Influence of Coupling Agents on Melt Flow Behavior of Natural Fiber Composites Journal Articles

abstract

• AbstractThe influence of coupling agents on the melt rheological properties of natural fiber composites has been investigated in this work using capillary and rotational rheometers. Scanning electron microscopy was also employed to supplement the rheological data. It was found that molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the polymer matrix and coupling agent characteristics influence the filler wetting and the melt flow properties of the filled composites. Generally, low molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution polyethylene matrix provides relatively larger increase of the viscosity of the composites. Coupling agents tend to increase the resistance to shearing, but wall slip effects may interfere with the measured values, especially at very high filler loadings. Entrance pressure loss in capillaries is also influenced by polymer matrix and coupling agent used.magnified image

authors

• Hristov, Velichko
• Vlachopoulos, John

status

• published 

publication date

• May 14, 2007

has subject area

• 03 Chemical Sciences (FoR)
• 09 Engineering (FoR)
• Polymers (Science Metrix)

published in

• Macromolecular Materials and Engineering  Journal

keywords

• CALCIUM-CARBONATE
• DENSITY-POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITES
• INTERFACES
• MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES
• MORPHOLOGY
• Materials Science
• Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
• POLYPROPYLENE
• Physical Sciences
• Polymer Science
• RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
• SHEAR
• Science & Technology
• Technology
• WALL SLIP
• WOOD PLASTICS MELT
• composites
• coupling agents
• rheology
• wall slip
• wood fibers

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1002/mame.200600459

start page

• 608

end page

• 619

volume

• 292

issue

• 5