Modification with thermoplastic elastomers of hazelnut shell filled polypropylene composites and characterization

In polymer composites, inorganic filling materials are widely used to increase their mechanical and physical properties. Organic hazelnut shells can be used as an alternative to an inorganic filling material due to its easy availability, unique color (it can also be used for coloring) and low cost. In this study; Hybrid polymer composites with organic-inorganic additives were obtained by adding hazelnut shell, SEBS, SEBS-g-MA at different rates into the PP matrix. At the same time, it is aimed to save the hazelnut shells, which are used as organic additives in polymer composites, as waste and transform them into additive materials that add value to the country's economy. Additional hazelnut shell, SEBS and SEBS-g-MA were added to the PP polymer matrix. The mechanical and physical properties (tensile, bending, iMPact, density, hardness, color, gloss measurement, etc.), thermal properties (HDT, VICAT, DSC, etc.) and microstructures (SEM) of hybrid composites were investigated. When the tests applied to the prepared sample mixtures were examined, it was observed that the tensile strength decreased and the elasticity modulus increased as the hazelnut shell addition in the PP matrix increased. However, with the addition of hazelnut shell to the mixture, a decrease in the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of the samples added to SEBS, a decrease in the tensile strength of the samples prepared with the addition of hazelnut shell and SEBS-g-MA into the mixture, and an increase in the modulus of elasticity coMPared to the addition of SEBS were observed. While the bending strength increased with the addition of hazelnut shell, a decrease was observed with the addition of SEBS and SEBS-g-MA. When SEBS and SEBS-g-MA were added, a decreasing trend was observed in the modulus of elasticity. No increase in iMPact strength was observed as the ratio of hazelnut shell, SEBS and SEBS-g-MA increased in the matrix. While the density and DSC results of the samples prepared by adding hazelnut shell to the PP matrix increased, HDT VICAT B results were observed to decrease as the mixing ratio of SEBS and SEBS-g-MA increased. In the hardness measurements (Shore D) applied to the samples, the hardness increased only in the mixtures with hazelnut shell, but it was determined that the hardness decreased when SEBS and SEBS-g-MA were added to the mixture. In the color measurements of the samples with hazelnut shell, it is seen that the difference between the two colors increases as the amount of hazelnut shell additive increases. While the new color formed by hazelnut shells added to natural PP at the rate of 5% is obtained closer to the relatively light color of the hazelnut shell, it gradually changes when the additive ratio reaches 10%, 15% and 20%. As a result, it is thought that the hazelnut shell can be used as a filling material in polymer composite production, hybrid composites can be produced with the addition of different inorganic materials, and it can be used as a natural colorant in polymer production processes, and its thermal and mechanical properties can be improved and eco-friendly and economical composites can be produced.