Dynamic vulcanization of waste paper filled of low density polyethylene (LDPE)/ ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) composites

Abstract

The effect of filler loading and dynamic vulcanization of paper sludge (PS) filled LDPE/EPDM was investigated. Blends with different filler loading ranging from 0 to 60 wt % were prepared in Z-blade mixer at 180 °C and a rotor speed of 50 rpm followed by compression molding. The mechanical properties, water absorption and morphology of unvulcanized and vulcanized composites were also studied. The result indicated that the increasing of filler loading the tensile strength, Young’s modulus and water absorption increase but elongation at break decreased of unvulcanized LDPE/EPDM/PS composites. The dynamic vulcanized LDPE/EPDM/PS composites show higher tensile strength, Young’s modulus but lower elongation at break and water absorption than unvulcanized LDPE/EPDM/PS composites. The presence of crosslink formation in LDPE/EPDM/PS composites has increase the compatibility between paper sludge and LDPE/EPDM matrix. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study on the tensile fracture surface of unvulcanized and dynamic vulcanized composites shows the improved interfacial interaction between PS and LDPE/EPDM matrix.