Investigation on the use of coir fiber as alternative reinforcement in polypropylene

Polypropylene/coir fiber composites were prepared according to an experimental statistical design, in which the independent variables, coir fiber, and compatibilizer content, were varied. The compatibilizer used was maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA). Compatibilizer free composites wer...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 118; no. 5; pp. 2841 - 2848
Main Authors:	Bettini, S.H.P, Bicudo, A.B.L.C, Augusto, I.S, Antunes, L.A, Morassi, P.L, Condotta, R, Bonse, B.C
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 05-12-2010 Wiley
Subjects:	Applied sciences Breaking Coir Compatibility Composites Elastic modulus Elongation Exact sciences and technology Fibers Forms of application and semi-finished materials interface/interphase mechanical testing natural fiber composites Polymer industry, paints, wood Polypropylenes statistical properties/methods Technology of polymers Tensile strength Fiber reinforced material Plant fiber Coconut fiber Property processing relationship Compatibilizer Composite material Propylene derivative copolymer interface/interphase Impact strength Natural fiber Olefin polymer Elastic modulus Double screw extruder Propylene polymer Mechanical properties statistical properties/methods Organic anhydride Experimental study Functional polymer Tensile strength natural fiber composites Experimental design Morphology Extrusion mechanical testing
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Summary:	Polypropylene/coir fiber composites were prepared according to an experimental statistical design, in which the independent variables, coir fiber, and compatibilizer content, were varied. The compatibilizer used was maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA). Compatibilizer free composites were also prepared. Composites were processed in a corotating twin-screw extruder and submitted to mechanical and morphological analyses. The effects of the independent variables on the mechanical properties were assessed through tensile strength, elongation at break, flexural modulus, and impact strength. The morphological properties were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated the need for using compatibilizers in the composites due to the incompatibility of PP and coir fiber. The variable with the strongest effect on the properties was coir content, whose increase caused increase in tensile strength, impact strength and elastic modulus, and decrease in elongation at break. The presence of PP-g-MA was fundamental to achieving the aforementioned results. The effect of increasing compatibilizer content was only observed for the elastic modulus.
Bibliography:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/app.32418 istex:E227F8BFC616B9EDEB28B339F7DDE8EC155F9F2C ark:/67375/WNG-T9R2PK3M-X ArticleID:APP32418 ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23
ISSN:	0021-8995 1097-4628 1097-4628
DOI:	10.1002/app.32418