The Effect of Coupling Agent on Thermal Properties and Morphology of Paper Sludge Filled Polypropylene (PP)/Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer (EPDM) Composites

Abstract

The paper sludge was used as a filler in PP/EPDM composites and 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (3-APE) was used as a coupling agent in this study. The effects of filler loading and 3-APE on the thermal properties and morphology of composites were investigated. It was found that incorporation of a silane coupling agent (3-APE) increased the crystallinity of PP/EPDM/PS composites. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study of the tensile fracture surface of the composites indicates that the presence of 3-APE increased the interfacial interaction between paper sludge and PP/EPDM matrix.