The short glass fiber (SGF)/polypropylene (PP) foam composites toughened by maleic anhydride grafted ethylene-1-octene copolymer (EOC-g-MAH) were prepared via post-foaming process in designed dies.The influence of EOC-g-MAH content on the cellular morphology

microstructure and mechanical properties of composites were investigated.The results indicated that the outstanding improvement in foaming effect was realized by the addition of EOC-g-MAH with a 35% reduction for average cell size and nearly four-fold increase in cell density.The interfacial adhesion between SGF and matrix was enhanced.More importantly

a novel morphology of EOC-g-MAH particles adhered to the surface of SGF was observed.The impact toughness of the SGF/PP foam composites was improved significantly and the peak value with a 77% increase was obtained when the mass fraction of EOC-g-MAH was added up to 8%.The flexural strength of SGF/PP foam composites was increased first and then decreased. However

the compressive strength exhibited an almost linear decline with the increase of the EOC-g-MAH.