Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Effect of Fiber Pretreatment and Compatibilizer on Mechanical and Physical Properties of Flax Fiber-Polypropylene Composites

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Polymers and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recently, investigations have been conducted on the use of natural fibers as reinforcement in low-melting point thermoplastics to improve mechanical properties of composites. However, due to some limitations of natural fibers, composite formulation and processing parameters must be controlled to produce a product with improved properties. This study was conducted to investigate the influence of flax fiber loading, use of compatibilizer and pretreatment on physical and mechanical properties of compression-molded composite. In this study, untreated and treated (sodium hydroxide-treated and mild-bleached flax fibers) fibers at 15% and 30% of the total product mass were used in formulations. To investigate the effect of compatibilizer on product properties, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) was added at 5% by mass in the formulations. After extrusion of composites formulations, they were formed using compression molding. Results indicated that using flax fiber in composites without pretreatment and compatibilizer could result into products with inferior physical and mechanical properties; this could be compensated by the use of a compatibilizer. However, the use of compatibilizer had some negative effects on some other physical properties like color and melt flow index (MFI).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bismarck A, Mishra S, Lampke T (2005) In: Mohanty AK, Misra MM, Drzal LT (eds) Natural fibers, biopolymers, and biocomposites. Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, FL, pp 37–108

  2. Brouwer WD (2000) Natural fiber composites in structural components: alternative applications for sisal? Paper no. 14. Proceedings of the seminar held by FAO and CFC, Rome, Italy

  3. Nabi Saheb B, Jog JP (1999) Adv Polym Tech 18:351–363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Rowell RM, Tillman AM, Simonson R (1986) J Wood Chem Technol 6:427–448

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bledzki AK, Gassan J (1999) Prog Polym Sci 24:221–274

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Karnani R, Krishnan M, Narayan R (1997) Polym Eng Sci 37:476–483

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Demir H, Atikler U, Balkose D, Tihminlioglu F (2005) Compos Part A Appl Sci 37:447–456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Hornsby PR, Hinrichsen E, Tarverdi K (1997) J Mater Sci 32:1009–1015

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Arbelaiz A, Fernandez B, Cantero G, Llano-Ponte R, Valea A, Mondragon I (2005) Compos Part A Appl Sci 34:1637–1644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Panthapulakkal S, Sain M, Law S (2005) Polym Int 54:137–142

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. ANKOM Technology (2005) ANKOM Technology Method. http://www.ankom.com/09_procedures/procedures.shtml

  12. ASTM D1238-01 (2003) Standard test method for melt flow rates of thermoplastics by extrusion plastometer, New York

  13. ASTM C518 (2002) Standard test method for steady-state heat flux measurements and thermal transmission properties by means of the heat flow meter apparatus, Philadelphia, PA

  14. Muasher M, Sain M (2006) Polym Degrad Stab 91:1156–1165

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. ASTM D570 (2003) Standard test method for water absorption of plastics, New York

  16. ASTM D 638-02a (2003) Standard test method for tensile properties of plastics, New York

  17. ASTM D 5023-01 (2001) Standard test methods for plastics: dynamic mechanical properties: in flexure (three-point bending), New York

  18. ASTM D1822-93 (1993) Standard test method for tensile-impact energy to break plastics and electrical insulating materials, Baltimore, MD

  19. Joseph K, Mattoso LHC, Toledo LHC, Thomas S, de Carvalho LH, Pothen L, Kala S, James B (2000) In: Frollini E, Leão AL, Mattoso LHC (eds) Natural polymers and agrofibers composites, Sãn Carlos, Brazil, pp 159–201

  20. Viksne A, Rence L, Kalnins M, Bledzki AK (2004) J Appl Polym Sci 93:2385–2393

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Tajvidi M, Ebrahimi G (2003) J Appl Polym Sci 88:941–946

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Hargitai H, Racz I (2005) Proceeding of the 8th polymers for advanced technologies international symposium, Budapest, Hungary

  23. Qiu W, Zhang F, Endo T, Hirotsu T (2005) Polym Compos 26:448–453

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Feng D, Caulfield DF, Sanadi AR (2001) Polym Compos 22:506–517

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 5A9

    Majid Soleimani, Lope Tabil, Satyanarayan Panigrahi & Anthony Opoku

Authors
  1. Majid Soleimani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lope Tabil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Satyanarayan Panigrahi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Anthony Opoku
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Majid Soleimani.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Soleimani, M., Tabil, L., Panigrahi, S. et al. The Effect of Fiber Pretreatment and Compatibilizer on Mechanical and Physical Properties of Flax Fiber-Polypropylene Composites. J Polym Environ 16, 74–82 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-008-0102-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-008-0102-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation