Composite Material Based on Polypropylene and Modified Natural Fillers.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Polymeric composites offer versatile applications but often require property enhancement.
• Natural fillers present a sustainable alternative to synthetic fillers.
• Enzymatic modification can improve the compatibility and performance of natural fillers in polymer matrices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of enzymatic modification on polypropylene composites incorporating natural fillers.
• To determine optimal modification parameters (time, hydro modulus) for different natural fillers.
• To evaluate the impact of modification on the physical, mechanical, and surface properties of the composites.

Main Methods:

• Enzymatic preparation of natural fillers (wood, sunflower, rice husk) under high-shear forces.
• Determination of optimal modification time and hydro modulus for each filler.
• Physical and mechanical testing (tensile strength, impact viscosity, water absorption).
• Free surface energy analysis to assess filler-polymer interaction.

Main Results:

• Enzymatic surface modification of natural fillers improved mechanical properties: 10% increase in tensile strength and 12% increase in impact viscosity for wood and sunflower fillers.
• Significant reduction in water absorption: 30% for wood flour and 10% for rice husk after boiling; over 30% for rice husk after 14 days at room temperature.
• Reduced composite polarity, indicating enhanced interaction between the modified filler and the polypropylene matrix.

Conclusions:

• Enzymatic modification is an effective strategy to enhance the performance of natural fillers in polypropylene composites.
• Optimized modification parameters are crucial and filler-specific.
• The improved properties position these advanced composites for potential use in automotive, aerospace, and construction industries.