Effects of Compatibilizers on Properties of Polypropylene/Bamboo Fiber Composites

Abstract:

Bamboo fiber (BF) reinforced thermoplastic material composites were prepared in this study. polypropylene (PP) was compounded with bamboo fiber in a twin screw extruder at bamboo fiber contents of 0-30 wt% with polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA) as modifying agent. PP/bamboo fiber composites were to dumbbell specimens by injection molding process. The effect of bamboo fiber contents on properties of the composites was investigated. Tensile and storage modulus of the composites increased when increasing bamboo fiber contents. It can be noted that bamboo fiber promoted crystallization and enhanced crystallinity of PP in the composites, which improved the composites mechanical performance. On the contrary, tensile strength of the PP/BF composites was almost unchanged. Nevertheless, it was considering that the level of interaction between bamboo fiber and PP could be enhanced at higher contents of PE-g-MA. It can be noted that fracture toughness of the PP/BF composites was maintained at the BF contents of 10 wt%, which was attributed to the good interaction between bamboo fiber and PP matrix with the addition of PE-g-MA.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 728)
• Pages: 301-306
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.728.301
• Online since: January 2017
• Authors: Jitlada Boonlertsamut*, Rutchaneekorn Wongpajan, Supaphorn Thumsorn, Hiroyuki Hamada
• Keywords: Bamboo Fiber, Composites, Injection Molding, Polyethylene Grafted Maleic Anhydride, Polypropylene

References

[1] W.P. Chang, K.J. Kim and R.K. Gupta, Moisture absorption behavior of wood/plastic composites made with ultrasound-assisted alkali-treated wood particulates, Compos Interfac. 16 (2009) 937-951.

DOI: 10.1163/092764409x12477481859067

[2] K. Joseph, L.H.C. Mattoso, R.D. Toledo, S. Thomas, L.H. de Carvalho, L. Pothen, S. Kala, B. James, Natural fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites, San Carlos, Paulo, (2000).

[3] S. Sapieha, P. Allard and Y.H. Zang, Dicumyl peroxidemodified cellulose/LLDPE composites, J Appl Polym Sci. 41 (1990) 2039-(2048).

DOI: 10.1002/app.1990.070410910

[4] R. Bouza, A. Lasagabaster, M.J. Abad and L. Barral, Effects of vinyltrimethoxy silane on thermal properties and dynamic mechanical properties of polypropylene-wood flour composites, J Appl Polym Sci. 109 (2008) 1197-1204.

DOI: 10.1002/app.28159

[5] M.S. Sreekala, M.G. Kumaran and S. Thomas, Oil palm fibers: morphology, chemical composition, surface modification, and mechanical properties, J Appl Polym Sci. 66 (1997) 821-835.

DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(19971031)66:5<821::aid-app2>3.0.co;2-x

[6] M.K. Mahmoud, Fracture Toughness of Single-Edge Notched Fiber Reinforced Composite, Polym-Plast Technol. 42 (2003) 659-676.

DOI: 10.1081/ppt-120023101

[7] F.G. Torresı, C.L. Aragon, Final product testing of rotational moulded natural fibre-reinforced polyethylene, Polym Test. 25 (2006) 568-577.

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2006.03.010

[8] J. Wu, Y. -W. Mai and B. Cotterell, Fracture toughness and fracture mechanisms of PBT/PC/IM blend Part I Fracture Properties, J Mater Sci. 28 (1993) 3373-3384.

DOI: 10.1007/bf00354261

[9] J.O. Agunsoyea and V.S. Aigbodion, Bagasse filled recycled polyethylene bio-composites: Morphological and mechanical properties study, Res Phys. 3 (2013) 187-194.

DOI: 10.1016/j.rinp.2013.09.003

[10] N. –H. Tran, S. Ogihara, S. Kobayashi, Preparation and Characterization of Polypropylene/ Funtionalized Graphene Nanocomposites, P ICCM, Jeju Island, (2011) 1-5.

[11] F. Mohammad, Some Criteria Issues for Injection Molding, Intech, New York, (2012).

[12] S. Jain, R. Kumar, and U.C. Jindal, Mechanical behavior of bamboo and bamboo composite, J Mater Sci. 27 (1992) 4598-4604.

DOI: 10.1007/bf01165993