Journal
COMPOSITE INTERFACES
Volume 17, Issue 4, Pages 371-381Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1163/092764410X495270
Keywords
Natural fibres; polypropylene; electron radiation; adhesion; fragmentation test; interfacial shear strength
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The effects of electron radiation on natural fibre reinforced polypropylene have been analyzed with the single fibre fragmentation test. Specimens of single hemp, flax, ramie and cotton fibres/fibre bundles embedded in a polypropylene sheet were irradiated with electron radiation of 10 MeV with intensities of 5, 15 and 33 kGy. The radiation led to a strain reduction of the polypropylene but did also improve the adhesion between polymer and flax, hemp and cotton fibres/fibre bundles. The critical fragmentation length and the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the composite specimens have been determined showing a clear increase of the IFSS of up to 50% compared to specimens with applied coupling agents. Due to the high strain reduction of the PP at intensities of 15 and 33 kGy the different fibres could only be compared at 5 kGy. The ramie fibre specimens could be analyzed at 5 and 15 kGy intensity showing higher IFSS values at the higher intensity. A possible explanation for the improvement is the forming of radicals with the cellulose chains of the natural fibres and the polypropylene molecules leading to crosslinking and, therefore, better adhesion between the different components. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2010
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available