Experimental investigation on the influence of the composition on the morphology and the mechanical properties of short glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene nanocomposites

Polypropylene composites containing 05 wt% layered silicate and 030 wt% short glass fibers are prepared by melt compounding. To investigate the influence of different compositions on the mechanical properties of short glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene nanocomposites, materials with various filler contents are prepared. At a glass fiber content of 10 wt% Young's modulus of the layered silicate-containing composites decreases by around 30% compared to conventional glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene. But at higher glass fiber loadings, an increasing modulus of up to 10% is observed. However, the addition of layered silicate results in large decreases of the tensile and the notched impact strength. A maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene enhances Young's modulus and the tensile strength. (C) 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers