Thermoplastic Blends of PP and Waste Rubber Powder: Effects of Compatibilizer on Tensile Properties, Thermal Behavior and Decomposition Kinetics

Abstract

To improve the performances of waste rubber powder filled polypropylene (PP/WRP) blends, WRP was modified by γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) via mechano-chemical method, and then maleic anhydride (MAH) grafted PP (mPP) and MAH grafted ethylene-α-octene copolymer (mEOC) were chosen as the interfacial compatibilizers. The PP/WRP blends were prepared by melt-compounding and compression, and their morphological structures, tensile properties and thermal behavior were investigated carefully. Results showed that modification of APTES decreased the surface energy of WRP and facilitated its compatibility to PP. Both mPP and mEOC could further enhance their interfacial bonding and mPP was superior to mEOC in increasing the tensile strength and elastic modulus. Thermal analysis revealed relative lower melting temperature and crystallinity but higher activation energy for PLA/WRP blends in comparison to pristine PP.

Effect of Melting–Recycling Cycles and Mechanical Fracture on the Thermoplastic Materials Composed of Thermoplastic Polyurethane and Polypropylene Waste Blends

“…With the assistance of a suitable compatibilizer, the compounds can be rid of phase separation [23]. Yang et al indicated that maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene is a useful compatibilizer to improve the interphase problem between polypropylene and wasted rubber powder [24].…”

Incorporation of a recycled rubber compound from the shoe industry in polystyrene: Effect of SBS compatibilizer content

“…2,3 Reuse has been encouraged to overcome the environmental impacts caused by this kind of waste and, consequently, contributing to a sustainable environmental cycle. [4][5][6] The reuse of postconsumer and postindustrial rubber waste is a major challenge, particularly in the tire and footwear industries, since they are mostly vulcanized. One of the main obstacles in the recycling of vulcanized rubbers is the fact that these materials have cross-links in their structure, preventing their melt and reprocessing.…”