Mechanical properties, degradation and flue gas analysis of basalt and glass fiber reinforced recycled polypropylene

Abstract Fiber reinforced recycled polypropylene composites (FRRPC) are developed by reinforcing chopped basalt fiber (BF) and glass fiber (GF) in recycled polypropylene (RPP) using injection molding techniques. The composites are differentiated by varying the fiber volume at 10, 20 and 30 vol.-%. This investigation has been conducted to study the mechanical properties of FRRPC by means of tensile, flexural and impact tests. In addition to that, fracture surfaces have been cut and observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Degradation processes were carried out to assess the amount of oxygen used by the bacteria to stabilize the organic matter under controlled conditions of time and temperature. Flue gas analysis revealings carbon monoxide(CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2), is within the allowable limit. From the above results, it became evident that basalt fiber reinforced polypropylene (BFRP) is superior to glass fiber reinforced polypropylene (GFRP).