Thermal and mechanical characterization of polypropylene/basalt fiber/ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber hybrid composite

Abstract

The current study aims in enhancing the impact properties of polypropylene/basalt fiber composite reinforced with different wt% of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) elastomer to identify the optimum wt% of EPDM at which a balance in strength and toughness can be obtained. According to a dynamic mechanical study, the composite’s viscoelastic behaviour and damping properties improved as the EPDM weight percentage increased in comparison to virgin polypropylene. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy were utilized to see the composite’s fragmented surface. Finally, it was concluded that the presence of a renewable basalt fiber helped in obtaining stability between the strength and toughness of polypropylene-toughened composites. Finally for up to 20 wt% EPDM there was a balance in the composite stiffness and strength.

Keywords

• polypropylene
• basalt fiber
• elastomer
• mechanical properties
• thermal properties