Injection molding of biodegradable polyester blends filled with mineral and sustainable fillers: Performance evaluation

This research focuses on the melt processing of biocomposites from a biodegradable polymer blend mixed with hybrid fillers through injection molding technique. An optimized blend ratio (60/40 wt%) poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) demonstrated promising results after blending with a mixture of walnut shell powder (WSP), corn starch and talc in various proportions for use in rigid packaging. The addition of hybrid fillers (i) 10% WSP with 15% talc and (ii) 5% WSP with 5% starch and 15% talc to the polymer blend (60%PBSA/40%PBAT) improved tensile modulus (160% and 162%, respectively) and flexural modulus (147% and 153%, respectively) because of the dispersion of stiffer talc and WSP. Following the addition of fillers, tensile strength of the composites decreased. However, flexural strength improved significantly after filler introduction because of better stress transfer ability. Rheological analysis of filled composites with starch or WSP (25%) depicted similar characteristics of the polymer blend, indicating lower viscosity than hybrid composites. The abundant hydroxyl groups in starch explained the increased water absorption and decreased contact angle compared with other composites. This research's novelty encompasses utilizing low-cost biomasses with mineral filler into an under-researched biodegradable polymer blend suitable for single-use rigid packaging applications.     

SA型透明尼龙/纳米SiO2复合材料力学性能及热性能研究

以SA型透明尼龙(PA)为基体,以KH-550处理的纳米S iO2为填料,采用熔融共混法制备了SA型透明PA/纳米S iO2复合材料。用微机控制电子万能试验机及简支梁冲击试验机测试了其力学性能;用维卡软化温度测定仪及差示扫描量热仪测试了其热性能。结果表明,SA型透明PA/纳米S iO2复合材料的弯曲弹性模量、弯曲强度和拉伸弹性模量均有较大提高,而拉伸强度、缺口冲击强度稍有降低;SA型透明PA/纳米S iO2复合材料的耐热性有明显提高。     

Influence of fly ash cenospheres on performance of coir fiber‐reinforced recycled high‐density polyethylene biocomposites

Recycled high‐density polyethylene (RHDPE)/coir fiber (CF)‐reinforced biocomposites were fabricated using melt blending technique in a twin‐screw extruder and the test specimens were prepared in an automatic injection molding machine. Variation in mechanical properties, crystallization behavior, water absorption, and thermal stability with the addition of fly ash cenospheres (FACS) in RHDPE/CF composites were investigated. It was observed that the tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and hardness properties of RHDPE increase with an increase in fiber loading from 10 to 30 wt %. Composites prepared using 30 wt % CF and 1 wt % MA‐g‐HDPE exhibited optimum mechanical performance with an increase in tensile modulus to 217%, flexural strength to 30%, flexural modulus to 97%, and hardness to 27% when compared with the RHDPE matrix. Addition of FACS results in a significant increase in the flexural modulus and hardness of the RHDPE/CF composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis tests of the RHDPE/CF/FACS biocomposites in presence of MA‐g‐HDPE revealed an increase in storage (E′) and loss (E″) modulus with reduction in damping factor (tan δ), confirming a strong influence between the fiber/FACS and MA‐g‐HDPE in the RHDPE matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis thermograms also showed improved thermal properties in the composites when compared with RHDPE matrix. The main motivation of this study was to prepare a value added and low‐cost composite material with optimum properties from consumer and industrial wastes as matrix and filler. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42237.     

热塑性淀粉/纤维共混物性能的研究

用甘油作为塑化剂，将糊化淀粉和溶胀纤维按不同配比进行熔融共混来制备完全可生物降解塑料。实验探讨了纤维质量分数对共混体系力学性能、耐水性及热性能的影响。扫描电镜显示了纤维较好地分散在热塑性淀粉(TPS)中，纤维和淀粉结合良好。纤维质量分数对共混体系力学性能影响的研究显示，纤维的加入可以明显地改善体系的力学性能。随着纤维质量分数由0提高到20％，共混体系的拉伸强度达到15．5MPa，杨氏模量达到81．4MPa；伸长率从104％降到7％。同时加入纤维后共混体系的耐水性明显提高。     

Composites of poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) blend with wood fiber and wollastonite: Physical properties,morphology, and biodegradability

