Abstract:
Nowaday, pottery stone is an inexpensive natural mineral in Thailand. Pottery stone can reduce the size to small particles for plastic additive meterials applications. The aims of this research were to study the effects of pottery stone powder addition in injection grade polypropylene on some mechanical and flame retardant properties.
Pottery stone was added in polypropylene at the ratio of 0, 1, 5, 10 and 15phr. The mixed samples were prepared by melt-blended using twin screw extruder and compression machine. The properties of mixed samples were tesed including tensile strength (ASTM D 638), impact strength (ASTM D 256), material hardness (ASTM ), melt flow index (ASTM D 1238), density gradient (ASTM D 792), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and flame retardant (UL-94).
Results of the study found that the suitable amount for the addition of pottery stone in polypropylene was 5phr. No significant effect of pottery stone addition on tensile strength was observed. Elongation at break and melt flow index of the mixed samples was decreased. Impact strength, density and hardness of the mixed samples was increased with increasing of pottery stone content. The results also showed that the addition of pottery stone could reduced flammability of polypropylene.