Morphological Characterisation
Fernando G. Torres, E. Machicao, R.M. Díaz
POLYCOM - PUCP / Catholic University of Peru
PERU

Keywords: composites, natural, fibres

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A methodology for applying conventional morphological characterisation techniques to some of the manufacturing processes used for natural fibre reinforced thermoplastics (NFRTP) is described in the present paper (1,2). The composites studied here consisted in most cases of a matrix of polypropylene or polyetheylene, and of discrete jute, sisal and other natural fibres as reinforcement. Light optical, stereoscopical, and scanning electron microscopy have been used to characterise the processing stages and the structure - property relationships during the manufacture of NFRTPs by single screw extrusion, compression and rotational moulding. These morphological characterisation techniques were applied at different stages for each of the manufacturing processes studied. Important issues in the processing of discrete fibre composites, such as fibre length distributions, fibre orientation and overall fibre dispersion in the matrix have been studied. The problems that arise during sample preparation for these materials, particularly in the case of the extruded composites, are discussed and possible solutions are presented. Transcrystallinity in the case PP/sisal and PP/jute composites has also been reported. In all cases, the characterisation procedures described here are related to the manufacturing processes studied in each particular case.


References

Torres, F.G. and Bush S.F., Morphological characterisation of LGF composites for the thermoforming process, Polymer Processing Society 15th Annual Meeting, PPS-15, ‘s Hertogensbosch, The Netherlands, 1999

Bush, S.F and Torres, F.G., Morphological characterisation of LGF composites for the thermoforming process, International Polymer Processing, Vol. XV, (2000), 2, pp.208-214