Potential materials for food packaging from nanoclay/natural fibres filled hybrid composites

The increasing demand for new food packaging materials which satisfy people requirements provided thrust for advancement of nano-materials science. Inherent permeability of polymeric materials to gases and vapours; and poor barrier and mechanical properties of biopolymers have boosted interest in developing new strategies to improve these properties. Research and development in polymeric materials coupled with appropriate filler, matrix-filler interaction and new formulation strategies to develop composites have potential applications in food packaging. Advancement in food packaging materials expected to grow with the advent of cheap, renewable and sustainable materials with enhanced barrier and mechanical properties. Nanoparticles have proportionally larger surface area and significant aspect ratio than their micro-scale counterparts, which promotes the development of mechanical and barrier properties. Nanocomposites are attracting considerable interest in food packaging because of these fascinating features. On the other hand, natural fibres are susceptible to microorganisms and their biodegradability is one of the most promising aspects of their incorporation in polymeric materials. Present review article explain about different categories of nanoclay and natural fibre based composite with particular regard to its applications as packaging materials and also gives an overview of the most recent advances and emerging new aspects of nanotechnology for development of hybrid composites for environmentally compatible food packaging materials

Mechanical properties of coconut shell powder reinforced PVC composites in automotive applications / Muhammad Hanafi Md Sah … [et al.]

Coconut shell powder (CSP) (which is used in reinforced Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)) is one of the possible candidates of materials suitable as automotive components; however, appropriate tests need to be done to evaluate whether it meets all requirements. CSP-reinforced composites are made with PVC matrix within the range of 0 - 20 phr and the effect of the reinforcement of the natural fibres on the mechanical behaviour of PVC has been analysed. Both Universal Tensile Machines and Impact Testing Machines are used to determine the mechanical properties of CSP/PVC composites (such as the tensile, flexural and impact strength as well as its modulus of elasticity). The experimental results indicated that tensile strength, impact strength and flexural strength improved by 42%, 25% and 23%, respectively, when compared to the pure system

Asas Keusahawanan (ETR 300) : Arnafa Circuit Enterprise)/ Nazrul Zambri Md. Yusof... [et al.]

Arnafa Circuit Enterprise menyediakan perkhidmatan penyewaan sukan Go-Kart beralamat di Lot 10, Kawasan Perumahan Mergong Fasa 3, 05150 Alor Setar, Kedah. Mereka menyediakan perkhidmatan seperti penyewaan Go-Kart untuk aktiviti sukan lumba kereta bermotor dengan bayaran yang berpatutan, penyewaan Go-Kart untuk kelab-kelab tertentu sebagai menyambut hari ulangtahun syarikat mereka. Pasaran permagaan ini tertumpu kepada anak tempatan dari seluruh utara amnya yang berumur dalam lingkungan 15 - 45 tahun serta pelancong asing yang datang melawat negeri Kedah Darul Aman. Ia juga berdasarkan keadaan ekonomi semasa negara

Mechanical, thermal and processing properties of oil palm empty fruit bunch-filled impact modified unplasticised poly (vinyl chloride) composites

The main objective of this study is to investigate the effects of EFB filler and two types of impact modifiers on mechanical and thermal properties, and processability of PVC-U composites. Two methods were used to prepare the samples, i.e., compression moulding and single screw extrusion. A torque rheometer was used to determine the fusion characteristics of PVC. EFB increased the flexural modulus of 22 % but decreased the impact strength and flexural strength of 20 % and 18 % of PVC, respectively, as the filler contents increased. Increasing the impact modifiers contents, on the other hand, improved the impact strength but slightly decreased the flexural modulus and flexural strength. Acrylic impact modifier performed better than CPE in producing composites with balanced properties of toughness and stiffness. The use of Prosil 9234 coupling agent for filler surface treatment proved to be more reliable compared to NZ 44 in providing better filler-matrix interaction. The TGA study showed that both the EFB filler and acrylic impact modifier decreased the PVC thermal stability. Oil residues in the EFB did not influence the mechanical properties of PVC-U composites. The fusion time also decreased significantly with the addition of acrylic. Both the temperature and screw speed significantly influenced the fusion level of PVC, hence the mechanical properties of the extrudates. Overall, the study showed that EFB has the potential to be used as filler for PVC-U composite

Impact properties of oil palm empty fruit bunch filled impact modified unplasticised poly (vinyl chloride) composites

Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) reinforced composite is an emerging area in polymer technology. EFB is a low cost filler with low density, high specific properties as well as being nonabrasive. This type of composites offers several advantages comparable to those of conventional fiber composites. The main objective of the investigation reported in this paper is to study the effect of EFB filler loading and impact modifiers, namely chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) and acrylic on the mechanical properties of EFB filled-PVC-U composites. In preparing the samples, the PVC-U resins and the additives were initially dry blended using a laboratory blender before being milled into sheets using a two-roll mill. Test specimens were prepared using a hot press and impact tested using a pendulum type machine according to Izod mode. The results from the impact test showed that the unfilled PVC-U samples of both impact modifiers changes from brittle to ductile mode with increasing impact modifier concentration. The incorporation of EFB into unmodified PVC-U and modified PVCU has resulted in the reduction of impact strength. As the EFB filler content increases from to 10 to 40 phr, impact strength reduction of about 40% and 30% was observed for acrylic-modified PVC-U and CPE-modified PVC-U, respectively. The impact strength reduction was only marginal for unmodified PVC-U composites. The detrimental effect of fillers on the impact performance was due to the volume taken up. Fillers unlike the matrix are incapable of dissipating stress through the mechanisms known as shear yielding prior to fracture. The impact modifier was found to be effective in enhancing the impact strength of EFB-filled PVC-U composites. However, the effectiveness decreases with increasing filler loadings. The impact strength of CPE-modified PVC-U was higher than acrylic-modified PVCU at filler loading at 20 phr and higher

