LAUSR

ABSTRACT The reinforcement of recycled polypropylene (rPP) with mineral fillers, to obtain modulus values of 3000–4000 MPa has proven challenging for recyclers, whereas this is common practice for virgin PP. The main difference between recycled and virgin PP is the contaminating presence of other polymers. In this study, the composition of rPP sourced from electrical and electronic waste was analytically estimated. The rPP was found to be a PP/HDPE blend with ca. 90/10 m% ratio. Furthermore, the effect of HDPE on the thermal and physical properties of talc-filled PP was investigated by means of re-engineered blends and talc-filled compounds. It was found that HDPE has a profound effect on the degree to which rPP can be reinforced by talc. However, the quantified effects of the HDPE alone were not of sufficient magnitude to account for the full difference in properties between talc-filled rPP and virgin PP.