Physico‐Mechanical Properties,Odor and VOC Emission of Bio‐Flour‐Filled Poly(propylene) Bio‐Composites with Different Volcanic Pozzolan Contents

Summary: This study investigated the physico‐mechanical properties, odor and VOC emission of bio‐flour filled PP bio‐composites with different pozzolan contents. On increasing the pozzolan content, the tensile and flexural strengths of the bio‐composites were not significantly changed, whereas the impact strength and water absorption increased slightly and the odor intensity decreased due to the absorption of thermal degradation gases of PP and bio‐flour at the pore surface of the pozzolan. The VOC emission of the bio‐composites, analyzed by GC‐MSD, was mainly due to PP oxidation and the thermal degradation of bio‐flour during the extrusion process at high manufacturing temperatures. With increased pozzolan content, other organic compounds of the bio‐composites were not significantly changed, but the toluene emission of the bio‐composites was decreased. SEM and SEM/EDX mapping techniques were employed to investigate the porous form and the pozzolan distribution in the bio‐composites. From these results, we concluded that the addition of pozzolan in the bio‐composites was an effective method for reducing their odor and VOC emission without any reduction in mechanical properties.

SEM micrograph of pozzolan (10 000×).     

Effect of chemical treatments on the mechanical,flow, and morphological properties of talc‐ and kaolin‐filled polypropylene hybrid composites

This study was performed with commercially available phenyl trimethoxysilane (PTMS) and neoalkoxytitanate [i.e., neopentyl(diallyl)oxytri(dioctyl)phosphato titanate (LICA 12)] as coupling agents. PTMS and LICA 12 were used to treat talc and kaolin to compare their effects with untreated fillers upon incorporation into polypropylene (PP). Single‐filler PP composites (containing either talc or kaolin) and hybrid‐filler composites (containing a mix of both talc and kaolin) were compounded in a twin‐screw extruder and subsequently injection‐molded into dumbbells. The incorporation of PTMS and LICA 12 slightly decreased the tensile and flexural properties in terms of modulus and strength but increased the elongation at break for both single‐filler and hybrid‐filler composites. There was also a significant improvement in the impact strength of the composites, particularly those treated with LICA 12. The hybrid composites, through the synergistic coalescence of positive characteristics from talc and kaolin with the aid from chemical treatment provided an economically advantageous material with mechanical properties comparable to those of the single‐filler‐filled PP composites. Further investigations on flow and morphological properties were also done to correlate the mechanical properties of the single‐ and hybrid‐filler‐filled PP composites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Effect of bark flour content on the hygroscopic characteristics of wood–polypropylene composites

The effects of the bark content on the water absorption and thickness swelling of wood–plastic composites prepared from polypropylene, wood flour, and bark flour were studied. Samples were made with a laboratory twin‐screw extruder. The results showed that among composites free of maleic anhydride polypropylene, those composites containing a higher bark flour content exhibited lower water absorption and lower thickness swelling. Maleic anhydride polypropylene reduced water absorption and thickness swelling in composites containing wood flour and a lower content of bark flour but had no influence on the hygroscopic properties of composites made with higher bark contents. Adding maleic anhydride polypropylene had no effect on the water diffusion coefficients and swelling rate parameters of composites made with a higher bark flour content. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Mechanical properties and dynamic mechanical analysis of thermoplastic‐natural‐rubber‐reinforced short carbon fiber and kenaf fiber hybrid composites

The hybridization of thermoplastic natural rubber based on carbon fiber (CF) and kenaf fiber (KF) was investigated for its mechanical and thermal properties. Hybrid composites were fabricated with a melt‐blending method in an internal mixer. Samples with overall fiber contents of 5, 10, 15, and 20 vol % were subjected to flexural testing, and samples with up to 30% fiber content were subjected to impact testing. For flexural testing, generally, the strength and modulus increased up to 15 vol % and then declined. However, for impact testing, higher fiber contents resulted in an increment in strength in both treated and untreated composites. Thermal analysis was carried out by means of dynamic mechanical analysis on composites with 15 vol % fiber content with fractions of CF to KF of 100/0, 70/30, 50/50, 30/70, and 0/100. Generally, the storage modulus, loss modulus, and tan δ for the untreated hybrid composite were more consistent and better than those of the treated hybrid composites. The glass‐transition temperature of the treated hybrid composite was slightly lower than that of the untreated composite, which indicated poor damping properties. A scanning electron micrograph of the fracture surface of the treated hybrid composite gave insight into the damping characteristics. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Injection‐molded short hemp fiber/glass fiber‐reinforced polypropylene hybrid composites—Mechanical,water absorption and thermal properties

