Impact modification of PP/wood composites: A new approach using hybrid fibers

The impact resistance of polypropylene (PP)/wood composites was improved either by the traditional approach of adding an elastomer or by the use of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers. Composites were prepared with various elastomer and PET fiber contents at a constant wood content of 20 wt% f...

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Main Authors: R. Vardai, T. Lummerstorfer, C. Pretschuh, M. Jerabek, M. Gahleitner, B. Pukanszky, K. Renner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Budapest University of Technology and Economics 2019-03-01
Series:eXPRESS Polymer Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0009381&mi=cd
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author R. Vardai
T. Lummerstorfer
C. Pretschuh
M. Jerabek
M. Gahleitner
B. Pukanszky
K. Renner
author_facet R. Vardai
T. Lummerstorfer
C. Pretschuh
M. Jerabek
M. Gahleitner
B. Pukanszky
K. Renner
author_sort R. Vardai
collection DOAJ
description The impact resistance of polypropylene (PP)/wood composites was improved either by the traditional approach of adding an elastomer or by the use of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers. Composites were prepared with various elastomer and PET fiber contents at a constant wood content of 20 wt% for all hybrid composites. Interfacial adhesion was improved by the addition of a maleic anhydride modified PP (MAPP). The components were homogenized in a twin-screw compounder and injection molded into standard tensile bars. Properties were characterized by tensile and impact testing, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied for studying the structure. A combination of acoustic emission measurements (AE) and SEM was used to understand local deformation processes, the results showing that the traditional route of impact modification with elastomers does not work in wood reinforced PP, since the simultaneous fracture of large wood particles and the cavitation of the elastomer result in limited fracture toughness. On the other hand, polymeric fibers (PET) increase the impact resistance of rigid PP homopolymer matrices reinforced with wood fibers, because they initiate new local deformation processes. The concept of using polymeric fibers for the impact modification of rigid PP/wood composites is an efficient way to extend the field of application of such reinforced materials.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1788-618X
language English
publishDate 2019-03-01
publisher Budapest University of Technology and Economics
record_format Article
series eXPRESS Polymer Letters
spelling doaj-art-4ff3c5e1b89a4f47817bda1febec49842025-08-20T03:34:33ZengBudapest University of Technology and EconomicseXPRESS Polymer Letters1788-618X2019-03-0113322323410.3144/expresspolymlett.2019.19Impact modification of PP/wood composites: A new approach using hybrid fibersR. VardaiT. LummerstorferC. PretschuhM. JerabekM. GahleitnerB. PukanszkyK. RennerThe impact resistance of polypropylene (PP)/wood composites was improved either by the traditional approach of adding an elastomer or by the use of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers. Composites were prepared with various elastomer and PET fiber contents at a constant wood content of 20 wt% for all hybrid composites. Interfacial adhesion was improved by the addition of a maleic anhydride modified PP (MAPP). The components were homogenized in a twin-screw compounder and injection molded into standard tensile bars. Properties were characterized by tensile and impact testing, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied for studying the structure. A combination of acoustic emission measurements (AE) and SEM was used to understand local deformation processes, the results showing that the traditional route of impact modification with elastomers does not work in wood reinforced PP, since the simultaneous fracture of large wood particles and the cavitation of the elastomer result in limited fracture toughness. On the other hand, polymeric fibers (PET) increase the impact resistance of rigid PP homopolymer matrices reinforced with wood fibers, because they initiate new local deformation processes. The concept of using polymeric fibers for the impact modification of rigid PP/wood composites is an efficient way to extend the field of application of such reinforced materials.http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0009381&mi=cdPolymer compositesimpact modificationhybrid composites wood reinforcementDamage mechanism
spellingShingle R. Vardai
T. Lummerstorfer
C. Pretschuh
M. Jerabek
M. Gahleitner
B. Pukanszky
K. Renner
Impact modification of PP/wood composites: A new approach using hybrid fibers
eXPRESS Polymer Letters
Polymer composites
impact modification
hybrid composites
wood reinforcement
Damage mechanism
title Impact modification of PP/wood composites: A new approach using hybrid fibers
title_full Impact modification of PP/wood composites: A new approach using hybrid fibers
title_fullStr Impact modification of PP/wood composites: A new approach using hybrid fibers
title_full_unstemmed Impact modification of PP/wood composites: A new approach using hybrid fibers
title_short Impact modification of PP/wood composites: A new approach using hybrid fibers
title_sort impact modification of pp wood composites a new approach using hybrid fibers
topic Polymer composites
impact modification
hybrid composites
wood reinforcement
Damage mechanism
url http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0009381&mi=cd
work_keys_str_mv AT rvardai impactmodificationofppwoodcompositesanewapproachusinghybridfibers
AT tlummerstorfer impactmodificationofppwoodcompositesanewapproachusinghybridfibers
AT cpretschuh impactmodificationofppwoodcompositesanewapproachusinghybridfibers
AT mjerabek impactmodificationofppwoodcompositesanewapproachusinghybridfibers
AT mgahleitner impactmodificationofppwoodcompositesanewapproachusinghybridfibers
AT bpukanszky impactmodificationofppwoodcompositesanewapproachusinghybridfibers
AT krenner impactmodificationofppwoodcompositesanewapproachusinghybridfibers