Effect of hybrid filler loading on some physicomechanical properties of waste polypropylene

Abstract

This research work studied the potential of utilizing waste Polypropylene (wPP), Date Seeds Particles (DSP), and Clay Particles (CP) to fabricate a hybrid composite material of different hybrid filler loading combination. Compounding and Compression molding techniques where used to fabricate twelve samples with matrix/filler loading ratio of 90:10 that is 90 percent matrix (wPP) and 10 percent hybrid fillers (DSP/C) to give a 100 percent hybrid composite material except for the control sample which is 100 percent matrix. The 10 percent loading was distributed between DSP and CP by varying the loading from 0/10 DSP/CP and 10/0 DSP/CP that is as DSP is increasing the CP is decreasing in the first case and opposite in the second case. The research work also investigated some physical and mechanical and properties of the hybrid composites. For Physical properties, density and water absorption test were carried out, the result have shown that most of the composite have higher density than the control with 0.69g/cm³ except the last two composite with 0.68 and 0.67g/cm³. The highest density value was observed on the composite of 0DSP/10CP with 1.28g/cm³.as the value continue to decrease progressively with increase in the DSP and decrease in CP. For water absorption capacity, the control (0DSP/0CP) and composite of 0DSP/10CP have shown 0.0% water absorption capacity. Within the composite, the water absorption is increasing progressively with increase in DSP and decreasing the CP as the composite of 10DSP/0CP absorbed much water with 0.54%. For tensile strength and elongation at break, the control sample displayed a higher result over composites with 25.9Mpa, 45.2% respectively. While for the tensile modulus, flexural modulus, and hardness, the composite of 10DSP/0CP displayed a highest result of 1.8Gpa and 89Hv respectively and the values are increasing with increase in DSP and decreasing the CP. The study validates that the balanced filler combination (such as 4DSP/6CP or 6DSP/4CP) can provide a synergic effect, improving both mechanical and physical properties.