Sustainable Engineering of Organic Compound Polypropylene: Enhancing Mechanical and Thermal Properties with Antioxidants for Cost Efficiency

A challenge involving the lasting usage of organic compounds is problematic worldwide, with scientists finding ways to solve it. This study explores the effects of repeated recycling on the mechanical, thermal, and structural properties of organic material polypropylene (PP) crates with and without antioxidant additives. In the laboratory, ten batches were created: virgin PP, PP made from mechanical recycling of organic compounds and PP with Arenox A-10 as an antioxidant. Characterisation involved tensile and impact tests, Melt Flow Index (MFI), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and FTIR spectroscopy. Results indicated that reprocessing increased MFI values (6.72 to 9.01 g/10 min) due to chain scission, while antioxidant addition mitigated degradation, preserving tensile strength (20–22 MPa) and improving impact resistance (45–58 kJ/m²). Both DSC and FTIR tests revealed that recycled PP and virgin PP have the same stability and composition. With antioxidant treatment, organic recycled PP is effective in several industrial uses and supports cost-efficiency for the environment and economy in many sectors such as construction, pipes and the automotive industry.