Waste thermosetting polymer and ceramic as reinforcement in thermoplastic matrix for sustainability: Thermomechanical investigations

Abstract

This study reports the investigation of the waste thermosetting polymer, Bakelite (BAK), as a reinforcement along with ceramic particles (silicon carbide (SiC) and aluminium oxide (Al2O3)) in recycled thermoplastic acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) matrix for better sustainability. The ABS composite matrix has been prepared using a twin-screw extrusion (TSE) process. For mechanical testing and thermal stability analysis, conventional universal tensile testing and differential scanning calorimetry set-up has been used. The results of the study suggest that best mechanical properties were attained without the reinforcement of ceramic particles (90% ABS–10% BAK–0% SiC–0% Al2O3 by wt%), but ceramic reinforcements contributed to thermal stability of the matrix.