Influence of impact modifier-coupling agent combination on mechanical properties of wood flour-reinforced polypropylene composit

The tensile properties and impact strength of wood flour-polypropylene composite with or without impact modifier and coupling agent have been investigated. The addition of maleic anhydride and dicumyl peroxide improved the tensile properties and impact strength. With increasing ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR) and maleic anhydride (MAH)-modified ethylene-propylene rubber (MEPR), impact strength were increased, whereas tensile strength and Young's modulus were decreased. At the same EPR or MEPR content, the higher filler loadings resulted in higher Young's modulus and lower impact strength. Tensile properties and impact strength were greatly improved by adding EPR combined with maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MAPP) and dihydroquinoline.