Premium
Effect of silane‐based coupling agents and acrylic acid based compatibilizers on mechanical properties of oil palm empty fruit bunch filled high‐density polyethylene composites
Author(s) -
Ishak Z. A. Mohd,
Aminullah A.,
Ismail H.,
Rozman H. D.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(19980627)68:13<2189::aid-app16>3.0.co;2-v
Subject(s) - composite material , materials science , ultimate tensile strength , high density polyethylene , toughness , polyethylene , acrylic acid , fiber , izod impact strength test , tear resistance , elongation , scanning electron microscope , synthetic fiber , polymer , copolymer
The mechanical properties of composites consisting of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) and oil palm fibrous wastes—that is, empty fruit bunch (EFB)—have been investigated. Tensile modulus showed an increase, whereas tensile strength, elongation at break, and impact strength decreased with increasing filler loading. The strong tendency of EFB to exist in the form of fiber bundles and the poor filler–matrix interaction is believed to be responsible for the poor strength displayed by the composites. Attempts to improve these properties using two types of coupling agents, that is, 3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (3‐APM) and 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3‐APE) and two types of compatibilizers, poly(propylene–acrylic acid) (PPAA) and poly(propylene–ethylene–acrylic acid), (PPEAA), are described. While almost all chemical treatments increased the stiffness of the composites, limited improvement has been observed in the case of tensile strength. This have been attributed to the presence of fiber bundles that remain intact even after several types of chemical treatment have been carried out. Thus, the role of EFB as reinforcing agent is not fully realized. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs revealed that the main energy‐absorbing mechanisms contributing towards toughness enhancement is through the fiber bundle pull‐out process. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 68: 2189–2203, 1998