Enhancing the foaming properties of polypropylene/basalt fiber composites by altering their rheological and crystallization behavior via polyethylene–octene blending modification

Abstract

The quality of foam in polypropylene/basalt fiber (PP/BF) composite materials is currently unsatisfactory, which restricts their use in industrial applications. To address this limitation, the objective of this study is to improve the foaming properties of PP/BF composite foam by modifying their rheological and crystallization behavior using polyethylene–octene (POE) blending modification. The results demonstrate that the inclusion of POE has a beneficial impact on the rheological and crystallization characteristics of PP/BF composites. Consequently, this creates favorable conditions for the foaming process of PP/BF composite foam. It is conducive to obtaining high foaming quality PP/BF composite foam. The results demonstrate that a 5 wt% POE content yields the best foaming performance for the PP/BF composite foam, with the most uniform cell distribution, a cell size of 54 μm and a cell density is measured at 3.43 × 107 cells/cm3. The optimal temperature range for foaming is between 180 and 200°C. The introduction of POE in PP/BF composite foam may lead to a decrease in its tensile and flexural strength. However, this drawback is offset by a significant improvement in the notch impact strength of the foam. This study's findings will enhance our understanding of the production and application of PP/BF composite foam, making it a valuable material for applications that require exceptional toughness.Highlights Improved the crystallization and rheological properties of PP/BF composites. Significantly improve the foaming quality of PP/BF composites. Make PP/BF composite foam has excellent impact toughness.