Study on PVC composites containing Eugenia jambolana wood flour

This article describes the properties of composites using unplasticized PVC matrix and wood flour (obtained by crushing the bark of Eugenia jambolana) as filler. Composites were prepared by mixing PVC with varying amounts of wood flour (ranging from 10–40 phr; having particle sizes of 100–150 μm and <50μm) using two‐roll mill followed by compression molding. The effect of wood flour content and its particle size on the properties, i.e., mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and thermal was evaluated. Tensile strength, impact strength, and % elongation at break decreased with increasing amounts of wood flour. Stiffness of the composites (as determined by storage modulus) increased with increasing amounts of the filler. Modulus increased significantly when wood flour having particle size <50 μm was used. Morphological characterization (SEM) showed a uniform distribution of wood flour in the composites. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008     

Effects of chicken eggshell filler size on the processing,mechanical and thermal properties of PVC matrix composite

The effects of filler particle size of poly(vinyl chloride)/chicken eggshell powder (PVC/ESP) composites on the processing, tensile properties, morphology and thermal degradation were investigated. The mixing of composites was done using Rheomix internal mixer. The processing torque of PVC/ESP composite at a particle of 0.2 μm exhibits lower processing torque compared to that at a particle size of 7 μm due to the dispersive resistance from larger ESP filler particles. Good interfacial adhesion exists between the filler and matrix in composites prepared via a filler particle size of 0.2 μm, which has improved the tensile strength and modulus of PVC/ESP composite compared to a filler particle size of 7 μm as justified from FESEM images on the tensile fracture surface of the composites. Thermogravimetric analysis results show that the filler particle size of 0.2 μm composite exhibits higher thermal stability compared to the filler particle size of 7 μm composite.     

Effect of filler loading on the mechanical properties of crosslinked 1,2,3‐triazole polymers

The effect of filler loading on the mechanical properties of crosslinked triazole polymers obtained by polymerization of E300 dipropiolate ( 1 ) with diazide ( 2 ) obtained from tetraethylene glycol using tetraacetylene functionalized crosslinker ( 3 ) was studied systematically. Aluminum (10–14 μm) was used as the primary filler during the formulations; the effect of secondary fillers such as aluminum (<75 μm), NaCl (45–50 and 83–105 μm) was studied with the increase in the total filler loading. The modulus of the aluminum‐filled crosslinked triazole polymers increases with the increase in the filler content while using either particle sized aluminum powder. The use of Al (particle size <75 μm) and NaCl (particle size 45–50 μm and 83–105 μm) as secondary or additional fillers while using aluminum (10–14 μm) as the main filler, has a diminishing effect on the modulus and strain of the crosslinked triazole polymers. Triazole polymers described herein have the ability to wet and adhere to large quantities of these inorganic salts and thus maintain mechanical properties of the composite comparable to typical polyurethane elastomeric matrices, regardless of the chemistry of the particulate filler, which imparts an important and necessary binder characteristic for energetic composites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

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     

Mechanical,flammability, and thermal properties of polyvinyl chloride‐wood composites with carbide slag

Carbide slag, an industrial waste produced by calcium carbide hydrolysis to prepare C₂H₂ gas, was successfully used as inorganic filler in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)‐wood composites. carbide slag had an average diameter of 8.1 μm which thermally decomposed at about 450°C, and its main component was Ca(OH)₂. Incorporating carbide slag into PVC‐wood composites substantially decreased the flexural, tensile, and impact strength of the composites as a result of the poor interfacial adhesion between carbide slag and PVC matrix, which could be evidently observed from the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study. To give carbide slag better use, silane coupling agent KH570 were chose to modify carbide slag. The results indicated that adding carbide slag modified by KH570 (MCS) into PVC‐wood composites could significantly improve its notched impact strength and flexural modulus. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data showed that with the addition of MCS, composite had better thermal stability. It also turned out that with the addition of MCS, its smoke suppression property and flammability were enhanced effectively. To ensure sufficient properties of PVC‐wood composites, the optimal adding content of MCS was 20 phr and it leaded to remarkable performance (its flexural modulus was 3.4 GPa, notched impact strength was 3.87 KJ/m², limiting oxygen index value was 41.5% and smoke density ranting was 55.1%), all of which endowed PVC‐wood composites better utilization. All the results indicated that the preparation of PVC‐wood composites with carbide slag could resolve environmental pollution, reuse carbide slag in different fields, and provide a new method for resource utilization of carbide slag. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2898–2906, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Nonrigid microporous PVC sheets: Preparation and properties