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was first melt blended with five weight percentages (10–50 wt %) of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) on a twin-screw extruder and then injection molded. The blend at 30 wt % PBAT exhibited the highest impact strength and elongation-at-break without phase inversion. The 70/30 (w/w) PLA/PBAT blend with high toughness improvement was selected for preparing both single and hybrid composites using an organic filler, wood fiber (WF) and inorganic filler, wollastonite (WT) with a fix total loading at 30 parts per hundred of resin (phr) throughout the experiment. Five WF/WT (phr/phr) ratios for the composites were 30/0, 10/20, 15/15, 20/10, and 0/30. The prepared composites were investigated for the mechanical and thermal properties, melt flow index (MFI), morphology, flammability, water uptake, and biodegradability as a function of composition. All the composites showed a filler-dose-dependent decrease in the impact strength, elongation-at-break, MFI, and thermal stability, but an increase in the tensile and flexural modulus, tensile and flexural strength, antidripping ability, and water uptake compared with the neat blend. The addition of WF and WT was also found to promote the biodegradability of the PLA/PBAT blend. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47543.     

Jatropha deoiled cake filler‐reinforced medium‐density polyethylene biocomposites: Effect of filler loading and coupling agent on the mechanical,dynamic mechanical and morphological properties

This work focuses on the performance of Jatropha deoiled cake (JOC) as filler for medium‐density polyethylene. The biocomposites were prepared using a melt‐compounding technique. Maleated polyethylene (MPE) was used as a reactive additive to promote polymer/filler interfacial adhesion. The mechanical, thermodynamic mechanical and morphological properties of the resultant composites were investigated. The results show that the incorporation of JOC into the matrix reduced tensile, flexural, and impact strengths compared with the pure matrix. Moreover, tensile and flexural moduli were increased. The composites prepared with MPE had better mechanical properties and lower water uptake, indicating an enhancement in the interfacial interaction between JOC and polyethylene systems. The storage modulus was increased by the increase in filler loading and decreased when MPE was used. The composites loss modulus curves revealed two glass transitions indicating partial miscible blends. Scanning electron microscopy analysis for maleated composites showed a relatively homogeneous morphology with few left cavities, and the filler particle size is smaller compared to nontreated composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Investigation on physicomechanical and wear properties of new green thermoplastic composites

This study was aimed at fabrication of green composites of polypropylene (PP) matrix 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt% of saw palmetto spent (SPS) (a spent of nutraceuticals) as filler material. Two wt% organically modified montmorillonite clay (MMT) was used as a co‐filler in all formulations and composites were fabricated by melt blending. The fabricated PP/SPS/MMT composites were characterized for physicomechanical and tribological properties. Improvement in tensile modulus of the composites was noticed with increase in SPS content. The tensile strength of composites was decreased by 14% with increase in filler content from 5 to 20 wt%. Flexural strength of the composites increased from 31.3 to 37.8 MPa (21% improvement) and also flexural modulus improved from 956 to 1383 MPa (45% improvement) with increased SPS content. Composites were subjected to three‐body abrasion with different loads and abrading distances. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) study revealed that the predominant wear mechanisms of composite material sliding against continuous flowing sand were microploughing and filler detachment from the polymer matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:2306–2312, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

OMMT对聚丙烯纳米复合材料性能的影响

采用熔融共混方法,制备了聚丙烯(PP)/马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯(PP-g-MAH)/有机改性蒙脱土(OMMT)/环氧树脂(EP)纳米复合材料.研究了经EP改性前后的OMMT及其用量对复合材料力学性能、耐热性能和结晶行为的影响.结果表明:OMMT和经EP改性后的OMMT(E-OMMT)的加入,提高了复合材料的弯曲模量,同时在一定添加量时能保持材料原有的拉伸强度和冲击强度,且E-OMMT对复合材料力学性能的改善更显著,当加入质量分数为15%的E-OMMT后,材料的弯曲模量达到最大值,提高了40.7%;热变形实验表明:层状OMMT和E-OMMT的加入.提高了材料的热变形温度;通过差示扫描量热仪(DSC)分析发现:OMMT和E-OMMT降低了复合材料的结晶度.     

