Interfacial and Mechanical Properties of Continuous Fiber-Reinforced PP via Pre Impregnated Winding

Abstract

In this paper, a continuous glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene prepreg was prepared by fiber treatment with a silane coupling agent and MAH-g-PP resin. Continuous glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene sheets were made from prepreg and PP mats by hot-pressing; they displayed exceptional performance. This paper studies the effects of maleic anhydride grafting on the polypropylene crystallinity and MAH-g-PP content in the prepreg, and the mechanical properties of the composites. The results showed that modifying PP with maleic anhydride decreased the tacticity of the polypropylene molecular chain, which reduced the crystallinity and melting point. An excellent interface formed between the polypropylene and fiber after the glass fiber was treated with a silane coupling agent and MAH-g-PP resin. The mechanical properties of the polymer materials displayed more favorable properties as MAH-g-PP content increased; the ideal MAH-g-PP content was 50%.