Effect of Coupling Agent on the Mechanical Properties of Flame Retardant PP/ATH Nanocomposites

Abstract:

Polymer nanocomposites containing polypropylene (PP) as the polymer matrix and nanofiller aluminium hydroxide (ATH) as the flame retardant filler were compounded with various loading of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene, MAPP (0, 1, 2, 3, 5 wt %). All materials were mixed using melt mixing process and were further prepared using an injection moulding machine. The mechanical performances of the samples were characterized using tensile and impact tests. Improvements were observed for the tensile and impact properties of the PP/ATH samples after being loaded with MAPP. MAPP loading of 1 wt % was determined to be the optimum content of coupling agent addition as this loading enabled the best performance of the nanocomposite in tensile and impact tests. Different morphologies of the fracture surfaces for all samples were characterized using FESEM analysis.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 812)
• Pages: 241-245
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.812.241
• Online since: September 2013
• Authors: Fatimah A’thiyah Sabaruddin, Noorasikin Samat
• Keywords: Coupling Agent, Maleic Anhydride Grafted Polypropylene (MAPP), Mechanical Property, Nanofiller Aluminium Hydroxide (ATH), Polypropylene (PP)

References

[1] T.Richard Hull & A.A. Stec. (2009). "Polymer and Fire" in Fire Retardancy of Polymers: New Strategies and Mechanisms, T.Richard Hull and B.J. Kandola, Ed. Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England.

DOI: 10.1039/9781847559210-00405

[2] H.Demir, D.Balkose and S.Ulku. (2005). Influence of Surface Modification of Filler and Polymer Flammability and Tensile Behaviour of Polypropylene-Composites. Polymer Degradation and Stability. Vol 91, pp.1079-1085.

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2005.07.012

[3] M. Liu, Q. Wang & Y. Liu. (2010). Flame-Retardant Polypropylene Composites with Magnesium Hydroxide Encapsulated by Polypropylene Grafted Maleic Anhydride. Polymer-Plastic Technology and Engineering. Vol. 49, pp.367-372.

DOI: 10.1080/03602550903532117

[4] B.K Kandola. (2001). "Nanocomposites" in Fire Retardant Materials, A.R. Harrocks and D. Price, Ed. Woodhead Publication, Cambridge, England.

[5] H. Ziaei Tabari and M.A. Danesh, R. Hosseinpour pia, A. Nourbakhsh.(2011). Evaluation of Mechanical and Morphological Behavior of Polypropylene/Wood Fiber Nanocomposites Prepared by Melts Compounding. International Conference on Naotechnology and Biosensors (IPCBEE), IACSIT Press Singapore.Vol.2, pp.20-23.

[6] N.Sombatsompop, C.Yotinwattanakumtorn, C.Thongpin. (2005). Influence of Type and Concentration of Maleic Anhydride Grafted Polypropylene and Impact Modifierson Mechanical Properties of PP/Wood Sawdust Composites. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. Vol. 97,pp.475-484.

DOI: 10.1002/app.21765

[7] J.Awanis, S.A. Sofia and N.Samat. (2012). Effect of Coupling Agent on Mechanical Properties Cellulose and Recycled Polypropylene. Advanced Materials Research. Vol. 576, p.390 – 393.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.576.390

[8] D. Metın, F. Tihminlioglu, D. Balkose, S. Ulku. (2004).The Effect of Interfacial Interactions on the Mechanical Properties. of Polypropylene/Natural Zeolite Composites. Composites: Part A Vol 35,p.23–32.

DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2003.09.021