Polypropylene Composites Reinforced With Recycled Waste Cellulosic Fiber/Fine Mixture: The Impact of Cellulose Sieving on Performance

Journal Article · Thu Jun 19 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Journal of Advanced Manufacturing and Processing

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/amp2.70022· OSTI ID:3028753

Akubueze, Emmanuel ^[1]; Maurya, Atul Kumar ^[1]; Masembe, Patrick ^[1]; Olaiya, Niyi G. ^[1]; Bowen, Nicholas ^[1]; Masato, Davide ^[1]; Sobkowicz, Margaret J. ^[1]; Ameli, Amir ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA (United States)

This study explores how a sieving step of waste cellulosic fiber and fine (WCFF) mixture affects the performance of WCFF‐loaded polypropylene (PP) composites and whether the separation of fines from fibers offers an added benefit. The WCFF samples were downsized, and four different filler size ranges were sieved using a series of mesh sizes from 4 to 0.85 mm. The WCFF/PP composites were then compounded at 20 wt.% loading of WCFF using a twin‐screw extruder. Incorporating WCFF increased the tensile strength to 41.28 MPa and the modulus to 3207 MPa, accounting for 28% and 38% enhancements, respectively. Interestingly, the greatest improvements were associated with the nonsieved WCFF case, and the sieved WCFF fibers provided only marginal enhancements over virgin PP. The outperformance of nonsieved WCFF was attributed to the synergistic reinforcement of hybrid fibers and fines as well as the maintenance of longer fibers in the system. However, the strain at break and impact strength of PP decreased after introducing WCFF. Moreover, the complex viscosity and storage modulus increased with an increase in the filler size, due to the formation of a more effective percolative network. The PP's crystallinity exhibited a relatively strong dependency on the sieving, where WCFF samples with short‐aspect‐ratio fillers promoted the crystallinity significantly. It was also found that the WCFF degradation onset temperature increased once it was incorporated into PP. This study suggests that waste cellulosic feedstocks can be utilized as a reinforcement without additional sieving to manufacture high‐performance and cost‐effective composites.

• Research Organization: Sustainable Manufacturing Innovation Alliance Corp., West Henrietta, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO)
• Grant/Contract Number: EE0007897
• OSTI ID: 3028753
• Report Number(s): DOE-0007897-Amir-1
• Journal Information: Journal of Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, Journal Name: Journal of Advanced Manufacturing and Processing Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 7; ISSN 2637-403X
• Publisher: American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Wiley
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
Mechanical Performance
Polypropylene Composites
Recycled Waste Cellulose
Sieving