Investigation on the mechanical behaviour and impact of plasma treated polypropylene in carbon fibre composites

Abstract

This study focused on improved mechanical characteristics for composites using a linear low-density polypropylene (PP) matrix and a carbon fibre (CF) filler. A hand layup process fabricated the material in an oven. Oxygen plasma treatment of the PP matrix enhanced adherence. Before being filtered and dried for manufacture, CF and PP were first combined with standard stirring, ultrasonication, and mechanical stirring. The highest tensile strength was achieved in plasma-treated polypropylene (PPP) with 10 wt% CF, with overall property performance increasing by 13.46 % compared to non-PP with the same CF addition. Tensile strength was reduced from 19.4 MPa to 18.3 MPa when carbon fibers were added at 14 and 16 wt%. As a result of CF aggregation with plasma-treated and untreated PP, tensile strength (TS) was reduced. Better tensile qualities were seen in a factory setting with temperatures of 180 °C for 20 min. After plasma treatment, the PP/8% CF blend had a flexural strength (FS) of 26.19 MPa, which was higher than that of untreated PP by a significant margin.