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Mechanical properties and crack propagation of soy‐polypropylene composites
Author(s) -
Guettler Barbara E.,
Moresoli Christine,
Simon Leonardo C.
Publication year - 2013
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/app.39151
Subject(s) - composite material , materials science , autoclave , maleic anhydride , polypropylene , flexural strength , composite number , scanning electron microscope , flexural modulus , izod impact strength test , ultimate tensile strength , copolymer , polymer , metallurgy
Composites from soy flour (SF) and polypropylene (PP) exhibited increased impact and flexural properties when SF was treated with potassium permanganate (KMnO 4 ) or when subjected to autoclave treatment and maleic anhydride coupling agent addition. The impact strength increased by at least 13% for the KMnO 4 SF composites and by 18% for the autoclave SF composites with maleic anhydride coupling agent addition. These two SF composite materials showed increased impact and flexural modulus, an indication of multiscale material architecture. Scanning electron microscopy imaging of the fractured surfaces revealed different morphology and potential crack propagation mechanisms. Composites with untreated SF showed poor bonding with the polypropylene matrix whereas improved bonding was observed for SF subjected to KMnO 4 treatment. Composites with SF subjected to autoclave treatment combined with maleic anhydride revealed good bonding. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013