Abstract

This work focused on the effect of filler loading on the physico-mechanical properties of polypropylene filled with huracreptan pods composite. The composite samples were prepared by compounding and compression method according to the following compositions of polypropylene filled to huracreptan pods: 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30 60:40, and 50:50, in grams. The prepared samples were characterized in terms of their tensile strength, compression set hardness, and impact strength. Results showed that huracreptan pods improved the tensile strength, compression set, hardness, and impact strength of polypropylene composites. The result showed a drastic reduction in hardness at 30 wt% of 88 shore A, the compression set increased with increasing filler loading from 0 to 50wt% with 1.9 to 3.4%, the impact strength shows an irregular decreasing trend but 30 wt% and 50 wt% gave the highest impact of 0.6 J respectively, the water absorption was found to increase with filler loading up to 40 wt% (0.0 to 0.4%) but decrease at 50 wt% (0.3%), the tensile strength also decreased with increasing filler loading from 0 wt% to 50 wt% (0.855 to 0.656 N/mm2). However, comparing the properties of the virgin polypropylene sample to the polypropylene filled with huracreptan pods, the properties of the filled composite are better than the unfilled polypropylene sample which is an indication of reinforcement and interfacial interaction between the polymer matrix and the filler. It can be therefore concluded that huracreptan pods are suitable for the production of polypropylene composites.