Physico-Mechanical Responses of Polypropylene-CaCO₃ Composite

Samson Oluropo Adeosun, Mohammed Awwalu Usman, Wasiu Ajibola Ayoola, Muyideen Adebayo Bodud

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/jmmce.2013.14025                

Abstract

This study examines some physical and mechanical characteristics of polypropylene (PP) and calcium trioxocarbonate IV (CaCO₃) composites prepared by melt blending. The mechanical (tensile strength and impact energy resistance) and physical (density and water absorption capacity) properties of the composites were evaluated using 0% - 40% of the filler. The results showed that 20%-CaCO₃ addition improved the ultimate tensile stress by 58%, and the UTS is 84% better when 25%-CaCO₃ addition is made while the impact resistance decline by 8 and 12% respectively at these two compositions. In addition, the density only differ from that of pure PP at 25% CaCO₃ addition by 18% increment, however, water absorption increased by 400% at 10%-CaCO₃ addition.

Keywords

Polypropylene; Calcium Carbonate; Water Absorption Capacity; Density; Ultimate Tensile Strength; Impact Resistance

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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