Natural fiber‐based thermoplastic composites are generally lower in strength performance compared to thermoset composites. However, they have the advantage of design flexibility and recycling possibilities. Hybridization with small amounts of synthetic fibers makes these natural fiber composites more suitable for technical applications such as automotive interior parts. Hemp fiber is one of the important lignocellulosic bast fiber and has been used as reinforcement for industrial applications. This study focused on the performance of injection‐molded short hemp fiber and hemp/glass fiber hybrid polypropylene composites. Results showed that hybridization with glass fiber enhanced the performance properties. A value of 101 MPa for flexural strength and 5.5 GPa for the flexural modulus is achieved from a hybrid composite containing 25 wt % of hemp and 15 wt % of glass. Notched Izod impact strength of the hybrid composites exhibited great enhancement (34%). Analysis of fiber length distribution in the composite and fracture surface was performed to study the fiber breakage and fracture mechanism. Thermal properties and resistance to water absorption properties of the hemp fiber composites were improved by hybridization with glass fibers. Overall studies indicated that the short hemp/glass fiber hybrid polypropylene composites are promising candidates for structural applications where high stiffness and thermal resistance is required. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2432–2441, 2007     

Evaluation of dynamic elastic properties of wood‐filled polypropylene composites

Dynamic modulus of elasticity (MoE) and shear modulus of wood‐filled polypropylene composite at various filler contents ranging from 10% to 50% was determined from the vibration frequencies of disc‐shaped specimens. Wood filler was used in both fiber form (pulp) and powder form (wood flour). A novel compatibilizer, m‐isopropenyl‐α,α‐dimethylbenzyl‐isocyanate(m‐TMI) grafted polypropylene with isocyanate functional group was used to prepare the composites. A linear increase in dynamic MoE, shear modulus, and density of the composite was observed with the increasing filler content. Between the two fillers, wood fiber filled composites exhibited slightly better properties. At 50% filler loading, dynamic MoE of the wood fiber filled composite was 97% higher than that of unfilled polypropylene. Halpin‐Tsai model equation was used to describe the changes in the composite modulus with the increasing filler content. The continuous improvement in elastic properties of the composites with the increasing wood filler is attributed to the effective reinforcement of low‐modulus polypropylene matrix with the high‐modulus wood filler. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 1706–1711, 2006     

Electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of graphite‐filled polypropylene and poly(ether imide) based composites

The electromagnetic interference shielding characteristics of polypropylene (PP) and poly(ether imide) (PEI) filled with synthetic graphite composites were studied. The thermal properties were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis, whereas the morphologies of the composites were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The viscosity measurements were studied by advance rheometry. The measurements of shielding effectiveness (SE) were carried out in the frequency range 8–12 GHz (X‐band range). The return loss and loss due to absorption were also measured as a function of frequency in the X‐band range. It was observed that the SE of the composites was frequency dependent, and it increased with increasing frequency. The SE also increased with increasing filler loading. The PEI‐based composites showed a higher SE compared to that of the PP‐based composites. The correlation between SE and the conductivity of the various composites is also discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Thermal properties and processability of talc‐ and calcium carbonate‐filled poly(vinyl chloride) hybrid composites

The main objective of this investigation was to study and compare the thermal rigidity, thermal stability, and processability of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) composites filled with single fillers of talc and uncoated ground CaCO₃ (SM 90) or a hybrid filler consisting of talc/SM 90. To produce the composites, the PVC resin, fillers, and other additives were dry‐blended in a laboratory mixer before being milled into sheets by using a two‐roll mill. Test specimens were prepared by compression molding, after which the thermal properties and processability of the composites were determined. Single and hybrid filler loadings used were fixed at 30 phr (parts per hundred parts of resin). Talc‐filled PVC composite showed slightly better thermal stability and rigidity than the composite filled with SM 90, and its thermal stability and rigidity slightly decreased with SM 90 content increasing from 5 to 25 phr in order to replace talc filler in the hybrid composites. The fusion time of talc‐filled PVC composite was shorter than that of SM 90‐filled PVC composite; thus, the fusion time of hybrid composites increased with increasing SM 90. The fusion torque showed an opposite behavior. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Study and characterization of composites materials based on polypropylene loaded with olive husk flour

