Bamboo fiber?reinforced polypropylene composites: Crystallization and interfacial morphology.

Bamboo fiber?reinforced polypropylene (PP)composites were prepared. PP and two maleated polypropylenes (s?MAPP and m?MAPP)were used as matrices. Crystallization and interfacial morphology were studied by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide angle X?ray diffraction (WAXD), and optical microscopy. It has been shown that the addition of bamboo fiber to any of the three polymers causes an increase in the overall crystallization rate. A considerable amount of ??form crystallinity was produced in the PP, s?MAPP, and m?MAPP by mixing with bamboo fiber; and all the bamboo fiber?filled samples contain both the ?? and the ??forms. The relative amount of the ??form in the samples was calculated from WAXD data by the K value. There is no ??form observed in the pure PP, s?MAPP, and m?MAPP. Bamboo fiber acted as both a reinforcement and a ??nucleator. The nucleation density of both s?MAPP and m?MAPP at the fiber surface is remarkably higher than that of PP because an improved interfacial adhesion is reached in the case of s?MAPP and m?MAPP as matrices. The transcrystalline growth of s?MAPP and m?MAPP on the bamboo fiber surface was observed under optical microscope with crossed polars.