Mechanical Properties, Thermal Behavior and Water Absorption of PP/Wood Fiber/CaCO3 Nanocomposites

Nanocomposites based on polypropylene/wood fiber (PP/WF 70/30) compound containing 2.5 to 10 phc of nano-CaCO3 and 5 phc of maleated polypropylene (MAPP) as compatibilizer were prepared by melt compounding followed by injection molding. The mechanical properties, thermal behavior as well as water absorption were characterized and the morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The presence of nano-CaCO3 declined the amount of water absorption as high as 60 wt%. The incorporation of nano-CaCO3 into PP/WF compounds led to the 12% increment of flexural modulus, 22.5% rise in impact strength, and 9% increase in elongation at break. The results of DSC experiments indicated that the addition of nano-CaCO3 can elevate the crystallization temperature and reduce the degree of crystallinity of PP in PP/WF/CaCO3 nanocomposites. The maximum values of crystallinity, flexural modulus and flexural strength were achieved at 5 phc loading of nano-CaCO3, and the maximum crystallization temperature and impact strength were attained by adding 7.5 phc of nano-CaCO3. The reduction of tensile strength, as high as 8.8%, in PP/WF/CaCO3 nanocomposites was attributed to the decrease of PP crystallinity, as well as the presence of nano-CaCO3 at the PP/WF interface.