Mechanical, dynamic mechanical and thermal properties of TiO2 nanoparticles treatment bamboo fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites

Abstract

To obtain better interfacial bonding between bamboo fibers (BFs) and matrix polypropylene (PP), PP/BFs composites were prepared by means of modifying BFs with TiO2 nanoparticles. The static mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties, thermal properties, morphology and water resistance of the fabricated composites were characterized. The results showed the static and dynamic mechanical properties, thermal stability and water resistance of the composite were all improved at different extents by the introduction of TiO2 nanoparticles, especially with the addition of 0.4 wt% TiO2 nanoparticles (PP/BF/T3). The performances enhancement of TiO2 nanoparticles modified composites was mainly attributed to the interfacial bonding improvement, demonstrated by the Cole–Cole curves of dynamic mechanical analysis and the morphological analysis of fracture surface, as well as the increased crystallinity revealed with differential scanning calorimetry measurements.