Investigation of static, dynamic and thermal behavior of novel glass fabric reinforced polymer composites

Abstract

The present study investigates the influence of maleic anhydride compatibilizer on the mechanical and thermal behavior of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites. The composites were prepared by hot compression molding using novel glass fabric and functionalized polypropylene. The tensile, open-hole tensile, dynamic mechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry tests were performed as per ASTM standards to characterize the prepared composites. The experimental test results revealed that the increase in maleic anhydride concentration initially increased the tensile strength and open-hole tensile strength by 20.69% and 9.8%, respectively, and then decreased. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed the higher thermal stability of thermoplastic composites and also confirmed the enhancement of both the modulus, due to the addition of glass fiber. Differential scanning calorimetry results had shown a significant change in the degree of crystallinity behavior. It was observed by scanning electron micrographs that the functionalized polypropylene has improved the interfacial bonding between the constituent materials and was ascertained by Fourier transform analysis.