Abstract

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This study investigates the Processing and Evaluation of Horn Fibre reinforced polypropylene. A new functional composite has been developed using particles of defatted cow horn fibre and charcoal which act as a compatibilizer and natural colorant and waste polypropylene. Physical and Mechanical properties of the composite with varying wt% of polypropylene/Hf/charcoal have been characterized and compared with the properties of waste PP as the control sample. Results showed that incorporation of Hf/charcoal increased some of the mechanical properties such as Tensile strength, Flexural, impact, hardness and density, compared to 100 % PP. The waste horn fibre/PP and charcoal composite is a product of the cleanup of Kaduna Polytechnic waste polypropylene broken chairs and tables from the hall and surrounding using natural wastes (horn fibres) as a stiffener and charcoal as a natural colorant and can be used in fields like automotive, chairs and tables, computer parts, construction, and house ware etc

Keywords: polypropylene, horn fibres, charcoal, plastics, recycling.