Effects of crystallinity of polypropylene (PP) on the mechanical properties of PP/styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene-g-maleic anhydride (SEBS-g-MA)/teak wood flour (TWF) composites

Tensile and impact properties of PP/SEBS-g-MA/WF composites up to wood flour volume fraction 0.31 are evaluated. Tensile modulus and strength increased while elongation-at-break and Izod impact strength decreased with increase in volume fraction of the filler (I broken vertical bar(f)). The crystallinity of PP enhanced with I broken vertical bar(f). The tensile properties were compared with predictive theories. SEM studies indicated formation of stress concentration points around WF particles with only limited extent of adhesion which led to large decrease in elongation-at-break and Izod impact strength of PP.