Hybrid green organic/inorganic filler polypropylene composites: Morphological study and mechanical performance investigations

Mohammed T. Hayajneh,Faris M. AL-Oqla,Mu’ayyad M. Al-Shrida

doi:10.1515/epoly-2021-0074

Mohammed T. Hayajneh, Faris M. AL-Oqla + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1515/epoly-2021-0074

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Abstract

AbstractIn this study, the morphological and mechanical performances of hybrid green organic and inorganic filler composites were investigated. Various hybrid reinforcements using natural waste fillers including lemon leaves and eggshells were utilized for the study. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation to break, flexural strength, and flexural modulus were investigated for the composites with polypropylene matrix. The results revealed that eggshells composites had the best values for both tensile and flexural tests while lemon leaves composites had the lowest values. However, the hybrid filler (lemon leaves-eggshells) had intermediate values. The poor properties of lemon leaves were attributed to the agglomeration and weak bonding presented by the morphological analysis of the hybrid composites.

Highlights

In recent decades, synthetic polymers have become a strong competitor to metals in different industries, Diverse types of single and hybrid natural fibers like corn silk/Hibiscus cannabinus [8], waste tea leaves [9], olive leaves [10,11], Jordanian natural fiber species [12,13], sweet lime and lemon [14], and rice husk [15] have been fabricated with various polymer matrices
All fillers reduced the values of tensile strength and flexural strength of PP
The hybrid filler obtained in-between results compared to lemon and Es fillers

Summary

Introduction

Synthetic polymers have become a strong competitor to metals in different industries, Diverse types of single and hybrid natural fibers like corn silk/Hibiscus cannabinus [8], waste tea leaves [9], olive leaves [10,11], Jordanian natural fiber species [12,13], sweet lime and lemon [14], and rice husk [15] have been fabricated with various polymer matrices. Eggshells (Es) can be a candidate to reinforce PP due to its characteristics like thermal stability, low price, availability, and user friendliness [17,18]. The advantages of PP, such as thermal stability, lightweight, relative low cost of processing, recyclability, and resistance to harsh conditions [19], make it one of the most common candidates for use as a matrix. Engineers have been struggling to improve the mechanical, thermal, and tribological properties of the PP matrix by incorporating different organic and/or inorganic fillers [6,19,21,22]. The effects of hybrid organic–inorganic reinforcement on the mechanical and thermal properties of PP have not been fully explored. The current study is trying to predict the mechanical characteristics

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