Green composites from kapok husk and recycled polypropylene

Abstract

The present work was developed to utilize kapok husk (KH) as filler in recycled polypropylene (rPP) green composites. Stearic acid (SA) was used as surface modifier in rPP/KH composites. It was found that the modified KH with SA was reduced the stabilization torque of composites. The addition of KH in rPP decreased the tensile strength and elongation at break but increased tensile modulus of composites. The modified KH with SA improved the tensile strength, tensile modulus, crystallinity, and thermal stability of composites. The scanning electron microscopic micrograph provd that the interfacial interaction and adhesion was improved by SA modification.