Influence of Fluorinated and Oxy-Fluorinated Short Kevlar Fiber Loading on the Properties of Ethylene Propylene Matrix Composites

This paper addresses the effects of surface-modified Kevlar fibers, fiber loading and the resultant crystalline, thermal, dynamic mechanical and morphological properties of Kevlar fiber and thermoplastic ethylene–propylene polymer composites. Incorporation of surface-modified Kevlar fibers enhances the crystallization of the matrix through heterogeneous nucleation compared to unmodified Kevlar fibers. Modified Kevlar fiber reinforcement significantly improved thermal stability of the composites as evidenced by thermogravimetric analysis. Dynamic mechanical analysis shows that an increase in the storage modulus is more pronounced in case of surface-modified Kevlar fibers, and with high fiber content in the composites.