Improved Interface Bonding Between Cellulosic Fibers and Thermoplastics

A method to significantly improve the tensile strength of Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene (PS) reinforced with cellulosic fibers is presented. This method relies on the generation of free radicals. These free radicals initiate the chemical reaction (grafting) between the cellulosic fibers and the silane coupling agent which already has connection with the thermoplastics (PVC or PS). The existence of the attachment of the silane coupling agent to the cellulosic fibers is proven by three different means: the infrared spectrum, the increase in weight of the fibers after grafting with the silane coupling agent and the change in colour of the grafted fibers after soaking in an appropriate solution.