Influence of Matrix Polarity on the Properties of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate–Carbon Nanofiller Nanocomposites

A series of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) nanocomposites using four kinds of EVA with 40, 50, 60, and 70 wt% vinyl acetate (VA) contents and three different carbon-based nanofillers—expanded graphite (EG), multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), and carbon nanofiber (CNF) have been prepared via solution blending. The influence of the matrix polarity and the nature of nanofillers on the morphology and properties of EVA nanocomposites have been investigated. It is observed that the sample with lowest vinyl acetate content exhibits highest mechanical properties. However, the enhancement in mechanical properties with the incorporation of various nanofillers is the highest for EVA with high VA content. This trend has been followed in both dynamic mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of the nanocomposites. EVA copolymer undergoes a transition from partial to complete amorphousness between 40 and 50 wt% VA content, and this changes the dispersion of the nanofillers. The high VA-containing polymers show more affinity toward fillers due to the large free volume available and allow easy dispersion of nanofillers in the amorphous rubbery phase, as confirmed from the morphological studies. The thermal stability of the nanocomposites is also influenced by the type of nanofiller

Review of natural fibre-reinforced hybrid composites

Natural fibre-reinforced hybrid composites which contain one or more types of natural reinforcement are gaining increasing research interest. This paper presents a review of natural fibre-reinforced hybrid composites. Both thermoplastic and thermoset composites reinforced by hybrid/synthetic fibres or hybrid/hybrid fibres are reviewed. The properties of natural fibres, the properties and processing of composites are summarised

Reprocessing of polyethyleneterephthalate and characterisation of monopolymer blends of virgin and recycled polymers

Recycling of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET from bottles is considered by changing both reprocessing machines and the effect of humidity. The rheological and mechanical properties of this recycled material remain very close to that of the virgin material provided that a careful drying is carried out before any melt operation. The reprocessing has been carried out mainly in view of the use of this secondary material in blends with virgin PET-monopolymer or homopolymer blends. Indeed, this use is a common industrial practice to reuse plastic scraps. Most monopolymer blends show properties between those of the two components but in some cases lower than those expected on the basis of an additive rule. In some cases minima in the properties-composition curves are observed. This occurs mainly when the properties of the two components are very similar. Blends with similar amounts of the two components should be then avoided. On the contrary, when the characteristics of the virgin and of the recycled component are very different, the properties of the blends are determined by those of the matrix

Competition between degradation and chain extension during processing of reclaimed poly(ethylene terephthalate)

During processing of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) hydrolytic chain scission, induced by the presence of small amounts of water, is the main cause of degradation. During repeated reprocessing chain scission can also occur because of the presence of other polymeric contaminants like PVC. In order to avoid or to limit hydrolytic chain cleavage adequate drying of PET before melt processing is necessary. Of course this practice is even more recommended when repeated processing steps are used, as for PET recycling. The behavior of recycling PET obtained from post-consumer water bottles when treated in a melt mixer under different conditions has been investigated in order to better understand the processing conditions that can reduce or avoid the hydrolytic chain scission. During processing both degradation (chain scission) and chain extension occur. When the processing is carried out under a nitrogen atmosphere the latter mechanism prevails leading to a polymer having larger molecular weight. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved

Recycling of a starch-based biodegradable polymer

A new starch-based polymeric system, ZI1OU from Novamont, mainly composed of starch and polycaprolactone, was reprocessed several times in an extruder to investigate the recyclability of this biodegradable polymer. A previous investigation of the thermomechanical degradation in a mixer has been also done. The degradation is mostly due to the thermal stress but the presence of the mechanical stress strongly increases the degradation kinetic. During melt processing two concurrent processes take place: the first is the degradation, i.e. the breaking and shortening of polymeric chains, mostly occurring in the PCL phase; the second is the formation of some crosslinked structure in the starch phase. The rheological and mechanical properties, measured on samples subjected to repetitive extrusion operations carried out in a single screw extruder, clearly indicate that, in the adopted processing conditions, no significant modifications are observed. Only after five extrusions some decrease of these properties was measured