Materials and Design 30 (2009) 260263

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Materials and Design

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/matdes

Effect of ber length on thermomechanical properties of short carbon ber

reinforced polypropylene composites
F. Rezaei a,*, R. Yunus a, N.A. Ibrahim b
a
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
b
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Carbon ber reinforced composites have all the ideal properties, leading to their rapid development and
Received 1 December 2007 successful use for many applications over the last decade. In this paper, short carbon ber reinforced
Accepted 1 May 2008 polypropylene (SCF/PP) composite were prepared with melt blending and hot-pressing techniques. The
Available online 8 May 2008
thermomechanical properties of this composite were investigated taking into account the combined
effect of mean ber length. Thermal stability of the composite was studied via the thermal gravimetric
Keywords: analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was used to measure the damping properties
A. Polypropylene
of the composites. Finally it can be shown that an increase in ber length can enhance the thermal sta-
A. Thermoplastic
A. Composites
bility of SCF/PP composites and improve the damping properties as well.
B. Carbon bers 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
G. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
G. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)

1. Introduction a relatively simple and inexpensive process to make short ber

Carbon bers are widely used in polymermatrix composites
owing to their good mechanical, thermal and electrical properties
[1,2]. Due to these good mechanical, thermal, and electrical proper-
ties of conventional PAN and pitch-based carbon bers, much effort
has been devoted to the use of these bers to improve and optimize
the properties of various structures [3]. Although the majority of -
ber reinforced resins contain glass bers, the attractive properties
of carbon bers have made them a material of choice in various
applications [4]. Furthermore, thermoplastic matrix composites of-
fer property advantages, such as enhanced toughness and an unlim-
ited shelf-life. Furthermore, their intrinsic recyclability is rapidly
being recognized as a strong driving force for their application
[5,6]. Short ber reinforced polymers (SFRPs) were developed to ll
the mechanical property gap between the continuous-ber lami-
nates used as primary structures by the aircraft and aerospace
industry and the unreinforced polymers used in non-load-bearing
applications [79]. SFRP composites are very attractive because of
their ease of fabrication, economy and superior mechanical proper-
ties. Although SFRP composites are often made with conventional
techniques, namely extrusion compounding and injection molding,
for processing polymers [10,11], however compression moulding is
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +60 3 89466268; fax: +60 3 86567120.
E-mail address: fateme.rezaei@gmail.com (F. Rezaei).
composites. Thermal analysis methods can provide a useful ap-
proach to characterize and investigate the interaction between -
bers and polymers [12]. In this investigation, carbon bers in
different sizes were used to reinforce polypropylene (PP). PP was
chosen as this polymer is produced in large quantities and it is
not very sensitive to chemical stress cracking.
There are current or potential applications for SCF/PP compos-
ites in body structures for passenger cars (e.g., car bonnet/hood
[13] and interior trim), fuel cells, fuel tanks and several other niche
uses. Combination of characteristics such as light-weight, corro-
sion resistance, low to moderate cost, thermal stability and easy
processability, make them attractive for many applications espe-
cially in automotive industry [14].
Since nowadays, carbon ber thermoplastic composites are
widely used in various applications, it is essential to know about
the thermal properties of these materials [15]. Thermogravimetry
analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were ap-
plied in this study. TGA techniques were used to determine the
thermal decomposition and stability of SCF/PP composites with
different CF lengths. DMA was used to determine the viscoelastic
properties of SCF/PP composites with different CF lengths. The
use of DMA to investigate the bermatrix interphase in polymer
composites has been explored since last decade [16]. Here it will
demonstrate that DMA offers a direct approach to evaluating the
bermatrix adhesion based on the contribution of the interphase
to the tan d damping peak [17].

0261-3069/$ - see front matter 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.matdes.2008.05.005
 F. Rezaei et al. / Materials and Design 30 (2009) 260263 261

2. Materials and methods 120

2.1. Materials PP
0.5mm
1mm
The materials employed in this investigation were isotactic polypropylene 2mm
5mm
(Titanpro SM950 Polypropylene Copolymer, Titan Chemical Co., Malaysia) as the 80 10mm

Weight %
matrix and carbon ber (Composite OracleTM, Torayca T700 S 12 K, Toray Co., Japan)
as the reinforcing ber. The mechanical and physical properties of these materials
are listed in Table. 1 [18,19].

40
2.2. Specimen preparation

Chopped carbon bers were prepared from continuous carbon ber using uni-
versal cutting mill machine (Pulverisette 19) in ve sizes: 10, 5, 2, 1, and 0.5 mm.
Chopped bers descended with the help of vacuum operation. The composites were 0
0 200 400 600 800
prepared by blending carbon ber (10 wt.%) and polypropylene in pellets form
using Thermo Haake PolyDrive R600/610.The temperature and the rotor speed were Temperature C
set to 170 C and 50 rpm, respectively. At rst, PP pellets were melted for 5 min and
then chopped carbon bers were added to the melted PP. All of the specimens were Fig. 1. TGA curves of PP Matrix and SCF/PP composites with 10% ber content.
hot pressed using HSINCHU Hot Press Machine. Hot press temperature was set to
170 C, cooling temperature 60 C, heating time 5 min, cooling time 3 min and pres-
sure 150  104 kg/m2. The pressing technique is the most common method for
making carbon ber reinforced thermoplastics [20]. Composite sheets
(15  15 cm) with 1 mm and 3 mm thickness were fabricated.

