STUDIES ON THE MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF A GLASS-FIBER-REINFORCED POLYPROPYLENE 4-(HEPT-6-ENYL)-2,6-DI-TERT-BUTYLPHENOL COPOLYMER/

The mechanical properties of a short glass-fiber reinforced composite based on a commercial polypropylene grade was compared to a composite system where the bulk material had been replaced by a propylene /4-(he pt-6-enyl) -2,6-di-tert-butylphenol copolymer. The mechanical properti es of the composites were determined by standard tensile tests. The re sults indicated that the composite based on the copolymer exhibited a noticeable improvement in tensile properties compared to the composite based on commercial polypropylene. The improved mechanical properties can be attributed to higher wetting of the fibers and to enhanced int erfacial adhesion between the fiber and the matrix relative to the com posite based on the commercial polypropylene. These assumptions are su pported by scanning electron microscopy analysis. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.