Evaluation of the interfacial properties of polypropylene composite laminates, reinforced with paper sheets

Published Date
Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
September 2016, Vol.88:59–66, doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2016.05.016

• Author 

• Martina Prambauer ^a,b,,
• Christian Paulik ^b
• Christoph Burgstaller ^a

• aTransfercenter für Kunststofftechnik GmbH, Franz-Fritsch Strasse 11, A-4600 Wels, Austria
• bInstitute for Chemical Technology of Organic Materials, Altenberger Strasse 69, Johannes Kepler University, A-4040 Linz, Austria

Received 5 January 2016. Revised 27 April 2016. Accepted 16 May 2016. Available online 17 May 2016. 

Abstract

Laminates, composed of different papers and polypropylene (PP), were fabricated by a manual stacking and hot pressing. The laminates were characterized by mechanical testing and the results were compared to glass fiber reinforced PP. Furthermore, a detailed evaluation of the interfacial properties and the paper structures was carried out by means of data modeling via rule of mixtures (ROM), as well as electron microscope (SEM) analysis. For investigating the influence of the laminate’s composition on the water adsorption behavior, water diffusion coefficients were determined. As a result, laminates with a tensile modulus up to 6 GPa and a tensile strength of 80 MPa were obtained. The property changes of the papers upon processing were successfully modeled, revealing a significant increase of the paper’s mechanical properties after fiber embedding. In general, the obtained results indicate a high potential of paper as a suitable reinforcement material for low to middle strained applications.

Keywords

A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs)

A. Natural fibers

B. Interface/interphase

B. Mechanical properties

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• ⁎ 
  Corresponding author at: Transfercenter für Kunststofftechnik GmbH, Franz-Fritsch Strasse 11, A-4600 Wels, Austria.

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