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Fiber preparation and mechanical properties of recycled polypropylene for reinforcing concrete
Author(s) -
Yin Shi,
Tuladhar Rabin,
Shanks Robert A.,
Collister Tony,
Combe Mark,
Jacob Mohan,
Tian Ming,
Sivakugan Nagaratnam
Publication year - 2015
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.41866
Subject(s) - materials science , ultimate tensile strength , composite material , polypropylene , crystallinity , spinning , melt spinning , fiber , modulus , young's modulus , izod impact strength test , synthetic fiber
Polypropylene (PP) fibers have been widely used to reinforce concrete footpaths as an alternative to steel mesh. The reinforcing effect of the PP fiber is directly proportional to its tensile strength and Young modulus. This research explored the feasibility of using an improved melt spinning and hot drawing process to produce virgin and recycled PP fibers of high mechanical properties in an industrial scale. Commercial grade granules of virgin PP, recycled PP and HPDE were mixed in different proportions in preparing five different types of fibers. All the fibers obtained high tensile strength and Young modulus. A relationship between the structural parameters and mechanical properties was then established. It was observed that the melt spinning and hot drawing process formed both α‐form and β‐form crystals in the PP fibers, and significantly improved crystallinity from about 50% to 80%. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132 , 41866.