Mechanical Properties, Microstructure and Wear Resistance of Recycled Poly-propylene Filled with Iron Powder

The main objective of this research is to study the effect of adding iron powder (IP)
to recycled polypropylene (RPP) using the injection moulding process. The iron
powder was mixed mechanically with RPP in 10%, 20%, and 30% by weight. The
mechanical properties of recycled polypropylene reinforced with iron powder were
investigated using tensile, and hardness tests. The wear resistance of the composites
were investigated. The results showed that, by adding 10%, 20%, 30% wt. of iron
powder to the recycled polypropylene, the ultimate tensile strength increased from
21 N/mm2 for neat recycled polypropylene to 24.828 N/mm2 (i.e. 18.23%), 26.34
N/mm2 (i.e. 25.44%), 27.72 N/mm2 (i.e. 32%), respectively. The modulus of
elasticity is increased to 412.06 MPa (6.28%), 427.4 MPa (10.259%, and to 566.30
MPa (46.09%) when adding 10% IP, 20% IP, and 30% IP to the RPP respectively.
The hardness test results, using Shore D tester, showed that, as the iron particles
contents are increased, the hardness are increased from 71 for the RPP, to 72.5, 75,
and 76 for RPP with iron particles contents of 10%, 20%, and 30%wt respectively.
The wear test results showed that, the weight loss is decreased at 10%, 20%, and
30% of iron powder in the recycle polypropylene when compared with the neat
recycle polypropylene by 43.34%, 21.98%, and 18.28% respectively. Scan
Electronic Microscopy (SEM), showed that, a good interlock and interference
between the iron particles and the recycled polypropylene.