Treated Olive Husk flour in a PVC-Based Composite Material: Recycling Effect on Physico-Mechanical and Rheological Properties

Abstract

The work is directed to study the recycling effects on the olive husk flour reinforced polyvinylchloride composites with and without maleic anhydride-grafted polyvinyl chloride used as compatibilizer. To improve the fiber-matrix adhesion, olive husk flour was chemically treated by benzoylation treatment. The material was characterized after each extrusion using tensile tests, Rheological measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC). Results indicated that generally after four cycles, the recycled composites had considerably higher modulus as compared with the original composites which were attributed to changes in physical and chemical properties of the composites induced by the recycling process. This effect was enhanced for the compatibilized samples. Increase of the modulus strength of the poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix is detected due to the molecular chain cross-linking resulting from degradation.