Development of thermoplastic composite materials based on modified polypropylene

Abstract

To improve the physical-mechanical and thermophysical properties of polypropylene-based thermoplastic composite materials, we performed modification of a polymer matrix by reactive extrusion of polypropylene in the presence of benzoyl peroxide and polysiloxane polyols. Modified polypropylene was compounded with basalt, carbon, and para-aramide reinforcing fillers in a screw-disc extruder. It was established that the reinforcement of modified polypropylene by basalt fibers ensured a 110% increase in tensile strength. The reinforcement of modified polypropylene by carbon fibers allowed fabricating thermoplastic composite materials with tensile strength increased by 14%. The maximum reinforcing effect was observed by using para-aramide fibers as reinforcing fibers for modified polypropylene with tensile strength increased by 30% as compared with initial polypropylene. It was determined that the obtained thermoplastic composite materials based on modified polypropylene can be processed into products by the most productive methods (extrusion and injection molding). The developed materials exhibited improved thermal stability. The proposed ways of modification methods provide substantial improvement in physical-mechanical and thermophysical properties of modified polypropylene-based thermoplastic composite materials as compared with initial polypropylene. In addition, they ensure a significant increase in service properties of the products prepared from thermoplastic composite materials based on modified polypropylene.