Effect of the Filler Modification on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Composite Polypropylene/Wollastonite Drawn Fibers

Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most commercially used thermoplastics, while a significant amount of PP is used in the form of fibers. In this study, the effects of modification of the filler on the thermal and mechanical properties of composite polypropylene/wollastonite drawn fibers were investig...

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Main Authors: Konstantinos Leontiadis, Dimitris S. Achilias, Ioannis Tsivintzelis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-07-01
Series:Polymers
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/14/2986
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author Konstantinos Leontiadis
Dimitris S. Achilias
Ioannis Tsivintzelis
author_facet Konstantinos Leontiadis
Dimitris S. Achilias
Ioannis Tsivintzelis
author_sort Konstantinos Leontiadis
collection DOAJ
description Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most commercially used thermoplastics, while a significant amount of PP is used in the form of fibers. In this study, the effects of modification of the filler on the thermal and mechanical properties of composite polypropylene/wollastonite drawn fibers were investigated. In this direction, the surface modification of wollastonite with various organic acids, such as myristic, maleic, malonic glutaric, pimelic, and suberic acid, and the use of two solvents were studied. The surface-modified wollastonite particles were used to produce composite polypropylene drawn fibers. The modification efficiency was found to be slightly better when a non-polar solvent (carbon tetrachloride) was used instead of a polar one (ethanol). FTIR experiments showed that myristic, maleic, malonic, and pimelic acid can strongly interact with wollastonite’s surface. However, the mechanical strength of the composite fibers was not increased compared to that of the neat PP fibers, suggesting inadequate interactions between PP and wollastonite particles. Furthermore, it was observed that the drawing process increased around 10% the crystallinity of all samples. Wollastonite modified with malonic acid acted as a nucleating agent for <i>β</i>-crystals. The onset decomposition temperature increased by 5–10 °C for all samples containing 2% wollastonite, either modified or not. The suggested modifications of wollastonite might be more suitable for less hydrophobic polymers.
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spelling doaj.art-885b46e3b7c64681951e2e6ac57a1b712023-11-18T21:01:42ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-07-011514298610.3390/polym15142986Effect of the Filler Modification on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Composite Polypropylene/Wollastonite Drawn FibersKonstantinos Leontiadis0Dimitris S. Achilias1Ioannis Tsivintzelis2Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreecePolypropylene (PP) is one of the most commercially used thermoplastics, while a significant amount of PP is used in the form of fibers. In this study, the effects of modification of the filler on the thermal and mechanical properties of composite polypropylene/wollastonite drawn fibers were investigated. In this direction, the surface modification of wollastonite with various organic acids, such as myristic, maleic, malonic glutaric, pimelic, and suberic acid, and the use of two solvents were studied. The surface-modified wollastonite particles were used to produce composite polypropylene drawn fibers. The modification efficiency was found to be slightly better when a non-polar solvent (carbon tetrachloride) was used instead of a polar one (ethanol). FTIR experiments showed that myristic, maleic, malonic, and pimelic acid can strongly interact with wollastonite’s surface. However, the mechanical strength of the composite fibers was not increased compared to that of the neat PP fibers, suggesting inadequate interactions between PP and wollastonite particles. Furthermore, it was observed that the drawing process increased around 10% the crystallinity of all samples. Wollastonite modified with malonic acid acted as a nucleating agent for <i>β</i>-crystals. The onset decomposition temperature increased by 5–10 °C for all samples containing 2% wollastonite, either modified or not. The suggested modifications of wollastonite might be more suitable for less hydrophobic polymers.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/14/2986polypropylenewollastonitemodificationfiberdrawing
spellingShingle Konstantinos Leontiadis
Dimitris S. Achilias
Ioannis Tsivintzelis
Effect of the Filler Modification on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Composite Polypropylene/Wollastonite Drawn Fibers
Polymers
polypropylene
wollastonite
modification
fiber
drawing
title Effect of the Filler Modification on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Composite Polypropylene/Wollastonite Drawn Fibers
title_full Effect of the Filler Modification on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Composite Polypropylene/Wollastonite Drawn Fibers
title_fullStr Effect of the Filler Modification on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Composite Polypropylene/Wollastonite Drawn Fibers
title_full_unstemmed Effect of the Filler Modification on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Composite Polypropylene/Wollastonite Drawn Fibers
title_short Effect of the Filler Modification on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Composite Polypropylene/Wollastonite Drawn Fibers
title_sort effect of the filler modification on the thermal and mechanical properties of composite polypropylene wollastonite drawn fibers
topic polypropylene
wollastonite
modification
fiber
drawing
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/14/2986
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AT dimitrissachilias effectofthefillermodificationonthethermalandmechanicalpropertiesofcompositepolypropylenewollastonitedrawnfibers
AT ioannistsivintzelis effectofthefillermodificationonthethermalandmechanicalpropertiesofcompositepolypropylenewollastonitedrawnfibers