Chemical treatment on polypropylene (PP)/recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr)/banana skin powder (BSP) composites using epoxy resin

Thermoplastic elastomers based on polypropylene (PP) /recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr) /banana skin powder (BSP) was investigated. The aim is to study the effect of epoxy resin with fixed 5phr to the different composite ratio (70/0/30, 70/5/30, 70/10/30, 70/15/30, and 70/20/30). The samples were prepared using heated two roll mill, then compressed using hot press machine at 180°C for 11 minutes, then lastly were cut into dumbbell shape. Samples then were tested for functional group, and mechanical properties which include tensile strength, Young Modulus and elongation at break. The result show that the tensile strength and Young Modulus were found to be decrease with the increasing of NBRr content. Meanwhile, the elongation at break was found to be increasing with the increasing of NBRr content. The enhancement of tensile properties of PP/NBRr/BSP-epoxy resin due to the better adhesion between the NBRr and epoxy resin.