The non‐rigid microporous PVC films are prepared by mono‐axially stretching nonporous sheets containing fillers which show an average particle size of 2 to 10 μm. The nonporous PVC film is generated from paste‐like PVC. The influence of recipe components on the mechanical properties, morphological behavior and permeability to water vapor and water was investigated as well as the influence of the stretching ratio. Filled PVC pastes exhibit higher values for viscosity than those of pure polymer mixtures. For processing the compounded paste by means of a doctor blade a low viscosity is required meaning the amount of filler is limited by the resulting paste viscosity. Due to dewetting, the filler initiates the holes of the microporous system during the stretching process. Empirically, a minimum of about 15 vol % filler particles are necessary in order to achieve an interconnected air hole system. Varying the components PVC, plasticiser and filler, PVC membranes could be prepared with high water vapour permeability and high waterproofness simultaneously. To utilize the membranes commercially a continuous preparation process was developed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Effects of copper amine treatment on mechanical properties of PVC/wood‐flour composites

Copper amine–treated wood flour was added to PVC [poly(vinyl chloride)] matrix in order to manufacture PVC/wood‐flour composites. Effects of copper treatments on the mechanical properties of PVC‐wood composites were evaluated. Unnotched impact strength, flexural strength, and flexural toughness of the composites were significantly improved by the wood‐flour copper treatment. The optimum copper concentration range was 0.2 to 0.6 wt% of wood flour. Fractured surfaces were examined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). PVC/wood interfacial debonding was the main fracture mode of untreated wood‐flour composites, whereas wood‐particle pullout and breakage dominating the fractured surfaces of copper‐treated wood‐flour composites. On the fractured surfaces, more PVC could be found on the exposed copper‐treated wood particles than on untreated wood, a result suggesting improved PVC‐wood interfacial adhesion after copper treatments. J. Vinyl Addit. Technol. 10:70–78, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

BN填充PA6基导热绝缘复合材料导热性能研究

以聚酰胺6（PA6）为基体, 氮化硼（BN）作为导热填料,经双螺杆挤出机熔融共混,模压成型制得导热绝缘复合材料。研究了BN含量、粒径、形状和不同BN粒径复配对复合材料导热性能的影响,并研究了BN含量和粒径对复合材料绝缘性能的影响。结果表明,在各种粒径下,复合材料热导率均随BN填充量的增加而增大;在BN粒径为5 μm、填充量为25 %（体积分数,下同）时,复合材料热导率达到1.2187 W/(m·K);在BN填充量相同时,填料粒径对复合材料热导率的影响不是简单的单调规律,呈现50、100 μm时较小,1、5、15 μm时较大,150 μm时最大的规律;片状BN填料比球状BN填料更有利于提高复合材料的热导率;2种不同粒径填料复配所填充的复合材料的热导率大于单一粒径填充的复合材料;5 μm与150 μm粒径BN复配,在填充量为20 %,配比为1:3时,复合材料的热导率最大,达到1.3753 W/(m·K),为纯PA6的4.9倍;在不同BN含量和粒径下,复合材料体积电阻率均能达到10000000000000 Ω·cm以上,满足绝缘性能。     

Evaluation and optimization of the mechanical properties of highly filled PVC/(wood flour) composites by using experimental design

In this study, PVC/(wood flour) (WF) composites were prepared by using a counterrotating twin‐screw extruder, and the effects on the mechanical properties of concentration and particle size of the WF, type and amount of coupling agent, K value of PVC, feed rate of extruder, and die temperature were investigated. Optimization of various formulation parameters based on the Taguchi method demonstrated that the wood content and wood particle size were the most important parameters. Flexural modulus increased upon increasing WF loading up to 50 wt%. Also, flexural strength and modulus increased with particle size because of the higher aspect ratio and better quality of mixing. Use of coupling agents had a minor effect that was attributed to the moderately high polarity of PVC causing relatively good compatibility between WF particles and the PVC matrix. The optimum level of WF calculated by considering the contribution factor was 50 wt%. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Mechanical properties of poly(vinyl chloride)/wood flour/glass fiber hybrid composites

