Influence of Surface Treatment of Fillers on Mechanical, Surface, and Water Sorption Behavior of Natural-Fiber Polypropylene Composites

Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to prepare polypropylene (PP)/lignocellulosic fiber composites composed of three different natural fibers, CE, SD, and wheat straw (WS), and to investigate the effects of surface treatment type and amount of coupling agents on the mechanical, morphological, and water uptake properties of PP/fiber composites. Two silane coupling agents, namely (3-aminopropyl)-triethoxysilane (AS) and methacryloxy propyl trimethoxy silane (MS), and maleic anhydride polypropylene copolymers (MAPP) were employed in order to increase the compatibility between the fiber and the matrix. The improvement in the interfacial interaction was also confirmed by using the Pukánszky model. Mechanical test results clearly showed that both silane and MAPP treatments increased the tensile strength and Young's modulus. Mechanical test and water sorption results and scanning electron micrographs (SEMs) of the PP/fiber composites indicated that PP composites containing SD treated with MAPP experienced maximum improvement concerning compatibility and interfacial adhesion between the fiber and the matrix. © 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Boschstr. 12, 69469 Weinheim, Germany. All rights reserved.