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Characterization of polypropylene composites using sludge waste from the natural rubber latex industry as reinforcing filler

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Abstract

In the natural rubber latex industries, a huge amount of sludge waste is produced in different processes, which creates potential for use as reinforcing filler in plastic composites. The present work aimed to investigate the effects of sludge waste generated from the manufacturing process of fresh latex pond (FLSF) and concentrated latex processing (CLSF) on the thermal, mechanical, and physical properties of polypropylene (PP) composites. Composite samples were produced using a twin-screw extruder and a compression molding machine. From experiments, particle size analysis showed that FLSF had a smaller particle size than CLSF. For both the reinforcing fillers with increasing addition from 30 to 50 wt%, crystallinity degrees increased by about 3.30% and 7.80% for the composites with FLSF and CLSF, respectively. The strength of tension and flexure in the PP composites reduced continuously with an increase of the sludge waste contents in a range of 30–70 wt%, but the modulus from tension and flexure, hardness, and water absorption (WA) increased. The PP composites produced from FLSF displayed superior strength, modulus, hardness, and WA than those produced from CLSF. Further, the morphological, mechanical, and physical properties of the PP-sludge composites were improved with addition of maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene. The aforementioned results showed that latex sludge waste could be used as an effective filler in plastic composites.

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Data availability statement

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Thailand Science Research and Innovation (Research Grant Code: 64A171000042) and the Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya (RMUTSV), Thailand.

Funding

Thailand Science Research and Innovation, 64A171000042, Chatree Homkhiew.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Processing Technology Research Unit, Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Muang District, Songkhla, 90000, Thailand

    Chatree Homkhiew & Surasit Rawangwong

  2. Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Muang District, Songkhla, 90000, Thailand

    Chainarong Srivabut & Suchart Chantaramanee

  3. Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand

    Thanate Ratanawilai

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  1. Chatree Homkhiew
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Correspondence to Chatree Homkhiew.

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Homkhiew, C., Srivabut, C., Ratanawilai, T. et al. Characterization of polypropylene composites using sludge waste from the natural rubber latex industry as reinforcing filler. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 25, 1444–1456 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-023-01621-y

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