Abstract

The present paper investigates the influences of ZnO nanoparticles on the rheological behavior of waste polypropylene. The adding of nanoparticles to the waste plastic produces significant changes in its properties. Waste PP mixed with 3, 5, 7 and 10wt% of ZnO nanoparticles using twin screw extruder. The mixing process starts with sonication of nanoparticles in alcohol to get better particles distribution. X-ray Diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy are used to evaluate the effect of the ZnO nanoparticles percentage on the microstructure and morphology of the nanocomposite. Various rheological properties such as melt flow rate MFR and melt volume rate MVR are examined, also the solid and melt density are studied. The results of XRD test show that the crystallinity level increases with ZnO nanoparticles percentage increasing while the results of FESEM show that the sonication process and twin screw extruder reduces the agglomeration of ZnO nanoparticles in polypropylene matrix gradually. The results of rheological test show that an improvement in the viscosity of nanocomposite due to the decreasing in MFR and MVR with the increasing in ZnO nanoparticle percentage. Signification difference between solid and melt density was observed.