Natural and Man-Made Cellulose Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Polypropylene Composites: Effect of Fire Retardants

Abstract

Composites were made with jute, cordenka and jute+cordenka by extrusion and injection moulding. The matrix material was Polypropylene (PP) and PP maleic acid anhydride grafted copolymer (MAPP) was used as coupling agents. The mechanical tests were performed. The hybrid composite of jute 25% and cordenka 75% showed the enhanced properties. Three types of fire retardants (15%) Mgnifine (Magnesium hydroxide), Exolite AP-750 (Poly-ammonium phosphate) and Expandable Graphite and their mixtures (1:1) were used in the composites and PP. All the fire retardants and their mixture reduced the mechanical properties. Among all fire retardants and their mixtures used, mixture of expandable graphite and magnifine for jute based composite and mixture of expandable graphite and exolite for cordenka based composite was found to be better.