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Polymers and Polymer Composites

MECHANICAL, THERMAL AND RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYPROPYLENE/WHEAT STRAW COMPOSITES AND STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF NANOCLAY ON THEIR MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

February 1, 2010 By: Hashemi S A; Esfandeh M; Mohammadi J Research article

Title: MECHANICAL, THERMAL AND RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYPROPYLENE/WHEAT STRAW COMPOSITES AND STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF NANOCLAY ON THEIR MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Page Range: p.67-73
Author(s): Hashemi S A; Esfandeh M; Mohammadi J
File size: 240K
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Journal: Polymers and Polymer Composites
Issue Year: ppc
Volume: 18
Issue No: No.2

Abstract
The possibility of using wheat straw fibres as a reinforcing filler in PP was examined. Untreated and silane-treated fibres having a variety of fibre lengths were used, at various fibre contents, to reinforce PP. Composites were tested for their mechanical, thermal and rheological properties, and the assessment of the adhesion at the interface was made via observations by SEM. The results showed that, for untreated fibres, an increase in fibre content up to 20 wt % led to an increase in the TS of the composite. Beyond this amount, however, TS decreased. On the other hand, the tensile modulus increased due to higher stiffness of the fibres. By using silane-treated fibres, both TS and modulus increased, but the viscosity was reduced because of better dispersion of the treated fibres. On addition of nanoclay, the mechanical properties of the composites, compared with the pure polymer, increased up to a particular fibre content, and after that the trend was reversed. 24 refs.

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