Thermal Fatigue Effect on Impact Properties of latania natural fiber reinforced PP/EPDM biocomposites

Natural fiber composites have attracted many attentions due to their biodegradability and environmental concerns. In this article, latania natural fibers are used to reinforce PP/EPDM composites. The composites are then exposed with thermal fatigue cycles and the effects of these cycles on impact behavior of composites are investigated. For this purpose, impact tests were conducted on the composite specimens, which have previously been subjected to a certain number of thermal fatigue cycles ranged from +40 °C to -20 °C. The results showed that the impact behavior of latania natural fibers reinforced PP/EPDM composites were significantly affected by thermal fatigue cycles. In addition, the latania natural fiber addition into the PP/EPDM composites results in increasing the vulnerability of the composite. Fractured surfaces are also studied by high magnified camera to gain better understanding of the fracture morphology.