free‐radical polymerization, and then melt blended together with PP matrix and aminated PP (PP‐g‐NH₂) that acts as reactive compatibilizer. The reaction between epoxide groups of the grafted PGMA on the nanoparticles and amine groups of PP‐g‐NH₂ during compounding greatly improved interfacial interaction in the composites. As a result, tensile strength, Young's modulus, and notch impact strength of PP composites were increased at rather low filler content. The experimental results indicated that the reinforcing and toughening effects were controlled by flexibility of the grafted polymer as well as processing methods. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:499–509, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Hierarchic structure and mechanical property of glass fiber reinforced isotactic polypropylene composites molded by multiflow vibration injection molding

Maleic anhydride‐grafted polypropylene (Ma‐PP) and β nucleation agents (β‐NA) were used to modify the glass fiber (GF)/isotactic polypropylene (iPP) composite. The interface adhesion, degree of orientation, and crystalline morphologies of the PP/GF composites molded by multiflow vibrate‐injection molding (MFVIM) and conventional injection molding (CIM) were studied by polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and X‐ray measurements. Results prove that the interface adhesion was improved by the Ma‐PP; γ crystal was generated by the MFVIM due to the instant high pressure and shear during the multiflow; and a hierarchical structure which has a strengthened skin and a toughened core was formed. As a result, the final PP/GF/β‐NA composite has a 60% increase in tensile strength and 80% improvement in impact strength compare with the CIM pure PP/GF composite. Based on the observations, a modified model is proposed to interpret the strengthening and toughening mechanism. Our work paves the way to obtain high‐performance GF/iPP composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2707–2717, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of a silane coupling agent on the properties of white rice husk ash–polypropylene/natural rubber composites

White rice husk ash (WRHA)–polypropylene (PP)/natural rubber (NR) composites were prepared using a Brabender Plasticorder at 180 °C and a rotor speed of 50 rev min^?1. The mechanical and water‐absorption properties were studied. The incorporation of WRHA into the PP/NR matrix has resulted in the improvement of the tensile modulus; however, the tensile strength, elongation at break and stress at yield decreased with increasing WRHA loading. Poor filler matrix interactions are believed to be responsible for the decrease in the properties. Incorporation of a silane coupling agent, 3‐aminopropyl triethoxysilane (3‐APE), improved tensile modulus, tensile strength and stress at yield of the composites. Water‐absorption studies indicate that the use of the coupling agent reduced the amount of water absorbed by the composites. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Simultaneous toughening of PPO/HIPS/Glass fiber reinforced composites with thermoplastic rubbers

Simultaneously reinforced and toughened PPO/HIPS/SEBS/glass fiber (GF) 60/40/5/30 composites were successfully prepared with GF as reinforcing agent and SEBS as toughener. The formulation of PPO/HIPS/SEBS/GF quaternary composites was stepwise optimized by evaluating the effect of GF and SEBS on the processing, mechanical and thermal properties of the composites. The synergistic effects of GF reinforcement and elastomer toughening are attributed to high performance PPO/HIPS/SEBS/GF composites. Among the four elastomers studied, SEBS exhibited as effective toughener for PPO/HIPS matrix and the resulted PPO/HIPS/SEBS/GF composites presented a good combination of mechanical and thermal properties. The optimized PPO/HIPS/SEBS/GF 60/40/5/30 quaternary composites displayed a tensile strength of 123.6 MPa, a bending strength of 149.7 MPa, an unnotched impact strength of 46.6 KJ/m² and a heat distortion temperature of 148.9°C. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40299.     

