Effect of fiber treatment on the mechanical properties of date palm fiber reinforced PP/EPDM composites

In this work, the effect of date palm fiber (DPF) incorporation and its surface treatment with sodium hydroxide on the mechanical properties like tensile, bending and impact of polymer composites based on polypropylene (PP)/ ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer (EPDM) is investigated. Maleic anhydride-grafted-polypropylene (MAPP) is used as a compatibilizer to improve the compatibility of (DPF) filled PP/EPDM composites. Results shown that the incorporation of fibers increased the tensile and bending strength and decreased the impact strength. Treated fiber reinforced composites yield better mechanical properties as compared to the raw fiber reinforced composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the fracture surfaces of the composite specimens indicates that the MAPP and the treated fibers improved the interfacial interaction between the fiber and the matrix.