1 research outputs found
The Comparative Study of Different Mixing Methods for Microcrystalline Cellulose/Polyethylene Composites
Polymer composites with polyethylene (PE), microcrystalline cellulose
(MCC), and coupling agent (PE-g-MA) were melt blended using a single
screw extruder (SSE), twin screw extruder (TSE), and a combination of
SSE and extensional flow mixer (EFM) and masterbatch method (MB). The
rheological behavior, mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties
were investigated to compare material behavior of the MCC-filled PE
composites and to evaluate the dispersive mixing efficiency. The
composite samples prepared using a single pass method in SSE had
relatively larger storage moduli (G') while those from the TSE and SSE +
EFM were smaller. The complex viscosities (eta{*}) of composites with
processed using EFM was higher than that of neat PE, indicating better
dispersion of the MCC. MCC-filled PE composites processed with EFM
showed higher tan delta compared to those of composites. In general,
MCC-filled PE composites from the EFM process showed higher viscosity
compared to all other composites at all shear rates. The EFM method
improved flexural properties more than the other processing methods. The
effect of EFM on impact strength of the composites was improved with
coupling agent. Addition of MCC, couple agent, and different mixing
methods did not significantly affect the thermal properties of the
MCC-filled PE composites