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Nanoscale characterization of interphase properties in maleated polypropylene-treated natural-fiber reinforced polymer composites

Published

Author(s)

Donna C. Hurley, Sandeep S. Nair, Siqun Wang, Timothy M. Young

Abstract

Contact resonance force microscopy (CR-FM) has been used to evaluate the effect of MAPP (maleated polypropylene) concentration on interphase thickness as well as the spatial distribution of mechanical properties within the interphase of cellulose fiber reinforced PP (polypropylene) composites. The average interphase thickness thus obtained was (25 +/- 10) nm, (44 +/- 11) nm, (54 +/- 23) nm, and (104 +/- 22) nm for composite specimens prepared with 0 %, 2.5 %, 5 % and 10 % MAPP, respectively. The interphase region showed a gradient in elastic modulus, with a gradual decrease in modulus from fiber to matrix. The interphase region in the specimen containing 0 % MAPP showed a narrow interphase with steep gradient in modulus from fiber to matrix, while use of MAPP significantly increased the interphase thickness, resulting in a more gradual change in modulus from fiber to matrix.
Citation
Polymer Engineering and Science
Volume
53
Issue
4

Citation

Hurley, D. , Nair, S. , Wang, S. and Young, T. (2013), Nanoscale characterization of interphase properties in maleated polypropylene-treated natural-fiber reinforced polymer composites, Polymer Engineering and Science (Accessed March 28, 2024)
Created April 1, 2013, Updated February 19, 2017