What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to evaluate how succinic anhydride modification of xylite affects polypropylene composites' properties.

May 6, 2026Applied Sciences0 citationsOpen Access

The Influence of Chemical Modification of Xylite with Succinic Anhydride on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene Composites

JSJoanna Szymańska RPRobert E. Przekop WBWojciech H. Bednarek

Key Points

The aim is to evaluate how succinic anhydride modification of xylite affects polypropylene composites' properties.
Characterization of xylite-modified polypropylene composites through tensile testing and spectroscopy techniques.
Xylite incorporated in varying loadings (1, 10, 25 wt%) and sizes (40–63 µm, 63–125 µm).
Analysis of crystallinity, β-phase content, and mechanical properties, using wide-angle X-ray scattering and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.
Unmodified xylite reduced crystallinity to ~37% and lowered ductility, with significant negative correlation to filler content.
SA addition increased crystallinity to ~48% and Young's modulus to 2120 MPa, enhancing mechanical performance.
The study found that larger particle sizes slightly improved elongation at break, suggesting better toughness.

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of chemical modification of xylite—a fraction derived from Polish lignite—using succinic anhydride (SA) on the morphology and mechanical performance of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) composites. Xylite was incorporated at loadings of 1, 10, and 25 wt% and in two particle size ranges (40–63 µm and 63–125 µm), with and without SA (0.5 and 2 wt%). The composites were characterized by wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and tensile testing to evaluate crystallinity (Xc), β-phase content (kβ), and mechanical properties. Unmodified xylite reduced crystallinity (Xc down to ~37%) and significantly decreased ductility, with elongation at break strongly negatively correlated with filler content (r ≈ −0.68), indicating poor dispersion and weak interfacial adhesion. In contrast, SA addition (0.5–2 wt%) partially restored crystallinity (up to ~48%) and increased stiffness (Young’s modulus up to 2120 MPa), while altering β-phase content. FTIR analysis indicated reduced intermolecular hydrogen bonding between xylite surface hydroxyl groups in the presence of SA, consistent with interfacial chemical interactions, likely via esterification. The β-phase content showed a moderate positive correlation with xylite loading (r = +0.43) and a negative correlation with elongation at break (r = −0.46), suggesting that excessive β-phase formation may reduce toughness. Larger particles (63–125 µm) provided slightly improved elongation at break and stiffness. Overall, SA acts as both a compatibilizer and a morphology-directing agent, enabling precise control of the stiffness–ductility balance and crystalline structure in iPP/xylite composites. These results establish chemically modified lignite-derived fillers as a viable strategy for engineering cost-efficient polyolefin materials with tunable structure–property relationships, offering strong potential for scalable industrial implementation.

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