Tensile properties of a poly(vinyl chloride) composite filled with poly(methyl methacrylate) grafted to oil palm empty fruit bunches

The influence of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber and oil palm empty fruit bunches grafted with poly(methyl methacrylate) (OPEFB-g-PMMA) on the tensile properties of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was investigated. The OPEFB-g-PMMA fiber was first prepared with the optimum conditions for the grafting reaction, which were determined in our previous study. To produce composites, the PVC resin, OPEFB-g-PMMA fiber or ungrafted OPEFB fiber, and other additives were first dry-blended with a laboratory blender before being milled into sheets on a two-roll mill. Test specimens were then hot-pressed, and then the tensile properties were determined. A comparison with the composite filled with the ungrafted OPEFB fiber showed that the tensile strength and elongation at break increased, whereas Young’s modulus decreased, with the incorporation of 20 phr OPEFB-g-PMMA fiber into the PVC matrix. The trend of the tensile properties obtained in this study was supported by functional group analysis, glasstransition temperature measurements, and surface morphological analysis

Mechanical properties of talc and calcium carbonate filled PVC

The main aim of this work was to compare the mechanical properties of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and talc filled PVC. Talc and CaCO3 are common fillers in plastics such as PVC to reduce cost and modify mechanical properties. The PVC resin and additives were blended by using high speed laboratory mixer to produce a homogenized PVC formulation. Then, the dry blended samples were melted and sheeted on the two roll mill machine. The sheeted PVC compounds were compression moulded into impact and flexural test specimens. Flexural and impact tests were then performed to determine and compare the mechanical properties of both PVC composites. Talc filled PVC composite gave the highest flexural modulus but the lowest impact strength compared to all grades of CaCO3 filled PVC composites. The SM90 CaCO3 gave the most optimum properties in trems of impact strength and flexural modulus compared to all grades of CaCO3

Effect of oil palm empty fruit bunch and acrylic impact modifier on mechanical properties and processability of unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) composites

Interest in the use of natural fibers as fillers has grown over the past few years due to the advantages it offers. The use of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) as a filler in the unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) is a new attraction in polymer composite technology. The objectives of this study are to investigate the effects of EFB fillers on processability and mechanical properties of unmodified and acrylic-impact modified PVC-U. To produce the compound, the PVC resin and the additives were first dry blended using a laboratory blender before being milled into sheets using two-roll mill. Test specimens were prepared using a hot press, after which impact and flexural properties were determined. The processability studies of the dry blend were carried out by using a Brabender Torque Rheometer model PL2200. The results showed that the incorporation of EFB filler into unmodified PVC-U decreased the fusion time, but increased the fusion time of acrylic-impact modified PVC-U. The end torque decreased upon the addition of EFB filler for both samples. The addition of 9 phr of acrylic impact modifier into the unfilled and EFB-filled PVC-U compound decreased the fusion time. The flexural modulus showed improvement upon addition of EFB filler, with a sacrifice in impact and flexural strength. The overall results show that the incorporation of EFB filler modified the processability and mechanical properties of both the unmodified and acrylic-impact modified samples

Structure-properties relationship of hybrid talc/calcium carbonate filled impact modified PVC composites

The main objective of this study was to investigate and compare the mechanical properties and processability of single-filler and hybrid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) composites. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was used in this study to improve the impact strength of PVC while talc was used to improve stiffness. Filler was added into PVC at a constant loading level of 30phr. SM90 showed the most optimum properties in terms of impact strength and flexural modulus among all grades of CaCO3 selected for hybrid study. Tests specimens were prepared by using dry blending, two roll milling and compression moulding processes. Flexural, impact and tensile tests were then performed to determine and compare the effect of fillers on mechanical properties of PVC composites. Talc filled PVC composite showed the highest flexural modulus but the lowest impact strength. The impact strength of hybrid PVC composites gradually increased with increasing SM90 content, but the flexural modulus showed an opposite behaviour. The flexural strength and impact strength were the highest among the hybrids when the talc/SM90 weight ratio was 20:10. The distribution and dispersion of the fillers in PVC matrix were observed by using SEM. The well dispersion and interfacial adhesion of SM90 and talc particles in PVC matrix had contributed and helped in improving the stiffness and the impact strength of PVC composite. The fusion time of hybrid talc/SM90 filled PVC composite gradually increased as the talc content was gradually replaced by SM90. However, the hybrid (10phr talc: 20phr SM90) filled PVC composite showed the longest fusion time among all PVC composites. TGA, DSC and HDT tests were also carried out to investigate the thermal properties of PVC composites. The incorporation of talc and CaCO3 were found to improve the thermal stability and rigidity of PVC composites

Flame retardancy and mechanical properties of kenaf filled polypropylene (PP) containing ammonium polyphosphate (APP)

The effects of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) as flame retardant and kenaf as fillers on flammability, thermal and mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP) composites were determined. Test specimens were prepared by using a co-rotating twin screw extruder for the compounding process followed by injection molding. The flame retardancy of the composites was determined by using limiting oxygen index (LOI) test. Addition of flame retardant into kenaf-PP composites significantly increased the LOI values that indicated the improvement of flame retardancy. Thermogravimetric analysis was done to examine the thermal stability of the composites. The addition of kenaf fiber in PP composites decreased the thermal stability significantly but the influence of APP on thermal properties of the kenaf-filled PP composites was not significant. The flexural strength and modulus of the composites increased with the addition of APP into kenaf filled PP composite. The addition of APP into kenaf filled PP causes increase in the impact strength while increasing the APP content in the kenaf filled PP composite show decrease in impact strength