Furfuryl palmitate coated fly ash used as filler in recycled polypropylene matrix composites

Abstract

The fly ash (FA) particles were coated with furfuryl palmitate (FP) in different wt% like 1, 2, 3 and 5. The FP coated fly ash particles were incorporated as filler in recycled polypropylene (RPP) matrix composites by melt mixing in 1:1wt% ratio. The composites were tested for their flexural properties, impact behaviour, dynamic mechanical behaviour and fracture surface. The highest enhancement in properties was observed in 2wt% FP (FP2) coated fly ash filled composites, where the flexural strength, breaking energy and modulus increased by 6.4%, 64% and 1.4% respectively, with a shift of glass transition temperature to a higher temperature. The surface area and true porosity of the FP2 particles were determined to understand the interfacial phenomenon. Highest impact strength was observed in 1wt% FP coated fly ash filled composites. So, a renewable, low cost chemical like furfuryl palmitate can be used as an effective coupling agent for fly ash in place of expensive synthetic coupling agents which are more commonly used.