| Abstract: | 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 |
