Influence of maleated polypropylene coupling agent on mechanical and thermal behavior of latania fiberreinforced PP/EPDM composites Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers The influence of maleated polypropylene (MAPP) on the mechanical/thermal properties of short latania fiber-reinforced poly(propylene)/ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer (SLF/PP/EPDM) composites was investigated. Two different MAPP weight percentages (0 and 2wt%) and five different fiber weight contents (0, 5, 10, 20, and 30wt%) were considered, where the density of MAPP at the fiber surfaces progressively decreased. For a given fiber loading, addition of 2wt% MAPP led to roughly a 39% increase in tensile/flexural moduli and strengths over SLF/PP/EPDM composites with no MAPP. Moreover, composites containing MAPP displayed a profound improvement (3778%) in impact energy absorption. In addition, composite heat deflection temperatures notably increased by 34C with MAPP addition. Microscopic imaging suggested that matrix crazing, fiber pull-out, and fiber fractures were key failure mechanisms. Hence, SLF/PP/EPDM composites modified with 2%wt MAPP may serve as a low cost alternative to other natural fiber thermoplastic composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E1751E1759, 2018. 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers.

published proceedings

  • Polymer Composites

author list (cited authors)

  • Daghigh, V., Lacy, T. E., Pittman, C. U., & Daghigh, H.

citation count

  • 18

complete list of authors

  • Daghigh, Vahid||Lacy, Thomas E||Pittman, Charles U||Daghigh, Hamid

publication date

  • June 2018

publisher