Mechanical and degradation characteristics of natural silk fiber reinforced gelatin composites

Silk reinforced gelatin based composites were prepared by compression molding. The fiber content in the composite was 20 wt.%. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), bending strength (BS), bending modulus (BM), impact strength (IS) and hardness of the composites were found 44.5 MPa, 0.65 GPa, 63 MPa, 3.7 GPa, 5.1 kJ/m² and 96 shore A respectively. The environmental effect on composite was observed by simulating weathering test and the composite lost 15.2% TS at the end of 30 h of the weathering testing period. The biodegradation test shows that the composite degrades very quickly and losses 52.1% weight at the end of 24 h. Morphological analysis was carried out to observe fracture behaviour and fiber pullout of the samples.     

聚乙烯醇交联改性对天然纤维增强聚丙烯复合材料性能的影响

采用聚乙烯醇(PVA)交联对洋麻(KF)增强聚丙烯(PP)、棕榈(PF)增强聚丙烯(PP)复合材料进行改性,通过模压成型工艺制备KF/PP和PF/PP复合材料。研究不同交联方法对复合材料的结构和性能的影响,采用SEM、DMA等技术研究了改性对复合材料的界面结合及力学性能影响。结果表明:PVA协同偶联剂交联改性对天然纤维/PP复合材料的综合改性效果最好,当用5%PVA+3%偶联剂对KF/PP改性时,KF/PP复合材料的弯曲强度提升25.2%,弯曲模量提升35.49%,剪切强度提升28%,分别达到了50.90 MPa、5.76 GPa、5.4MPa。当用5%PVA+2%偶联剂对PF/PP改性时,PF/PP复合材料的弯曲强度提升31.46%,弯曲模量提升27.07%,剪切强度提升21.75%,分别达到44.33MPa、2.32GPa、5.18MPa。改性后KF/PP、PF/PP复合材料的含水率分别下降了46.89%、10.63%,吸水率分别下降了8.57%、6.12%。KF/PP改性后储能模量提高20.93%,PF/PP改性后Tg值由90.1℃上升到113.8℃。SEM表明:PVA协同偶联剂交联改性有效改善了纤维与PP间的粘结,纤维与PP间的界面结合得到改善。     

The effect of interfacial interactions on the mechanical properties of polypropylene/natural zeolite composites

The effect of interfacial interactions on the mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP)/natural zeolite composites was investigated under dry and wet conditions. Interfacial interactions were modified to improve filler compatibility and mechanical properties of the composites by surface treatment of natural zeolite with a non-ionic surface modifier; 3 wt% polyethylene glycol (PEG) and three different types of silane coupling agents; 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (AMPTES), methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) and 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS), at four different concentrations (0.5–2 wt%). PP composites containing (2–6 wt%) zeolite were prepared by an extrusion technique. The tensile properties of the composites determined as a function of the filler loading and the concentration of the coupling agents were found to vary with surface treatment of zeolite. Silane treatment indicated significant improvements in the mechanical properties of the composites. According to the dry and wet tensile test results, the maximum improvement in the mechanical properties was obtained for the PP composites containing 1 wt% AMPTES treated zeolite. The improvement in the interfacial interaction was confirmed using a semi-empirical equation developed by Pukanszky. Good agreement was obtained between experimental data and the Pukanszky model prediction. Scanning electron microscopy studies also revealed better dispersion of silane treated filler particles in the PP matrix.     

The effect of dispersed paint particles on the mechanical properties of rubber toughened polypropylene composites

The influence of dispersed paint particles on the mechanical properties of rubber toughened PP was investigated. The matrix was basically a hybrid of PP, rubber and talc. Model systems with spherical glass bead filled matrix were also studied to examine the effect of filler shape and size. Properties like tensile strength, strain at break, impact strength, and fracture toughness were influenced by the dispersed inclusions. Tensile strength at yield decreased linearly according to Piggott and Leinder's equation. Strain at break decreased more drastically with paint particles than glass beads, revealing that irregularly shaped particles offered greater stress concentrations. The tensile strength and strain at break were less influenced by the size of paint particles whereas a slight decrease in the modulus values was observed with decreasing particle size. Impact strength and fracture toughness also decreased with increasing filler fraction. Lack of stress transfer between filler and matrix aided in reduction of impact strength. Decrease in fracture toughness was influenced by volume replacement and constraints posed by fillers. The size of paint particles had little effect on the impact strength and fracture properties at the filler concentration levels used in this investigation.     

