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Abstract
Moisture sorption in fiber-thermoplastic composites leads to dimensional instability and biological attack. To determine the pick up of moisture this type of composite, aspen fiber/polypropylene composites were made using several different levels of aspen fiber (30 to 60% by weight) with and without the addition of a compatibilizer (maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene, MAPP). These composites were tested using short and long term water soaking, boiling water, cyclic liquid water and oven drying, and under various relative humidity conditions. As the level of fiber increased in the composites, the rate and extent of thickness swelling and moisture sorption increased as compared to pure polypropylene. After each cycle of water soaking and oven drying, there was a small but continual increase in moisture content. The presence of MAPP decreased the extent of swelling and moisture pickup.
Keywords
Thermoplastic composites,
fiber-reinforced plastics,
composite materials,
moisture,
polypropylene,
aspen,
humidity,
swelling,
wood-plastic materials,
maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene,
MAPP
Citation
Rowell, Roger M.; Lange, Sandra E.; Jacobson, Rodney E. 2004. Effects of moisture on aspen-fiber/polypropylene composites. Proceedings of the 7th Pacific Rim Bio-Based Composites Symposium, 2004 October 31-November 2, Nanjing, China. Nanjing, China : Science and Technique Literature Press, [2004]: pages 216-223.