In Algeria, a significant quantities of olive husk are rejected to nature causing by the way major nuisances to environment, to give us a reason for which our work is focused on the valorization of this waste by its incorporation in a polypropylene matrix. The hydrophilic nature of natural fibers affects negatively its adhesion to hydrophobic polymeric matrix. To improve interfacial adhesion, two modes of chemical treatments were done using vinyltriacetoxysilane (VTAS) and maleic‐anhydride‐polypropylene (PPMA) compatibilisant agent. Several formulations of PP filled with 10 and 20% by mass of olive husk flour treated (OHFT) and untreated (OHFUT) were prepared. The chemical modification of olive husk flour was studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The tensile properties, the water‐absorption behavior, the thermal degradation properties, and crystallinity of the composites were investigated. It was found that, the incorporation of the treated and untreated OHF improves the thermal stability of the composites. However, the use of the compatibilizer agent PPMA leads to a better thermal stability compared with the treatment of the OHF by the VTAS and the OHFUT. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Reinforcement of rigid PVC/wood‐flour composites with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes

Multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) were compounded with PVC by a melt blending process based on fusion behaviors of PVC. The effects of CNT content on the flexural and tensile properies of the PVC/CNT composites were evaluated in order to optimize the CNT content. The optimized CNT‐reinforced PVC was used as a matrix in the manufacture of wood‐plastic composites. Flexural, electrical, and thermal properties of the PVC/wood‐flour composites were evaluated as a function of matrix type (nonreinforced vs. CNT‐reinforced). The experimental results indicated that rigid PVC/wood‐flour composites with properties similar to those of solid wood can be made by using CNT‐reinforced PVC as a matrix. The CNT‐reinforced PVC did not influence the electrical and thermal conductivity of the PVC/wood‐flour composites. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Sunflower seed cake as reinforcing filler in thermoplastic composites

Dimensional stability, mechanical properties, and melting and crystallization behavior of polypropylene composites filled with sunflower seed cake (SSC) were investigated. Injection molded composites were prepared from the SSC flour and polypropylene with and without maleic anhydride‐grafted polypropylene (MAPP) at 30, 40, 50, and 60 wt % contents of the SSC flour. Twenty‐eight days thickness swelling and water absorption values of the specimens increased by 43 and 56% as the filler content increased from 30 to 60 wt %, respectively. The flexural modulus of the polypropylene composites increased from 3157 to 4363 MPa as the SSC flour increased from 30 to 60 wt %. The maximum flexural strength 38.4 MPa was observed for 40 wt % SSC flour filled specimens. However, further increment in the SCC flour decreased the flexural strength to 31.4 MPa. The tensile strength of the specimens decreased from 22.5 to 14 MPa while the tensile modulus increased from 3023 to 3677 MPa as the SSC flour increased from 30 to 60 wt %. The dimensional stability and mechanical properties of the composites were significantly improved by the incorporation of the coupling agent (MAPP). The effect of the MAPP addition was more pronounced for the strength than for the modulus. The melting temperature and degree of crystallinity of the neat polypropylene decreased with increasing content of the SSC flour. The degree of crystallinity of filled composites considerably increased with the incorporation of the MAPP. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Biodegradability and mechanical properties of agro‐flour–filled polybutylene succinate biocomposites

The objective of this study was the production of rice husk flour (RHF) and wood flour (WF) filled polybutylene succinate (PBS) biocomposites as alternatives to cellulosic material filled conventional plastic (polyolefins) composites. PBS is one of the biodegradable polymers, made from the condensation reaction of 1,4‐butanediol and succinic acid that can be naturally degraded in the natural environment. We compared the mechanical properties between conventional plastics and agro‐flour–filled PBS biocomposites. We evaluated the biodegradability and mechanical properties of agro‐flour–filled PBS biocomposites according to the content and filler particle size of agro‐flour. As the agro‐flour loading was increased, the tensile and impact strength of the biocomposites decreased. As the filler particle size decreased, the tensile strength of the biocomposites increased but the impact strength decreased. The addition of agro‐flour to PBS produced a more rapid decrease in the tensile strength, notched Izod impact strength, and percentage weight loss of the biocomposites during the natural soil burial test. These results support the application of biocomposites as environmentally friendly materials. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 1513–1521, 2005     

