Study of the Flexural Strength of Recycled Dyed Cotton Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites and the Effect of the Use of Maleic Anhydride as Coupling Agent

ABSTRACT

The flexural strengths of composite materials composed of polypropylene reinforced with cotton fibers recycled from textile waste are presented. Materials with and without coupling agents were prepared. The analysis of the flexural strength of the specimens showed promising properties, both, in the case of the coupled and uncoupled materials, showing their ability to substitute glass fiber reinforced composites. The presence of dyes in the recycled fibers had a noticeable impact on the properties of the composite. A micromechanics analysis showed that the interphase between the matrix and the reinforcements was stronger than expected for uncoupled materials and weaker than expected for coupled ones. The presence of dyes in the fiber surface had a positive effect by decreasing the hydrophilicity of the fibers, and at the same time inhibited the full exploitation of the coupling agents.

摘要

研究了纺织废料中回收棉纤维增强聚丙烯复合材料的弯曲强度. 制备了含偶联剂和不含偶联剂的材料. 对试样弯曲强度的分析表明，无论是在耦合材料还是非耦合材料的情况下，试样都具有良好的性能，显示了它们替代玻璃纤维增强复合材料的能力. 再生纤维中染料的存在对复合材料的性能有显著影响. 微观力学分析表明，基体与增强体之间的界面相比未耦合材料的强，而比耦合材料的弱. 染料在纤维表面的存在降低了纤维的亲水性，同时抑制了偶联剂的充分利用.

KEYWORDS:

• Cellulose
• recycled fibers
• cotton
• dyes
• flexural strength

关键词::

• 纤维素
• 再生纤维
• 棉
• 染料
• 抗弯强度

Highlights

Composites showed competitive flexural strengths in front of glass fiber reinforced composites.

The presence of dyes hindered a full exploitation of the bonding abilities of coupling agent between the fiber surface and the matrix.

The presence of dyes increased the expected flexural strengths without the use of coupling agents.

Micromechanics allowed obtaining the theoretical intrinsic flexural properties of the reinforcements.

Additional information

Funding

Marc Delgado-Aguilar is a Serra Húnter Fellow.