The Effects of Rattan Filler Loadings on Mechanical Properties and Morphological Study of Rattan Powder Filled-Polypropylene Composites

摘要

Effects of filler loading were investigated in rattan powder-filled polypropylene composites. The composites were melt-blended using a Polydrive Thermo Haake internal mixer by incorporating rattan powder into polypropylene matrix. Rattan powders used were of average size 180μm with filler loadings ranging between 0 to 40 phr. The results indicate that tensile strength and elongation at break show a decrease with increasing filler loading. Tensile modulus increased with addition of rattan powder and eventually decreased with high filler loading. This is due to higher rattan powder content has more tendency to agglomerate causing weaker interfacial adhesion between rattan filler and polypropylene matrix. The deterioration in tensile properties was confirmed by morphological studies of fractured surfaces.