The effect of PP and EPR grafted with acrylic acid on the properties and phase structure of polypropylene/elastomer/short glass fibre composites

Composites comprising polypropylene/elastomer/short glass fibre in which acrylated polypropylene (AcPP) or acrylated ethylene‐propylene elastomer (AcEPR) were used to raise the interfacial adhesion were investigated. These agents cause a change in mechanical properties, and predominantly a rise in strength, not only due to an improved matrix‐fibre adhesion, but also by affecting the phase structure of the matrix in the surroundings of the fibres. Better results were obtained in the case of AcPP, but—surprisingly enough—the impact strength was lower with AcEPR than with a composite containing unfunctionalized components.