Relationship Between Interfacial Adhesion and Viscosity of Cellulose Fiber Filled Polypropylene and Poly(ε-caprolactone): A Review

Abstract

The relationship between interfacial adhesion and dynamic viscosity of regenerated cellulose fiber (CF) filled in poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and polypropylene (PP) matrix is compared. The rate of viscosity rise from its virgin polymer of the PCL/CF compounds shows higher than that of the PP/CF ones at the same CF loadings. The interfacial adhesion of the CF surface with the PCL matrix is better than with the PP due to polar characteristic of the PCL. Striking differences are observed in the PCL compounds. As the concentration of the particles increases, the crystalline temperature, the spherulite formation, the elongation modulus and the yield stress of the PCL/CF compounds are significantly higher than those of the PP/CF compounds. More spherulites are locally developed on the CF surface in the PCL/CF compounds than in the PP/CF ones. The higher rate of viscosity rise of the PCL/CF compounds than the PP/CF compounds is due to higher interfacial adhesion of the CF surface with the PCL than with the PP.