Crystalline structure and reinforcement in hybrid PP composites

Abstract

Hybrid composites were prepared from a PP homopolymer, talc and PVA fibers by twin-screw extrusion and injection molding. Talc was added to improve stiffness, while the fibers serve to increase impact resistance. Mechanical properties were characterized by tensile and impact testing, while structure was studied by SEM and optical microscopy. The results showed that talc has a strong nucleating effect in the PP used in spite of the fact that the grade contained a nucleating agent inherently. PVA also nucleated the PP slightly, with trans-crystallization occurring around the fibers. The effect of the two components was independent of each other on lamella thickness, but crystallinity decreased with increasing PVA content in the hybrid composites. The results clearly showed that crystalline structure changes considerably upon the addition of the two components, both lamella thickness and crystallinity increasing. However, somewhat contradictorily, the effect of these changes on the mechanical properties of the composites is small. Model calculations have shown that stiffness increases by about 0.5 GPa due to nucleation, while moduli as large as 7 GPa are reached by the addition of talc. Impact resistance is completely independent of lamella thickness or crystallinity; this property is determined mainly by local deformation processes initiated by the PVA fibers. Dispersed structure and the direct effect of the additive determine properties in the hybrid composites studied, and the role of crystalline structure is of secondary importance.