Mechanical Properties of Iron Ore Tailings Filled-Polypropylene Composites

Abstract

Iron ore tailings filled polypropylene (PP) composites were produced using the compo-indirect squeeze casting (C-ISC) process. Particle sizes 150, 212 and 300 µm where considered for different volume fractions of 5% to 30% at intervals of 5%. The tensile and impact behavior of the produced composites were investigated, experimentally, by carrying out uniaxial tensile and izod impact tests to obtain tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus of elasticity and impact strength. Empirical data were compared with results obtained from models proposed by Nielsen, Bigg and Einstein. The experimental results show that elongation at break for iron ore tailings filled PP reduces with increasing 150 µm particle size. Tensile strength reduces with increasing filler. The Bigg equation exhibited improved predictability with decreasing particle size of filler in PP; while the Einstein equation which assumes poor adhesion gives the best prediction of modulus of elasticity with increasing particle size in PP. Izod impact strength decreases with particle size but increases with increasing volume content of iron ore tailings from 5% to 25% for each particle size considered.