The Effects of Short Glass Fibre (SGF) Loading and a Silane Coupling Agent on Properties of Polypropylene/Waste Tyre Dust/Short Glass Fibre (PP/WTD/SGF) Composites

The properties of polypropylene/waste tyre dust/short glass fibre (PP/WTD/SGF) composites at 0 to 20 php SGF loading, with and without a silane coupling agent, gamma-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (gamma-APS) were studied. The results reveal that the equilibrium torque and Young's modulus increased while tensile strength and elongation at break decreased as SGF loading increased. SEM micrographs show poor adhesion of SGF-PP/WTD while FTIR analysis demonstrates the existence of interactions in composites. Thermal stability and swelling resistance increased as SGF increases. The tensile, morphological and thermal properties as well as swelling resistance of PP/WTD/SGF composites were improved with the presence of gamma-APS.