Influence of Different Coupling Agent Type on Processibility and Applicability of Polymer Composites

The contribution deals with the processibility and applicability of polymer composite systems based on polypropylene matrix. The composites were filled with vegetable fibres (particularly the cotton fibres, coir fibres, hemp fibres and jute fibres) and the interface between the polymeric matrix and the natural fibres was modified using two types of coupling agents (the organosilane coupling agent and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene). For evaluation of the final impact of all three phases presence on the processibility of the polymer composite the melt flow behaviour was analyzed (MFI analysis according to ISO 1133) for the filler concentration of 10, 20 and 30 wt. %. This study involves also the natural fibre surface profile analyses (based on SEM observation) and the applicability of created composite materials was determined using the heat deflection temperature (HDT analysis according to ISO 75).