Advanced utilization of as received and near whitened fly ash in polypropylene polymer to improve mechanical, notched impact and whiteness colour properties

Over the past five years extensive research has been undertaken on recycling fly ash as a particulate reinforcement in engineering polymer such as isotactic polypropylene. In this study, as received and near white color modified fly ash particles have been used. Results indicate that the tensile modulus and notched charpy impact properties are substantially enhanced by the fly ash addition. Colour modified fly ash within 5% whiteness of calcium carbonate produces composites visibly almost as white as the neat PP polymer. Addition of fly ash in PP induces between 4% to 15% of β crystals in the polymer structure, to the otherwise mono-modal α crystals.