Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene Composites Filled with Recycled Office Waste Paper

• Published in: Journal of natural fibers 2022-11, Vol.19 (16), p.14089-14101
• Main Authors: Cioffi, Marina Gil Almeida, de Oliveira, Daniel Magalhães, de Bomfim, Anne Shayene Campos, de Carvalho Benini, Kelly Cristina Coelho, Cioffi, Maria Odila Hilário, Voorwald, Herman Jacobus Cornelis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Additives; Chemical treatment; composite; Degree of crystallinity; Fillers; Injection molding; Mechanical properties; Mechanical tests; Modulus of elasticity; Packaging; Paper recycling; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers; Polypropylene; recycling; Stiffness; Tensile strength; Thermal properties; Thermal stability; Thermodynamic properties; Thermomechanical properties; Utensils; Waste paper; 回收; 废纸; 机械性能; 混合成的; 热性能; 聚丙烯
• ISSN: 1544-0478; 1544-046X
• DOI: 10.1080/15440478.2022.2116517

The high production of paper, followed by a more significant concern with environmental and economic issues, has led to greater relevance to paper recycling and its raw uses as composite filler. Composites of polypropylene with 10, 20, and 30 wt.% of recycled office waste paper were produced by injection molding and characterized by mechanical and thermal properties. All composites presented a slight reduction of 15°C in thermal stability compared to the polymeric matrix. Moreover, as the filler amount increased, the degree of crystallinity was reduced proportionally. The mechanical test showed similar tensile strength values among neat polymer andcomposites but also showed an increase in the composite's tensile modulus, related to the stiffness of the natural filler. The composite with a higher percentage of waste paper (30 wt.%) maintained equivalent properties as neatpolypropylene and other composites (10 and 20 wt.%). Thus, 30 wt.% composites proved to be an excellent material with less synthetic polymer percentage, keeping thermal and mechanical properties comparable to the neat PP.Furthermore, this composite does not need chemical treatment or additives harmful to the environment. It is suitable for future applications in various plastic products such as packaging and domestic utensils.