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Short jute fiber‐reinforced polypropylene composites: Effect of compatibilizer
Author(s) -
Rana A. K.,
Mandal A.,
Mitra B. C.,
Jacobson R.,
Rowell R.,
Banerjee A. N.
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(19980711)69:2<329::aid-app14>3.0.co;2-r
Jute fibers were chopped to approximately 100 mm in length and then processed through a granulator having an 8‐mm screen. Final fiber lengths were up to 10 mm maximum. These fibers along with polypropylene granules and a compatibilizer were mixed in a K‐mixer at a fixed rpm, 5500, and dumped at a fixed temperature, 390°F, following single‐stage procedure. The fiber loadings were 30, 40, 50, and 60 wt %, and at each fiber loading, compatibilizer doses were 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 wt %. The K‐mix samples were pressed and granulated. Finally, ASTM test specimens were molded using a Cincinnati injection molding machine. At 60% by weight of fiber loading, the use of the compatibilizer improved the flexural strength as high as 100%, tensile strength to 120%, and impact strength (unnotched) by 175%. Remarkable improvements were attained even with 1% compatibilizer only. Interface studies were carried out by SEM to investigate the fiber surface morphology, fiber pull‐out, and fiber–polymer interface. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 329–338, 1998