PERFORMANCE OF TREATED HYBRID FIBER-REINFORCED THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITES UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS .2. USE OF GLASS AND WOOD PULP AS HYBRID FIBER

The effect of various extreme conditions (e.g. exposure to boiling water and to temperatures of +105-degrees-C and -20-degrees-C) on the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the mixtures of chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP) and glass fiber-filled polystyrene composites was investigated. The effect of compositions of CTMP and glass fiber, as well as the surface treatment of CTMP (e.g. coating of the fibers with isocyanate or silane and polymer), on the properties of the composites under experimental conditions has also been evaluated. A hybrid mixture of surface-treated CTMP and glass fiber revealed itself to be good reinforcing filler for polystyrene because the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of such combined filler-filled polystyrene composites showed promising results, even under adverse conditions.