Effect of fiber treatment on mechanical properties of polypropylene‐wood fiber composites

Polypropylene (PP) was reinforced with chemi‐thermomechanical (CTMP) pulp and wood flour. Different chemical treatment of the fiber a) polyethylene‐poly‐(phenyl isocyanate), b) silane A‐172 and c) epolene was carried out to improve the bonding between the polymer and fiber. PP reinforced with CTMP pulp and wood flour showed a decrease in stress values as the concentration of fiber increased in the composite. Tensile modulus generally increased with filler loading and was not much affected by fiber treatment. Experimental results of the composites were compared with theoretically predicted values.