甘蔗渣纤维增强聚丙烯复合材料的制备和力学性能

利用注射成型制备了甘蔗渣纤维增强聚丙烯复合材料, 分析了纤维质量分数、 注射成型条件以及添加物对复合材料力学性能的影响。结果表明, 随着纤维质量分数的增加, 材料的弯曲模量呈递增趋势。由于甘蔗渣纤维热降解的发生, 材料的力学性能随筒体温度的增加呈下降趋势。在模具温度90℃、 注射间隔时间30s、 不同的筒体温度185℃和165℃的成型条件下, 材料的弯曲性能和冲击强度分别呈现最大值。添加了马来酸酐改性聚丙烯后, 材料的弯曲强度和冲击强度得到了提高。      

Effects of maleated polypropylene on the morphology,thermal and mechanical properties of short carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene composites

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) on the properties of short carbon fiber (CF) reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites. The composites were prepared by melt blending and injection molding techniques at different percentages of CF. Tensile tests, hardness, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to characterize the physical and morphological properties of the prepared composites. It was observed from SEM photographs that modification with PP-g-MAH improved the interfacial adhesion between the carbon fibers and PP matrix. The ultimate tensile strength, hardness and modulus values of modified PP composites were higher compared to the values of CF reinforced PP composites. Melting temperature of all composites was not changed significantly with increasing CF content; however degree of crystallinity values were decreased with the increasing CF content level.     

纳米二氧化硅粒径对橡胶复合材料力学性能的影响

以不同粒径的纳米二氧化硅为填料加到天然橡胶中制备纳米二氧化硅/天然橡胶(NR)复合材料。研究了不同粒径纳米二氧化硅(15,30和80nm)对复合材料的力学性能、应力软化效应、Payne效应、动态热机械性能、压缩生热和损耗因子等基本特性的影响。结果表明,随着纳米二氧化硅粒径的增大,复合材料的抗拉强度变大,应力软化效应增大;同时,复合材料的Payne效应和损耗因子越低,其动态压缩温升越低。Payne效应分析及扫描电镜观察还表明,大粒径纳米二氧化硅在橡胶基体中易于分散均匀,粒子间聚集程度更小,而小粒径的则表现出较明显的团聚现象,粒子在橡胶基体中的分散性对复合材料力学性能有直接影响。     

天然橡胶/凹凸棒石纳米复合材料的制备与性能研究

硅烷改性凹凸棒石后,采用乳液共混共凝法制备出了凹凸棒石/天然橡胶复合材料(attapulgite/natural rub-ber composites,ANRC),并对ANRC进行了表征;红外光谱分析证实凹凸棒石得到了有机化改性;ANRC的力学性能测试表明,当天然胶乳浓度适宜、改性剂用量为1.5份、改性凹凸棒石填充量为30份时,ANRC的综合性能最好,与未添加填料的纯天然硫化胶相比,ANRC的扯断强度、撕裂强度、邵尔A硬度分别提高了77.45%、100.50%、67.74%;与炭黑做填充剂制备天然橡胶复合材料,以及机械共混法制备复合材料相比,ANRC力学性能有明显提高;扫描电子显微镜分析结果显示,采用乳液共混共凝法制备的硅烷改性ANRC,结构致密,凹凸棒石填料分布均匀,分布粒度主要为纳米级,与橡胶基体相容性良好.     

Ceramic/natural rubber composites: influence types of rubber and ceramic materials on curing,mechanical, morphological,and dielectric properties

Influence of different types of rubber and ceramic material on cure characteristics, mechanical, morphological, and dielectric properties of natural rubber (NR) vulcanizate was studied. Two types of ferroelectric ceramic materials: barium titanate (BaTiO₃) and lead titanate (PbTiO₃) were prepared by solid-state reaction with calcinations at 1100 °C for 2 h. The ceramic powders were then characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size analyzer, and SEM techniques. Ceramic/rubber composites were then prepared by melt mixing of rubber and ceramic powders. Two different types of NR (i.e., epoxidized NR [ENR] and unmodified NR) and two types of ceramic powders (i.e., BaTiO₃ and PbTiO₃) were exploited. It was found that incorporation of ceramic powders in rubber matrix and the presence of epoxirane rings in ENR molecules caused faster curing reaction, and higher delta torque but lower elongation at break. This is attributed to lower mobility of molecular chains and higher interaction between ENR molecules. Furthermore, SEM results revealed that the BaTiO₃ composites showed finer and better distribution of the particles in the rubber matrix than that of the PbTiO₃ composite. This caused superior mechanical properties of the BaTiO₃ composites. Furthermore, higher dielectric constant and loss tangent was observed in the ENR/BaTiO₃ composites.     

