Mechanical properties of nucleated polypropylene and short glass fiber-polypropylene composites

The ultimate strength and the Young's modulus of polypropylene (PP) and the short glass fiber reinforced polypropylene (GRPP) increased in the presence of a heterogeneous nucleating agent. The incorporation of the nucleating agent resulted in a significant improvement in the crystallization of the polypropylene homopolymer. The short glass fibers nucleated the polypropylene matrix to the extent that the crystallization and morphology of the matrix differ appreciably from the homopolymer. The strength-to-break and the Young's modulus of the sodium benzoate nucleated polypropylene (NPP), nucleated short glass fiber reinforced polypropylene (NGRPP) and the non-nucleated samples, increased with decreased temperature. The nucleated composites showed decreased interfacial shear strength and increased Young's modulus. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd