@article { ISI:000232802700002,
	title = {Durability of natural fiber-reinforced composites of ethylene-propylene copolymer under accelerated weathering and composting conditions},
	journal = {Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials},
	volume = {18},
	number = {6},
	year = {2005},
	month = {NOV},
	pages = {489-508},
	publisher = {SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD},
	type = {Article},
	address = {1 OLIVERS YARD, 55 CITY ROAD, LONDON EC1Y 1SP, ENGLAND},
	abstract = {<p>Three types of composites are prepared by the melt mixing of ethylene-propylene copolymer (EPC) with (i) 3 \% NaOH-treated jute fiber, (ii) 17.5 \% NaOH-treated jute fiber, and (iii) commercial microcrystal line cellulose powder using maleated EPC as compatibilizer. The composites obtained are characterized by FTIR and microscopic measurements. Their mechanical properties are measured using a UTM (Instron model 4204). The durability of the composites is evaluated in an irradiation chamber with UV radiation of wavelength lambda \&gt;= 290 mn and composting conditions at different time intervals. The composites made from microcrystalline cellulose show superior mechanical properties, biodisintegrability, as well as photoresistance whereas the specimen containing 3\% NaOH-treated fiber exhibited the lowest photoresistance. Increasing the quantity of maleated EP (MEP) in the composition decreases photostability. Neat EPC has been found to be highly stable than all the composites with increasing UV irradiation. It has been found that the composites are less durable under both abiotic and biotic conditions in comparison to the neat polymer.</p>},
	keywords = {compatibilization, composites, jute fiber, mechanical properties, Microcrystalline cellulose, photodegradation and composting},
	issn = {0892-7057},
	doi = {10.1177/0892705705054411},
	author = {Kumar, A. P. and Depan, Dilip and Singh, R. P.}
}
@article { ISI:000297940300004,
	title = {Influence of reactive compatibilization on the structure and properties of PP/LDH nanocomposites},
	journal = {Polymer International},
	volume = {60},
	number = {12},
	year = {2011},
	month = {DEC},
	pages = {1688-1696},
	publisher = {WILEY-BLACKWELL},
	address = {COMMERCE PLACE, 350 MAIN ST, MALDEN 02148, MA USA},
	abstract = {<p>Polypropylene (PP)/layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites were prepared by the direct melt intercalation method usingmaleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) as a reactive compatibilizer. The compatibilization effects provided by PP-g-MAH in different weight fractions and their influence on the structure and properties of the final nanocomposites were investigated. The interactions and structural morphology of the nanocomposites were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electronmicroscopy. Thermal, mechanical and rheological properties of these nanocomposites were investigated as a function of compatibilizer concentration. The detailed morphological and X-ray diffraction results revealed that the degree of LDH dispersion increases as the amount of PP-g-MAH increases. Study of the linear viscoelastic properties showed that the storage modulus G{\textquoteright} is very sensitive to the microstructure of the nanocomposite. The thermal properties of the nanocomposites were significantly influenced by the weight fraction of PP-g-MAH due to the shielding and nucleating effect of exfoliated layers. Both the tensile strength and modulus showed substantial improvements with increasing PP-g-MAH content, while the elongation at break substantially decreased, although the presence of PP-gMAH somewhat improves these values. The overall results showed that 10 wt\% of compatibilizer is optimum to achieve nanocomposites with better performance. (C) 2011 Society of Chemical Industry</p>},
	keywords = {compatibilization, layered double hydroxides, Nanocomposites, polypropylene, Rheology, thermomechanical properties},
	issn = {0959-8103},
	doi = {10.1002/pi.3129},
	author = {Lonkar, Sunil P. and Therias, Sandrine and Leroux, Fabrice and Gardette, Jean Luc and Singh, Raj Pal}
}
