Mechanical behavior of PP reinforced with marble dust

Abstract The main objective of this study is to review the capability of using marble dust particles as reinforcing materials in polymeric composites. In this study, it is intended to obtain a novel composite material by using these particles as reinforcement in polypropylene (PP) matrix. The effect of different particle sizes (35–1350 μm) and the weight percentage of marble dust particles (10–70 wt%) on the thermal and mechanical properties were investigated. In addition, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) of the dust particles were studied. It was found that the thermal and the mechanical properties (such as flexural strength, compressive strength, elastic modulus and hardness) of the composites were improved by adding the dust particles into the PP matrix. The experimental results were observed and the optimum conditions were determined. The fracture surface of the tested samples under bending was studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM). SEM images show the dust particles agglomeration and the pullout of this particles which are responsible for the strength reduction in the composites.