Short glass fibers were added to poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/wood flour composites as reinforcement agents. Unnotched and notched impact strength of PVC/wood flour/glass fiber hybrid composites could be increased significantly without losing flexural properties by adding type L glass fibers and over 40% of PVC. There was no such improvement when using type S glass fiber. The impact strength of hybrid composites increased along with the increment of the type L glass fiber content at a 50% PVC content. At high PVC contents, impact fracture surfaces were characterized by wood particle, glass fiber breakage and pullout, whereas interfacial debonding was the dominant fracture mode at higher filler concentrations. The significant improvement in impact strength of hybrid composites was attributed to the formation of the three‐dimensional network glass fiber architecture between type L glass fibers and wood flour.     

Study on thermal,mechanical and morphological properties of recycled poly(vinyl chloride)/fly ash composites

The present study deals with the development of composite materials utilizing recycled poly(vinyl chloride) (r‐PVC) recovered from waste electrical and electronic materials and waste fly ash obtained from thermal power plants. The effect of the incorporation of fly ash on the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of the r‐PVC matrix was studied. The primary characterization of r‐PVC and fly ash was done employing FTIR, EDX, particle size analysis and XRD analysis. Subsequently, fly ash with a particle size of approximately 9.29 μm was incorporated within the r‐PVC matrix. Composite sheets were prepared using a melt blending process followed by compression moulding. The mechanical test revealed an increase in the tensile strength and elongation at break of the r‐PVC/fly ash composite up to 30 wt% loading of fly ash beyond which there was a decrease in the tensile strength. The impact strength, however, decreased with increasing fly ash content in the r‐PVC matrix. The morphological properties of the composites showed a good distribution of the filler within the recycled matrix. The thermal properties of r‐PVC also improved with the incorporation of fly ash which was revealed from DSC and TGA studies. The water absorption test showed an increase in water uptake with the addition of fly ash in the r‐PVC matrix. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of polymer molecular weight and filler particle size on flow behavior of wood polymer composites

The influence of polymer matrix molecular weight and filler particle size on rheological properties and extrudate distortions of metallocene polyethylene (mPE)/wood flour (WF) composites has been investigated by rotational and capillary rheometers. It was found that at low shear rates smaller filler particles provide higher shear viscosity than the larger sized filler. At high shear rates and WF loadings above 30 wt%, the effect of particle size on the melt flow properties becomes negligible. The relative increase of the storage modulus with decreasing particle size is more pronounced in the case of low molecular weight polymer matrix than that in higher molecular weight polyethylene based composites. The wood filled polyethylenes exhibit extrudate surface defects, which are complex function of the shear rate, polymer matrix molecular weight, and filler particle size. Increasing the shear rate results in pressure oscillations and spurt‐flow. It was also observed that the evolution of the extrudate surface tearing is strongly dependent on the pressure during a single pressure oscillation cycle in the spurt flow regime. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Mechanical behavior and dilatation of particulate-filled thermosets in the glassy state

Dilatation of specimens is measured during tensile tests to investigate the mechanical response of particulate-filled amorphous networks in the glassy state. The effects of particle size, volume fraction of filler, coupling agents, and crosslink density of the matrix on the mechanical-dilatational behavior are studied on model composites of glass-bead-filled polyurethanes. It is found that the stress-strain response of composites with untreated glass beads shows nonlinearity and subsequent yielding due to dewetting of particles from the matrix. In contrast, composites containing particles coated with a comupling agent fracture in a brittle manner, showing no significant nonlinearity and dewetting. Coated particles provide a higher tensile strength, but a lower strain at fracture, than uncoated particles. The volume fraction of the filler has an effect on Young's modulus, which is independent of the degree of coupling between the matrix and the filler. Tensile strength and strain at break decrease with increasing filler content for coated and uncoated particles. No strong effect of particle size is observed on either the tensile modulus or the dilatational behavior in the 25 μm to 160 μm diameter range. However, strain at break increases with decreasing particle size. When the accompanying yield phenomena shift to smaller strains, and a transition to brittle fracture takes place at high crosslink densities.     

