Thermo-mechanical, rheological and morphology properties of polypropylene composites: Residual CaCO3 as a sustainable by-product

This research looked into the possibility of using residual calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as a by-product of the cane sugar production process combined with polypropylene (PP) to replace commercial CaCO3. Using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder, the CaCO3/PP composites were made in the following ratios: 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, and 50:50, with the addition of maleic anhydride polypropylene at 5 wt% of CaCO3. In terms of mechanical properties, thermal properties, rheological properties, and morphology, the effect of the residual CaCO3 filler reinforced in PP matrix was compared to commercial CaCO3/PP composites. The findings showed that residual CaCO3 from the sugar production process can replace the use of industrial CaCO3 mixing in plastic and can add value to the residual CaCO3. The residual CaCO3/PP composites had better tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact resistance, and thermal stability than commercial CaCO3/PP composites, according to the findings. The composites' tensile modulus, flexural modulus, hardness, thermal stability, and rheological properties improved as the CaCO3 loading increased.

Automated summary

The research explored the possibility of using residual calcium carbonate from the cane sugar production process to replace commercial calcium carbonate in plastic, adding value to the residual calcium carbonate. The residual CaCO3/PP composites showed better mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties compared to commercial CaCO3/PP composites. Tensile modulus, flexural modulus, hardness, thermal stability, and rheological properties of the composites improved with increasing CaCO3 loading.