Localized thermal analysis of carbon fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites

Abstract

The effect of carbon fiber (CF) and annealing temperature on polypropylene (PP) microstructure was studied. The crystalline state of polymer matrix was found to be a strong function of thermal history. The effect of annealing temperature on the microstructure evolution of PP in the presence of CFs was characterized by using X-ray diffraction, DSC and localized thermal analysis. The melting behavior of CF-reinforced PP composite was strongly dominated by the thermal history and was weakly influenced by the presence of CFs. The interface between a CF and PP matrix was found to be weak. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. (c) 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers