Thermo‐mechanical, rheological and morphology properties of polypropylene composites: Residual CaCO₃ as a sustainable by‐product

This research looked into the possibility of using residual calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) as a by‐product of the cane sugar production process combined with polypropylene (PP) to replace commercial CaCO 3 . Using a co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder, the CaCO 3 /PP composites were made in the following ratios: 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, and 50:50, with the addition of maleic anhydride polypropylene at 5 wt% of CaCO 3 . In terms of mechanical properties, thermal properties, rheological properties, and morphology, the effect of the residual CaCO 3 filler reinforced in PP matrix was compared to commercial CaCO 3 /PP composites. The findings showed that residual CaCO 3 from the sugar production process can replace the use of industrial CaCO 3 mixing in plastic and can add value to the residual CaCO 3 . The residual CaCO 3 /PP composites had better tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact resistance, and thermal stability than commercial CaCO 3 /PP composites, according to the findings. The composites' tensile modulus, flexural modulus, hardness, thermal stability, and rheological properties improved as the CaCO 3 loading increased.