Interfacial shear strength and mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene

The lightweight technique for automobile is urgently needed to achieve the aim of CO2 emission control. In this paper, the mechanical properties and the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene (CFPP) were evaluated by using the micro - droplet method. As a result, it was found that the mechanical properties and IFSS were improved with increasing the interfacial adhesion of the CF and the PP from the observation of fracture surface after the mechanical testing and micro-droplets test. In addition, we have devised a novel mixing treatment method of silane coupling agent and an emulsion of Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) as one of the surface treatment techniques of the CF. A silane coupling agent was applied with a weak bond to the CF surface and emulsion of MAPP, and the IFSS of the CFPP indicated approximately 24 MPa. This result showed 12% higher than CFPP standard specimen. We have demonstrated the effect of interaction between MAPP and silane coupling agent by applying the novel mixing treatment method. It is expected that the reinforcing effect leads to the development of the CFPP injection moldings in the near future.