Interfacial crystallization and mechanical property of isotactic polypropylene based single-polymer composites

Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) based single-polymer composites (SPCs) were prepared by introducing iPP fibers into the molten or supercooled homogeneous iPP matrix. The influences of fiber introduction temperature (Ti) on the resultant morphology of transcrystallinity (TC) and mechanical properties of SPCs were investigated via a polarized optical microscopy (POM) and a universal tensile test machine. The effects of interfacial crystallization on mechanical properties were also studied. The tensile strength of SPCs was observed to increase firstly and to reach a maximum value at Ti = 160 °C, and then to decrease with further increasing the Ti. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and POM were employed to understand the mechanical enhancement mechanism. It is found that the enhanced tensile strength of SPCs was strongly dependent on the synergistic effects of TC, high orientation degree of iPP fibers and good adhesion between the iPP fiber and the matrix. [Display omitted] •Single polymer composites (SPCs) were prepared with isotactic polypropylene (iPP) fibers and matrix.•Fiber introduction temperature could enhance interfacial crystallization.•Tensile strength strongly depended on the transcrystallinity, orientation degree of iPP fibers and fiber-matrix adhesion.