Characterization and properties of polypropylene (PP) / acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) / palm kernel shell (PKS) composites with PPMAH compatibilizer

Abstract

The effects of polypropylene maleic anhydride (PPMAH) as a compatibilizer on the properties of polypropylene (PP) / Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) and Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) has been studied. Six different composites (100/0/10, 80/20/10, 70/30/10, 60/40/10, 50/50/10 and 40/60/10) with fixed 5 w% of PPMAH compatibilizer or uncompatibilizer composites were carried out. All compound preparation and mixing was done by using heated two roll mill at room 180 ºC for 11 minutes using 15 rpm rotor speed. The mixture were then moulded using compression moulding at temperature 180 ºC. PPMAH was evaluated as a compatibilizer. The mechanical properties such as Young’s modulus,engthand elongationtensileatbreak strwere evaluated. The results showed that the incorporation of PPMAH improved the tensile properties of PP/NBR/PKS composited compared with uncompatibilizer. The adhesion between filler and matrix was improved in the presence of PPMAH and confirmed by the scanning electron micrograph (SEM).