Preparation and characterization of Seashell/Copra waste reinforced hybrid polymer composite

Abstract

The seashell (SS) and copra waste (CW) filled with polypropylene (PP) composite was prepared by using Z-blade mixer at 180 ˚C and 15 rpm rotor speed. The effect of seashell and copra waste loading and the effect of compatibilizer, MA-g-PP in PP/seashell and copra waste composite have been investigated. FTIR spectra showed that the intensity change in the composite after alkaline treatment and addition of the compatibilizer. Also, the SEM micrograph indicated that better interfacial bonding was established between matrix and filler by adding compatibilizer compared to without compatibilizer. The tensile properties showed that tensile strength and elongation at break decreasing with increasing of filler loading. Furthermore, the modulus of elasticity increased with increasing filler loading. In morphological study, it showed that composite had weak adhesion and inhomogeneous dispersion between filler and matrix. However, the addition of MA-g-PP has enhanced the compatibility between them. Tensile properties of compatibilized composite showed higher tensile strength and stiffness compared to uncompatibilized composite.