Effect of Filler Particle Size on the Mechanical Properties of Waste Polypropylene/ Date Seed Particulate Composites

This study was aimed at investigating the effects of filler particle size on mechanical properties of waste polypropylene (wPP) / date seed particles (DSP) composites. Filler particle size of 63, 125, 250, 500 and 750 µm were used at 20 % filler loading. The composites obtained were subjected to mechanical tests (tensile and flexural test, impact test and hardness HV) and the morphological analysis was done using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The tensile, flexural and impact strength and elongation at break were observed to decrease with increase in filler particle size, while tensile modulus, flexural modulus and hardness (HV) increased with increase in filler particle size. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the tensile fractured surfaces revealed a better particles distribution at 63 µm than 250 µm and 750 µm where agglomerations and interfacial gaps were observed.