Mechanical properties of mica-filled polycarbonate/poly (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) composites.

The present study investigated the effect of untreated and treated mica fillers on the mechanical properties of Polycarbonate (PC)/Poly(Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) (ABS) composites. PC/ABS/mica composites were prepared by using twin screw extruder and test samples by injection molding. Results indicated that incorporation of mica in PC/ABS (70/30) causes decreases in tensile stress, elongation at break, and on impact properties. It was observed that surface treatment of mica by a coupling agent on PC/ABS 70/30 composite displays increases in tensile stress, elongation at break, and on flexural strength and impact properties. Treated mica is utilized as filler in PC/ABS blends to enhance its application in electronic and automotive sectors

Effects of Poe And Poe-G-Ma on impact and tensile properties of polyamide nanocomposites

The incorporation of nanoclay in polyamide 6 (PA6) may increase the strength and water resistance of hygroscopic PA6. However impact strength of PA6 was reduced upon the addition of nanoclay. Blends of polyamide 6 nanocomposites (PA6NC) with either unmodified polyethylene octene elastomer (POE) or reactive polyethylene octene elastomer grafted with maleic anhydride (POE-g-MA) were prepared to overcome the brittleness. The blends were prepared using co-rotating twin screw extruder followed by injection molding into tests samples. The results show that the impact strength of PA6NC containing POE-g-MA is significantly higher than samples containing POE. The plausible reason is that of the better compatibility between PA with POE-g-MA compared to POE with PA6 due to formation of POE-g-PA6 copolymer during the melt processing. POE-g-MA also caused in higher tensile strength values compared to when POE is used. The SEM study show that the rubbery disperse phase is smaller when POE-g-MA is used, making it more effective as impact modifier

Physico-chemical properties of biodegradable films of polyvinyl alcohol/sago starch for food packaging

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was blended with sago starch (SS) films in presence of glycerol as plasticizer. The solution was prepared using solution casting method prior irradiation using electron beam for crosslinking process. The effect of incorporation of sago starch into the PVA matrix was studied using various techniques using tensile test, FTIR, SEM and AFM-3D. FTIR spectroscopy was used to check the sago presence in the PVA matrix. Obtained results from the AFM-3D shows that PVA/SS films have relatively rougher surface topography which contributed to the chemically attached sago starch onto the PVA materials as compared to the raw films. Tensile test results revealed that film without starch has higher tensile strength compare to films with starch

Recent developments in montmorillonite and sepiolite filled regenerated cellulose nanocomposites: characterizations and properties

In recent years, the development of environmentally friendly materials obtained from renewable resources has attracted enormous attention due to the new sustainable development policies. Cellulose is a readily available, naturally occurring biodegradable and biocompatible linear polysaccharide. Recently, room temperature ionic liquids have been used as solvents to produce regenerated cellulose (RC) due to their attractive properties such as good chemical and thermal stability, low flammability, low melting point and ease of recycling. Polymer/nanofiller nanocomposites are believed to have strong potential to widen polymer applications due to its enhanced performance. It is also widely accepted that the incorporation of small amount of nanofiller (less than 5 wt.%) into bio-based matrices results in nano-biocomposite materials with enhanced mechanical, permeability and thermal properties. Montmorillonite (MMT) has a nanosized layered structure with large surface area thus providing sufficient interfacial regions in polymer nanocomposite. Besides, the needle like fibers based, natural hydrous magnesium silicate sepiolite has also been investigated due to its high surface area, unique geometry and its ability to form the hydrogen bonding with polymers as well as to disperse well in the matrix. This chapter aims to highlight the effect of the addition of two different types of nanofillers such as organically modified MMT and sepiolite to produce RC nanocomposites, on selected properties

Biodegradable and temperature-responsive thermoset polyesters with renewable monomers

A series of biodegradable thermoset polyesters, poly(1,8-octanediol–glycerol–dodecanediaote)s (POGDAs), were synthesized with the polycondensation polymerization method without a catalyst and with different monomer molar ratios. Synthesis was confirmed with structural analysis via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effect of varying the monomer molar ratio on the material properties was illustrated in the gel content and swelling analysis, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and degradation tests. Degradation tests were performed in phosphate-buffered solution at 37 °C for 60 days. Temperature-responsive behavior was revealed with POGDA (0.5 glycerol), and bending tests were performed to study the shape-memory effect. In vitro cytotoxicity tests and cell proliferation tests suggested that these POGDAs have potential applications in biomedical fields such as tissue engineering

Materials for food packaging applications based on bio-based polymer nanocomposites

