Glass fiber (GF)/polypropylene (PP) composite studied by Raman disrelation mapping

Disrelation mapping was applied to Raman imaging data for the first time to investigate submolecular-level variations that occurred at the interface between glass fiber (GF) and polypropylene (PP). Disrelation maps constructed with Raman spectra provided spatial as well as spectral information, which are not readily accessible from hypercubic data. For example, patterns that appeared in the disrelation maps showed the predominant development of a long helix band (1002 cm-1) at the interface between the GF and PP, rather than a short helix band (974 cm-1). The development of the disrelation intensity was observed inside the sample as well as at the surface. These results clearly reveal that the GF or compatibilizer works intrinsically as a nucleating agent to induce additional development of the crystalline structure of the PP, which eventually makes the polymer system harder but more brittle.