Thermal and mechanical properties of the açaí fiber/natural rubber composites

The açaí fruit industrial processing produces a large amount of waste, mainly seeds and fibers, which is a serious environmental and public health problem. The objective of this work was to use these fibers to obtain composites with natural rubber from different clones. The effect of the addition of açaí fibers and the type of clone were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) under inert and oxidative atmospheres, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), water sorption, and mechanical properties. The açaí fibers exhibited a thermal behavior comparable to other natural fibers industrially used in polymeric composites. The addition of the fibers did not influence the thermal stability of the composites. There was no significant effect of the type of clone and the addition of the fiber on the glass transition temperature, which was approximately ?59 °C for all samples. Water sorption behavior of the compounds and of the composites was similar to that of the other materials with natural rubber that are reported in the literature. The promising performance of the composites with açaí fibers opens a new area of use for such fibers.     

Effect of montmorillonite modification on mechanical properties of vulcanized natural rubber composites

Natural rubber-clay composites were prepared by direct polymer melt intercalation. Ca-montmorillonite Jelšovy Potok (JP; Slovakia) and Na-montmorillonite Kunipia-F (KU; Japan) were ion exchanged with octadecyltrimethylammonium (ODTMA) bromide and were used as aluminosilicate fillers. Silica Ultrasil VN3 was used in amount of 15 phr as conventional filler. The effect of clay or organoclay loading from 1 up to 10 phr on the mechanical properties was evaluated from the tensile tests (stress at break, strain at break and modulus M100). Organic modification resulted in an increase of toluene uptake degree for both fillers. While an addition of unmodified KU had no effect on tensile strength and deformation at break, a reinforcing effect was observed for the mixture containing 10 phr of unmodified JP. Both ODTMA modified fillers (KU and JP) exhibited substantial increase in tensile strength and deformation at break; JP proved to be more effective compared to KU also if modified with ODTMA. The highest stress at break and strain at break values for natural rubber composites were obtained with 15 phr of SiO₂ and 10 phr of montmorillonite; however, the effect of exchangeable cation was minor.     

环氧化天然橡胶改性石墨烯-炭黑/天然橡胶复合材料的制备及性能

以环氧化天然橡胶(ENR)为界面改性剂,制备了石墨烯-炭黑/天然橡胶-ENR(GR-CB/NR-ENR)复合材料,研究了ENR用量对GR-CB/NR-ENR复合材料的加工性能、力学性能和动态力学性能的影响。结果表明,ENR的加入可以改善GR-CB/NR-ENR复合材料的加工性能及CB粒子在天然橡胶基体中的分散性,增加GR与NR的相容性,增强填料与NR基体间的界面相容性,同时改善GR-CB/NR-ENR硫化胶的动态力学性能、物理性能和耐老化性能。当ENR添加量为6 wt%时,GR-CB/NR-ENR复合材料撕裂强度和拉伸强度最高,硫化胶耐老化性最好。随着ENR含量的增加,GR-CB/NR-ENR复合材料的压缩疲劳温度先升高后降低;随着应变的不断增大,GR-CB/NR-ENR复合材料的储能模量G'不断减小,损耗因子tanδ先增大后减小;动态模量随着应变的增加急剧下降。      

聚乙烯/废天然橡胶的老化和力学性能研究

通过汞灯辐射试验对制备的聚乙烯/废天然橡胶共混物进行了紫外老化试验,研究了防老剂4010对聚乙烯/废天然橡胶的紫外老化性能的影响。结果表明:老化初期聚乙烯/废天然橡胶(60/40)的拉伸强度提高,老化中后期聚乙烯/废天然橡胶拉伸强度下降。防老剂4010的加入提高了聚乙烯/废天然橡胶的紫外老化性能。     

The effect of fibre content on the mechanical properties of glass fibre mat/polypropylene composites

Glass fibre mat was prepared by the fibre mat-manufacturing machine developed in our laboratory. Glass fibre mat reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites were fabricated with the variation of glass fibre content. Tensile, flexural and high rate impact test was conducted to investigate the effect of glass fibre content on the mechanical properties of the glass fibre mat/PP composite. Deformation and fracture behaviour of the glass fibre mat/PP composites was investigated to study the relationship with the mechanical property data. The tensile and flexural modulus increased with the increment of glass fibre content. However, the tensile and flexural strengths exhibited maximum values and showed a decrease at the higher glass fibre content than this point. The impact absorption energy also exhibited a similar result with the tensile and flexural property data.     

