On polyvinyl chloride-polypropylene composite matrix for 4D applications: Flowability, mechanical, thermal and morphological characterizations

Abstract

Thermoplastics such as; polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polypropylene (PP) have applications in different sectors such as; automobile, aerospace, biomedical, textile, etc. due to cost-effectiveness, biodegradability, high mouldability, easy availability and good mechanical properties. The shape memory performances of these thermoplastics are crucial for extending the four-dimensional (4D) printing applications. But hitherto little has been reported on flowability, mechanical, thermal, morphological and shape memory properties of PVC-PP composite. In this study, twin-screw compounding has been employed on PVC and PP thermoplastics (in single and blended form) to prepare feedstock filaments for fused filament fabrication (FFF). The investigations have been made for flowability (melt flow index (MFI), mechanical (tensile strength and elongation), thermal (melting point) morphological, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis and shape memory effect on different feedstock filaments (prepared with neat PVC, 75%PVC-25%PP, 50%PVC-50%PP, 25%PVC-75%PP and neat PP). The results have been supported by fracture analysis of photomicrographs obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of the study suggested that tensile strength was maximum for 50%PVC-50%PP (23.57 MPa) and minimum for neat PP (8.89 MPa). Further percentage shape recovery was observed maximum for neat PVC and minimum for neat PP.