Preparation and characterization of ethylene-butene copolymer (EBC)/mica composites

Composites of ethylene-butene copolymer (EBC) with various amounts of untreated mica and silane modified mica were prepared by the melt blending technology. The morphological, thermal, dielectric and mechanical properties of composites were investigated. The results showed that both of raw mica and treated mica were uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix. Attributed to the heterogeneous nucleating effect of mica, the crystallization ability of composites was increased and the crystals of the polymer matrix were arranged more closely. With increasing the filler content, the thermal stabilities of composites were improved, whose increasing rate was decreased when the filler content was up to a certain amount. The dielectric properties of samples were influenced by the filler content, surface treatment of mica and the testing frequency. The mechanical properties showed that the tensile strength and elongation at break of composites were not decreased apparently until the filler content was up to 30 wt%. And the hardness and modulus at 100% elongation of samples were increased with the increase in the filler content, ascribed to the reinforcing effect of mica.     

The effects of PHBV-g-MA compatibilizer on morphology and properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-Co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/olive husk flour composites

The paper provides some experimental data on the effects of a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) grafted maleic anhydride (PHBV-g-MA) used as the compatibilizer for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/olive husk flour (OHF) composites prepared by melt compounding. The natural filler was added to PHBV at various contents, i.e. 10, 20, and 30 wt%, while the amount of PHBV-g-MA was 5 wt% based on neat PHBV. Morphology, contact angle measurements, water absorption (WA), mechanical, viscoelastic, and barrier properties of the various composites were investigated with and without the compatibilizer. The study showed through scanning electron microscopy that the addition of PHBV-g-MA to PHBV/OHF composites resulted in better and finer dispersion of the filler in the matrix, even at a higher content ratio, indicating improved affinity between the components. This is in agreement with the decrease in both surface energy and WA. Furthermore, tensile and dynamic mechanical measurements indicated a reinforcing effect of OHF in PHBV composites, being more pronounced in the presence of PHBV-g-MA. The barrier properties against oxygen and water vapor were also improved for the compatibilized composites.     

Utilization of polyethylene terephthalate waste as a carbon filler in polypropylene matrix: Investigation of mechanical,rheological, and thermal properties

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste was converted into carbon and the feasibility of utilizing it as a reinforcing filler material in a polypropylene (PP) matrix was investigated. The carbon produced by the pyrolysis of waste PET at 900°C in nitrogen atmosphere contains high carbon content (>70 wt%). PP/carbon composites were produced by melt blending process at varying loading concentrations. Scanning electron microscopy images at the fractured surface revealed that the carbon filler has better compatibility with the PP matrix. The mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties and surface morphology of the prepared composites were studied. The thermogravimetric analysis studies showed that the thermal stability of the PP/carbon composites was enhanced from 300 to 370°C with 20 wt% of carbon. At lower angular frequency (0.01 rad/s), the storage modulus (G′) of PP was 0.27 Pa and those of PP with 10 and 20 wt% carbon was 4.06 and 7.25 Pa, respectively. Among the PP/carbon composite prepared, PP with 5 wt% carbon showed the highest tensile strength of 38 MPa, greater than that of neat PP (35 MPa). The tensile modulus was enhanced from 0.9 to 1.2 GPa when the carbon content was increased from 0 to 20 wt%.     

聚偏氟乙烯/石墨烯复合材料的制备及性能研究

用溶液共混法制备出聚偏氟乙烯/氧化石墨烯复合材料(PVDF/GO),经高温热压将GO还原得到聚偏氟乙烯/还原氧化石墨烯复合材料(PVDF/rGO)。研究了填料种类及含量对复合材料电学性能、热稳定性和力学性能的影响。结果表明：随GO和rGO的添加,两种复合材料的介电常数(ε _r)均变大、介电损耗(tanδ)变化不大;低含量下GO和rGO均能提高PVDF的热稳定性,但rGO对PVDF性能的改善效果更好;随填料含量从0增加到8%(质量),100 Hz下PVDF/rGO复合材料的ε _r从3.60增加到38.30,PVDF/rGO[4%(质量)]复合材料失重率为5%的分解温度较纯PVDF提高了6.44℃。rGO增强了PVDF的刚性,PVDF/rGO复合材料的拉伸强度先增大后减小,杨氏模量逐渐增大,当rGO含量为4%(质量)时拉伸强度最大,拉伸强度和弹性模量分别较纯PVDF提高了35.30%、22.58%。但GO和rGO都降低了复合材料的击穿场强。     

The effect of alkali treatment and filler size on the properties of sawdust/UPR composites based on recycled PET wastes

