Hybridization effect of silane treated basalt fiber on the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of polypropylene/bamboo composite

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of present work summarizes the synergistic effect of basalt fiber on mechanical, thermal and morphological behavior of PP/bamboo composite. The basalt fibers were varied at four different levels 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt% which replaces the bamboo fiber at 40 wt% while keeping both the fibers content constant at 40 wt%. PP/bamboo composite and PP/bamboo/basalt hybrid composites were fabricated through melt compounding of PP (polypropylene), PP‐g‐MA (grafted maleic anhydride polypropylene), alkaline treated bamboo fiber and silane treated basalt fiber, followed by injection molding. The addition of silanized basalt fiber in PP/bamboo composite linearly increased the tensile and flexural related properties while the impact strength decreased with the increase in basalt fiber. Theoretical modeling for tensile strength and modulus indicate the positive hybrid effect of basalt fiber. Results obtained from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated that the crystallinity of the neat PP increased with the incorporation of both the bamboo and basalt fiber. The Thermal degradation results showed that the PP/bamboo composite degraded earlier while the hybrid composite at 5 wt% basalt fiber showed highest thermal stability as compared to neat PP. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results exhibited that the viscoelastic properties enhanced with the addition of bamboo and basalt fiber. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs on the tensile fractured surface revealed random orientation and wetting of basalt and bamboo fibers in PP matrix.