PP-CBW/m-LLDPE/micro-CaCO3 composite films manufactured from bumper waste by blown film extrusion

Nancy Zgheib,Sylvain Seif,Nemr El Hajj

doi:10.1051/matecconf/201928103001

Abstract

The synthesis of polypropylene-based car bumper waste (PP-CBW)/metallocene linear low-density polyethylene (m-LLDPE)/micro-CaCO3 composite films for agriculture mulch films applications has been thoroughly investigated during this study. The chemical composition of these wastes was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Three blends of various compositions were prepared using a twin-screw extruder, the pellets were then blown into films using a single screw extruder. The mechanical properties of the films were then studied and compared with the EN 13655, 2002 standards for agriculture mulch films applications. The results indicated that the use of an anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAH-g-PP) as compatibilizer improves the adherence at the interface between the polar acrylic paints present in the car bumper waste and the polymer matrix. Also, the presence of stearic acid surface treated micro-CaCO3 improves considerably the mechanical properties of the composite when the amount of PP-CBW is less than 13 wt%. Using higher amount of PP-CBW improves the tear resistance properties in TD and MD but fails to increase the impact strength and the tensile properties in MD and TD.

Highlights

Polypropylene (PP) based materials account for more than 41% of the material in the automotive segments
The composition and the amount of organic and inorganic phases of PP car bumper waste (PP-CBW) was revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
The good mechanical results obtained for 13 wt% PP-CBW showed that the recycled PP-CBW waste could be used with the micro-CaCO3 as filler and m-LLDPE as a polymer matrix

Summary

Introduction

Polypropylene (PP) based materials account for more than 41% of the material in the automotive segments. When neat PP is modified by fillers (CaCO3, alumina, silica, etc.) and mixed with ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR) or ethylene propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), thermoplastic olefin elastomers (TPOs) are formed. These polymers are currently the material of choice of car bumpers because of their excellent weatherability, elasticity, low density and relatively low cost. TPOs are multiphase materials presenting a nodular morphology, where the rubber phase is dispersed in the form of spherical particles in the PP matrix [1, 2]. Mechanical recycling is the most used method to recycle PP based materials, due to the sophisticated morphology of TPOs, the final properties of recycled products often do not meet car bumpers requirements [4, 5]. To improve the adherence at the interface between the PP and a slightly polar rubber phase and PP and rubber/filler interface a compatiblizer must be used [1]

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