Abstract
Wood fibre reinforced polypropylene composites at fibre content 50% by weight have been prepared and different types of wood fibres (hard wood fibre, soft wood fibre, long wood fibre and wood chips) were treated with coupling agent (MAH-PP) to increase the interfacial adhesion with the matrix to improve the dispersion of the particles and to decrease the water sorption properties of the final composite.
The present study investigated the tensile, flexural, charpy impact and impact properties of wood fibre reinforced polypropylene composites as a function of coupling agent and fibre length and structure.
From the results it is observed that wood chips-PP composites showed better tensile and flexural properties comparative with the other wood fibre-PP composites with the addition of 5%MAH-PP, which is around 65% and 50% for tensile strength and flexural strength respectively. Hard wood fibre-PP composites showed better impact characteristic values comparative to other wood fibre-PP composites with the addition of 5%MAH-PP and damping index decreased about to 60%. Charpy impact strength also increased up to 60% with the addition of 5%MAH-PP for long wood fibre-PP composites. Water absorption and scanning electron microscopy of the composites are also investigated.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Simonsen, J., in Proceedings of Wood Fiber-Plastics Composites Conference, Madison, WI, USA, May 1995, p. 47.
Oksman, K. and Clemens, C., ‘Mechanical Properties and Morphology of Impact Modified Polypropylene-Wood Flour Composites’, Journal of Applied Polymer Science 67, 1998, 1503.
Huang, Y., ‘Influence of Modified Wood Fibers on the Mechanical Properties of Wood Fiber-Reinforced Polyethylene’, Journal of Applied Polymer Science 66, 1997, 1561.
Bledzki, A. K., Sperber, V. E. and Faruk, O., ‘Natural and Wood Fibre Reinforcement in Polymers’, Rapra Review Reports 13(8), 2002, 1.
Renstrom, R.,‘Entrepreneur Invests in Wood-Flour Market’, Plastics News (USA) 12(51), 2001, 31.
Felix, J. M. and Gatenholm, P., ‘The Nature of Adhesion in Composites of Modified Cellulose Fibres and Polypropylene’, Journal of Appied Polymer Science 42, 1991, 609.
Chengzhi, C., Almdal, K., Poulsen, L. and Plackett, D., ‘Conifer Fibers as Reinforcing Materials for Polypropylene-Based Composites’, Journal of Appied Polymer Science 80(14), 2001, 2833.
Van, D. V. K. and Kiekens, P., ‘Influence of Fibre and Matrix Modifications on Mechanical and Physical Properties of Flax Fibre Reinforced Polypropylene’, Macromolecular Materials and Engineering 286(4), 2001, 237.
Jacoby, P., Sullivan, R. and Crostic, W., ‘Wood Filled High Crystallinity Polypropylene’, Plastics in Building Construction 25(8), 2001, 8.
Eichhorn, S. J., Baillie, C. A., Zafeiropoulos, N., Mwaikambo, L. Y., Ansell, M. P., Dufresne, A., Entwhistle, K. M., Herrera, F. P. J., Escamilla, G. C., Groom, L., Hughes, M., Hill, C., Rials, T. G. and Wild, P. M., ‘Review. Current International Research into Cellulosic Fibres and Composites’, Journal of Materials Science 36(9), 2001, 2107.
Rana, A. K. and Jayachandran, K., ‘Jute Fiber for Reinforced Composites and Its Prospects’, Molecular Crystals & Liquid Crystals 353, 2000, 35.
Ismail, H. and Mega, L., ‘Effects of a Compatibilizer and Silane Coupling Agent on the Mechanical Properties of White Rice Husk Ash Filled Polypropylene/Natural Rubber Blend’, Polymer Plastic Technology and Engineering 40(4), 2001, 463.
Joseph, K., Thomas, S. and Pavithran, C., ‘Effect of Chemical Treatment on Short Sisal Fibre Reinforced Polyethylene Composites’, Polymer 37, 1996, 5139.
