Optimization of the composition of polyvinyl chloride based composite materials with rubber matrices and fly ash additions respectively

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to analyze the possibilities of using rubber waste (reclaimed rubber and rubber powder), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and fly ash (FA) to create composite materials with high performance. Composite materials were manufactured and tested, with the proportion of waste gradually increasing from 50 to 150 parts per hundred rubber (phr). These composite materials underwent testing for both structural homogeneity and physical-mechanical properties. The research included scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA and DTGA). Additionally, we examined the behavior of the composite materials during artificial aging and conducted a topography analysis of the surface layer of the test samples. The research results demonstrated that composite materials with excellent structural homogeneity can be obtained, along with an opportunity to improve the surface layer topography by optimizing the composition of these composite materials. Furthermore, the presence of a coupling agent of the KWQ-EL type was found to contribute to better material homogeneity. Coupling agent KWQ-EL has a composition based on hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDS). It was also observed that incorporating both PVC and FA into the composite materials influenced the kinetics of the processes during TGA (DTGA) analysis. Additionally, optimizing the proportion of FA and PVC led to an enhancement in the surface layer's topography.In conclusion, this research has shown that sustainable composite materials, which are economically, socially, and environmentally viable, can be successfully produced, boasting excellent performance characteristics.