M. Kazayawoko et al., EFFECT OF ESTER LINKAGES ON THE MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF WOOD FIBER-POLYPROPYLENE COMPOSITES, Journal of reinforced plastics and composites, 16(15), 1997, pp. 1383-1406
The esterification reaction between several wood fibers and maleated p
olypropylenes, and its role in determining the mechanical properties o
f wood fiber-polypropylene composites was investigated. The modificati
on technique used in this study involved bulk treatment in a thermokin
etic mixer. The treatment of wood fiber with maleated polypropylene ha
d a significant effect in increasing the mechanical properties of the
composites. However, no direct evidence of ester links was detected be
tween wood fiber and maleated polypropylene by FT-IR. Thus, the effect
iveness of maleated polypropylene in improving the mechanical properti
es was attributed to the compatibilization effect which is accomplishe
d by improving the wettability of wood fiber by the matrix polymer, lo
wering the fiber to fiber interactions, improving fibers dispersion an
d orientation, and enhancing the adhesion between wood fiber and polyp
ropylene matrix.