Authors : Nizar Jawad Hadi, Najim A. Saad and Dhey Jawad Mohamed
Abstract: This study investigated the morphological and rheological properties of Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) nanoparticles reinforce virgin Polypropylene (PP) and its waste. PP and CaCO3 nanoparticles in the content of (3, 5, 7 and 10 wt.%) were mixed by melt extrusion in a twin screw extruder at different screw speeds 25 and 50 rpm at 190°C. Different microstructure and morphological techniques (X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy) were used to evaluate the effect of the additive percentage (CaCO3) and the processing condition (screw speed) on the microstructure of the nanocomposite. The rheological behavior (Melt Flow Rate (MFR) and Melt Volume Rate (MVR)) is tested using Melt Flow Index (MFI) device. MFR of the new modified composite are tested due to the nanoparticles concentration, loads, temperatures and rotating speed while MVR was tested at different CaCO3 nanoparticles percentage at 2.16 kg. Shear rate and viscosity are predicted according to the MFR values. The results shows that the crystallinity was increasing with the CaCO3 nanoparticles percentage increasing while the results of FESEM show that CaCO3 nanoparticles distribution in PP matrix at 25 rpm is more homogenous and less agglomeration than at 50 rpm. The value of MFR and MVR were increasing for virgin PP while decreasing for waste PP. at 25 and 50 rpm.
Nizar Jawad Hadi, Najim A. Saad and Dhey Jawad Mohamed, 2018. The Morphological and Rheological Behavior of Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles Filled Virgin and Waste Polypropylene. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 13: 10194-10202.