A study of the degradation of compatibilized and uncompatibilized peanut shell powder/recycled polypropylene composites due to natural weathering

Abstract

Compatibilized and uncompatibilized composites containing various loadings of recycled polypropylene (RPP) and peanut shell powder (PSP) were prepared. An amount of 3 parts by weight per hundred parts of resin of poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) (PEAA) was used as a compatibilizer in the RPP/PSP composites. The effect of PEAA and PSP loading on natural weathering was investigated. Composites without PEAA were used as a control, with the samples being tested before exposure to the environment. The PSP loading was varied from 0 to 40 wt%. The samples were exposed to natural weathering in the northern part of Malaysia for 6 months. The results showed that there was a higher decrease in tensile strength and elongation at break in the uncompatibilized composites compared with the compatibilized composites after exposure. Moreover, the tensile modulus increased for both the uncompatibilized and the compatibilized composites after natural weathering. The weight loss for both the uncompatibilized and the compatibilized RPP/ PSP composites with PSP loading of 40 wt% after 6 months exposure was 9.24 and 7.13 wt%, respectively.

Linear Low Density Polyethylene/Poly (Vinyl Alcohol)/Kenaf Composites: Effect of Natural Weathering on Functional Group, Weight Loss Characteristics, Tensile, Morphological and Thermal Properties

“…This leads to the deterioration in molecular weight and mechanical properties of the composites. The obtained results are in agreement with the earlier report by Nazrul Islam et al (2013), Silva et al (2017) and Zaaba et al (2015). Elongation at break is one of the most crucial tensile properties that are used when studying polymer degradation, as it can give an early indication of mechanical failure (Spinace & De Paoli 2015).…”

“…Thus, the deformability of the composites declined after weathering. This is similar to the earlier reports by Sarifuddin et al (2014) and Zaaba et al (2015). Figure 6 demonstrates the tensile modulus of LLDPE/ PVOH/KNF composites before, after 3 months and 6 months of natural weathering exposure, respectively.…”

“…This shows that the presence of KNF has increased the degradation rate of LLDPE/PVOH/KNF composites. A similar result was reported by Zaaba et al (2015), who found that higher peanut shell powder loading in recycled polypropylene had the tendency to accelerate the degradation of the composites. As the weathering duration increased, the severity of surface damage increased for LLDPE/PVOH/KNF composites at all KNF loadings.…”

A review on degradation mechanisms of polylactic acid: Hydrolytic, photodegradative, microbial, and enzymatic degradation

“…[20] Use of biodegradable materials including polymer blends and composites is being assessed worldwide. [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] Table 1 shows a few examples of biodegradable polymers and the advantages and disadvantages commonly associated with their use. Of the biodegradable polymers considered, starch blends are produced in the largest quantities and they are followed by polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and other biodegradable materials as shown in Figure 2.…”

Thermoplastic/Natural Filler Composites: A Short Review

“…Most types of plastic are not degradable or taking thousands of years to degrade depending on local environmental factors such as oxygen, temperature and ultraviolet light exposure. [4][5][6][7] Because of that, solid waste is becoming a critical issue globally especially in the 21st century. 8 In view of that, community attentiveness is presently being engaged on the environmental friendly composite materials manufactured from natural fillers and polymeric materials.…”