Production of composites by reinforcing basalt fibers to polymers obtained from battery recycling-investigation of mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of composites

In this study, it is aimed to develop an alternative method for the recycling of battery waste. In this context, composite materials have been developed by adding basalt fiber, a natural mineral fiber material, in different weight ratios, to the mixtures consisting of polypropylene-based battery wastes and pure polypropylene. Only pure PP and PP-based battery wastes were used in the first mixtures, and then basalt fiber fibers were reinforced at 3%, 6%, 10% and 20% by weight of these mixtures. Depending on the increased basalt fiber ratio in the mixtures, the ratio of PP-based battery wastes was increased, while the ratio of pure PP was decreased, and composites with a total of five different mixing ratios were produced. The resulting mixtures were first prepared mechanically in a mixer. In order to determine the mass and volumetric fluidities of these mechanical mixtures, firstly, melt flow analysis was performed and the operating temperatures in the extrusion and injection machines were determined according to the obtained fluidity values. These mixtures, which were first prepared mechanically, were poured into a single screw extruder with three zone heating and homogenized at approximately 200 oC. These homogeneous mixtures were drawn in the form of wire in the mold part of the extruder and immersed in the water pool, and after cooling, they were passed through the crusher and granules of 2 mm dimensions were obtained. These granules obtained were poured into the plastic injection machine for sample production and sprayed into the mold at certain temperatures and pressures. In this way, approximately 50 samples were produced for each mixing ratio. Mechanical, thermal and morphological analyzes of these samples were made. Mechanical tensile stress, three-point bending stress and Izod impact strength of the samples were tested and the obtained changes were discussed by showing graphics. Thermally, TGA/DTA analyzes of these samples with different mixing ratios were carried out, and in this way, mass losses due to heat increase and melting and combustion temperatures were determined. The physical bonding mechanisms of the samples containing basalt fiber and PP in different mixing ratios were also determined by imaging the sections of these samples under the electron microscope.