Mechanical, thermal and flammability properties of dolomite filled polypropylene composites

In this project, the composites of polypropylene (PP)/dolomite were prepared via extrusion and injection moulding. Dolomite mineral was used as reinforcement in PP matrix. PP reinforced dolomite composites with various concentrations of dolomite (5, 10 and 15 wt%) were characterized by mechanical properties through tensile, impact and flexural test, morphological analysis by scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermal analysis by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and flammability analysis by the limiting oxygen index (LOI). The incorporation of dolomite into PP had improved Young's modulus while flexural modulus, tensile, flexural and impact strengths were decreased. The incorporation of dolomite up to 15 wt% increased the stiffness of the composites in tensile mode while in three point bending mode, 10 wt% dolomite was the optimum concentration. Tensile and flexural strength showed a slight reduction in the values while impact strength was continuously decreased with the addition of dolomite. SEM images showed poor interfacial adhesion between PP and dolomite, thus supported the decreased of tensile, flexural and impact strengths. The melting and crystallization temperatures (Tm and Tc) of the composites slightly increased with the addition of dolomite. LOI test showed that flammability of the composites decreased with the increasing content of dolomite

Recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) as dye adsorbent : a mini-review

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) has become one of the most major post-consumer plastic waste, in addition to poly(ethylene), poly(propylene), poly(styrene) and poly(vinyl chloride). PET bottles are mostly used in packaging of drinking and mineral water as well as soft drinks. This review demonstrates the potential of PET waste as a value added product in dyes adsorption application. Dyes are known to affect human health, aquatic life and the overall ecosystem in adverse way. They need to be removed from wastewater, hence the technologies utilized for such removal are widely investigated. The review presents the different preparation techniques to produce adsorbent from PET waste. Besides that, it discusses the adsorption capacities among the PET adsorbents prepared. Based on the review, it can be concluded that activated carbon produced from PET waste has the potential to be an effective adsorbent for dye adsorption