Present research concentrates on the effects of a silane coupling agent on the properties and dispersibility of the polypropylene (PP)-cenosphere composite system. Improving the interfacial interaction between the hydrophobic PP matrix and cenosphere particles is important to get a good combination of properties. 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane and glycidyl methacrylate–grafted polypropylene (PP-g-GMA) were used as a coupling agent and compatibilizer, respectively. The surface characteristics of untreated and treated cenosphere and PP-g-GMA were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The silane treated and untreated cenosphere particles were incorporated as fillers into PP and PP-g-GMA matrix composites by mixing at different weight ratios. Such cenosphere-filled polymer composites possess attractive mechanical, thermal, morphological, flow, dispersion and chemical resistance properties.

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Acid and base catalyzed polycondensationreaction of phenol and bisphenol A with crotonaldehyde and cardanol results in novolac and resol type phenolic resins. Phenolic oligomers are characterized by their viscosity, average molecular weight and FT-IR spectral studies. Glass reinforced composites of all phenolic oligomers were prepared. Composites are characterized by their synergetic thermal stability by Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential scanning calorimery (DSC), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mechanical properties such as flexural strength, impact strength and hardness, chemical resistance, fibre content over a broad range of compositions. The thermal and curing behavior of the resins are found to vary markedly with the mole ratio and the purity of crotonaldehyde or cardanol. Composites prepared from these resin having very good mechanical properties.

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