Mechanical properties and morphology of coal gasification fine slag glass bead-filled acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) composites

Coal gasification fine slag glass beads (CGFSGBs) were processed via an efficient pneumatic separation technique. CGFSGB products (CGFSGB-S1, CGFSGB-S2, and CGFSGB-S3) with different sizes were acquired. The heavy calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) was used as comparative filler. Effects of particle size and geometric shape on mechanical strengths, flow properties, and solid density of filled acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) were investigated. The mechanical strengths of composites decreased with increasing CGFSGB weight fraction, while MFR and solid density increased. The mechanical strengths were found to increase with decreasing CGFSGB size, and spherical surface of the CGFSGB is more beneficial to improve interface adhesion strength than square surface of the CaCO 3 . The flow property analysis showed that the ABS/CaCO 3 composites have better fluidity and the advantages in the processing energy consumption. However, the incorporation of CaCO 3 resulted in the higher solid-state density. In summary, CGFSGBs have the potential to replace CaCO 3 in the ABS market. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137 , 48601.