Studies on Mechanical Performance and Water Absorption of Recycled Newspaper/Glass Fiber-reinforced Polypropylene Hybrid Composites

Abstract

The present experimental work is aimed at studying the performance of recycled newspaper and recycled newspaper/glass fiber hybrid polypropylene composites. The effects of glass fiber loading and maleic anhydride (MA) as a coupling agent on the tensile behavior and impact strength of composites containing 30 wt% fiber were examined. The results suggest that the tensile strengths of the recycled newspaper/PP composites increase with increasing glass fiber content. A value of 55 MPa for tensile strength and 4.1 GPa for the tensile modulus is achieved from a hybrid composite containing 10 wt% of newspaper and 20 wt% of glass fiber. The impact strength of the newspaper/PP composites progressively decreased with increasing glass fiber content. Adding (MA) by 2 wt% in the composite formulation significantly improved both the dimensional stability and mechanical properties. Microstructure analysis of the fractured surfaces of modified composites confirmed improved interfacial bonding. Dimensional stability and strength properties of the composites can be improved by increasing the glass fiber content and or by addition of coupling agent. This project has shown that the composites treated with glass fiber and coupling agents will be desirable as building materials due to their improved stability and strength properties.