Development of PP/Recycled-PET Blended Low Speed Wheels to Reduce the Virgin Plastic Usage in the Industry

The increase of plastic usage in different applications has a huge impact on the environment due waste generation. This study was focused not only to find a way to reduce the virgin plastic usage but also to convert a commodity plastic waste into a commercial engineering product. Post consumed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) water bottles were used as a source of recycled PET (r-PET) and blended with commercial grade polypropylene (PP) to produce the center part of low speed wheels. Thermomechanical properties of PP/r-PET blends were investigated along with the effect of compatibilization. The quality of prepared wheels was examined with dynamic drum test and impact test. The addition of recycled PET into polypropylene enhanced the properties of blends and it also supported to maintain the fatigue life of the wheel

Sustainable Use of Biomass Boiler Ash as a Reinforcement Filler for Polyamide 6 Composite

The use of biomass combustion ash as a reinforcing filler has taken the attention in recent years to reduce the overall production cost and increase the mechanical properties of plastics. This study evaluates the effect of biomass boilers ash (BBA) as a reinforcing filler on polyamide 6 composites (PA6). The chemical composition and thermal stability of BBA were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Differential thermal analysis (DTA) thermographs. Test samples were prepared by varying the ash content (2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%), and also samples were prepared without adding ash as a control. Moreover, surface modification was carried out by using N-2 (Aminoethyl) 3-aminopropyl triethoxy diamino-silane as a possible coupling agent for BBA  and it was tested by varying the coupling agent concentration (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) by dry process and the samples were prepared by extrusion and injection molding processes. Comparative analysis of the degree of crystallinity, mechanical properties including tensile, flexural, and thermal properties were tested. The highest degree of crystallinity was obtained with 7.5% BBA-filled composites. The addition of 2% surface-modified BBA (SBBA) filled composites (PA6 / 10% Ash 2% CA) showed an increase of tensile strength and elongation at break than the 10% unmodified BBA (UBBA) (PA6/ 10% Ash) filled composites. Stress at peak and bending modulus values in the flexural test data were increased up to 10%. But it was significantly reduced with the increasing of modifying agent concentration due to the increment of stiffness of the composite

Modification of Thermal Conductivity of Cotton Fabric Using Graphene

This paper investigates the possibility to use Graphene coated fabric for thermal conductive purposes. Existing methods of thermal conductivity improvement of textiles require extrusion facilities and the end products are heavy due to insertion of metal wires. By using Graphene Oxide application, these disadvantages can be eliminated. Graphene Oxide was applied onto the fabric using a simple dip and dry method and an exhaustion dyeing method. Then the coated fabric was allowed to react with an aqueous solution of reducing agents. The test results showed that the most suitable method to obtain a significant improvement in thermal conductivity of textiles is to follow an exhaustion dyeing method with reducing agents. The reduction process should be maintained at 700C for 30min duration with the addition of Sodium Hydrosulphide. Exhaust dyed fabric which was treated with reducing agents showed an improvement of 55% in thermal conductivity compared to the uncoated fabric, which is a significant improvement in the thermal conductivity of textiles. In addition to the thermal conductivity values, few related textile properties were tested to evaluate the effect of the Graphene coating on the fabric characteristics.IEEE IEEE Sri Lanka Section Robotics and Automation Section Chapter, IEEE Sri Lanka Sectio