Improvement of properties in recycled glass‐filled polypropylene using novel blend technology

Abstract The work deals with improving the properties of waste plastics generated from the automobile and polymer‐compounding industries by appropriate blend technology without the use of virgin polymers. Two recycled grade plastics, namely glass‐filled polypropylene (r‐PPGF) and glass‐filled nylon (r‐PA66GF), were blended with and without compatibilizer. The blends were further investigated for their mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties. Considerable improvement in the tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact resistance has been obtained when r‐PPGF was blended with r‐PA66GF. Even by adding 10 wt% of r‐PA66GF, the tensile and flexural strength was found to be almost 1.5 times that obtained in recycled glass‐filled PP. The effect of maleic anhydride grafted PP as compatibilizer was positive for improved tensile and flexural strength while negative for impact properties. The addition of impact modifier was also studied in the blend compositions, indicating a slight improvement in impact strength but a decrease in tensile and flexural strength values. DSC results reveal the cumulative effect of the glass fibers, additives, and r‐PA66GF on the uplifting of the crystallization temperature of the major matrix: r‐PP‐GF. Morphology study shows the agglomeration of polymer fibers after adding the impact modifier. Highlights Designed a polymer blend using two polymers of recycled, filled grades. Conducted extensive experimental evaluations to assess the blend performance. Analyzed structural developments using various characterization techniques.