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Properties of Wood Sawdust and Wheat Flour Reinforced Polypropylene Composites

In recent years, extensive studies have been carried out on natural fiber reinforced thermoplastics due to their low cost, high specific properties, simple fabrication methods, biodegradable nature and diverse applications touching all commercial sectors. In this research, the effect of incorporating small amounts (5%) of wood sawdust and wheat flour on the mechanical, morphological, chemical, thermal, and water absorption properties of polypropylene (PP) were studied. In terms of mechanical properties the Young’s modulus and flexural modulus increased, whereas the yield strength and elongation at break decreased in both types of composites. However, the wheat flour composites exhibited higher yield strength, Young’s modulus, flexural modulus and elongation at break than wood sawdust composites. Morphological examination of the fracture surfaces by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), carried out in order to investigate the variation of the measured mechanical properties, revealed presence of microvoids resulting from weak filler-matrix interfacial adhesion. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and water absorption tests confirmed the produced composites exhibited higher thermal stability and water absorption in comparison to virgin PP. Changes in the chemical bonding nature of the composites was also investigated by FTIR spectroscopy.