Concerns about environmental waste problems caused by non-biodegradable petrochemical-based plastic packaging materials as well as consumer demand for high-quality food products have led to increased interest in the development of biodegradable packaging materials using annually renewable natural biopolymers. Inherent shortcomings of natural polymer-based packaging materials such as low mechanical properties and low barrier properties can be recovered by applying nanocomposite technology. Polymer nanocomposites, especially natural biopolymer-layered silicate nanocomposites, exhibit markedly improved packaging properties due to large nanoparticle surface area and their significant aspect ratios. Additionally, natural biopolymer is susceptible to microorganisms, resulting in good biodegradability, which is one of the most promising aspects of its incorporation in packaging materials and industries. The present review article explains the various categories of nanoclay and bio-based polymer-based composites with particular regard to their application as packaging materials. It also gives an overview of the most recent advances and emerging new aspects of nanotechnology for development of composites for environmentally compatible food packaging materials

Improvement of mechanical properties of polycaprolactone (PCL) by addition of nano-montmorillonite (MMT) and hydroxyapatite (HA)

F or many years, researcher have focused on developing a medical part of human body from polym er as to replace metal. This report described the mechanical characteristic of biodegradable Polycaprolactone (PCL) blend with nano - Montmorillonite ( MMT ) and Hydroxyapatite ( HA ) . The amount of nano - MMT is varies from 2 to 4 by weight % meanwhile the amoun t of HA is fixed to 10 by weight percentage (wt %) . The addition of nano - MMT and HA filler is to tune and indirectly improve the mechanical properties of PCL. These are prove n by carrying out the tensile, and also flexural test for samples which is injecte d from injection molding m achine. Both the tensile and flexural test are conducted using Shimadzu AG - I Unversal Testing Machine with 10 k N capacity. From the analysis it is found that overall PCL/ MMT/ HA composites gives better result in both tensile and fle xural analysis compare to PCL/MMT composite. PCL/MMT/HA composite with 2 wt% of MMT and 10 wt% of HA have indicated the highest tensile modulu s, meanwhile PCL/MMT/HA composite with 4 wt% MMT and 10 wt% HA have plot ted the highest flexural strength and modu lus value

Ethylene-octene copolymer (POE) toughened polyamide 6/polypropylene nanocomposites : effect of POE maleation

Ethylene-octene elastomer (POE) and ethylene-octene elastomer grafted maleic anhydride (POEgMAH) toughened nanocomposites of polyamide 6/polypropylene (PA6/PP) containing 4 wt% organophilic modified montmorillonite (MMT) were produced by melt compounding followed by injection moulding. The PA6/PP composition was kept constant (PA6/PP = 70/30 parts) while the elastomer (either POE or POEgMAH) content varied between 5 and 20 wt%. PP grafted maleic anhydride (PPgMAH) was used to compatibilize the blend system. The impact strength of the nanocomposite system was examined by the conventional Izod impact test at room temperature (RT). In addition, linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) approach was used to study the fracture response of the notched three point bending type specimens at room temperature (RT) and -40 degrees C. Fracture surfaces of the broken specimens were examined using scanning electron microscopy. The results show that while POEgMAH can remarkably improve the compatibility between PA6 and the elastomer thus increasing the toughness, the unmodified POE has less significant contribution to PA6/PP/organoclay toughness. Elastomer domains of POEgMAH show a finer and more uniform dispersion than that of POE in the PA6/PP/organoclay matrix. It is also observed that the toughness increased with the increasing elastomer concentration for both unmaleated and maleated POE

Bio-based hybrid polymers from vinyl ester resin and modified palm oil: Synthesis and characterization

A series of bio-based hybrid thermosets composed of maleinated acrylated epoxidized palm oil (MAEPO) and vinyl ester resin (VE) were produced using free radical-induced cross-linking. The amount of petroleum-based resin which was replaced by bio-resin (MAEPO) was varied from 5 to 20 wt%. The structure of the polymer systems was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis. The mechanical properties of the VE/MAEPO resins were studied using tensile, flexural and impact tests. The result obtained from structural analysis revealed that for the polymer hybrids with up to 20 wt% bio-resin content, there is good compatibility between MAEPO and VE as no phase separation was observed for these systems. The prepared eco-friendly bio-based thermosetting resins exhibit remarkable improvement in toughness parameters, such as ductility and impact strength, thereby showing potential for use in composites and nanocomposites applications

The effect of compression temperature and time on 2D woven kenaf fiber reinforced acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)

A natural fibre-based composite from woven kenaf was fabricated using hydraulic hot press machine. Plain woven kenaf fabrics were prepared and used as reinforced material with ABS sheet followed by hot press. Woven fabric was treated using sodium hydroxide and being compare with untreated fabric. The effect of the processing temperature and time towards tensile properties of the composite were investigated. Tensile test was carried out to measure the strength of the composite towards the effect of processing temperature and time. The surface morphology of the composite was studied with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Optical Microscopic. The result shows that woven Kenaf degrade in strength when expose with high temperature and long exposure to the heat. The permeability of woven Kenaf plain fabric does not indicate a good penetration as observed by microscopy