Short jute fiber reinforced polypropylene composites: effect of compatibiliser, impact modifier and fiber loading

The jute-PP granules were made in a K-mixer and molded using Injection Molding Machine to produce ASTM test pieces. In general it was found that increase in toughness was always with decreasing tensile/flexural properties. However, the extent of increase/decrease depends on the type of modifier, its dose and its compatibility with the jute-PP system. Variation of notched / unnotched Izod impact strength, flexural strength/modulus and tensile strength/modulus with different impact modifiers at 0,4,9 and 14 wt.% are shown graphically. Effect of impact modifier on% compatibiliser was also analyzed and found that both impact and tensile properties showed increasing trend with the compatibiliser but reverse was true for the flexural properties. Effect of impact modifier on fiber loading, however, showed different results. There was increase in impact strength with rise in fiber loading. Tensile and flexural properties were found to optimize at 40% fiber loading. Interface studies were carried out by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) to investigate the fiber surface morphology, fiber pull out and fiber polymer interface. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.