Effect of Flyash Content, Particle Size of Flyash, and Type of Silane Coupling Agents on the Properties of Recycled Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/Flyash Composites

Recent time's polymer waste disposal is a challenging task as the quantity of polymer waste is increasing day by day. Here particulate composites have been developed from recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) filled with flyash. Flyash of different particle sizes have been used, and effect of particle size and flyash content on the mechanical properties of composites has been analyzed. Tensile and flexural properties of the composites are found to increase with increase in filler content up to 15% and after that decreases due to the agglomeration of flyash particles. SEM studies also showed good dispersion at lower loadings. The use of silane coupling agents was found to increase the flyash/WPET interaction there by increase in mechanical properties is observed. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 119: 201-208, 2011