Influence of organically modified nanoclay on the performance of pineapple leaf fiber‐reinforced polypropylene nanocomposites

Polypropylene/Pine apple leaf fiber (PP/PALF)‐reinforced nanocomposites were fabricated using melt blending technique in a twin‐screw extruder (Haake Rheocord 9000). Variation in mechanical properties, crystallization behavior, water absorption, and thermal stability with the addition of nanoclay in PP/PALF composites were investigated. It was observed that the tensile, flexural, and impact properties of PP increase with the increase in fiber loading from 10 to 30 wt %. Composites prepared using 30 wt % PALF and 5 wt % MA‐g‐PP exhibited optimum mechanical performance with an increase in tensile strength to 31%, flexural strength to 45% when compared with virgin PP. Addition of nanoclay results in a further increase in tensile and flexural strength of PP/PALF composites to 20 and 24.3%, which shows intercalated morphology. However, addition of nanoclay does not show any substantial increase in impact strength when compared with PP/PALF composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis tests revealed an increase in storage modulus (E′) and damping factor (tan δ), confirming a strong influence between the fiber/nanoclay and MA‐g‐PP. Differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis thermograms also showed improved thermal properties when compared with the virgin matrix. TEM micrographs also showed few layers of agglomerated clay galleries along with mixed nanomorphology in the nanocomposites. Wide angle X‐ray diffraction studies indicated an increase in d‐spacing from 22.4 Å in Cloisite 20A to 40.1 Å in PP/PALF nanocomposite because of improved intercalated morphology. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Study on the microstructures and mechanical behaviour of compatibilized polypropylene/polyamide‐6 blends

A series of blends of polypropylene (PP)–polyamide‐6 (PA6) with either reactive polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE) grafted with maleic anhydride (POE‐g‐MA) or with maleated PP (PP‐g‐MA) as compatibilizers were prepared. The microstructures and mechanical properties of the blends were investigated by means of tensile and impact testing and by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicated that the miscibility of PP–PA6 blends was improved with the addition of POE‐g‐MA and PP‐g‐MA. For the PP/PA6/POE‐g‐MA system, an elastic interfacial POE layer was formed around PA6 particles and the dispersed POE phases were also observed in the PP matrix. Its Izod impact strength was four times that of pure PP matrix, whilst the tensile strength and Young's modulus were almost unchanged. The greatest tensile strength was obtained for PP/PA6/PP‐g‐MA blend, but its Izod impact strength was reduced in comparison with the pure PP matrix. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene on the mechanical and morphological properties of chemically modified short‐pineapple‐leaf‐fiber‐reinforced polypropylene composites

With the rising cost of petroleum‐based fibers, the utilization of plant fibers in the manufacture of polymer–matrix composites is gaining importance worldwide. The scope of this study was to examine the perspective of the use of pineapple leaf fibers (PALFs) as reinforcements for polypropylene (PP). These fibers are environmentally friendly, low‐cost byproducts of pineapple cultivation and are readily available in the northeastern region of India. Here, both untreated and treated pineapple fibers were used. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MA‐g‐PP) was used as a compatibilizing agent. The polymer matrix of PP was used to prepare composite specimens with different volume fractions (5–20%) of fibers by the addition of 5% of MA‐g‐PP. These specimens were tested for their mechanical properties, and additional assessments were made via observations by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and IR spectroscopy. Increase in the impact behavior, flexural properties, and tensile moduli of the composites were noticed, and these were more appreciable in the treated fibers mixed with MA‐g‐PP. PALF in 10 vol % in PP mixed with MA‐g‐PP was the optimum and recommended composition, where the flexural properties were the maximum. The impact strength and the tensile modulus were also considerably high. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Surface‐modified MgO nanoparticle enhances the mechanical and direct‐current electrical characteristics of polypropylene/polyolefin elastomer nanodielectrics

Polypropylene (PP)/polyolefin elastomer (POE) blends and MgO/PP/POE nanocomposites were fabricated by melt blending. The morphology, mechanical, and electrical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the surface‐modified MgO nanoparticles were well dispersed in the polymer matrix at low loadings of less than 3 phr. X‐ray diffraction demonstrated that the crystalline phases of PP in the composites were changed and that the β phase significantly increased. An examination of the electrical properties revealed that the direct‐current (dc) electric breakdown strength and space‐charge suppression effect were remarkably improved by the introduction of the surface‐modified MgO nanoparticles. In addition, obvious enhancements in the tensile modulus and strength were obtained as a result of the synergistic toughening of the POE and MgO nanoparticles. Thus, MgO/PP/POE nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical and electrical properties have great potential to be used as recyclable insulation materials for high‐voltage dc cables with large transmission capacities and high operating temperatures. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 132, 42863.     

