Utilization of Polypropylene in the Production of Metal-Filled Polymer Composites: Development and Characteristics

Abstract

Metal-filled composites based on polypropylene waste have been successfully obtained with an injection molding method of metalized polymer raw materials. Using the model polymer, the peculiarities of the formation of the copper layer in solutions of chemical metallization on the polypropylene surface were investigated and the main factors influencing this process were established. The main influence on the rate of reduction of copper in solutions of chemical metallization has the concentration of copper sulfate, sodium hydroxide, and EDTA-Na2. It was shown that the efficiency of the copper plating process also strongly depends on polymer processing, which follows the activation. In case of the use of simple activation, it is not possible to obtain metalized raw materials with high efficiency. Additional processing of activated polymer raw materials is required to carry out the process with high efficiency. The amount of reduced copper on the polymer surface can be adjusted by changing the concentration of the components of the chemical metallization solution, as well as the degree of loading of the polymer raw material. Examination by electron scanning microscopy of the obtained metalized polypropylene showed that the copper coating on the polymer particles is formed with a high degree of surface coverage. The formed copper coating is free of copper oxides, which is confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies and analysis of the spectrum of characteristic X-rays. Metal-filled composites have been characterized by the effect of copper on mechanical and rheological (MFR) properties. The Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric (TG) methods show a certain effect of metal on the magnitude of thermal effects and the rate of weight loss.

Obtainment and Characterization of Metal-Coated Polyethylene Granules as a Basis for the Development of Heat Storage Systems

“…The study of the obtained copper coating using X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that there are no oxides in the structure of the coating ( Figure 14 ). This feature of copper coatings obtained by the chemical reduction of copper ions in solutions with the complexing agent EDTA-Na 2 was also noted by other researchers [ 59 ] and was investigated when obtaining copper coating on other polymers, using the developed technology [ 54 , 57 ].…”

“…The developed technique, which includes the activation of the surface of the granules and their subsequent metallization in chemical reducing solutions, was used to obtain metallized polyethylene granules (Liten PL-10 (Unipetrol, Litvínov, Czech Republic)) [ 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ].…”

Implementation of a Recycled Polypropylene Homopolymer Material for Use in Additive Manufacturing

“…Figure 4 shows the graphical dependence of the nominal elongation at fracture on the ratio of regranulate. EF =1.17 •10 −6 • x 3 + 3.96 •10 −4 • x 2 − 0.1• x + 97.88 (6) where EF-elongation after fracture, x-percentage of recycled granulate. The correlation index of measured (blue points) and calculated (red curve) values is 98.66%, dispersion is 4.11, and standard deviation is 2.028.…”

“…They may be partially varied or adjusted using of additives. Their properties are mainly evaluated from a functional perspective [6,7], including the following:…”

Special Issue: Processing, Structure, Dynamics and Mechanical Properties of Polymeric Materials

“…In turn, Moravskyi et al [8] proposed a method of introducing a metal filler into the polymer matrix with the help of a chemical metallisation of the surface of the polymer raw material. The method was found to be effective and can be used to obtain high-tech metal-filled polymer composites, including those based on waste polymeric materials.…”