The Effects of Filler Contents and Particle Sizes on the Mechanical and End-Use Properties of Snail Shell Powder Filled Polypropylene

Abstract

Polypropylene composites of snail shell powder were prepared at filler contents, 0 to 40 wt%. The particle sizes of the snail shell powder investigated were 0.150, 0.30, and 0.42 µm. Talc, of particle size, 0.150 µm was used as the reference filler. The polypropylene composites were prepared in an injection moulding machine and the resulting composites were extruded as sheets. Some mechanical and end-use properties of the prepared composites were determined. Results showed that the snail shell powder improved the tensile modulus, flexural strength, and impact strength of polypropylene and these properties increased with increases in the filler content and decreases in the filler particle size. The elongation at break of the composites was however observed to decrease with increases in the filler content, and particle size. The elongation at break of talc filled polypropylene was zero, an indication of the brittle nature of polypropylene composites of talc. The hardness, water sorption (24-hr) and specific gravity of the composites were found to increase with increases in the filler content, and decreases in the filler particle size. The level of water absorbed by snail shell powder composites of polypropylene is considerably higher than that of talc filled polypropylene. The flame retardant properties of the prepared composites were however found to decrease with increases in the filler content, and particle size. Generally, snail shell powder was found to show greater property improvement over talc in the prepared composites.