The effect of recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr) on Polypropylene (PP)/(NBRr)/Banana Skin Powder (BSP) composites

Abstract

The effect of recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr) loadings and compatibilization of polypropylene maleic anhydride (PPMAH) in the polypropylene (PP) / recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr) / banana skin powder (BSP) composites were investigated. The composites for both uncompatibilized and polypropylene maleic anhydride (PPMAH) compatibilized were mixed using heated two roll mill at 180 °C with six different NBRr loadings rate. The tensile properties, thermal properties were investigated. Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectrum and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrograph studied the chemical interaction of BSP fillers in PP/NBRr matrix and morphology of the tensile fracture of composites. The result showed that the incorporation of PPMAH has improved the tensile properties and thermal properties of the composites. Result from the SEM micrograph of the tensile fracture indicates that better adhesion was observed for all PPMAH compatibilized composites.