Polypropylene Cellulose-Based Composites: The Effect of Bagasse Reinforcement and Polybutadiene Isocyanate Treatment on the Mechanical Properties

Using bagasse fiber as the reinforcing filler and polypropylene a the thermoplastic matrix polymer, a reinforced composite was prepared, and its mechanical properties examined as a function of the amount of compatibilizing agents used. In the sample preparation, four levels of fiber loading (10, 20, 30, and 40 wt %), three levels of polybutadiene isocyanate (PBNCO) content (0, 2, and 4 wt %) and two levels of maleated polypropylenes (MAPP) content (0 and 3 wt %) as compatibilizing agents were used. The tensile properties of the composites improved as the fiber loading and the compatibilizing agents increased, but the impact strength was significantly decreased. The mechanical study revealed that the positive effect of compatibilizing agents on interfacial bonding. The composites treated with PBNCO showed superior tensile and impact properties than those without treatment. The findings indicated that bagasse as agro-waste material is a valuable renewable natural resource for composite production and could be utilized as a substitute for wood in composite industries. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc J Appl Polym Sci 111: 1684-1689, 2009