Polypropylene/high impact polystyrene blend nanocomposites obtained from E-waste: evaluation of mechanical, thermal and morphological properties

Abstract

Postconsumer Polypropylene and High Impact Polystyrene were obtained from E-waste by mechanical recycling. Recycled PP/HIPS at various blend ratios of 30/70, 50/50 and 70/30 were blended in a batch mixer and was optimized at a blend composition of 70/30 wt ratio of PP/HIPS based on mechanical performance. Mechanical, morphological and thermal properties of optimized recycled blend were studied using triblock copolymer SEBS, as well as SEBS with C20A. Mechanical tests revealed that the blends prepared using 3 wt% of C20A and 5 wt% SEBS with 3% C20A exhibited an increase of 45.13% and 60.73% in impact strength respectively thus indicating interaction of SEBS and C20A with HIPS and PP. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that incorporation of SEBS and C20A reduced average particle size from 5.078 to 2.082 and 1.724 μm respectively. X ray diffraction patterns in the recycled blend nanocomposites showed an increase in the basal spacing indicating the formation of an intercalated structure. Thermal properties of the blend and blend nanocomposites were investigated employing DSC and TGA. Further, DMA analysis showed existence of two distinct Tgs corresponding to PP and HIPS thus indicating the formation of a biphase morphology.