Interface characteristics and mechanical properties of carbon fibre reinforced copper composites

Interface characteristics of carbon fibre reinforced copper matrix composites materials with various interface states and their effect on the flexural strength of composites have been studied. Interfacial states are mechanical bonding, dissolution bonding and reaction bonding. To a certain extent, raising the interfacial strength enables an increase in the flexural strength due to prevention of carbon fibre being pulled out under low stress during fracture process of composites. Raising the interfacial bondage strength, causes the brittleness of composites to increase; the fracture surface of composites is converted from a fibre pull-out model to a fibre even model. While strengthening the interface bondage, the extent of chemical reaction and dissolution at the interface must be controlled to avoid degrading the carbon fibre.     

功能化聚丙烯对纳米SiO2/聚丙烯复合材料性能的影响

以环氧功能化聚丙烯(PP-g-GMA)作为纳米SiO2/PP复合材料的增容剂,研究了PP-g-GMA对复合材料力学、结晶和流变性能的影响.研究结果表明,PP-g-GMA的加入使PP复合材料的拉伸强度、冲击强度提高;使PP的结晶峰温明显提高,使复合材料的储能模量和复合黏度均明显高于纯PP.     

Free-volume correlation with mechanical and dielectric properties of natural rubber/multi walled carbon nanotubes composites

The microstructure, mechanical strength, dielectric properties, Doppler broadening measurements and positron life time studies of the composites containing multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and natural rubber (NR) are investigated. The uniform distribution of MWCNTs in the elastomer medium is studied by Raman spectroscopy and the electron microscopy images show the composite’s internal microstructure. Free volume sizes and interstitial mesopore sizes of the nanocomposites are determined by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). PALS investigates the influence of the nanotubes in regulating the interphase nanoscale character. Strong interfacial interaction causes an apparent reduction of the free-volume fraction of NR probably by depressing the formation of free-volume holes in the interfacial region. The mechanical percolation and percolation observed from the dielectric measurements are correlated with the life time values. It is established that the sub-nano level free volumes and nano level structure of the composites have significant roles in regulating the mechanical properties.     

Vulcanization characteristics and dynamic mechanical behavior of natural rubber reinforced with silane modified silica

Two silane coupling agents were used for hydrolysis-condensation reaction modification of nanosilica surfaces. The surface characteristics were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The vulcanization kinetics of natural rubber (NR) + silica composites was studied and compared to behavior of the neat NR using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the dynamic scan mode. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was performed to evaluate the effects of the surface modification. Activation energy E(a) values for the reaction are obtained. The presence of silica, modified or otherwise, inhibits the vulcanization reaction of NR. The neat silica containing system has the lowest cure rate index and the highest activation energy for the vulcanization reaction. The coupling agent with longer chains causes more swelling and moves the glass transition temperature T(g) downwards. Below the glass transition region, silica causes a lowering of the dynamic storage modulus G', a result of hindering the cure reaction. Above the glass transition, silica-again modified or otherwise-provides the expected reinforcement effect.     

磷酸盐玻璃／聚丙烯复合材料的结晶行为和力学性能

制备了两种不同玻璃化温度的磷酸盐玻璃（P—glass）,研究了P—glass对聚丙烯（PP）基体结晶行为和力学性能的影响。结果表明,P—glass在PP中具有异相成核作用,使PP的结晶温度升高。具有较低玻璃化温度（176℃）的P—glass,能诱导生成口晶,使p-glass／PP复合材料的断裂伸长率与纯PP相比从427...     

The influence of fibre microstructure on fibre breakage and mechanical properties of natural fibre reinforced polypropylene

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of fibre morphology of different natural fibres on the composites mechanical properties and on the fibre breakage due to extrusion process. The composite materials were manufactured using LTF (long fibre thermoplastic) extrusion and compression moulding and the used fibres were sisal, banana, jute and flax, and the matrix was a polypropylene. The results showed that sisal composites had the best impact properties and the longest fibres after the extrusion. Generally, the composites flexural stiffness was increased with increased fibre content for all fibres, being highest for flax composites. The flexural strength was not affected by the addition of fibres because of the low compatibility. The addition of 2 wt.% maleated polypropylene significantly improved the composites properties. Unlike the other three fibres, flax fibres were separated into individual elementary fibres during the process due to enzymatic retting and low lignin content.