• Resources Recycling
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.36-45
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• 2015

In this study, various sizes of waste ground rubber tire (WGRT) were devulcanized by a single screw extruder equipped with a sonicator in front of the die, and waste PP and devulcanized waste ground rubber tire (DWGRT) composites were prepared by an intermeshing co-rotating twin screw extruder. The crosslink density and percent devulcanization of WGRT and DWGRT for 40, 80 and 140 meshes were calculated. The mechanical properties of the composites were compared with each other. The effect of SEBS-g-MA as a compatibilizer was investigated on mechanical properties of both waste PP/WGRT and waste PP/DWGRT composites. The crosslink density was decreased with decreasing the WGRT size. On the other hand, the percent devulcanization was increased by adding the smaller size of WGRT. Also, tensile strength, impact strength and elongation at break of the composite with DWGRT were higher than those with WGRT. Especially, mechanical properties of the composites were significantly increased by adding the smaller size of WGRT and DWGRT. Addition of SEBS-g-MA into both waste PP/(D)WGRT composites exhibited better impact strength and elongation at break than the composites themselves.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the effects of a crosslinking agent and a compatibilizer on the mechanical and rheological properties of waste PP and waste ground rubber tire (WGRT) composites. In order to simulate a commercial TPV, the component of waste PP and WGRT was fixed at 30 and 70 wt%, respectively. With the simple addition of SEBS-g-MA into the waste PP/WGRT composites, the tensile strength of the composite was decreased, whereas both the elongation at break and impact strength were significantly increased because of rubbery characteristics of SEBS-g-MA. In order to further improve the properties of the composites, the waste PP/WGRT/SEBS-g-MA composites was revulcanized with dicumyl peroxide (DCP). As expected, mechanical properties of the revulcanized composites was generally improved. Especially, with 15 and 1 phr of SEBS-g-MA and DCP, elongation at break was highest value of about 183% because of the recross-linking of WGRT without chain scission of the main chain. It was found that complex viscosity of the revulcanized composite increased which might verify further vulcanization of the WGRT.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.70-79
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• 2014

In this study, waste polypropylene and waste ground rubber tire(WGRT) composites were prepared by using a modular intermeshing co-rotating twin screw extruder. The effect of three main factors such as WGRT contents, particle size, compatibilizers on the properties of waste PP/WGRT composites was extensively investigated. Tensile strength of the composites was decreased with an increase in WGRT contents, whereas elongation at break and impact strength were increased. The tensile strength, elongation at break and impact strength of the composites with the smaller size of the WGRT were more enhanced. Addition of PP-g-MA into waste PP/WGRT composites exhibited better tensile strength. However, elongation at break and impact strength were slightly decreased with increasing of PP-g-MA. On the other hand, tensile strength, impact strength and elongation at break of the composites were increased by adding the EPDM-g-MA and SEBS-g-MA. Especially, elongation at break was significantly increased compared to the composite with PP-g-MA.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.404-410
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• 2008

In order to obtain 'value added products' from polypropylene (PP)/waste ground rubber tire powder (WGRT) composites, PP/WGRT microcellular foams were prepared via supercritical carbon dioxide. The effects of blend composition and processing condition on the cell size, cell density and relative density of PP/WGRT micro-cellular composites were studied. The results indicated that the microcellular structure was dependent on blend composition and processing condition. An increased content of waste ground rubber tire powder (WGRT) and maleic anhydride-grafted styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS-g-MA) reduced the cell size, and raised the cell density and relative density, whereas a higher saturation pressure increased the cell size, and reduced the cell density and relative density. With increasing saturation temperature, the cell size increased and the relative density decreased, whereas the cell density initially increased and then decreased.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2016

In this study, the reclaimed polypropylene (RPP) and waste ground rubber tire (WGRT) were used to simulate the thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) for cost reduction and resources recycling. Also, we examined the effects of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) and 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-(tert-butylperoxy)-hexane (DTBPH) as peroxide type cross-linking agents to enhance the properties of TPV's. The components of RPP and WGRT were fixed at 30 and 70 wt%, and DCP and DTBPH were added in the concentrations from 0.5 to 1.5 phr, respectively. RPP/WGRT composites with different contents of DCP and DTBPH were prepared by a modular intermeshing co-rotating twin screw extruder. The Young's modulus of composites were decreased with increasing peroxides contents. On the other hand, tensile strength, elongation at break, and impact strength of the composites were increased with peroxide contents. We also confirmed that interfacial adhesion between RPP and WGRT was considerably improved by adding the peroxides. Taken together, DTBPH added RPP/WGRT composites exhibited better mechanical properties rather than those of DCP added composites.