Mechanical, thermal and flammability properties of dolomite filled polypropylene composites

In this project, the composites of polypropylene (PP)/dolomite were prepared via extrusion and injection moulding. Dolomite mineral was used as reinforcement in PP matrix. PP reinforced dolomite composites with various concentrations of dolomite (5, 10 and 15 wt%) were characterized by mechanical properties through tensile, impact and flexural test, morphological analysis by scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermal analysis by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and flammability analysis by the limiting oxygen index (LOI). The incorporation of dolomite into PP had improved Young's modulus while flexural modulus, tensile, flexural and impact strengths were decreased. The incorporation of dolomite up to 15 wt% increased the stiffness of the composites in tensile mode while in three point bending mode, 10 wt% dolomite was the optimum concentration. Tensile and flexural strength showed a slight reduction in the values while impact strength was continuously decreased with the addition of dolomite. SEM images showed poor interfacial adhesion between PP and dolomite, thus supported the decreased of tensile, flexural and impact strengths. The melting and crystallization temperatures (Tm and Tc) of the composites slightly increased with the addition of dolomite. LOI test showed that flammability of the composites decreased with the increasing content of dolomite

Thermal, dynamic mechanical analysis and mechanical properties of polybutylene terephthalate/polyethylene terephthalate blends

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and mechanical tests were conducted to characterize the properties of polybutylene terephthalate/polyethylene terephthalate (PBT/PET) blends. PBT and PET were blended at different PBT/PET ratios (80/20, 60/40, 40/60, 20/80) via twin screw extruder prior to injection molding. DSC characterization showed a single glass transition temperature for all PBT/PET blends indicating that the miscibility occurred in the amorphous region. From DMA results, loss modulus and tan δ also showed a single peak for all PBT/PET blends, confirming the DSC results. At room temperature, PBT/PET 20/80 has the highest storage modulus followed by PBT/PET 80/20 blend. PET has higher tensile strength, flexural strength, Young’s and flexural modulus than PBT but lower in elongation at break and impact strength. PBT/PET 80/20 blend has the highest tensile strength, flexural strength, elongation at break, and impact strength compared to other PBT/PET blends. PBT/PET 80/20 blend can be suggested as an optimum formulation with balanced mechanical properties in terms of stiffness and toughness

Mechanical and thermal properties of dolomite filled polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene composites

Polycarbonate (PC)/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) composites usefulness is majorly due to its good mechanical properties and low cost to performance ratio. The purpose of adding fillers into polymers is to further lower the cost and improve the mechanical properties of the composites. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of dolomite content on the mechanical properties of PC/ABS blend and to determine the optimum formulation for the PC/ABS/dolomite composites. Dolomite content in the PC/ABS/dolomite composites was varied ranging from 0 to 15 wt.%. The composite samples were then tested for mechanical, thermal and flame retardancy properties. The study concluded that 5 wt.% dolomite content was the the optimum filler content for PC/ABS/dolomite composites

Effect Of Cogon Grass Fibre On The Thermal, Mechanical And Biodegradation Properties Of Thermoplastic Cassava Starch Biocomposite

Thermoplastic cassava starch (TPCS) is a promising alternative material to replace the non-biodegradable petroleum based polymer due to its good environmental-friendly aspect i.e. abundant, sustainable, recyclable and biodegradable in nature. However, TPCS have some limitation such as poor mechanical properties. Therefore, in the present study, cogon grass fibre (CGF) were incorporated into TPCS using compression molding. Then the fundamental properties of CFG/TPCS biopolymer composites were carried out in order to evaluate their potential as a biodegradable reinforcement. From the study it was found that, the incorporation of CFG has improved the tensile and flexural properties of the TPCS composites, while the impact strength and elongation were reduced. The thermal properties of the biocomposite were reduced as the cogon grass fibres increase from 0 to 5%. In term of morphological, SEM shows good fibre adhesion between CGF and TPCS. Soil burial test shows that incorporation of CGF into TPCS has slow down the biodegradation process of the composites. Thus, CGF/TPCS biopolymer composites can be classified as composites with great potential as environmental-friendly material that biodegradable and renewabl