Polypropylene/glass fiber/nanoclay hybrid composites: morphological, thermal, dynamic mechanical and impact behaviors

Polypropylene/E-glass fiber/nanoclay were compounded with a twin-screw extruder and injection molded. Thermal, dynamic mechanical, and impact tests were carried out. Differential scanning calorimetry investigations showed that the incorporation of nanoclay into polypropylene/glass fiber composite shifted the melting temperature (T m) to higher values. The degree of crystallinity (X c) was strongly influenced by the presence of the glass fiber and nanoclay in the matrix. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed an increase in storage modulus (E�); indicating higher stiffness of the hybrid composites when compared to the glass fiber composites and the virgin matrix. From the tan δ curves, a strong influence of glass fiber and nanoclay content on the magnitude of tan δ max value was observed. Impact test showed a reduction in the critical strain energy release rate, G c for hybrid composites with higher nanoclay loading. The stress intensity factor, K c values showed insignificant effect with the presence of nanoclay and GF

Micro-structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of injection-molded glass fiber/nanoclay/polypropylene composites

Hybrid composites of PP/NC/GF were prepared by extrusion and injection molding. Molded specimens were analyzed by XRD, SEM, and TEM, together with characterization of thermal and mechanical properties. XRD results revealed that the interaction between NC particles and the PP matrix results in intercalation of the polymer chains, which increases the clay interlayer distance. TEM results revealed NC particle intercalation. TGA results showed that the incorporation of clay into the GF composite improves the thermal stability of the material. The initial thermal decomposition temperatures also shifted to higher values. Incorporation of GF into PP lowers the tensile strength of the binary composite, indicating poor fiber-matrix interfacial adhesion; however, introducing NC increased the strength of the ternary composites. Tensile modulus was enhanced with the incorporation of GF and further increased with an introduction of NC. Flexural strength and flexural modulus are both enhanced with an increase in fiber loading. The addition of clay nanoparticles further improved these properties

Interfacial shear strength and tensile properties of injection-molded, short- and long-glass fiber-reinforced polyamide 6,6 composites

Injection-molded short- and long-glass fiber/polyamide 6,6 composites were subjected to tensile tests. To measure the effectiveness of the fibers in reinforcing the composites, a computational approach was employed to compute the fiber-matrix ISS, orientation factor, reinforcement efficiency, tensile-, and fiber length-related properties. Although the LFCs showed great improvement in fiber characteristics compared to the SFCs, enhancement in tensile properties was small, which is believed to be due to the larger fiber diameter. Kelly-Tyson model provides good approximation for the computation of ISS and tensile-related properties

Thermal and mechanical properties of treated and untreated Red Balau (Shorea Dipterocarpaceae)/LDPE composites

Red Balau saw dust was heat-treated at 180°C and 200°C for 1 h. Treated and untreated wood flour were compounded with LDPE at 9, 20, and 37 by weight and molded in an injection molding machine. Thermal and mechanical properties of the resultant composites were investigated as a function of filler loadings and treatment temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed an increase in degradation peak temperature (T p) of the heat-treated wood and composites. DSC revealed a decreasing trend in the degree of crystallinity (X c) of the matrix when heat-treated wood was used as filler. On the other hand, untreated wood showed an increase in X c with increasing wood content. Tensile modulus increased with heat treatment and filler loading. Furthermore, flexural strength and modulus were found to increase with filler loading