Sains Malaysiana 42(4)(2013): 537–546

 

Glass Fiber and Nanoclay Reinforced Polypropylene Composites: Morphology, Thermal and Mechanical Properties

(Polipropilena Diperkuat dengan Gentian Kaca dan Nanotanahliat: Morfologi, Terma dan Mekanik)

 

 

Normasmira A. Rahman*, Aziz Hassan, R. Yahya & R.A. Lafia-Araga

Department of Chemistry, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

R.A. Lafia-Araga

Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, 92001

Niger State, Nigeria

 

Received: 27 June 2011 / Accepted: 26 April 2012

 

ABSTRACT

Hybrid composites of polypropylene (PP)/nanoclay (NC)/glass fiber (GF) were prepared by extrusion and injection molding. Molded specimens were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile and flexural tests. TEM results revealed NC particle intercalation. TGA results showed that the incorporation of clay into the GF composite improves the thermal stability of the material. The initial thermal decomposition temperatures also shifted to higher values. Incorporation of GF into PP lowers the tensile strength of the binary composite, indicating poor fiber-matrix interfacial adhesion. However, introducing NC increased the strength of the ternary composites. Tensile modulus was enhanced with the incorporation of GF and further increased with an introduction of NC. Flexural strength and flexural modulus are both enhanced with an increase in GF and NC loading.

 

Keywords: Hybrid composites; mechanical property; nanostructured materials; thermal property

 

ABSTRAK

 

Bahan komposit hibrid polipropilena (PP) / tanah liat (TL) / gentian kaca (GK) disediakan dengan menggunakan ekstrusi dan acuan suntikan. Sifat morfologi bahan komposit acuan suntikan dikaji menggunakan teknik TEM. Kestabilan terma bahan komposit dianalisis menggunakan teknik TGA, manakala ciri-ciri mekanikal komposit dikaji dengan menggunakan ujian regangan dan lenturan. Analisis TGA menunjukkan bahawa penambahan TL ke dalam komposit yang mengandungi GK meningkatkan kestabilan terma bahan tersebut. Selain itu, suhu penguraian peringkat awal bahan komposit juga didapati beranjak ke nilai yang lebih tinggi. Penambahan GK ke dalam PP didapati menyebabkan penurunan nilai kekuatan regangan komposit perduaan, menunjukkan bahawa interaksi antara muka antara GK dan PP adalah lemah. Walau bagaimanapun, kekuatan regangan komposit pertigaan menunjukkan peningkatan dengan penambahan TL ke dalam sistem. Penambahan GK meningkatkan modulus regangan komposit dan nilai ini bertambah dengan kehadiran TL ke dalam sistem. Kekuatan dan modulus bagi ujian lenturan didapati meningkat dengan penambahan GK dan TL ke dalam bahan komposit.

 

Kata kunci: Bahan berstruktur nano; komposit hibrid; sifat mekanik; sifat terma

 

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*Corresponding author; email: nmmira@um.edu.my