Studies on the Properties of Polypropylene/(Waste Tire Dust)/Kenaf (PP/WTD/KNF) Composites With Addition of Phthalic Anhydride (PA) as a Function of KNF Loading

The properties of polypropylene/(waste tire dust)/kenaf (PP/WTD/KNF) composites with the addition of phthalic anhydride (PA) as a function of KNF loading were studied. Composites containing constant PP and WTD compositions of 70 and 30 parts by weight per hundred parts of resin (phr), with various KNF loadings (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 phr), were prepared by using a Thermo-Haake Polydrive internal mixer at a temperature of 180 degrees C with a rotor speed of 50 rpm. The results showed that tensile strength and elongation at break decreased, while tensile modulus, stabilization torque, water absorption, and thermal stability increased with increased KNF loading. PP/WTD/KNF composites with PA showed higher tensile strength, tensile modulus, and water uptake but lower stabilization torque and elongation at break when compared with PP/WTD/KNF composites. Scanning electron microscopy morphological study on the tensile fractured surface proves that the interfacial adhesion between PP/WTD and KNF was enhanced with the addition of PA. (C) 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers