Sustainable approach toward novel poly(vinyl chloride) composite using calcite‐rich waste particulates

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, flexible poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) composites with two different types of fillers, precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) and marble waste (MW) particulates, were prepared via melt processing. The MW collected from a dumping site, had a particle size of approximately 60 μm and high calcite content. The content of fillers and plasticizer was varied to study the effect on the properties of the composites. It was found that at higher plasticizer content (30 phr), MW afforded up to 9% higher tensile strength compared to PCC, indicating a better interfacial adhesion of MW particulates with the matrix. However, at lower plasticizer content (15 phr), composites with PCC exhibited slightly higher tensile strength. Additionally, at high plasticizer content, the addition of MW up to 10 phr afforded better tensile strength than pure PVC. When the composites were fully submerged in the water for 48 h at elevated temperature (60 °C), composite with MW had a slightly higher water absorption (0.4–1.4%) compared to PCC‐filled composites. Also, composite with higher plasticizer showed elevated water uptake at any particular filler content. The study categorically proves the potential of MW in flexible PVC formulations as a cost‐effective sustainable filler.