Abstract
Composite based on a new generation metallocene catalyzed thermoplastic elastomer ethylene-octene copolymer (EOC) and resorcinol formaldehyde latex (RFL) coated aramid short fiber was prepared by varying the short fiber loading from 1 to 10 phr. The mechanical, morphological and rheological characterizations were carried out. The impact of a low molecular weight maleic anhydride grafted 1, 2 polybutadiene (MA-g-PB) on various properties was also investigated. It has been observed that with increasing the short fiber content both the low strain modulus and modulus at 100% increase but the tensile strength and elongation at break decrease. The improvements in tensile strength coupled with elongation at break and good fiber dispersion particularly at high fiber loaded composite were achieved with the incorporation of MA-g-PB, which indicates that it acts as an interface modifier through compatibilization between the fiber and the EOC matrix as well as a good dispersing agent. The understanding of adhesion between the fiber and the polymer and the sticking of polymer traces on the tensile fractured fiber surface of the composite by scanning electron microscopic analyses further support the compatibilizing action of MA-g-PB. The melt rheological behavior such as storage modulus, loss modulus, complex viscosity and storage viscosity of the composites were investigated using a Rubber Process Analyser (RPA) under strain and frequency sweep mode.
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs10965-011-9643-1/MediaObjects/10965_2011_9643_Fig1_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs10965-011-9643-1/MediaObjects/10965_2011_9643_Fig2_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs10965-011-9643-1/MediaObjects/10965_2011_9643_Fig3_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs10965-011-9643-1/MediaObjects/10965_2011_9643_Fig4_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs10965-011-9643-1/MediaObjects/10965_2011_9643_Fig5_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs10965-011-9643-1/MediaObjects/10965_2011_9643_Fig6_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs10965-011-9643-1/MediaObjects/10965_2011_9643_Fig7_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs10965-011-9643-1/MediaObjects/10965_2011_9643_Fig8_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs10965-011-9643-1/MediaObjects/10965_2011_9643_Fig9_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs10965-011-9643-1/MediaObjects/10965_2011_9643_Fig10_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs10965-011-9643-1/MediaObjects/10965_2011_9643_Fig11_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs10965-011-9643-1/MediaObjects/10965_2011_9643_Fig12_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs10965-011-9643-1/MediaObjects/10965_2011_9643_Fig13_HTML.gif)
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Peters ST (1998) Handbook of composites, 2nd edn. Chapman and Hall, London, UK
Fu SY, Lauke B (1996) Compos Sci Tech 56:1179–1190
Nair KCM, Kumar RP, Thomas S, Schit SC, Ramamurthy K (2000) Composites: Part A 31:1231–1240
Kashani MR (2009) J Appl Poly Sci 113:1355–1363
Rajeev RS, Bhowmick AK, De SK (2002) Polym Compos 23:574–591
O’ Connor JE (1977) Rubber Chem and Technol 50:945–958
Wang W, Tang L, Qu B (2003) Eur Polym J 39:2129–2134
Lopez Manchado MA, Biagiotti J, Arroyo M, Kenny JM (2003) Poly Eng Sci 43:1018–1030
Lopez Manchado MA, Arroyo M (2001) Poymer 42:6557–6563
Jin S, Zheng Y, Gao G, Jin Z (1993) J Appl Poly Science 49:1475–1482
De SK, White JR (1996) Short fiber polymer composites. Woodhead, Cambridge, England
Kim JK, Mai YW (1998) Engineered Interfaces in Fiber Reinforced composites. Elsevier Science, UK
Coffey AB, O’Bradaigh CM, Young JR (2007) J Mater Sci 42:8053–8061
Chantaratcharoen A, Sirisinha C, Amornsakchai T, Limcharoen SB, Meesiri W (1999) J Applied Poly Sci 74:2414–2422
Ahamad I, Chin TS, Cheong CK, Jalar A, Abdullah I (2005) Compos, Am J Appl Sci Special Issue:14–20
Mori M, Uyama Y, Ikada Y (1994) Polymer 34:5336–5341
Amornsakchai T, Sinpatanapan B, Limcharoen SB, Meesiri W (1999) Polymer 40:2993–2999
Arroyo M, Bell M (2002) J Appl Poly Sci 83:2474–2484
Kutty SKN, Nando GB (1991) J Appl Poly Sci 43:1913–1923
Kutty SKN, Chaki TK, Nando GB (1992) Polym Degrad Stab 38:187–192
Akbarian M, Hassanzadeh S, Moghri M (2008) Polym Adv Technol 19:1894–1900
Babu RR, Singha NK, Naskar K (2008) Express Polymer Lett 2:226–236
Babu RR, Singha NK, Naskar K (2010) Polym Eng Sci 50:455–467
Cerrada ML, Benavente R, Perez E (2001) Macromol Chem Phys 202:2686–2695
Akhtar S, De PP, De SK (1986) J Appl Polym Sci 32:5123–5146
Vajrasthira C, Amornsakchai T, Limcharoen SB (2003) J Appl Polym Sci 87:1059–1067
Saikrasun S, Amornsakchai T, Sirisinha C, Meesiri W, Limcharoen SB (1999) Polymer 40:6437–6442
Zeng Z, Ren W, Chi Xu LuW, Zhang Y, Zhang Y (2009) J Polym Res 17:213–219
Mallick PK (2008) Fiber reinforced Composites. Materials Manufacturing and Design, CRC, London
Lai SM, Liao YC, Chen TW (2005) Polym Engi Sci 1461–1470
Ismail H, Rusli A, Rashid AA (2005) Polym Test 24:856–862
Sain M, Suhara P, Law S, Bouilloux A (2005) J Reinforc Plast Compos 24:121–130
Acknowledgement
The authors are thankful to Teijin Aramid BV, The Netherlands for providing the Technora short fibers. They are also thankful to Dr. Rajesh Babu, Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e. V.Germany for his valuable support.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shibulal, G.S., Naskar, K. RFL coated aramid short fiber reinforced thermoplastic elastomer: Mechanical, rheological and morphological characteristics. J Polym Res 18, 2295–2306 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-011-9643-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-011-9643-1