Preparation of injection-molded polypropylene/reclaimed tire rubber/sawdust blends

Abstract

The blends of polypropylene (PP) / reclaimed tire rubber (RTR) /sawdust were prepared by injection molding vulcanized using sulphur system or maleic anhydride polypropylene (MAPP) system. The RTR and sawdust content were varied from 0% to 30% by weight, while PP content was kept constant at 70% by weight. The effect of blend ratio, properties on impact strength, tensile strength, water absorption, thickness swelling, accelerator weathering, swelling ratio and morphology of polypropylene (PP) / reclaimed tire rubber /sawdust blends were investigated. The properties of blends with maleic anhydride polypropylene system show slightly higher tensile strength and impact strength than composites with sulfur system. It evidenced that a maleic anhydride polypropylene improved the mechanical behavior of the blend. This causes an increase in interfacial adhesion. It was formed that physical and mechanical properties of all the blends with the same vulcanized using sulphur system and maleic anhydride polypropylene (MAPP) system before and after accelerator weathering that was similar, except the impact strength. The phase structure and miscibility of polypropylene (PP) / reclaimed tire rubber (RTR) /sawdust were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).