Influence of Nano silica on the Mechanical properties of Polypropylene

(PP)/Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) Nanocomposites

Ankit Saini, K. N. Pandey, Vishal Verma, R. M. Mishra
Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology, Lucknow, India-226008
Correspondence to: Ankit Saini (rankitsaini1990@gmail.com)

Abstract
The objective of the present investigation is to study the influence of nano silica which has
been used as a filler with reinforcing level (0.3,0.4,0.5,0.6 phr) on the mechanical properties
of polypropylene (PP)/styrene butadiene rubber(SBR) (85:15) composites such as tensile
strength ,tensile modulus ,hardness ,impact strength and elongation at break. The mechanical
properties results demonstrate that the incorporation of small quantities of nano silica
provides appreciable enhancement in mechanical properties except that hardness decreases.
The enhancement in tensile strength, tensile modulus, impact strength etc. may be attributed
to higher aspect ratio and surface area of nano silica. Conclusion can be drawn by saying that
nano silica acts as a compatabilizer for the developed nanocomposites.

Key words: Polypropylene, Styrene Butadiene Rubber, Nano Silica, Tensile strength,
Impact strength.

1. INTRODUCTION
Polypropylene (PP) as a kind of thermoplastics is widely used in many
fields, such as building materials, furniture, automobiles, and toy industry.
However, the main disadvantage of PP is its poor impact resistance,
especially at low temperature. Therefore, PP is usually modified with
elastomers to improve its impact strength,16 which enhances the
toughness of PP/rubber blends, however, at the same time always
accompanies the sacrifice of the stiffness. The inorganic nanoparticle-filled
composites has used widely and developed rapidly, which provide an

alternative to increase both the stiffness and the toughness at the same
time. The inhomogeneous dispersion and incorporation of low loading
level of nanoparticles in PP only increase the toughness and stiffness of
composites moderately. PP can penetrate the agglomerated nanoparticles
easily and thus greatly enhancethe dispersion state of the nanoparticles.In
this work, the preparation, the mechanical propertiesand the
morphologies of PP/SBR/SiO2 nanocompositesare investigated to clarify
the relationshipbetween the structure and the mechanical properties
.

2. Materials and Characteristics

(i)

Polypropylene (PP)

Polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic

polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging and
labeling, textiles. olypropylene is isotactic and has an intermediate
level of crystallinity between that of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). . Polypropylene has good
resistance to fatigue. The melting point of polypropylene occurs at a
range, so a melting point is determined by finding the highest
temperature of a differential scanning calorimetry chart. Perfectly
isotactic PP has a melting point of 171 C (340 F). Commercial
isotactic PP has a melting point that ranges from 160 to 166 C (320 to
331 F), depending on atactic material and crystallinity.

Properties of EPDM
Property
Tensile strength
Melting point
Glass transition temperature
Hardness

Value
35.5 MPa
164 C
5C
R 100

(ii)

Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR)

(iii)

Styrene-butadiene or styrene-butadiene
rubber (SBR)
describe
families
of synthetic rubbers derived from styrene and butadiene (the version developed
by Goodyear is called Neolite). These materials have good abrasion resistance and
good aging stability when protected by additives. The styrene/butadiene ratio
influences the properties of the polymer: with high styrene content, the rubbers are
harder and less rubbery. SBR is not to be confused with a thermoplastic elastomer
made from the same monomers, styrene-butadiene block copolymer.

Property
Tensile
strength (MPa)

Value

18

Elongation at tear
(%)

565

Mooney
viscosity (100 C)

48.0

Glass transition
temperature (C)

-65

Polydispersity

2.1

3.EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES
3.1 Method of Blend Preparation
In this research work, the compounding process of PP/SBR involves the use of twin screw
extruder. Several formulations containing PP and SBR were prepared. PP was compounded

with SBR in different weight ratios of PP/SBR (950/50, 900/100, 850/150, 800/200). These
compounds were mixed at different zones temperature of twin screw extruder. The composite
then was mixed within 1-2 hour which depends upon the types of formation and after that
injection moulding machiene was used for the preparation of sample for testing the
mechanical properties.

4. METHOD OF CHARACTERIZATION
The various characterization techniques used for the purpose of different types of study can
be divided into following categories:4.1 Mechanical Properties: (a) Tensile Strength (b) Hardness (c) Elongation at Break (d)
Modulus (e) Flexure strength (f) Impact strength.

4.1 Mechanical properties

The mechanical tests were performed on a Universal Testing Machine (INSTRON, USA)
with the maximum load capacity 100KN. Tensile tests were conducted according to ASTMD638. For each composition four measurements were taken and average value of strength and
elongation, modulus and impact strength were reported. Hardness was measured by Shore- A
Durometer tester to ASTMD-2240.

5. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

5.1 Mechanical Properties:
The PP/SBR composite were tested for various properties such as Tensile Strength,
Elongation at Break, Hardness, Flexural strength, modulus, and Impact strength. The results
shows from table 2, the mechanical properties results demonstrate that there is appreciable
enhancement of tensile strength; elongation at break, modulus and most importantly impact
strength of composites.
Table 2: Mechanical properties of PP/SBR composites

Samples

Tensile
Strength
(N/mm^2
)

Flexure
Strength
(MPa)

Impact
Strength
(KJ/mm^
2)

Elongatio
n
( % )

Modulus
(N/mm^2
)

24.43

33.02

8.4532

13.00

385.00

24.82

33.42

11.0163

15.56

386.07

25.22

31.62

17.4133

16.11

395.27

25.50

25.86

16.7448

14.33

403.98

Column1
30
25
20
Column1
15
10
5
0
A

Fig.1 tensile strength of PP/SBR composites

20
18
16
14
12
10

Series 3

8
6
4
2
0
A

Fig.2 impact strength of PP/SBR composites

40
35
30
25
20

Series 3

15
10
5
0
A

Fig.3 flexure strength of PP/SBRcomposites

6. CONCLUSION
In this research work the mechanical properties of PP/SBR composites are experimentally
investigated. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, hardness, flexure strength,
modulus, elongation at break and most importantly impact strength are increased. The
maximum impact strength is observed in (850/150) sample C.

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