The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 11 No 1 (2007): 181 – 188

EFFECT OF FIBER LOADING AND FIBER LENGTH ON MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF SHORT CARBON FIBER REINFORCED POLYPROPYLENE COMPOSITE

F. Rezaei^*1, R. Yunus¹, N. A. Ibrahim² and E.S. Mahdi¹

¹Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering,

²Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science,

University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor

*Corresponding author: fateme.rezaei@gmail.com

Abstract

In this work, short -carbon-fiber-reinforced polypropylene (SCF/PP) composite was prepared with blending and hot -pressing techniques. The tensile and hardness properties and work of fracture (WOF) of this composite were investigated. The tensile strength and modulus of SCF/PP composite were studied taking into account the combined effect of fiber weight fraction and mean fiber length. The composite WOF was studied via the un-notched Izod impact energy. The Izod impact tests were performed with an Izod tester on specimens with un-notches. The WOF of composite was investigated by taking into account the effects of fiber weight fraction and mean fiber length.

Keywords: Short carbon fibers, composites, polypropylene, Izod un-notched impact test, work of fracture (WOF)

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