Study of the modification of the properties of (PP/EPR) blends with a view to preserving natural resources when elaborating new formulation and recycling polymers

Abstract

International audienceThe aim of the present work is to study how CaCO3, very abundant on earth, can be blended with polypropylene/ethylene propylene rubber (PP/EPR) either to preserve natural resources when elaborating virgin formulations or to simulate mixtures of waste made of CaCO3 filled PP with PP/EPR which could result from end-of-life-vehicles (ELV). The article focuses on the studies of PP/EPR blends, used in the manufacture of automobile fenders, in the presence of nano-CaCO3 and compatibilizers. Blends of various compositions (with and without compatibilizer and nanoparticles) were prepared using a corotating twin-screw extruder. The results were compared with the ones presented by a commercial (PP/EPR) blend. The experiments included mechanical tests, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis experiments. The presence of the compatibilizers in the (PP/EPR) blends decreases the size of elastomer particles, improves the adherence to the interface and improves the mechanical properties. The nano-CaCO3 would also seem to act as a nucleating agent in the PP/EPR matrix; it increases the cristallinity and the Young modulus of the blends

Recent Advances in Elastomeric Nanocomposites

“…Similar observations have been reported that the thermal stability of polypropylene/layered silicate nanocomposites was improved by a physical barrier effect; hence it is enhanced by ablative reassembling of the silicate layer [147]. It can also explained that may be due to the filler effect that is prominent and retards the degradation of TPE gels and the retardation effect is attributed to the interaction between nanoparticles and macroradicals generated during the degradation process.…”

“…An alternative possibility is to include elastomer granulate in a matrix of elastomer with a different composition, using compatibilizer to achieve acceptable properties [146,147]. It should be noted though that meeting performance requirements in the case of renewed recycling of elastomers composed of more than one type of polymer may be more difficult than in the case that one type of polymer is present [43].…”

Phase structure and mechanical properties of PP/EPR/CaCO3 nanocomposites: Effect of particle's size and treatment

“…A complex mixture containing calcium carbonate was studied to solve recycling problem, and to facilitate the recovery of PP composites with simplified sorting and lower levels of purity . Nano‐CaCO 3 fillers were mixed to (PP/EPR) based formulations in the perspective of processing more complex blends when recycling . Calcium carbonate was also considered as impurity in postconsumer PP .…”

Preparation and properties of polyurethane‐coated talcum/polypropylene composite materials

“…The POE, ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), and styreneethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) elastomer were used as toughening agents, which were dispersed in the resin matrix in an appropriate manner. However, the stiffness, strength, and heat distortion temperature of the PP were reduced to a certain degree [7][8][9].…”