Influence of fly ash on thermo-mechanical and mechanical behavior of injection molded polypropylene matrix composites Articles uri icon

authors

  • Meena, Rajhans
  • Hashmi, Abdul Wahab
  • Ahmad, Shadab
  • Iqbal, Faiz
  • Soni, Hargovind
  • Meena, Anoj
  • Al Kahtani, Abdullah A.
  • PANDIT, BIDHAN
  • Kamyab, Hesam
  • Payal, Himanshu
  • Yusuf, Mohammad

publication date

  • December 2023

volume

  • 343

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0045-6535

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1879-1298

abstract

  • Polypropylene composites find widespread application in industries, including packaging, plastic parts, automotive, textiles, and specialized devices like living hinges known for their remarkable flexibility. This study focuses on the manufacturing of polypropylene composite specimens by incorporating varying weight percentages of fly ash particles with polypropylene using a twin-screw extruder and injection molding machine. The composites were comprehensively tested, evaluating tensile, compressive, and flexural strength, solid-state and polymer melt properties, modulus, damping, and thermal response. The findings reveal that the compressive strength of polypropylene increases up to 2 wt% of added fly ash particles and subsequently exhibits a slight decline. Tensile strength demonstrates an increase up to 1 wt% of fly ash, followed by a decrease with a 2 wt% addition, and then a subsequent increase. Flexural strength shows improvement up to 3 wt% fly ash addition before declining. The storage modulus curve is categorized into three regions: the glassy region (up to 0 degrees C), the glass transition region (0¿50 degrees C), and the glass transition region of polypropylene (>50 degrees C), each corresponding to different molecular motions. Weight loss curves exhibit similar trends, indicating uniform pyrolysis behavior attributed to consistent chemical bonds. Plastic degradation commences around 440 degrees C and concludes near 550 degrees C. Additionally, elemental mapping of fly ash composition identified various elements such as O, Si, K, Mg, Ca, Cl, Na, P, Al, Fe, S, Cu, Ti, and Ni. These findings offer valuable insights into the mechanical and thermal properties of polypropylene composites reinforced with fly ash, rendering them suitable for a wide range of industrial applications necessitating strength and durability across temperature variations.

keywords

  • dynamic mechanical analysis; flexural testing; fly ash; polypropylene composites; thermo-gravimetric analysis