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Reuse of Natural Waste to Improve the Thermal Stability, Stiffness, and Toughness of Postconsumer Polypropylene Composites

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Abstract

The recycling of polymers by manufacturing them into composite materials in processes using natural waste has been of interest due to the appeal to mitigate various environmental problems. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the properties of postconsumer recycled polypropylene (PPrec) composites with 20% (by weight) calcined mollusk shell waste. The calcination was carried out at 500 °C for 12, in order to deagglomerate the particles of the shell calcined (CS). Two more composites were prepared from calcined shell: one CS/CNSL, where CS was treated with the liquid from the cashew nut shell—CNSL (an agricultural by-product) and the other CS/PEG, where CS was treated with polyethylene glycol—PEG (a synthetic product). Based on morphological aspect, PPrec showed nanoparticles of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) well dispersed with size around 290.9 nm. The surface treatment of CS with PEG resulted in composites with voids and agglomerated particles. Some of the CS particles were anchored as well as detached from the matrix. Some clusters involving the CaCO3 nanoparticles and shell microparticles treated with CNSL were observed. The TGA curves revealed an ash content in the range of 9.46% for the recycled Polypropylene, suggesting the presence of CaCO3. The thermal stability of the matrix was improved by adding the calcined shell and also by treating it with CNSL. From the DSC, the degree of crystallinity of the CS/CNSL and CS/PEG composites were similar to that of the PPrec. However, an 11.9% reduction in the crystallinity of composite with CS was observed, which exhibited a broader melting peak indicating that smaller polymer spherulites may be present. The investigation of Mechanical properties allowed to verify an increase in both the tensile and flexural modulus of the PPrec/CS, while CS/CNSL composite presents a mild decrease in the both. In addition, CS particles were more effective in improving the toughness of PPrec, increasing its impact strength by 41%.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial/technical support from the scholarship provided by Amazonas State Research Support Foundation (FAPEAM) and the technical support provided by Fast Solidification Laboratory (LSR) at Federal University of Paraiba. We thank Plastex Indústria e Comércio de Material Plásticos for its kind donation of recycled polymer.

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  1. Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering-CEP, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, 58051-900, Brazil

    P. M. A. Melo, A. S. F. Santos & L. B. Silva

  2. Department of Materials Engineering–CEP, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, 58051-900, Brazil

    O. B. Macêdo, G. P. Barbosa, A. S. F. Santos & L. B. Silva

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  1. P. M. A. Melo
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  2. O. B. Macêdo
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Correspondence to L. B. Silva.

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Melo, P.M.A., Macêdo, O.B., Barbosa, G.P. et al. Reuse of Natural Waste to Improve the Thermal Stability, Stiffness, and Toughness of Postconsumer Polypropylene Composites. J Polym Environ 29, 538–551 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-020-01907-4

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