Maldas, D. and Kokta, B.V., ‘Effect of Recycling on the Mechanical Properties of Wood Fibre/Polystyrene Composites. II. Saw dust as a Reinforcing Filler’, Polymer Plastic Technology and Engineering 29, 1990, 419.
Rowland, S. P. and Roberts, E. J., J. Polym. Sci., Poly. Chem. Ed. 10, 1972, 2447.
Singh, B. and Gupta, M., in Proceedings of the International Symposium on Biocomposites and Blends Based on Jute and Allied Fibres, India, 1994, p. 111.
Bledzki, A. K., Reimane, S. and Gassan, J., ‘Thermoplastics Reinforced with Wood Fillers: a Literature Review’, Polymer-Plastic Technology and Engineering 37, 1998, 451.
Rowell, R. M., Lange, S. E. and Jacobson, R. E., ‘Weathering Performance of Plant-Fiber/Thermoplastic Composites’, Molecular Crystals & Liquid Crystals 353, 2000, 85.
Marcovich, N. E., Reboredo, M. M. and Aranguren, M. I., ‘Modified Woodflour as Thermoset Fillers Part I. Effect of the Chemical Modification and Percentage of Filler on the Mechanical Pproperties’, Polymer 42, 2001, 815.
Patil, Y. P., Gajre, B., Dusane, D., Chavan, S. and Mishra, S., ‘Effect of Maleic Anhydride Treatment on Steam andWater Absorption ofWood Polymer Composites Prepared fromWheat Straw, Cane Bagasse, and Teak Wood Sawdust Using Novolac as Matrix’, Journal of Applied Polymer Science 77(13), 2000, 2963.
Nitz, H., Reichert, P., Romling, H. and Mulhaupt, R., ‘Influence of Compatibilizers on Surface Hardness Water Uptake and Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene Wood Flour Composites Prepared by Reactive Extrusion’, Macromolecular Materials and Engineering 276, 2000, 51.
Ellis, W. D. and O'Dell, J. L., ‘Wood-Polymer Composites Made with Acrylic Monomers, Isocyanate, and Maleic Anhydride’, Journal of Applied Polymer Science 73(12), 1999, 2493.
Coutinho, F. M. B., Costa, T. H. S. and Carvalho, D. L., ‘Polypropylene-Wood Fibre Composites: Effect of Treatment and Mixing Conditions on Mechanical Properties’, Journal of Applied Polymer Science 65(6), 1997, 1227.
Rowell, R. M., Simonsen, J. and Jacobson, R. E., ‘Wood-Fiber Reinforcement of Styrene-Maleic Anhydride Copolymers’, Journal of Applied Polymer Science 68(10), 1998, 1567.
Oksman, K. and Lindberg, H., ‘Influence of Thermoplastic Elastomers on Adhesion in Polyethylene-Wood Flour Composites’, Journal of Applied Polymer Science 68(11), 1998, 1845.
Kazayawoko, M., Balatinecz, J. J. and Woodhams, R. T., ‘Diffuse Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra of Wood Fibers Treated with Maleated Polypropylenes’, Journal of Applied Polymer Science 66(6), 1997, 1163.
Marcovich, N. E., Reboredo, M. M. and Aranguren, M. I., ‘Composites Made from Lignocellulosics and Thermoset Polymers’, Molecular Crystals & Liquid Crystals 353, 2000, 95.
Bledzki, A. K., Faruk, O. and Huque, M., ‘Physico-Mechanical Studies of Wood Fibre Reinforced Composites’, Polymer-Plastic Technology and Engineering 41(3), 2002, 435.
Gauthier, R., Joly, C., Coupas, A. C., Gauthier, H., and Escoubes, S., ‘Interfaces in Polyolefin/Cellulosic Fiber Composites: Chemical Coupling, Morphology, Correlation with Adhesion and Aging in Moisture’, Polymer Composites 19, 1998, 287.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bledzki, A.K., Faruk, O. Wood Fibre Reinforced Polypropylene Composites: Effect of Fibre Geometry and Coupling Agent on Physico-Mechanical Properties. Applied Composite Materials 10, 365–379 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025741100628
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025741100628