Influence of basalt fiber and maleic anhydride on the mechanical and thermal properties of polypropylene

Abstract Natural mineral fiber basalt has excellent thermal and mechanical characteristics. The current research focuses on evaluating the mechanical and thermal characteristics of polypropylene (PP) composites reinforced with short‐length basalt fibers (BF) fabricated by the melt mixing method. Maleic anhydride (MAH) at 3 wt% was used as a compatibilizer for fabricating the composites. The composite's mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties were investigated. The mechanical properties of the composites were enhanced with an increase in BF loadings from 10 to 40 wt% and beyond that it decreased. The chemical interaction between the fiber and the matrix was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry studies were used to determine the crystallization temperature, melting temperature and percent crystallinity of the composite. According to dynamic mechanical analysis, reinforcing PP with BF improved the damping property. Scanning electron microscopy revealed good interfacial interaction among the fiber and matrix and X‐ray diffraction was used to study the composite crystallinity.