The composition, morphology, and mechanical properties of ethylene propylene diene monomer‐encapsulated coal gangue powder/polypropylene composites

AbstractThe ternary composites of coal gangue powder encapsulated by ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) filled polypropylene (PP) were prepared to reduce the cost and control the microstructure aiming at high performance cost ratio materials. The result showed that EPDM can not only enhance the interaction between coal gangue powder and the matrix but also promote the dispersion of coal gangue powder. With the addition of coal gangue encapsulated by EPDM, the impact strength of composition dropped greatly, but it still kept about 11 kJ/m2 when the content of encapsulated coal gangue powder is more than 18 wt%. The tensile strength and fracture toughness (we) also dropped with the addition of encapsulated coal gangue powder, but only a small drop occurred when the content of encapsulated coal gangue powder is less than 18 wt% and great drop emerged when the content is larger than 18 wt%. Compared with coal gangue powder/PP binary composition, the ternary compositions involve higher content of coal gangue powder but present better properties. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers