Effect of waste toner powder on the performance of microcrystalline cellulose-talc reinforced polypropylene hybrid composites

Abstract

This study examines reducing the environmental hazards of toner waste and producing low-cost: high-performance value-added hybrid polypropylene-PP-composites. The incorporation of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and inorganic filler(s) into a polymer matrix leads to superior performance and environmental advantage compared to inorganic-filled polymer composites. Waste toner (WT) was used up to 2% by weight with increments of 0.5 and the other fillers: MCC/talc/polypropylene carbonate loading ratios were kept constant as 5/10/3 wt% in this study. The production process of hybrid PP composites was carried out with single-screw extrusion and molding. Chemical and thermal characterization of the filler and the hybrid PP composites were performed by FTIR and it was revealed that the main resin of WT consists of polystyrene co-acrylate. In DSC analysis, the highest crystallinity value was calculated as 52.36% in the composite containing 1.5% waste toner. SEM micrographs proved the PPC prompts the dispersion quality of MCC and talc in the PP matrix. Mechanical, water absorption and surface properties of the hybrid composites were enhanced by adding WT at 1 and 1.5 wt%. Above this ratio, all properties of the hybrid composites moderately decreased. In light of the results, the WT could be utilized as a filler up to 1.5% in the PP-matrix. Highlights: TS of the composites increased by increasing the waste toner content to 1.5%. PP-based hybrid composites had higher flexural properties than unfilled PP. The crystallinity increased up to the addition of 1.5% wt. PPC-coupling agent promoted the interaction between talc/MCC and PP matrix.