In this study, natural sawdust fillers from acacia were mixed with unsaturated polyester resin (UPR), which was prepared by recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste bottles to prepare sawdust/UPR composite. PET wastes were recycled through glycolysis and depolymerized to produce a formulation for the resin. The effects of alkali treatment, filler content, and filler size on the tensile, flexural, hardness, and water absorption of the composites were investigated. The results show that the modulus of both tensile and flexural increased with increasing filler contents, but the tensile and flexural strength of composites decreased. The size of sawdust also played a significant role in the mechanical properties, with smaller size sawdust producing higher strength and modulus. This is due to the greater surface area for filler–matrix interaction. The results also show that alkali treatment causes a better adhesion between sawdust and UPR matrix and improves the mechanical properties of the composites. Furthermore, surface treatment reduced the water absorption of composites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Aging and moisture effects on the tensile properties of starch/poly(hydroxyester ether) composites

The effects of starch and aging on the mechanical properties of starch/poly(hydroxyester ether) (PHEE) composite materials were characterized. Native or modified cornstarches were extruded with PHEE. Composites were aged for up to 20 months at either 23°C and 50% relative humidity (RH) or over calcium sulfate to keep the composites dry. The tensile strength (TS) of the composites was affected by the type of starch filler that they contained. Composites containing native or crosslinked starch had significantly greater TS than composites containing octenylsuccinated starch. It was thought that the octenylsuccinate modification of the starch granule affected the adhesion between the starch and PHEE. Aging the composites at 50% RH had a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the composites, with TS and Young's modulus (YM) significantly decreasing and the elongation to break significantly increasing after 20 months of storage. Composites stored at 50% RH absorbed water, which caused changes in the mechanical properties by plasticizing PHEE. Composites containing poly(lactic acid) and PHEE did not experience large reduction in TS and YM when aged at 50% RH, even though they also absorbed water. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 3332–3339, 2006     

Structure and properties of thermotropic liquid crystal polymer and poly(ethylene 2,6‐naphthalate) blend fibers

BACKGROUND: The melt blending of thermotropic liquid crystal polymers (TLCPs) using conventional thermoplastics has attracted much attention due to the improved strength and tensile modulus of the resulting polymer composites. Moreover, because of their low melt viscosity, the addition of small amounts of TLCPs can reduce the melt viscosity of polymer blends, thereby enhancing the processability. RESULTS: In this study, TLCP/poly(ethylene 2,6‐naphthalate) (PEN) blend fibers were prepared by melt blending and melt spinning to improve fiber performance and processability. The relation between the structure and the mechanical properties of TLCP/PEN blend fibers and the effect of annealing on these properties were also investigated. The mechanical properties of the blend fibers were improved by increasing the spinning speed and by adding TLCP. These properties of the blend fibers were also improved by annealing. The tensile strength of TLCP5/PEN spun at a spinning speed of 2.0 km h^?1 and annealed at 235 °C for 2 h was about three times higher than that of TLCP5/PEN spun at a spinning speed of 0.5 km h^?1. The double melting behavior observed in the annealed fibers depended on the annealing temperature and time. CONCLUSION: The improvement of the mechanical properties of the blend fibers with spinning speed, by adding TLCP and by annealing was attributed to an increase in crystallite size, an increase in the degree of crystallinity and an improvement in crystal perfection. The double melting behavior was influenced by the distribution in lamella thickness that occurred because of a melt‐reorganization process during differential scanning calorimetry scans. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Poly(lactic acid)/ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer blend composites with wood flour and wollastonite: Physical properties,morphology, and biodegradability

In the present study, poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a biodegradable plastic, was melt‐blended with five weight percentages (10–50 wt%) of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, a non‐biodegradable plastic, having a vinyl acetate content of 19 wt% and a melt flow index of 530 g/10 min, on a twin screw extruder, followed by an injection molding. The blends at 10 and 20 wt% EVA revealed a noticeably increased impact strength and strain at break over the pure PLA, and the blend at 10 wt% EVA exhibited the highest impact strength and strain at break. The 90/10 (wt%/wt%) PLA/EVA blend was then selected for preparing either single or hybrid composite with wood flour (WF) and wollastonite (WT). The filler loading was fixed at 30 parts by weight per hundred of resin throughout the experiment, and the WF/WT weight ratios were 30/0, 20/10, 15/15, 10/20, and 0/30. The prepared composites were examined for their mechanical and thermal properties, melt flow index, flammability, water uptake, and biodegradability as a function of composition. All the composites showed a filler‐dose‐dependent decrease in the impact strength and strain at break, but an increase in the tensile and flexural modulus (optimal at 0/30 WF/WT) and tensile and flexural strength (optimal at 30/0 WF/WT) as compared with the neat 90/10 (wt%/wt%) PLA/EVA blend. In addition, the melt flow index, char residue, anti‐dripping ability, water uptake, and biodegradability of the composites were also higher than those of the neat blend. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 25:313–327, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers     

