Shrinkage reduction and morphological characterization of PP reinforced with glass fiber and nanoclay using functionalized PP as compatibilizer

This work presents results of shrinkage and structure characteristics of reinforced PP using combinations of glass fiber and nanoclay with functionalized PP as compatibilizer during injection molding. Shrinkage, warpage and structure characteristics of clay-fiber reinforced nanocomposites using PP grafted with 2-[2- (Dimethylamino) ethoxy] ethanol (DMAE) to obtain PPgDMAE as compatibilizer, were analyzed. The glass fiber-nanoclay combinations decrease the PP shrinkage as well as the warpage tendency. Functionalized PP facilitates glass fiber and clay dispersion and intercalation. The crystallization temperature, Tc, increases slightly with respect to pure PP and the degree of crystallinity, Xc, was reduced with the clay content.