Recycling of waste PP and crumb rubber together by use of self-healing ionomer as process compatibilizer

Abstract

Recycling of mixed waste, including plastic and rubber, by the blending process is one of the promising sustainable routes. In this paper, the processing of crumb rubber with waste thermoplastic polypropylene is reported. The poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) copolymer sodium ion was introduced as a compatibilizer. The waste materials were processed by injection molding to a property improved value-added plastic–rubber recyclate. There was an improvement of tensile strength and modulus of about 60 and 85%, respectively, by addition of 7 wt.% of ionomer as compatibilizer. Enhanced thermal stability was also observed as compared to that of neat blend. The change in morphological characteristics that influence the end properties was analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope. Evaluation of dispersion of different phases and their stress transfer tendency was studied for both tensile fractured and molded samples. The changes in thermo-mechanical properties are correlated to morphological characteristics, and the efficacy of the compatibilization process was estimated.