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Effects of weathering aging on mechanical and thermal properties of injection molded glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites

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Abstract

The effect of weathering aging on the degradation behavior of injection molded short glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites (GFPP) is studied. First, the effect of outdoor weathering on mechanical properties of GFPP composite was investigated by tensile, flexural, and impact tests. Furthermore, to clarify the degradation behavior under natural weathering environments, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements were carried out to analyze the structural and molecular changes during weathering aging. The results show that weathering aging has a significant influence on changes in mechanical properties, melting temperature and the degree of crystallinity of PG6N1 without added carbon black and UV absorbing agent. Those degradations not only occurred on the surface of GFPP but also proceeded to the inner matrix and interface. However, GFPP GWH42 with added carbon black and UV absorbing agent shows excellent weathering stability.

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Acknowledgments

I would like to show my deepest gratitude to Dr. YAMANE Hideki, a respectable, responsible and resourceful scholar who has provided me with valuable guidance in every stage of the writing of this paper. Furthermore, all authors declare that: (i) no support, financial or otherwise, has been received from any organization that may have an interest in the submitted work; and (ii) there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biobased Materials Science, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Kyoto, 606-8585, Japan

    Lichao Yu

  2. Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China

    Xiaofei Yan

  3. Department of Advanced Fibro-Science, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Kyoto, 606-8585, Japan

    Gabriel Fortin

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  1. Lichao Yu
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  2. Xiaofei Yan
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  3. Gabriel Fortin
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Correspondence to Lichao Yu.

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Yu, L., Yan, X. & Fortin, G. Effects of weathering aging on mechanical and thermal properties of injection molded glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites. J Polym Res 25, 247 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-018-1642-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-018-1642-z

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