Study on Tensile Behavior of Natural Fiber Reinforced PP Composites

Abstract

Abstract. Cellulose (CE), sawdust (SD) and wheat straw (WS) were subjected to triethoxysilane (AS) and methacriloxy propyl trimethoxy silane (MS), and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) to improve interfacial bonding with matrix. Composites were prepared by these fibers as reinforcement. Tensile tests results show that composites were significantly enhanced by employment of coupling agents and MAPP to be the most effective coupling agent. Mechanical properties of SD composites exhibit the best performance compared to CE and WS. Optimum conditions for coupling agents were found to be 1 wt % for silane coupling agents and 5 wt % for MAPP.

Characterization of Ultrafine Cellulose-filled High-Density Polyethylene Composites Prepared using Different Compounding Methods

“…All samples produced with the coupling agent exhibited lower strain at the maximum stress than the compounding methods without the coupling agent because of the enhanced adhesion between the UFC and the HDPE matrix. Similar results were reported by Shao et al (2015) and Ismail et al (2001) for triethoxysilane (AS), methacriloxy propyl trimethoxy silane (MS), and maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MAPP)-treated natural fiber (cellulose, sawdust, and wheat straw), and reinforced PP and silane-treated white rice husk ash-filled PP/natural rubber composites, respectively (Ismail et al 2001;Shao et al 2015). Shao et al (2015) explained that better adhesion yields more restriction of deformation capacity of composites; therefore, catastrophic failure occurs after small strain deformations.…”