Behaviour of waste polypropylene pyrolysis char-based epoxy composite materials

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Waste Management

Background:

• Polypropylene (PP) plastic waste poses environmental challenges.
• Pyrolysis offers a method for converting plastic waste into valuable materials.
• Epoxy composites are widely used but can be enhanced with novel fillers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the use of polypropylene char as a filler in epoxy composites.
• To determine the effect of pyrolysis temperature on char properties and composite performance.
• To evaluate the mechanical, thermal, and water absorption characteristics of the developed composites.

Main Methods:

• Polypropylene waste was pyrolyzed at temperatures ranging from 300°C to 700°C.
• The resulting char was characterized using elemental analysis, FTIR, SEM, BET, and TGA.
• Epoxy composites were fabricated with varying char content and tested for hardness, tensile strength, elongation at break, electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and water absorption.

Main Results:

• Char derived from pyrolysis at 300°C resulted in epoxy composites with superior properties.
• Pyrolysis temperature significantly influenced the char's characteristics and its impact on composite performance.
• The epoxy composite utilizing 300°C char exhibited optimal mechanical strength, thermal stability, and water resistance.

Conclusions:

• Pyrolysis of polypropylene waste provides a viable route to producing functional fillers for epoxy composites.
• The pyrolysis temperature is a critical parameter controlling the effectiveness of the char filler.
• Epoxy composites incorporating low-temperature pyrolyzed polypropylene char demonstrate promising performance for various applications.