Copolymerization of Polypropylene and Functionalized Linear 1-Olefin onto Glass Fibers

FERREIRA, MARÍA LUJÁN; SILVIA ELENA BARBOSA; DAMIANI, DANIEL EDUARDO; CAPIATI, NUMA JOSÉ

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE

Wiley

Año: 2001 vol. 81 p. 1266 - 1276

0021-8995

This work deals with a novel glassfiber surface modification and subsequent metallocenic propylene polymerization onto it. Experimental results are presented on methylaluminoxane (MAO) fixation at the fiber surface, followed by propylene/a-olefin graft copolymerization  catalyzed by EtInd2ZrCl2/MAO. First results indicate that part of the produced polymer is chemically bonded to the glass fiber. SEM, FTIR and EDAX characterization confirm the permanence of a thin polymer layer as well as aluminum and oxygen (from the MAO) on the glass surface, even after a severe solvent extraction treatment. From these results, the copolymerization of hydroxy a-olefin, grafted on MAO pre-treated glass fiber, is foreseen as a possible way to improve the fiber-matrix adhesion in glass fiber thermoplastic composites.