Application of ashes as filling in reprocessed polypropylene: thermomechanical properties of composites

Abstract

The life cycle of a product depends to a great extent on its reuse and ease of recycling. This work had developed of composite materials of reprocessed polypropylene composites with rice husk ash (RHA) and sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) through the coextrusion and injection processes as main purpose. The polymeric matrix was reprocesed until six generations by the injection technique. The reprocessed PP was mixed in 80:20 proportions with respect to filler mineral, using maleic anhydride as coupling agent in a coextrusion machine. The new series of composite materials were analyzed thermal, mechanical, rheological and morphologically. The incorporation of ashes in the PP matrix achieved characteristics of improved tensile strength, conserving the thermal properties. For this reason, this work presents an alternative for the manufacture of composite materials from post-industrial waste.

Mechanical properties of rice husk and rice husk ash filled maleated polymers compatibilized polypropylene composites

“…Fiber surface modification techniques that have been employed to overcome the incompatibility of rice husk fiber with its polymer matrix include mercerization, 13 ultraviolet-ozonolysis, 14 electron beam irradiation, 15 plasma, 16,17 compatibilization [18][19][20] and coupling agent. 12 Compatibilization however, has seen higher acceptance and application compared to other treatment techniques.…”

“…20 Reprocessed PP/RHA composite up to six generations was found to retain its tensile properties due to the inclusion of MAPP compatibilizer which enhanced good dispersion of the particles within the matrix, enabling efficient matrix-filler stress transfer. 18 The use of E-AE-MA as compatibilizer in RH filled polymer composite system has only been reported by Panthapulakkal et al 21 The study involved RH filler and HDPE matrix. E-AE-MA addition was found to improve tensile and flexural strength of the composite by 55 and 20% but had no significant effect on their modulus.…”