7 research outputs found
Effect of surface treatment in cork reinforced composites
This work explores the possibility of using cork
for reinforcing of polypropylene (PP). The cork granules
were mixed with PP by extrusion and the mixture was then
injected. The hydrophilic character of cork and the
hydrophobic character of PP influence negatively the
adhesion at the interface between the reinforcement and
the matrix. In order to improve it, several chemical
modifications of the cork reinforcements were used in this
work: treatment with silane, with sodium hydroxide and
with a compatibilizing agent MAPP. The interface modifications
were studied by scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), Goniometry analysis and infrared spectroscopy
analysis (IR). The improvement of the mechanical properties
was demonstrated by tensile tests. On their basis it was
demonstrated that the best interfacial adhesion between
cork and PP is achieved by the silane chemical modification
(silanization)
Modification of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Fibers by Nanoparticle Impregnation and Alkali Treatment
Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers were impregnated by copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) through the cationization process as well as treated by alkali solutions. Mechanical properties of different single fibers were measured and analysed by the Weibull statistical distribution. The weak link scaling of Weibull analysis has provided valuable information to scale the strength of one EFB fiber to predict the strength of other one. The impregnation and interfacial interaction of CuNPs with fibers has been analysed by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction study, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray study and thermogravimetric analysis. A significant increase in mechanical property of modified fibers with respect to the control ones has been observed. The crystallinity and thermal stability of the treated fibers were also found to be changed. These findings strongly suggest that CuNPs can be used as an effective reinforcing agent in natural fibers to improve their mechanical property and durability