# Effect of Plasma Surface Treatment and Hybrid Fibers on Polypropylene Composites

## TL;DR

Plasma treatment improves the performance of polypropylene composites reinforced with flax and glass fibers by enhancing fiber-matrix adhesion.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates how plasma treatment and symmetric laminate design optimize the mechanical properties of sustainable hybrid composites.

## Key findings

- Plasma treatment reduced flax contact angle from 93.5° to 56.1°, increasing surface energy.
- PFGFP showed higher tensile strength (61.69 MPa) and Young’s modulus (518.62 MPa) due to symmetric architecture.
- PFGGFP had reduced strength and voids from incomplete fiber wetting in dense regions.

## Abstract

Thermoplastic hybrid composites reinforced with flax and glass fibers offer a sustainable, high-performance alternative for structural applications by balancing stiffness and energy absorption. This study investigated the impact of low-pressure plasma treatment on the thermal, mechanical, and microstructural properties of two polypropylene-based laminate configurations, PFGFP (polypropylene–flax–glass–flax–polypropylene) and PFGGFP (polypropylene–flax–glass–glass–flax–polypropylene), to optimize fiber–matrix interfacial adhesion. Materials were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile testing, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The plasma treatment significantly enhanced the lignocellulosic fibers’ surface energy, reducing the flax contact angle from 93.5° to 56.1°. DSC analysis revealed a matrix crystallinity of 35.41%, while TGA confirmed flax thermal stability up to 250 °C. The PFGFP configuration exhibited superior mechanical performance (Tensile strength = 61.69 MPa; Young’s modulus = 518.62 MPa), attributed to its symmetric architecture and efficient fiber impregnation. Conversely, PFGGFP showed reduced strength and microstructural voids due to incomplete wetting in dense reinforcement regions. These findings conclude that the synergy between plasma surface modification and optimized laminate architecture is critical for the design of high-performance sustainable composites, providing an objective basis for improving interfacial compatibility in hybrid systems.