Shear-induced crystallization of injection molded vetiver grass-polypropylene composites

Vetiver grass was used as an alternative filler in polypropylene (PP) composites in this study. Chemical treatment of vetiver grass by alkalization was carried out to obtain alkali‐treated vetiver grass. It was shown that alkali‐treated vetiver grass exhibited higher thermal stability than untreated...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied polymer science 2009-09, Vol.113 (6), p.4003-4014
Main Authors: Somnuk, Usa, Suppakarn, Nitinat, Sutapun, Wimonlak, Ruksakulpiwat, Yupaporn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
composites
Crystallization
Degree of crystallinity
Exact sciences and technology
Forms of application and semi-finished materials
Grasses
Injection molding
Laminates
Mechanical properties
micro-structure
Molds
Polymer industry, paints, wood
Polymer matrix composites
Polypropylenes
Technology of polymers
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Summary:Vetiver grass was used as an alternative filler in polypropylene (PP) composites in this study. Chemical treatment of vetiver grass by alkalization was carried out to obtain alkali‐treated vetiver grass. It was shown that alkali‐treated vetiver grass exhibited higher thermal stability than untreated vetiver grass. Injection molding was used to prepare the composites. The microstructure of injection molded samples showed a distinct skin layer due to shear‐induced crystallization. It was found that normalized thickness of shear‐induced crystallization layer of the composite was lower than that of neat PP. The effect of vetiver particle sizes on shear‐induced crystallization and physical properties of the composites were elucidated. Furthermore, the effect of processing conditions on shear‐induced crystallization, degree of crystallinity, gapwise crystallinity distribution, and mechanical properties of the composite were investigated. It was shown that injection speed and mold temperature affected the normalized thickness of shear‐induced crystallization layer and degree of crystallinity of the composites. However, processing conditions showed insignificant effect on the mechanical properties of vetiver fiber‐PP composites. The degree of crystallinity showed no distribution throughout the thickness direction of the composites. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
ISSN:0021-8995
1097-4628
1097-4628
DOI:10.1002/app.30459