The effect of elastomers and coupling agent on tensile properties and impact strength polypropylene/saw dust composites

Abstract

To study the tensile properties and impact strength in Wood Plastic Composites (WPC) polypropylene as a matrix and teada pine sawdust as reinforcement / filler is used. Ethylene / propylene / Diane / monomer (EPDM) as modified impact resistance with 10, 20 and 30 percent improved impact resistance and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) at a rate of 3 percent as a fasteners to improve response and polymers and fillers were added to the composite. To evaluate the fracture surface of a structure scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used. The apply of 10 % elastomer and 3 % coupling agent cause to improved of tensile properties and the use of higher levels of elastomer (20 and 30 %) has shown a decreasing trend in these properties. The results showed that PP matrix by adding sawdust to a significant reduction in impact strength of composite than pure PP is observed. An EPDM additive used in all contents of composites PP / sawdust has improved impact strength. Simultaneous use of EPDM and MAPP used a positive effect in tensile properties and impact strength. The apply of EPDM (30%) and 3% (MAPP) has demonstrated the highest level of impact strength. SEM images show that the use of EPDM and MAPP composites will improve the connection of interface.

Keywords

• Composite
• tensile properties
• impact strength
• Ethylene / propylene / Diane / monomer
• Coupling agent