Abstract
The use of maleic anhydride (MA) coupling agent in polypropylene (PP) matrix system is promising technique to enhance the fibre-matrix interface in composite applications. However, most of the previous studies are focused on either treatment of the natural fibres or the PP matrix with this coupling agent, which are not commercially viable. In this work, a cost-effective technique “hybrid yarns” was used to manufacture commingled reinforcing flax fibres and MA-grafted PP matrix fibres. Two types of twist-less flax/PP and flax/MAPP hybrid yarns were produced containing 40% flax and 60% matrix fibres by volume. Both PP and MAPP fibres were thermally and rheologically characterised using DSC, MFI, TGA, DTA and capillary rheometer. It is found that the composites manufactured from flax/MAPP blends exhibited 15% higher strength and 25% higher modulus compared to those made of flax/PP. This was due to the improved flax/matrix interface, the higher melt flow rate and lower share viscosity behaviour of the MAPP matrix fibres compared to the standard PP fibres used.
Highlights
The 50:50 weight fractions were selected to achieve the highest wettability of the flax fibres in composites [3] as higher amount of matrix fibres in yarn reduces the flax fibre-volume fraction in yarn, which can be explained by Equations (5)
This work suggested that melaic anhydride grafted PP (MAPP) staple fibres can be used as viable and cost-effective alternative method of matrix fibre to improve the mechanical properties of natural fibre thermoplastic composites
The maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) matrix staple fibres can be used in twist-less commingled yarn structures, blended with flax and other natural fibres
Summary
Recent studies show that natural fibres have some remarkable advantages such as renewability (come from non-food-based agricultural plants), CO2 neutral,. Due to the lower surface energy of MAPP and the good wettability acquired, a good impregnation of the natural fibres could be achieved during hot compaction and consolidation It is reported [17] that MA coupling agents applied onto PP system provided stronger linkage in the natural fibre-matrix interface by reducing the surface tension. This mechanism is established by many modern techniques such as soft X-ray Near Edge Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS), where the adhesion and the bonding at the interface regions of flax-MAPP matrix were investigated. Various analytical techniques, such as DSC, MFI, TGA, DTA and rheometer were used to characterise PP, MAPP fibres and the natural composites produced
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