红泥和废油渣在CPE及并用材料中的应用

分别以CPE,CPE/VPB及CPE/PVC为基材,以红泥为填料,石油炼厂废油渣为增塑剂和软化剂,讨论了废油渣的增塑软化作用,红泥的填充效果,及增塑和填充后CPE,CPE/VPB和CPE/PVC系列卷材的力学性能,热氧及臭氧稳定性等。结果表明,红泥/废油渣/CPE和红泥/废油渣/CPE/VPB两体系均具有制备系列卷材所适宜的力学性能和良好的耐臭老化和热氧老化性能。选用CPE 100,废油渣35,红泥200,其拉伸强度为12MPa,扯断伸长率为300％,邵A硬度为90。选用CPE/VPB=75/25,废油渣为35,红泥150,其拉伸强度为7.5MPa,扯断伸长率为500％,邵A硬度为65,而废油渣/红泥/PVC/CPE共混体系虽强度较高,但伸长率较低。     

Mechanical and Barrier Properties of Bromo–Butyl Elastomers Filled with Electrochemically Exfoliated Graphene

In this paper, the effects of graphene loading and processing technique on the morphological, mechanical, thermal, rheological, and barrier properties of bromo–butyl rubber, are explored. Bromo–butyl rubber composites with electrochemically exfoliated graphene (EEG) nanosheet filler are prepared via solvent casting and/or melt blending techniques, and their properties are compared against a carbon black control sample. Even though analysis of the EEG composites via microscopy reveals agglomeration problems not present in the carbon black controls, EEG composite samples are observed to have improved barrier properties over carbon black samples in exchange for slightly reduced stress and strain at break. Extensional rheological analysis of the bromo–butyl rubber composites reveals strain hardening phenomena in all the samples and higher extensional modulus in solvent casted-melt blended (SCM) samples. As a result of better dispersion over the solely melt-blended samples, the SCM rubber composites exhibit superior tensile modulus and extensional modulus compared to the samples that are solely melt-blended.     

PA66/TLCP/HNTs纳米管复合材料的制备与性能

采用熔融共混方法制备了尼龙(PA)66/热致液晶聚合物(TLCP)/埃洛石纳米管(HNTs)复合材料,研究了其热性能、微观形态及力学性能.结果表明,当TLCP的质量分数为4%、HNTs的质量分数为15%时,复合材料的综合性能最佳.其拉伸强度、拉伸弹性模量、弯曲强度及弯曲弹性模量相比纯PA66分别提高了30.4%、76.9%、34.4%、91.7%.熔体的加工流动性得到改善,PA66/TLCP/HNTs复合材料的吸水性能明显降低.少量的TLCP有利于提高PA66/TLCP复合材料的结晶性能和熔融温度;HNTs的加入能提高复合材料的结晶温度,与基体有较好的界面结合;TLCP及HNTs能在基体中均匀地分散,TLCP在PA66/TLCP/HNTs复合材料中形成微纤结构,且沿纤维轴方向取向.     

Formaldehyde emission from PVC–wood composites containing MDF sanding dust

The main purpose of this work was to study the formaldehyde emission from wood plastic composites (WPCs) containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC), wood flour, and sanding dust of medium density fiberboard (MDF). Wood floor was replaced with 10, 15, and 20% MDF sanding dust (as a wood‐based panel waste), and the composites were manufactured by the extrusion method. Formaldehyde emission from WPCs was measured using two different methods: the desiccator method according to ISO 12460 and the flask method according to EN717‐3. Moreover, the physical and mechanical properties of the WPC samples were determined. The results indicated that the use of MDF sanding dust in formulation of WPCs leads to higher formaldehyde emission. The composites with higher content of MDF sanding dust exhibited higher formaldehyde emission. Although the PVC composites containing MDF sanding dust release formaldehyde, the formaldehyde emission values were very low. Therefore, these composites can be considered to be green composites and there is no concern in their indoor applications. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 25:159–164, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers