The Effects of Paper Sludge and Calcium Carbonate on TensileProperties and Water Absorption of Polypropylene (PP)/EthylenePropylene Diene Terpolymer (EPDM) Composites

Paper sludge (PS) from the waste pulp and paper mills was used as a new kind of filler in polypropylene (PP)/ethylene propylene diene terpolymer(EPDM) composites. The tensile properties and water absorption of the resulting composite were investigated and compared with those of conventional PP/EPDM filled with calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The results showed that the tensile strength, elongation at break and Young’s modulus of PP/EPDM/PS composites are better than PP/EPDM/CaCO3, except for water absorption.