Preparation and characterization of bamboo fiber‐graft‐lauryl methacrylate and its composites with polypropylene. Issue 4 (25th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Qinhui; Mao, Xinggong; Xue, Hanyu; Deng, Yi; Lin, Jinhuo
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied polymer science. Volume 130:Issue 4(2013:Nov. 15)
• Page Start: 2377
• Page End: 2382
• Publication Date: 2013-05-25
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/app.39347
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8995

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p>In this study, lauryl methacrylate grafted onto bamboo fibers (BF‐<italic>g</italic>‐LM) was prepared to improve the interfacial compatibility between hydrophilic bamboo fibers (BFs) and hydrophobic plastic. The lauryl methacrylate (LM) was initiated by benzoxyl peroxide (BPO) and grafted onto BFs via a free‐radical chain‐transfer reaction. LM was grafted onto BFs with ether bonds, and differential scanning calorimetry indicated that the ether pyrolysis of BF‐<italic>g</italic>‐LM occurred at 280°C. The optimum preparation conditions were obtained as follows: 0.30 g of pretreated bamboo flour was immersed in 0.225 mol/L LM. The reaction was then initiated by 0.025 mol/L BPO, and this reaction was sustained for 4 h at 80°C. BF‐<italic>g</italic>‐LM served as coupling agent between the BFs and the polypropylene (PP) matrix, as shown by scanning electron microscopy analysis. The elongation at break of the BF/PP composites with BF‐<italic>g</italic>‐LM increased to two times compared to that of the BF/PP composites without BF‐<italic>g</italic>‐LM. The impact strength and maximum deflection also increased to 75 and 580%, respectively. In conclusion, BF‐<italic>g</italic>‐LM is a promising coupling agent that can be used in BF‐reinforced thermoplastic composites. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2377–2382, 2013</p> </abstract>