Crystallization behaviors and mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites

In this work, carbon fiber (CF)-reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared by melt processing with maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene as compatibilizer. The mechanical properties and crystallization behaviors of the resulting composites were investigated detailedly. The interfacial compatibility of CRP composites was fine and CF dispersed in PP matrix homogeneously. CF played a nucleation agent for the crystallization of PP. The crystallization temperature increased with increasing CF content. Carbon fibers could act as the heterogeneous nucleation agent for PP, which would decrease the activation energy of crystallization, shorten the crystallization time and raise the crystallization rate dramatically. The original spherulite morphology of neat PP was also destroyed by CF. CF exhibited obvious reinforcing effects on PP matrix and improved the mechanical properties of PP materials. The tensile strength and flexural strength were increased over 100% with 20 mass% CF.