Improving mechanical properties of poly(vinyl chloride) by doping with organically functionalized reactive nanosilica

Nanosilica particles are functionalized by in situ surface‐modification with trimethyl silane and vinyl silane. Resultant reactive nanosilica (coded as RNS) contains double bonds and possesses good compatibility with vinyl chloride (VC) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This makes it feasible for RNS to copolymerize with VC generating RNS/PVC composites via in situ suspension polymerization. As‐prepared RNS/PVC composite resins are analyzed by means of FTIR. The tensile strength and impact strength of compression‐molded RNS/PVC composites are measured and compared with that of compression‐molded PVC composites doped with dispersible nano‐SiO₂ particles (abridged as DNS) surface‐modified with trimethyl silane alone. Moreover, the thermal stability of compression‐molded RNS/PVC and DNS/PVC composites is evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis. It has been found that RNS/PVC composites possess greatly increased impact strength and tensile strength than PVC matrix, while DNS/PVC composites possess higher impact strength than PVC matrix but almost the same tensile strength as the PVC matrix. This implies that DNS is less effective than RNS in improving the mechanical strength of PVC matrix. Particularly, RNS/PVC composites prepared by in situ suspension polymerization have much higher mechanical strength than RNS/PVC composites prepared by melt‐blending, even when their nanosilica content is only 1/10 of that of the melt‐blended ones. Besides, in situ polymerized RNS/PVC and DNS/PVC composites have better thermal stability than melt‐blended nanosilica/PVC composites. Hopefully, this strategy, may be extended to fabricating various novel high‐performance polymer‐matrix composites doped with organically functionalized nanoparticles like RNS. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

玻纤增强聚丙烯复合材料性能研究

研究了玻纤(GF)、SEBS和聚丙烯接枝马来酸酐(PP-g-MAH)用量对GF增强聚丙烯复合材料性能的影响,以及PP/GF(65/35)、PP-g-MAH/PP/GF(15/65/35)的微观形态。结果表明:随着GF用量的增加,复合材料的拉伸强度、弯曲强度和弯曲模量增加,断裂伸长率降低,冲击强度先减小后增大,PP/GF复合材料断面呈脆性断裂;在PP/GF中添加增韧剂SEBS可以提高复合材料的冲击强度,但拉伸强度、断裂伸长率、弯曲强度和弯曲模量均减小;在PP/GF中添加增容剂PP-g-MAH,可使其拉伸强度、断裂伸长率、弯曲强度、弯曲模量和冲击强度均得到提高,当PP-g-MAH/PP/GF为15/65/35时,复合材料性能优异,材料断面呈韧性断裂。     

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     

Dynamic mechanical analysis of pineapple leaf/glass hybrid fiber reinforced polyester composites

The dynamic mechanical properties of randomly oriented intimately mixed hybrid composites based on pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) and glass fibers (GF) in unsaturated polyester (PER) matrix were investigated. The PALFs have high‐specific strength and improve the mechanical properties of the PER matrix. In this study, the volume ratio of the two fibers was varied by incorporating small amounts of GF such as PALF/GF, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, and 50/50, keeping the total fiber loading constant at 40 wt%. The dynamic modulus of the compositeswas found to increase on GF addition. The intimately mixed (IM) hybrid composites with PALF/GF, 80/20 (0.2 V_f GF) showed highest E′ values and least damping. Interestingly, the impact strength of the composites was minimum at this volume ratio. The composites with 0.46 V_f GF or PALF/GF (50/50) showed maximum damping behavior and highest impact strength. The results were compared with hybrid composites of different layering patterns such as GPG (GF skin and PALF core) and PGP (PALF skin and GF core). IM and GPG hybrid composites are found more effective than PGP. The activation energy values for the relaxation processes in different composites were calculated. The overall results showed that hybridization with GF enhanced the performance properties. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Mechanical,thermal, and morphological properties of maleic anhydride‐g‐polypropylene compatibilized and chemically modified banana‐fiber‐reinforced polypropylene composites

