Properties of Rubber Seed Shell Flour-Filled Polypropylene Composites: The Effect of Poly(ethylene co-Acrylic Acid)

Abstract

The effect of adding poly(ethylene co-acrylic acid) (PE-co-AA) in rubber seed shell flour (RSSF)-filled polypropylene (PP) composites on processing, mechanical, water absorption, and morphological properties was studied. The addition of PE-co-AA increased the processing torque in PP/RSSF composites. Furthermore, mechanical properties such as tensile strength, flexural strength impact strength, Young's modulus, and flexural modulus show significant improvement compared to uncompatibilized composites, while elongation at break is reduced. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of tensile fracture specimens revealed that the dispersion of RSSF filler in the matrix improved with PEco-AA, with fewer agglomerations. Water absorption ability of the compatibilized composites was reduced due to the improved interfacial bonding, which limits the amount of water molecules to be absorbed. PEco-AA acted as a compatibilizer in PP/RSSF composites. Improvement in the properties of the composites was contributed by homogenization of RSSF particles in the PP matrix and reduction of voids and cracks due to improved interfacial adhesion and bonding between matrix and filler.

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Walnut Shell Flour-Filled Thermoplastic Starch Composites

“…Agro-waste composites offer excellent engineering potential because they are light-weight, environmentally friendly, economical, renewable, and abundant and have high strength and rigidity, and they provide a plausible environmental solution to municipal waste disposal (Pirayesh et al 2012;Zahedi et al 2015). Some combinations of agricultural wastes such as palm kernel shell, coconut shell, walnut shell flour, cocoa pod husk, oil palm agro wastes, peanut shell, rubber seed shell flour, almond shell flour, and thermoplastic materials have been successfully developed (Malkapuram et al 2009;Pirayesh et al 2012;Pirayesh et al 2013;Chun et al 2013;Salmah and Ismail 2013;Obasi et al 2014;Zaaba et al 2014;Mohd Suhaimi and Ismail 2014;Zahedi et al 2015).…”

Effects of Particulate Types on Biomass Particulate Filled Kenaf/Polypropylene Composite

“…Some studies reported the use of untreated and carbonized rubber seed powder as reinforcement in polymeric composites. [4] It was reported that carbonized rubber seed shell had the potential as reinforcing filler for natural rubber compounds [5]. In the study of PP-and HDPE-based composites added with RSSP, it was shown that with higher RSSF content, the higher thermal stability, initial degradation temperature, degradation temperature, and total weight loss became.…”