Dynamic mechanical thermal behavior analysis of doum fibers reinforced polypropylene composites

• Doum fibers have been used as reinforcement in thermoplastic matrix (polypropylene).
• The effect SEBS-g-MA compatibilizer has been investigated.
• Mechanical properties have been improved by use of doum fibers.
• The adhesion in the interface fiber–matrix has been improved by use of the compatibilizer.

Doum palm fibers are an environmentally friendly reinforcement in polymer composites. Their mechanical properties and abundance allow its use as an innovative material composite. In this paper doum fibers were alkali treated to clean their surface and enhance polymer fibers interaction. Tensile and rheological properties were investigated to see the effect of fibers content on the composites properties. Also, comparative composites were processed to assure a good wettability between fibers and the polymer with the use of a coupling agent as styrene–(ethylene–butene)–styrene three-block copolymer grafted with maleic anhydride (SEBS-g-MA). Results shows that tensile properties was enhanced when fiber were added to the polymer and has enhanced more with the use of coupling agent. A gain of 70% and 77% in the Young’s modulus at 30 wt.% fibers content for the binary and ternary composites, respectively. And a gain of 18% in tensile strength at 10 wt.% fibers content for the ternary composites. Moreover, dynamic mechanical thermal analyses were carried out in order to compare the changes of the properties with frequency, fibers loading, temperature and compatibilizer.

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