PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION OF GLASS-FIBER MAT REINFORCED POLYPROPYLENE COMPOSITES USING STATISTICAL EXPERIMENTAL-DESIGN

The effects of various factors influencing the mechanical properties o f glass fibre (GF) mat reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites were i nvestigated by statistical experimental design using an orthogonal arr ay. Experimental factors include GF content, GF length, species of sil ane coupling agents, treatment concentration of silane coupling agent, and so on. Flexural modulus and flexural strength were chosen as char acteristic values. Styryl silane coupling agent (STS) was more effecti ve in improving the flexural properties of GF mat/PP composites than v inyl silane (VTS); an optimum silane treatment concentration existed F lexural modulus Increased with GF content, but flexural strength was n ot influenced much. The flexural strength of the GF mat/PP composite w as increased with GF length, but it did not affect flexural nl modulus . The expected flexural property values calculated by statistical expe rimental design were successfully confirmed by experiment. (C) 1997 El sevier Science Ltd.