Effects of repetitive processing,wood content,and coupling agent on the mechanical,thermal, and water absorption properties of wood/polypropylene green composites

In an effort to determine to what extent natural fiber/plastic composites were recyclable, this study conducted repetitive processing cycles on wood flour/polypropylene composites through extrusion up to three times followed by injection molding. Mechanical properties of the composites, containing 10–50?wt% wood flour and with/without addition of 3?wt% maleic anhydride polypropylene (MAPP) as coupling agent, were evaluated by conducting tensile test, thermal analysis, and water absorption test. Repetitive processing as well as wood content and coupling agent addition influenced physical properties of the composites. MAPP functioned well in improving fiber-matrix adhesion in terms of mechanical properties. Repetitive processing did not deteriorate the composite’s properties; rather opposite effect was shown. Thermal analysis indicated that the alteration in properties was contributed by the molecular condition of the polypropylene matrix. Water absorption increased with the wood flour content but reduced when MAPP was added and with more processing cycles.     

Effect of extractives on the performance properties of wood flour‐polypropylene composites

In this study, the effects of extractives in wood flour on the physicomechanical properties of wood flour‐polypropylene (PP) composites have been investigated. Three different solvents, hot‐water (HW), 1% NaOH (AL), and dichloromethane (DM), were used to remove extractives in both poplar and eucalypt wood flour. The obtained results showed that mechanical properties of the composites were moderately enhanced on using extractive‐free lignocellulosic materials in both the wood types. A large increase in the strength of eucalyptus flour‐PP composites was observed upon the removal of extractives from eucalyptus flour. Unlike the mechanical properties, no improvement in the water absorption and thickness swelling was observed for any type of extracted‐free samples. The thermal degradation behavior of the composites showed that in both cases, the degradation temperatures shifted to higher values after removing the extractives. In general, the removal of AL solubles was more effective in its improvement of the physicomechanical properties than the removal of HW and DM extractives. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Development and characterization of green composites from bio‐based polyethylene and peanut shell

In the present work, different compatibilizers, namely polyethylene‐graft‐maleic anhydride (PE‐g‐MA), polypropylene‐graft‐maleic anhydride (PP‐g‐MA), and polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene‐ran‐butylene)‐block‐polystyrene‐graft‐maleic anhydride (SEBS‐g‐MA) were used on green composites derived from biobased polyethylene and peanut shell (PNS) flour to improve particle–polymer interaction. Composites of high‐density polyethylene/peanut shell powder (HDPE/PNS) with 10 wt % PNS flour were compatibilized with 3 wt % of the abovementioned compatibilizers. As per the results, PP‐g‐MA copolymer lead to best optimized properties as evidenced by mechanical characterization. In addition, best particle–matrix interface interactions with PP‐g‐MA were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Subsequently HDPE/PNS composites with varying PNS flour content in the 5–30 wt % range with PP‐g‐MA compatibilizer were obtained by melt extrusion and compounding followed by injection molding and were characterized by mechanical, thermal, and morphological techniques. The results showed that PNS powder, leads to an increase in mechanical resistant properties (mainly, flexural modulus, and strength) while a decrease in mechanical ductile properties, that is, elongation at break and impact absorbed energy is observed with increasing PNS flour content. Furthermore, PNS flour provides an increase in thermal stability due to the natural antioxidant properties of PNS. In particular, composites containing 30 wt % PNS powder present a flexural strength 24% and a flexural modulus 72% higher than the unfilled polyethylene and the thermo‐oxidative onset degradation temperature is increased from 232 °C up to 254 °C thus indicating a marked thermal stabilization effect. Resultant composites can show a great deal of potential as base materials for wood plastic composites. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43940.     

Thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of organic–inorganic hybrid composites of itaconate‐containing poly(butylene succinate) and methacrylate‐substituted polysilsesquioxane

