Circular Production, Designing, and Mechanical Testing of Polypropylene-Based Reinforced Composite Materials: Statistical Analysis for Potential Automotive and Nuclear Applications

Abstract

The circularity of polymer waste is an emerging field of research in Europe. In the present research, the thermal, surface, mechanical, and tribological properties of polypropylene (PP)-based composite produced by injection molding were studied. The pure PP matrix was reinforced with 10, 30, and 40% wt. of pure cotton, synthetic polyester, and polyethylene terephthalate post-consumer fibers using a combination of direct extrusion and injection molding techniques. Results indicate that PP-PCPESF-10% wt. exhibits the highest value of tensile strength (29 MPa). However, the values of tensile and flexural strain were lowered with an increase in fiber content due to the presence of micro-defects. Similarly, the values of modulus of elasticity, flexural modulus, flexural strength, and impact energy were enhanced due to an increase in the amount of fiber. The PP-PCCF-40% wt. shows the highest values of flexural constant (2780 MPa) and strength (57 MPa). Additionally, the increase in fiber loadings is directly proportional to the creation of micro-defects, surface roughness, abrasive wear, coefficient of friction, and erosive wear. The lowest average absolute arithmetic surface roughness value (Ra) of PP and PP-PCCF, 10% wt., were 0.19 µm and 0.28 µm. The lowest abrasive wear value of 3.09 × 10−6 mm3/Nm was found for pure PP. The erosive wear value (35 mm3/kg) of PP-PCCF 40% wt. composite material was 2 to 17 times higher than all other composite materials. Finally, the single-step analysis of variance predicts reasonable results in terms of the p-values of each composite material for commercial applications.

Influence of Succinite Additives on the Crystal Structure and Orientation of Composite Pa6 Nanofibers

“…This study not only contributes to understanding of the influence of nanofiber composition and structure on their physical properties but also opens new avenues for the tailored design of nanofiber based composites for advanced engineering applications [32]- [41], included an innovative recycled technologies of these materials [42]- [44]; because the modern industrial development has a high demand for new materials -with unique properties, combinations, and functionality [45]- [51].…”

Review of Subgrade Soil Stabilised with Natural and Synthetic Fibres

“…It is a thermoplastic polymer that is widely used in various applications such as soil stabilisation due to its versatility, durability, and relatively low cost. Polypropylene fibres are formed when polymer polypropylene is processed into fibres (Hejazi et al, 2012;Hussain et al, 2023). The chemical and physical characteristics of polypropylene fibres are shown in Table 9.…”