Composites were prepared with chemically modified banana fibers in polypropylene (PP). The effects of 40‐mm fiber loading and resin modification on the physical, mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of the composites were evaluated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and so on. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MA‐g‐PP) compatibilizer was used to improve the fiber‐matrix adhesion. SEM studies carried out on fractured specimens indicated poor dispersion in the unmodified fiber composites and improved adhesion and uniform dispersion in the treated composites. A fiber loading of 15 vol % in the treated composites was optimum, with maximum mechanical properties and thermal stability evident. The composite with 5% MA‐g‐PP concentration at a 15% fiber volume showed an 80% increase in impact strength, a 48% increase in flexural strength, a 125% increase in flexural modulus, a 33% increase in tensile strength, and an 82% increase in tensile modulus, whereas the heat deflection temperature increased by 18°C. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Mechanical and thermal properties of chitosan‐filled polypropylene composites: The effect of acrylic acid

The mechanical properties, morphology, and thermal properties of chitosan‐filled polypropylene (PP) composites have been studied. The effect of the chemical modification of chitosan by acrylic acid treatment was also investigated. Results showed that the tensile strength and elongation at break decreased but that the Young's modulus of the composites increased with increasing filler loading. Chemical modification of chitosan with acrylic acid improved the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the composites but reduced the elongation at break. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the addition of chitosan improved the thermal stability of the PP/chitosan composites as compared to that of neat PP. Chemical modification of chitosan had a positive effect on the thermal stability of the composites. This change was attributed to improvement of the interfacial adhesion between the chitosan and PP matrix due to formation of a covalent bond between chitosan and acrylic acid. Meanwhile, differential scanning calorimetric analysis showed that the addition of filler did not significantly change the melting temperature (T_m) of the PP/chitosan composites. The degree of crystallinity of the composites decreased with the addition of chitosan. At a similar chitosan loading, the chemically treated PP/chitosan composites exhibited higher crystallinity than the untreated composites and exhibited slightly increased T_m. A scanning electron microscopy study of the tensile fracture surface of chemically treated PP/chitosan composites indicated that the presence of acrylic acid increased the interfacial interaction between chitosan and the polypropylene matrix. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Structure and properties of PP/SBS/glass fiber hybrid composites. Past II: Property measurement

The mechanical properties viz. impact and tensile modulus of hybrid composites of PP/SBS/glass in the composition range 0‐40 wt% of glass fibers (GF) were studied. Both impact and tensile modulus increased with respect to glass content at a certain composition of the blend. Synergistic effects were seen in the value of elongation and toughness at a certain composition of the glass content. The above findings could be associated with the high aspect ratio and nucleation ability of GF together with good interfacial adhesion between the GF and SBS, rather than the PP matrix. These have been supported by the investigations on structures and morphologies of the hybrid composites.     

Study of the morphology and mechanical properties of polypropylene composites with silica or rice‐husk

The mechanical, morphological behavior and water absorption characteristics of polypropylene (PP) and silica, or PP and rice‐husk, composites have been studied. The silica used in this study as filler was a commercial type produced from soluble glass or rice husks. The compatibilizing effect of PP grafted with monomethyl itaconate (PP‐g‐MMI) and/or with vinyltriethoxysilane (PP‐g‐VTES) as polar monomers on the mechanical properties and water absorption was also investigated. In general, a high loading of the studied fillers in the polymer matrix increases the stiffness and the water absorption capacity. This effect is more noticeable in the tensile modulus of the PP/silica composite with PP‐g‐VTES as compatibilizer. However, the increase of the rice‐husk charge as a natural filler in the PP matrix decreases the stiffness, and in the presence of PP‐g‐MMI as compatibilizer in PP/rice‐husk, the tensile modulus and water absorption of the composite were improved. The better adhesion and phase continuity in the PP/silica and PP/rice‐husk composites with different compatibilizers was confirmed by the morphological study. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry