ABSTRACT
The concern for environment and sustainable growth has created more awareness among the researchers to develop composites based on recycled materials and materials from nature. Reuse and recycling extends the useful life of the raw material resources in instances where a market exists for the recycled products, and it is economical to carry out collection and reprocessing. Recycling and reuse of materials have been getting more interest nowadays. Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM)/ polypropylene (PP) thermoplastic vulcanizates are most commonly used ones. In the current study, reclaimed EPDM (REPDM) and recycled PP (RPP) thermoplastic vulcanizates were prepared by melt blending method. REPDM and RPP has been melt blended in a Brabender plasticorder in different ratios and the blend with optimized results was selected, as well as RPP/REPDM coconut pith composites have been prepared and developed for cost-effective footwear applications. A comparative study of composites in presence and absence of maleic anhydride-grafted EPDM (MA-g-EPDM) was carried out and the effectiveness of the properties was determined. Coconut pith in different ratios was added into REPDM/ RPP blends along with MA-g-EPDM and other additives. Physicomechanical and thermal properties of the coconut pith REPDM/RPP composite have been carried out. The dispersion of coconut pith in the matrix has been carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. It was found that the mechanical and thermal properties are increasing with the addition of compatibilizer as compared to the control one. SEM analysis showed that the compatibility between coconut pith RPP and REPDM has been improved by the addition of MA-g-EPDM as a compatibilizer and hence, can be used as a low-cost filler for footwear soling application.
