Journal
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
Volume 125, Issue -, Pages 425-432Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.09.012
Keywords
Particle matrix composite; Polypropylene; Polyethylene; Torrefaction; Almond shells
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Funding
- Almond Board of California [16-AIM-Chiou1]
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The present study revealed that torrefied almond shells (TAS) can be used as a bio-reinforcing agent for recycled polypropylene-polyethylene (PP-PE) blends without requiring a compatibilizer. Torrefaction of almond shells was performed to increase their hydrophobicity and provide good interfacial adhesion between matrix and filler. PP-PE samples blended with TAS were prepared using 3 different size ranges (sieved between mesh sizes of 100 and 120, 60 and 70, 35 and 45) and 7 different weight percent (%wt) loadings (0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50). An increase in TAS loading resulted in an increase in flexural and tensile moduli, but a decrease in strength, elongation, and toughness. The effect of particle size and %wt loading on the heat deflection temperature (HDT) and crystallinity of PP-PE biocomposites were analyzed by thermo-mechanical analysis (TMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. HDT increased with higher TAS loading and with smaller particle size. The maximum observed increase was 10 degrees C at 30%wt loading of the small particles compared to neat PP-PE. The results for these biocomposites show that they can be potential candidates for consumer plastic applications.
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