The effect of aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APS-silane) on polypropylene(PP)/recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber(NBRr)/palm pressed fiber (PPF) composite

Polypropylene (PP)/ recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr)/ palm pressed fibre (PPF) are composites were fabricated and studied. Waste filler PPF of 63 - 300μm was utilized in this work. The thermal mixing technique is used in this research. All samples were prepared on a heated two roll mill at 180 °C for 9 minutes. Prepared samples were moulded in a hot press machine at 180 °C and cut into dumbell for testing. PPF filler loading were varied from 0 to 30 w/w for investigation. Coupling agent γ-APS was also evaluated on this composites. The samples were analyzed for mechanical and morphological properties. Tensile properties of PP/NBRr/PPF composites was found to be decreased with increasing PPF filler loading. The treatment of γ-APS on PPF filler showed better mechanical properties of the composites.The adhesion of PPF with PP/NBRr matrices were found to be improved. This may due to esterification bonding of the filler with PP in the presence of γ-APS. This finding is well supported by the morphological studies of SEM micrographs. Dispersion of filler onto PP/NBRr matrices were also found to be enhanced with less pull outs.