Mechanical properties and morphologies of polypropylene/single‐filler or hybrid‐filler calcium carbonate composites

Three types of polypropylene (PP) with different intrinsic toughness were used to study the mechanical properties and morphologies of the PP composites filled with single‐filler and hybrid‐filler of calcium carbonate particles. The calcium carbonate particles used were with average particle sizes of 25 μm (CC25), and 0.07 μm (CC0.07), respectively. A hybrid‐filler CaCO₃ named CC25/CC0.07 was used as a mixture of CC25 and CC0.07 (CC25/CC0.07 weight ratio = 1:1). It was found that the type of PP and the particle size of inorganic filler were the two important factors for the determination of mechanical properties of the composites. And the general mechanical properties of the composites filled with hybrid‐filler CaCO₃ were better than those of the composites filled with single‐filler CaCO₃, but the synergistic hybridization effect of the hybrid‐filler CaCO₃ did not exist. The major toughening mechanism of the PP/CC25 composites was the cavitation of the matrix caused by CC25, and the major toughening mechanism of the PP/CC0.07 composites was the pinning effect introduced by CC0.07. For the PP/CC25/CC0.07 composites, the cavitation of the matrix caused by CC25 and the pinning effect introduced by CC0.07 existed simultaneously. And when the intrinsic toughness of the matrix was large enough, the major factor to toughen PP was the pinning effect introduced by CC0.07, otherwise the major factor to toughen PP was the cavitation of the matrix caused by CC25. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:95–102, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The Effects of Wet-Milled Wood Flour on the Mechanical Properties of Wood Flour/Polypropylene Composites

The sizes and shapes of wet ball-milled wood flour were investigated based on their average particle size, size distribution, their solution viscosity, and scanning electron microscopy images. The ball-milling conditions were combinations of rotational speed (150, 200, and 250 rpm) and milling time (1 to 16 h). The average diameter of the wood flours decreased and the degree of fibrillation of the wood fibers increased with the ball-milling time at each rotational speed. Ball-milled wood flours having the same average particle size had similar surface fibrils that were tens to hundreds of nanometers wide. Ball-milling at 200 or 250 rpm could pulverize just as effectively as that at 150 rpm because the size reduction and fibrillation progressed more quickly. Tensile and bending properties of the composites prepared from the ball-milled wood flour (4 wt% in polypropylene) were evaluated. Morphological changes in the wood fillers had little effect on the properties of the composites. The tensile and bending properties of the composites containing the wood filler were 10% higher than those for the unfilled resin.     

Effect of the processing techniques on the properties of ecocomposites based on vegetable oil‐derived Mater‐Bi® and wood flour

Polymer composites based on biodegradable polymers and natural‐organic fillers are becoming more and more important because of their interesting properties in terms of environmental impact, manufacturing cost, and esthetic features. In particular, the use of biodegradable polymer matrices allows obtaining a full biodegradability. One of the most interesting biodegradable polymer families is the Mater‐Bi® one. In this work, we investigated the processability, the influence of different processing techniques, and the influence of the filler particle size on the properties of Mater‐Bi/wood flour composites. Injection molding caused a partial degradation of the macromolecular chains, whereas single‐screw extrusion followed by calendering and twin‐screw extrusion provoked an increase of the elastic modulus and of the viscosity. The use of wood flour led to a significant increase of the rigidity, whereas a reduction of the ductility was observed. Because of the very similar aspect ratios of the two different filler size classes, no dramatic differences in the properties were found. These results are useful in order predicting and setting up the optimum preparation and processing strategy for the production of fully biodegradable polymer composites. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Preparation and characterization of polypropylene/serpentine composites

