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Studies on crystallization kinetics, microstructure and mechanical properties of different short carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene (SCF/PP) composites

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Abstract

Carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics provide light weight materials with high mechanical, electrical and thermal properties required for aircraft, automobile and fuel cell and other high-end applications. In this study, short carbon fibers (SCF) of varying length were incorporated into polypropylene (PP) matrix to obtain short carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene (SCF/PP) composites by melt blending and injection molding techniques. The thermo-mechanical properties of SCF/PP composites were studied to investigate the effect of fiber length on their functionality. The crystallization behavior and the microstructure of SCF/PP were studied using several techniques such as differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), rheology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermo-mechanical stability of SCF/PP composites was shown to be improved with increase in fiber length. The isothermal crystallization kinetics of neat PP and SCF/PP composites were studied using Avrami equation. The results suggested the formation of two-dimensional growth of crystallites from instantaneous nucleation for neat PP as well as SCF/PP composites.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank TASNEE¸ Saudi Arabia for providing polypropylene, and to Mr. Khaja Nayeemuddin for the assistance during preparation of composites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia

    Syed K. H. Gulrez & S. M. Al-Zahrani

  2. SABIC Polymer Research Center (SPRC), King Saud University, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia

    Syed K. H. Gulrez, M. E. Ali Mohsin & S. M. Al-Zahrani

  3. Center of Excellence on Research of Engineering Material (CEREM), King Saud University, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia

    M. E. Ali Mohsin

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  1. Syed K. H. Gulrez
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  2. M. E. Ali Mohsin
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  3. S. M. Al-Zahrani
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Correspondence to Syed K. H. Gulrez.

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Gulrez, S.K.H., Mohsin, M.E.A. & Al-Zahrani, S.M. Studies on crystallization kinetics, microstructure and mechanical properties of different short carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene (SCF/PP) composites. J Polym Res 20, 265 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-013-0265-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-013-0265-7

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