Properties and morphology of polypropylene/big bags compounds

In this work, compounds based on two grades of polypropylene (PP), i.e., PP H503 or PP H103 with residues of Big bag fabrics (R_BB) were processed in a corrotational twin screw extruder with R_BB content ranging from 10% to 50% of the weight. Then, their thermal properties were investigated through Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetry (TG); mechanical by tensile and impact; thermomechanic by heat deflection temperature (HDT); and their morphology by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). With the aim to add maximum R_BB content without considerable damage to the properties of neat PPs, it was observed that addition of 10%, 30% and 50% of R_BB did not significantly interfere in the PP matrices, being the compound PP + 30% R_BB which one presented more successful properties, leading to reused compounds with higher performance and lower costs at same time. (author)