Itaconate‐unit‐containing poly(butylene succinate) (PBSI) was synthesized by the reaction of 1,4‐butanediol, succinic acid, and itaconic acid in a molar ratio of 2.0 : 1.0 : 1.0, and the obtained PBSI was reacted with methacryl‐group‐substituted polysilsesquioxane (ME‐PSQ) in the presence of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) at 130°C to produce PBSI/ME‐PSQ hybrid composites. The thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of the PBSI/ME‐PSQ hybrid composites were investigated in comparison with those of PBSI cured at 130°C in the presence of BPO. As a result, the hybrid composites showed a much higher thermal degradation temperature and storage modulus in the rubbery state than the cured PBSI (C‐PBSI). The thermal degradation temperature and storage modulus of the hybrid composites increased with increasing ME‐PSQ content. The glass‐transition temperature, measured by dynamic mechanical analysis of the hybrid composites, somewhat increased with increasing ME‐PSQ content. However, the glass‐transition temperatures of all the hybrid composites were lower than that of C‐PBSI. Although the IR absorption peak related to C?C groups was not detected for C‐PBSI, some olefinic absorption peaks remained for all the hybrid composites. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Flammability and mechanical properties of wood flour‐filled polypropylene composites

Polypropylene (PP) composites filled with wood flour (WF) were prepared with a twin‐screw extruder and an injection‐molding machine. Three types of ecologically friendly flame retardants (FRs) based on ammonium polyphosphate were used to improve the FR properties of the composites. The flame retardancy of the PP/WF composites was characterized with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), vertical burn testing (UL94‐V), and limiting oxygen index (LOI) measurements. The TGA data showed that all three types of FRs could enhance the thermal stability of the PP/WF/FR systems at high temperatures and effectively increase the char residue formation. The FRs could effectively reduce the flammability of the PP/WF/FR composites by achieving V‐0 UL94‐V classification. The increased LOI also showed that the flammability of the PP/WF/FR composites was reduced with the addition of FRs. The mechanical property study revealed that, with the incorporation of FRs, the tensile strength and flexural strength were decreased, but the tensile and flexural moduli were increased in all cases. The presence of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) resulted in an improvement of the filler–matrix bonding between the WF/intumescent FR and PP, and this consequently enhanced the overall mechanical properties of the composites. Morphological studies carried out with scanning electron microscopy revealed clear evidence that the adhesion at the interfacial region was enhanced with the addition of MAPP to the PP/WF/FR composites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Polypropylene composites obtained from self‐reinforced hybrid fiber system

The purpose of the study was to obtain a composite material with the self‐reinforced structure, which processing provide increased mechanical properties. The composites used in presented work were prepared from the two types of fiber mixtures, both were based on polypropylene fibers, the difference was in used cellulose or wood flour filler. Composites were prepared using the hot compaction method. The presented research describes the effect of the composite composition and processing conditions. The results include the static tension measurements, tensile impact tests and thermal analysis, including: DSC and DMTA. The structure has been studies using the SEM observations. Results of presented studies confirm the self‐reinforcing effect in obtained hybrid composites. It provides in the comparison to the standard wood polymer composites to the higher level of material reinforcement with lower amount of natural filler. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43283.     

The effects of maleated polybutadiene‐grafted polypropylene (MAPB‐g‐PP) content on the properties of wood flour/polypropylene composites

This research investigated the effects of a compatibilizer of maleated polybutadiene‐grafted polypropylene (MAPB‐g‐PP) on the properties of wood‐flour/polypropylene composites through the analysis of mechanical properties, water absorption, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electronic microscopy. The results demonstrate that the mechanical properties of composites were significantly increased; the thermal stability and water absorption were improved. The crystallization temperature and crystallinity were decreased. These improvements have been attributed to the strong interfacial interaction of MAPB‐g‐PP with both wood and polypropylene. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 26:17–23, 2020. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effects of nanoclay and coupling agent on the physico‐mechanical,morphological, and thermal properties of wood flour/polypropylene composites

This article presents the effects of coupling agent and nanoclay (NC) on some properties of wood flour/polypropylene composites. The composites with different NC and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) contents were fabricated by melt compounding in a twin‐screw extruder and then by injection molding. The mass ratio of the wood flour to polymer was 40/60 (w/w). Results showed that applying MAPP on the surface of the wood flour can promote filler polymer interaction, which, in turn, would improve mechanical properties of the composite as well as its water uptake and thermal stability. Composite voids and the lumens of the fibers were filled with NC, which prevented the penetration of water by the capillary action into the deeper parts of composite. Therefore, the water absorption in composites fabricated using NC was significantly reduced. Scanning electron microscopy has shown that the treatment of composites with 5 wt% MAPP, promotes better fiber–matrix interaction, resulting in a few numbers of pull‐out traces. In all cases, the degradation temperatures shifted to higher values after using MAPP. The largest improvement on the thermal stability of composites was achieved when NC was added. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers