STEAM-EXPLODED WHEAT-STRAW FIBERS AS REINFORCING MATERIAL FOR POLYPROPYLENE-BASED COMPOSITES - CHARACTERIZATION AND PROPERTIES

Citation
M. Avella et al., STEAM-EXPLODED WHEAT-STRAW FIBERS AS REINFORCING MATERIAL FOR POLYPROPYLENE-BASED COMPOSITES - CHARACTERIZATION AND PROPERTIES, Die Angewandte makromolekulare Chemie, 233, 1995, pp. 149-166
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Polymer Sciences
ISSN journal
00033146
Volume
233
Year of publication
1995
Pages
149 - 166
Database
ISI
SICI code
0003-3146(1995)233:<149:SWFARM>2.0.ZU;2-5
Abstract
Composites of wheat straw fibers with polypropylene (iPP) and maleic a nhydride modified polypropylene (iPPMA) were prepared. Before being mi xed with polypropylene matrices, the wheat straw fibers were subjected to a steam explosion process that induces morphological and structura l changes in lignocellulosic materials. Such changes are able to enhan ce the interactions with the thermoplastic matrix. Compared with iPP, the modified matrix (iPPMA) has shown higher mechanical performances ( tensile and impact behavior) and a remarkable decrease of water absorp tion, that is one of the main drawbacks of natural fiber composites. F inally, the presence of covalent bonds between maleic anhydride and st eam-exploded (STEX) fibers, by means of an esterification reaction, pr oduced during the melt-mixing process, can explain the resulting good interfacial adhesion found in iPPMA-based composites.