EFFECTS OF NANO-SIZED CALCUM CARBONATE ON THE MECHANCAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF POLY PROPYLENE/WOOD FIBER NANOCOMIJPOSITES

The major drawback of Wood-Plastic composites is their limited mechanical properties. In this study the effect of Nano Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (NPCC) on the mechanical and thermal properties of polypropylenefwood fiber composites is investigated. The mass ratio of the wood fiber to polymer was 30/70 (wfw). In the sample preparation, five levels of NPCC loadings (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 phc) were used along with 5 phc of MAPP for all compounds. The composites were fabricated by melt compounding technique using a twin-screw extruder and then the standard samples were injection molded. The Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) test, were carried out to evaluate the crystallinity and thermal behavior of composites and neat PP as well. The mechanical test results clearly showed that the flexural modulus was increased up to 11.8% and the impact strength was improved by 22.49% which are associated with the 5 and 7.5 phic of NPCC content respectively. The overall DSC tests results were consistent with mechanical tests results. The SEM micrographs exhibit a consistency between the impact test results and the dispersion conditions of NPCC particles in PP matrix.