Effect of Fiber Content and Chemical Treatment on the Thermal Properties of<i>Spartium junceum</i>Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites

Abstract

The thermal and crystallization behavior of PP/Spartium junceum fiber composites were studied by thermogravimetry (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The surface modification of Spartium junceum fibers was carried out using silane coupling agents in order to improve the interfacial adhesion between the fiber and the matrix. The effects of fiber content and chemical treatment on thermal properties were evaluated. It was found that Spartium junceum fiber degraded before the PP matrix but the thermal stability of the PP/Spartium junceum fiber composites was higher than those of the fiber and the matrix. DSC measurements showed that the incorporation of Spartium junceum fiber caused an increase in the crystallinity of the matrix. These effects have been attributed to the fact that the surfaces of Spartium junceum fibers act as nucleating agents for the crystallization of the polymer, promoting the growth and the formation of transcrystalline regions around the fibers.