Composites of serpentine and polypropylene (PP) were prepared by twin‐screw extrusion. Serpentine was collected as rocks from the Ankara–Beynam region and ground into powder with an average particle size of about 3 μm for composite production. Both as‐received (rock) and powdered serpentine were characterized. A silane coupling agent (SCA), γ‐aminopropyl triethoxy silane, was used for the surface treatment of serpentine. Mechanical properties of the composites were measured in terms of impact strength, elastic modulus, stress at yield, stress at break, and percentage strain at break. The addition of serpentine was found to have a profound effect on the reinforcement of the PP matrix. Because of the stronger interactions at the interphase induced by SCA treatment, mechanical properties were improved further in comparison with the untreated composites. Similar thermal and morphological behaviors were recorded for the composites with and without surface treatment. Thermal studies showed an increase in both melting temperature and percentage crystallinity of the composites. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that homogeneous distribution of filler was observed at low filler contents, but a certain extent of agglomeration was also seen at high filler loadings. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Mechanical properties and morphologies of polypropylene with different sizes of glass bead particles

A commercial grade of isotactic polypropylene (PP) was used to study the mechanical properties and morphologies of the PP composites filled with four sizes of glass bead particles. The glass bead particles used were with average particle sizes of 15 μm (GB15), 10 μm (GB10), 5 μm (GB5), and 2.5 μm (GB2.5), respectively. It was clear that the glass bead size was an important factor on the determination of mechanical properties of the composites. As a whole, in view of the scatter in the data, under the condition of same filler content, the yield strength and impact strength of the composites filled with smaller glass bead particles was higher than those of the composites filled with bigger ones. And the flexural strength and modulus of the composites filled with GB10, GB5, or GB2.5 particles could be regarded as the same. The flexural strength and modulus of the composites filled with GB15 particles were higher than those of the composites filled with other three sizes of particles. Among four sizes of glass bead particles, GB2.5 had the best toughening effect to improve the impact strength of PP matrix. And the major toughening mechanism of the PP/GB2.5 composites was the pinning effect introduced by GB2.5. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Production of filled hydrogels by mechanochemically induced polymerization

Silica nanoparticles functionalized with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were obtained by the grinding/mechanical activation of quartz or nonfunctionalized silica nanoparticles in a stirred media mill in the presence of 1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, as proven by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The polymer layer thickness formed on the silica nanoparticles after 8 h of mechanical activation in the absence of polymerization initiators amounted to about 10 nm, as derived from shear rheology. The silica nanoparticles functionalized with the hydrophilic PVP by mechanochemical polymerization reaction were used as fillers for hydrogels based on poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (polyHEMA). The water absorption, release properties, and mechanical properties of the polyHEMA–silica composites were measured as functions of the filler content and particle size of the filler. PolyHEMA samples containing 20 wt % of the functionalized silica particles exhibited a higher maximum water absorption than the unfilled polymer; this showed that the hydrophilic interface between the filler and the matrix improved the water absorption. The release of methylene blue from the polyHEMA–silica composites was governed by diffusion and was almost unaffected by the silica particles. The values for the storage modulus and loss modulus of the polyHEMA–silica composites increased with growing filler content. For constant filler content, the storage modulus increased with decreasing particle diameter of the filler; this showed that the reinforcing effect increased with the interface between the filler particles and the matrix polymer. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Effects of wood flour and chitosan on mechanical,chemical, and thermal properties of polylactide

Composites of polylactide (PLA, 100–60 wt%) and wood flour (0–40 wt%) were prepared to assess the effects of wood filler content on the mechanical, chemical, thermal, and morphological properties of the composites. The polysaccharide chitosan (0–10 wt%) was added as a potential coupling agent for the PLA‐wood flour composites. Addition of wood flour significantly increased the flexural modulus and the storage modulus of PLA‐wood flour composite, but neither the wood flour nor chitosan had an effect on the glass transition temperature (T_g). Fourier transform infrared spectra did not show any evidence of covalent bonding, but chitosan at the interface between wood and PLA is thought to have formed hydrogen bonds to PLA‐carbonyl groups. SEM images of fracture surfaces showed that fiber breakage was far more common than fiber pullout in the composites. No evidence of discrete chitosan domains was seen in SEM micrographs. When added at up to 10 wt% (based on wood flour mass), chitosan showed no significant effect on the mechanical, chemical, or thermal properties of the composites, with property changes depending on wood flour content only. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers.