Impact modification of polypropylene‐based composites using surface‐coated waste rubber crumbs

Blends of maleated polypropylene (MAPP) with high contents of waste rubber powder, namely ground tire rubber and waste ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) powder, were used as impact modifiers for polypropylene (PP) based composites with different reinforcements (hemp, talc, and milled glass fiber). Adding reinforcements led to increase in modulus (tensile, flexural, and torsion moduli) of PP, while its impact strength decreased noticeably. Impact modification of PP‐based composites was successfully performed via inclusion of MAPP/waste rubber compounds, especially compounds containing waste EPDM powder. Inclusion of such impact modifiers increased impact strength of composites over 80%. The effects of impact modification were more significant for hemp‐ and glass‐filled composites compared to composites containing talc. However, slight decrease in tensile, flexural, and torsion moduli (up to 30%) of the composites was also observed after inclusion of impact modifiers. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:2280–2289, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers