Effects of electron beam irradiation and polypropylene waste as recycled polymer on physical, mechanical and morphological properties of recycled polypropylene/polypropylene blends

Due to environmental, health, and economic concerns, recycling of plastic waste has increased significantly in recent years, and numerous mixes and composites of recycled polymer materials have been studied. Unfortunately, polypropylene makes up a very small portion of the five primary polymers that make up polymer waste. The aim of this study is to research the usage of recycled polypropylene (rPP) in combination with virgin polypropylene (PP) and to use electron radiation to improve the mixture's characteristics for potential applications. After being exposed to electron radiation, mixtures containing rPP at 0, 5, 10, and 15 wt.% were examined to ascertain their gel content, melt flow index, mechanical properties, and structural characteristics. The irradiation results in the formation of crosslinking in the PP mixture, as evidenced by the decrease in melt flow index and the result of gel content of the irradiated mixes. The tensile strength and elongation at break are unaffected by increasing the amount of rPP, but after exposure to radiation, the tensile strength of samples containing 0 to 10 wt.% of rPP declines by 10% and that of samples with 15% by weight reduces by 15%. In comparison to samples not exposed to radiation, the elongation-at-break increase was also reduced, which appears to be a result of developing a crosslinking net in the polymer's structure. The polymer mixture still exhibits a reasonable hammering behavior, and the decrease caused by the application of rPP and irradiation is of an appropriate quantity. The irradiation sample's analysis using a scanning electron microscope also demonstrates improved interaction of PP with rPP. Based on the findings, it would appear that the irradiation combination containing 10 wt.% rPP is the optimal sample to use for environmentally recycling post-consumer PP waste, creating new, high-performing products for a variety of applications, Cost reduction, and sustainable production.