2.3. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)

TGA was used to determine the thermal stability and degradation of SCF/PP
composites. The analysis was conducted by Perkin Elmer TGA-7 from ambient tem-
perature to 500 C at a heating rate of 10 C/min.

2.4. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)

The dynamic mechanical analysis was carried out using Q800 TA Instrument
analyzing machine in single cantilever mode. Specimens were tested under the con-
dition of static force 110 N, dynamic force 100 N, frequency 1 Hz with 17.5 mm
span length was used. The scan was done from 25 to 120 C at 5 C/min rate under
cryogenic environment. Specimen dimension was 12 mm width, 3 mm thickness
and 35 mm length.
Fig. 2. Storage modulus (E0 ) of unlled PP and SCF/PP composites with different
ber length.
3. Results

3.1. TGA

Thermal stability of CF composites for many applications is nec-

essary in determining their end use. The effect of different lengths
of CF on the thermal degradation of PP was investigated. A TGA
curve of SCF/PP composites (10% ber content) is given in Fig. 1.
A sudden drop in the mass of the sample indicated the thermal
degradation of the material. The materials started to thermally de-
grade at 300 C, and decomposed at 472 C where substantial loss
in their weights was observed. The curve also shows that thermal
degradation began to occur only after the materials have absorbed
certain amounts of heat energy. The heat initiated the degradation
processes and the breaking down of the bers and matrix structure
by causing molecular chain ruptures or scission.

3.2. DMA
Fig. 3. SEM micrograph of tensile fracture of the SCF/PP composite with 10 wt.%
Storage modulus for SCF/PP composites with different ber carbon ber.
lengths as a function of temperature at 1 Hz stress frequency are
demonstrated in Fig. 2. The dynamic mechanical data of the un-
lled PP was also included for comparison purposes. The storage sizing of 0.5, 1, 2, 5 and 10 mm. Comparing the E0 spectra of the
modulus, E0 , of the SCF/PP was compared for the samples with ber composites with the unlled PP at 25, 25 and 75 C, it was ob-
served that the incorporation of 10% CF to PP with 10 and 5 mm
length resulted in the increase of the stiffness of the material with-
Table 1
Material properties [18,19] in the temperature range taken into consideration.
The loss modulus, E00 , of the SCF/PP composites and unlled PP
Materials Tensile strength Youngs modulus Density (g/ Diameter
are presented in Fig. 4. The E00 of unlled PP increased with the
(MPa) (GPa) cm3) (lm)
addition of CF for composites with 5 and 10 mm CF length. This
Carbon ber 4900 230 1.8 6.8671
indicated a higher viscosity as a result of the molecular movement
Polypropylene 18.35 1.47 0.9
restriction due to the presence of the bers.
262 F. Rezaei et al. / Materials and Design 30 (2009) 260263

data, the introduction of CF bers to the PP matrix, in general, in-

creased the degradation temperature of the composites. This is due
to the fact that heat absorption capacity of CF is higher than PP. As
the length of bers increased, the bers in the composites ab-
sorbed more heat, thus higher temperature was therefore required
to achieve the threshold energy for commencement of the degra-
dation process. Thus, as CF lengths increased, there was a shift up-
ward of the degradation temperature. According to Bryk [21], the
introduction of llers into polyalkanes results in an increase of
the thermal stability of the polymer.

4.2. DMA

DMA looks at the modulus of elasticity or the ratio of mechan-

ical stress to relative deformation. PP can change shapes as the re-
sult of external force. In DMA test, the storage modulus, E0 , was
Fig. 4. Loss modulus (E00 ) of unlled PP and SCF/PP composites with different ber measured. E0 is proportional to the energy stored elastically and
length.
is reversible. The loss modulus E00 on the other hand, measures
the energy transferred to heat and is irreversibly lost. In semi-crys-
talline polymers, the presence of amorphous and crystalline region
gives different response to dynamic loading at a given temperature
prole. Fibers would also change the morphology of CF composites
as the crystallization character surrounding the bers can be dras-
tically altered. Crystallinity increases as the storage modulus in-
creases in quantum for similar material tested [22]. Tg was
expected to increase as the covalent bond increases the crystallin-
ity in composite. The range at 10 to 20 C is associated to the
relaxation of unrestricted amorphous phase in PP of b relaxation
[23].
The E0 spectra of the SCF/PP composite with 2 mm length at
25 C was close to PP. For this category, at 25 and 75 C it was ob-
served that E0 increased signicantly. Storage modulus of SCF/PP
composites with 1 and 0.5 mm ber length, decreased at 25 C,
but at 25 and 75 C the stiffness of composite improved. These
curves indicated that the E0 of these composites have been im-
proved compared to that of unlled PP with the exception of the
Fig. 5. Tan d proles of unlled PP and SCF/PP composites with different ber
length.
composite with 0.5 mm ber lengths. In general, addition of 10%
CF with 2, 1, and 0.5 mm lengths to the PP did not change the E0
of the composite signicantly.
Table 2 At these ber sizes, the matrix was no longer continuous as elu-
Percentage weight loss in SCF/PP composites at different temperatures cidated in the SEM micrograph (Fig. 3) of the composite surface.
Weight loss(%) PP Degradation temperature The bers rather than the PP matrix, impart a greater controlling
inuence. The bers can no longer impart stiffness to the matrix
SCF/PP composites
when the size was too small, thus the storage modulus was low.
0.5 mm 1 mm 2 mm 5 mm 10 mm
As the temperature of the composite samples was raised, the E0 de-
10 362 400 403 406 410 415 creases gradually. At sub-ambient temperatures, the magnitude of
20 378 409 414 418 420 422
the decrease was less. The E0 is high when molecular mobility is
30 399 421 425 426 428 432
40 404 424 427 428 430 440
limited or restricted. As the temperature approaches the glass tran-
50 413 429 430 431 432 445 sition temperature region, there is a large drop in the storage mod-
60 425 432 433 435 436 450 ulus values indicating the phase transition, from the rigid glassy
70 428 437 441 442 445 456 state where molecular motions are restricted to a more exible
80 434 441 448 451 454 461
rubbery state where the molecular chains have greater freedom
90 445 450 453 457 460 465
93 441 463 464 468 472 473 to move. E0 is the most important property to assess when deter-
mining the load bearing capability of a composite material.
E00 indicates the materials ability to dissipate energy, often in
Fig. 5 shows tan d versus temperature plots for unlled PP and the form of heat or molecular rearrangements when there is defor-
the SCF/PP composites with different ber lengths. Tan d indicates mation. It indicates the viscous nature of the polymer [24]. As long-
the relative importance of both viscous and elastic behaviors of er bers were incorporated, the slower the ow and the higher the
materials. E00 . Generally, as the temperature increases, the viscosity of the
materials decreases gradually. Broad peaks were observed on the
4. Discussion curves within the temperature range of 20 to 40 C representat-
ing the transition region from the glassy state to the rubbery state.
4.1. TGA The maximum dissipation of heat per unit deformation occurred at
the temperature where E00 is maximum. Above the phase transition
Details of the thermal degradation of PP, and SCF/PP composites region, the decrease in the E00 is sharper indicating a sharp decrease
with different CF lengths are given in Table 2. According to these in their viscosity. At 25 C the E00 of 10 mm composites showed a
 F. Rezaei et al. / Materials and Design 30 (2009) 260263
small change as compared to unlled PP but at 25 and 75 C E00 in-
creased signicantly. As can be seen from Fig. 4, at 25 C the E00 of
[2]
SCF/PP composites with 10, 5 and 2 mm was higher than the E00 of
PP and as the E00 peak temperature is very close to Tg of the compos- [3]
ite [25], hence, it may be concluded that the composites prepared
[4]
from CF and PP shift the Tg value to a higher temperature.
In Fig. 5, broad peaks of the tan d curves were shown scattered [5]
within the range of 20 to 40 C. Since the tan d peaks are not pre-
[6]
cisely dened and are rather scattered, quantitative assessment
and detailed analysis on the peaks to relate the peaks with respect
to the ber length was not carried out. Furthermore, the incorpora- [7]
tion of stiff bers reduced the tan d peak height by restricting the
movement of polymer molecules [26]. The value of peak of tan d [8]
is commonly taken to be the glass transition temperature, Tg, of
the material. Tg values of 10% SCF/PP composites with 0.5, 1, 2, 5 [9]
and 10 mm according to the value of peak of tan d were 17.6,
18.3, 18.2, 19.1 and 22 C, respectively. The Tg of PP was measured
[10]
to 18.4 C. As can be seen, the Tg of SCF/PP composites with 5 and
10 mm improved compared to Tg of PP, while for other sizes of CF, [11]
no considerable change was observed.
[12]
5. Conclusions
[13]
This study suggests that longer CFs show better thermome-
chanical properties than shorter CFs in SCF/PP composites. The [14]
TGA results have shown that thermal stability of SCF/PP compos-
ites increased with the increase of carbon ber length. Overall,
[15]
the thermal degradation of SCF/PP composites with different sizes
improved compare to unlled PP. DMA results showed that the
[16]
storage and loss modulus of SCF/PP composites improved with
incorporation of 5 and 10 mm length but for 1 and 2 mm length, [17]
no considerable change was observed. The Tg of composites with
5 and 10 mm length increased compare to unlled PP. Successive [18]
studies will be conducted using various CF loading to investigate [19]
both effects of CF content and size on thermomechanical proper-
ties of SCF/PP composites. [20]
[21]
Acknowledgements
[22]
The authors are indebted to SIRIM and MOSTI (Ministry of Sci- [23]
ence, Technology and Innovation) for providing nancial support
for this Project. [24]
[25]
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