Influence of compatibilizers and processing temperature on microcellular injection‐molded polypropylene/(waste tire powder) composites |
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Authors: | Zhen‐Xiu Zhang Jun‐ling Fan Kaushik Pal Jin Kuk Kim Zhen‐Xiang Xin |
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Affiliation: | 1. Key Laboratory of Rubber‐Plastics, Ministry of Education, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Rubber‐Plastics, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China;2. School of Nano and Advanced Materials Engineering, Gyeongsang National University, Gyeongnam, Jinju 660‐701, South Korea;3. College of Electromechanical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, People's Republic of China |
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Abstract: | Nowadays the economic recycling of waste tires has become a global challenge. The use of waste tire powder as a dispersed elastomeric phase in a polypropylene (PP) matrix offers an interesting opportunity for recycling of waste tire rubber. Compatibilized PP/(waste tire powder) composites are microcellularly processed to create a new class of materials with unique properties. Recent studies have demonstrated the feasibility of developing microcellular structures in PP/waste ground rubber tire (WGRT) composites. Microcellular PP/WGRT composites are prepared by an injection‐molding process using a chemical blowing agent. In this study, cell sizes, cell density, void fraction, and mechanical properties of the composite foams were measured, as well as the shear viscosity of the unfoamed composites. The influence of various compatibilizers and processing temperatures on cell morphology and the mechanical properties of injection‐molded PP/WGRT composites were investigated. It was seen that the addition of maleic anhydride‐grafted styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene (SEBS‐g‐MA) increased the shear viscosity of the composites. The void fraction and cell density of the PP/WGRT composites increased with addition of compatibilizers, whereas the average cell sizes decreased. A processing temperature range of 180–195°C gave finer microcellular structure and regular cell distribution. The SEBS‐g‐MA enhanced the elongation properties and acted as an effective compatibilizer in this particular system. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers |
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