Defining the Effect of a Polymeric Compatibilizer on the Properties of Random Polypropylene/Glass Fibre Composites
Random polypropylene composites reinforced with short glass fibres have been successfully fabricated by melt-mixing. Polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride (PP-<i>g</i>-MA) was added to the composites, which was expected to act as a compatibilizer and greatly limit the negative effe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Composites Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/8/2/44 |
| _version_ | 1797297817864110080 |
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| author | Evangelia Delli Dimitrios Gkiliopoulos Evangelia Vouvoudi Dimitrios Bikiaris Konstantinos Chrissafis |
| author_facet | Evangelia Delli Dimitrios Gkiliopoulos Evangelia Vouvoudi Dimitrios Bikiaris Konstantinos Chrissafis |
| author_sort | Evangelia Delli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Random polypropylene composites reinforced with short glass fibres have been successfully fabricated by melt-mixing. Polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride (PP-<i>g</i>-MA) was added to the composites, which was expected to act as a compatibilizer and greatly limit the negative effects known to arise from the feeble polymer matrix/glass fibre interfaces. The effect of compatibilizer concentration on the structural, mechanical and thermal behaviour of the composites has been investigated. The results revealed an improvement of the glass fibre/matrix interaction upon the addition of the compatibilizer, which resulted in enhancing the overall material stiffness and the ability of the matrix to store energy. In particular, the lowering of the glass transition and the investigation of the fracture surfaces of the composites confirmed the improved PP<sub>R</sub>/fibre adhesion. Examination of the tensile elongation indicated the improvement of the Young’s modulus and yield strength with the addition of PP-<i>g</i>-MA, while the storage modulus was also shown to be significantly increased. These results confirmed the versatility and efficiency of the approach presented in this work to improve the thermomechanical properties and sustainability of PP<sub>R</sub> and promote its usage in industrial applications and commercial manufacturing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:26:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-926baedb53e3449aaa4a0a478a7cf854 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-477X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:26:49Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Composites Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-926baedb53e3449aaa4a0a478a7cf8542024-02-23T15:22:33ZengMDPI AGJournal of Composites Science2504-477X2024-01-01824410.3390/jcs8020044Defining the Effect of a Polymeric Compatibilizer on the Properties of Random Polypropylene/Glass Fibre CompositesEvangelia Delli0Dimitrios Gkiliopoulos1Evangelia Vouvoudi2Dimitrios Bikiaris3Konstantinos Chrissafis4Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Devices, Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Advanced Materials and Devices, Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, GreeceRandom polypropylene composites reinforced with short glass fibres have been successfully fabricated by melt-mixing. Polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride (PP-<i>g</i>-MA) was added to the composites, which was expected to act as a compatibilizer and greatly limit the negative effects known to arise from the feeble polymer matrix/glass fibre interfaces. The effect of compatibilizer concentration on the structural, mechanical and thermal behaviour of the composites has been investigated. The results revealed an improvement of the glass fibre/matrix interaction upon the addition of the compatibilizer, which resulted in enhancing the overall material stiffness and the ability of the matrix to store energy. In particular, the lowering of the glass transition and the investigation of the fracture surfaces of the composites confirmed the improved PP<sub>R</sub>/fibre adhesion. Examination of the tensile elongation indicated the improvement of the Young’s modulus and yield strength with the addition of PP-<i>g</i>-MA, while the storage modulus was also shown to be significantly increased. These results confirmed the versatility and efficiency of the approach presented in this work to improve the thermomechanical properties and sustainability of PP<sub>R</sub> and promote its usage in industrial applications and commercial manufacturing.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/8/2/44polypropylene compositesglass fibreschemicallymodified polypropylenemaleic anhydridemechanical properties |
| spellingShingle | Evangelia Delli Dimitrios Gkiliopoulos Evangelia Vouvoudi Dimitrios Bikiaris Konstantinos Chrissafis Defining the Effect of a Polymeric Compatibilizer on the Properties of Random Polypropylene/Glass Fibre Composites Journal of Composites Science polypropylene composites glass fibres chemicallymodified polypropylene maleic anhydride mechanical properties |
| title | Defining the Effect of a Polymeric Compatibilizer on the Properties of Random Polypropylene/Glass Fibre Composites |
| title_full | Defining the Effect of a Polymeric Compatibilizer on the Properties of Random Polypropylene/Glass Fibre Composites |
| title_fullStr | Defining the Effect of a Polymeric Compatibilizer on the Properties of Random Polypropylene/Glass Fibre Composites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Defining the Effect of a Polymeric Compatibilizer on the Properties of Random Polypropylene/Glass Fibre Composites |
| title_short | Defining the Effect of a Polymeric Compatibilizer on the Properties of Random Polypropylene/Glass Fibre Composites |
| title_sort | defining the effect of a polymeric compatibilizer on the properties of random polypropylene glass fibre composites |
| topic | polypropylene composites glass fibres chemicallymodified polypropylene maleic anhydride mechanical properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/8/2/44 |
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