Numerical study of mixing and thermal conduction of granular particles in rotating tumblers

A discrete element method (DEM) study is conducted to investigate the mixing and heat‐transfer characteristics of steel spherical particles under various rotation speeds and flow regimes of a rotating tumbler. The mixing degree, weighted temperature, temperature discrepancy at the mixing interface, temperature radial distribution, and information entropy are used to analyze the effect of mixing structure and evolution duration on the heat‐transfer characteristics. The results under the same revolution and the same evolution time are compared to show the effects of evolution time and mixing structure on thermal conduction. After a detailed analysis, the joint contribution of mixing degree and duration to granular heat transfer is explained, and the different approaches in static thermal conduction and dynamic mixing are shown. Moreover, a new method is proposed using the mean increase rate of temperature information entropy to determine the most effective operating condition for thermal conduction in granular particles. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 1906–1918, 2013     

Mechanical Properties of Nylon 6,6/Polyvinyl Butyral Blends

The mechanical properties of Nylon 6,6 blended with recycled scrap material, polyvinyl butyral (PVB), using maleated styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS-g-MA) as a compatibilizer are discussed. Control samples of Nylon 6,6/PVB blends and Nylon 6,6/SEBS-g-MA blends were also compared. The results show Nylon 6,6/PVB blends give higher tensile strength than Nylon 6,6/SEBS-g-MA blends. As for Nylon 6,6/SEBS-g-MA/PVB blends, impact strength increases with increasing the dosage of SEBS-g-MA. PVB improves flexural and tensile properties but sacrifices impact strength of the blends. Meanwhile, the ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) increases with increasing PVB content. Through morphology observation, hole sizes are smaller with increasing SEBS-g-MA content. In summary, suitable amounts of PVB scrap are vital to balance both rigidity and toughness of blends. This study helps to understand the role of PVB in Nylon 6,6 blend systems, which allows PVB to find a practical application based on economic and environmental concerns.     

A Study on Structure and Mechanical Properties of Polyurethane/Organic-Montmorillonite Nanocomposites

The intercalated nanocomposites of polyurethane (PU) with organic-montmorillonite (OMMT) treated by cetryltrimethyl ammonium bromide was prepared. The interlayer spacing of PU/OMMT nanocomposites was 3–4 nm. The interface interaction of PU/OMMT nanocomposites was improved compared to that of PU/montmorillonite (MMT) composites. The orderly arrangement of the PU chains was hindered because of strong interface interaction between the silicate layers dispersed in the nanometer and PU chains. By adding 2 wt% OMMT to PU, tensile strength and tear strength of the PU/OMMT composites were increased from 10.5 MPa and 36.4 KN/m to 13.8 MPa and 42.2 KN/m, respectively. The tensile strength and tear strength increased with OMMT content firstly, reaching its maximum when the OMMT content was 8 wt%. After that, the tensile strength and tear strength decreased with the further increase of the OMMT content. Compared to that of PU, the elongation at break of the PU/OMMT nanocomposites increased, indicating that the stretch of PU/OMMT nanocomposites increased.     

Surface Characterization of Differently Pretreated Flax Fibers and Their Application in Fiber-Reinforced Composites

Strong natural bast fibers, especially flax fibers, can be used to replace glass fibers in reinforced composites. The properties of natural fibers depend largely on maturity, retting and processing. Two chemical treatments were applied to retted and semiretted flax fibers to create better fiber to resin bonding and to show the effect of retting degree and successive purification processes on the mechanical properties of natural composite materials. Retted and semiretted flax fibers have been scoured and bleached with the objective of removing surface impurities and developing finer structure. To investigate the effect of adhesion promoter on the mechanical properties of natural fiber composite, a composite sample was prepared from bleached retted flax pretreated with adhesion promoter Isostearoyltitanate (ISTT).

After treatments the fibers got cleaner and the measurements showed that the fiber fineness as well as the surface free energy increased. The treatments were accompanied by decrease in the fiber tenacity but it has been found not to be reflected to the final mechanical properties of the composite. No improvement was remarked by using Isostearoyltitanate for surface modification.     

Mechanical Properties of Benzoylated Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Short Fiber Reinforced Poly(vinyl chloride) Composites

The influence of untreated and benzoylated oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) short fiber loading on the mechanical properties of the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) composite was studied. Benzoylated OPEFB was produced by mixing OPEFB with NaOH solution and agitating vigorously with benzoyl chloride. The PVC resin, various additives, and OPEFB were first dry blended using a laboratory mixer before being milled into sheets on a two-roll mill at 165°C and then hot pressed into composite samples at 180°C. The tensile and impact strength of untreated and benzoylated OPEFB composites decreased whereas the tensile modulus increased with increasing fiber loading from 0 to 40 phr. However, the benzoylated OPEFB was able to improve the tensile properties and impact strength of composites when compared to the untreated fiber. The enhancement of mechanical properties showed that the treatment improved the OPEFB fiber-PVC matrix interfacial adhesion. The improvement of adhesion was clarified by SEM micrographs, the increase of water resistance, and the reduction of glass transition temperature of the composites.     

Mechanical Properties of PPS/PC/GF/Nano-CaCO3 Hybrid Composites

A kind of nanometer calcium carbonate (nano-CaCO₃) filled glass fibre-reinforced polyphenylene sulfide/polycarbonate (PPS/PC/GF) hybrid composites were fabricated with a twin-screw extruder in this paper, and the surface of the nanometer particles was pretreated with stearic acid in a high speed mixer before melt blending. The Young's modulus, tensile strength, tensile elongation at break, flexural modulus and strength of these hybrid composites were measured at room temperature by using a universal materials testing machine, to identify the influence of the nano-CaCO₃ content on the mechanical properties of these hybrid composites. It was found that there were relatively evident reinforcing and toughening effects of the nano-CaCO₃ on the PPS/PC/GF hybrid composites. The Young's modulus, tensile strength, flexural strengt and elongation at break of these composites increased nonlinearly with an addition of the nano-CaCO₃ weigh fraction (φ _f ) when φ _f was less than 6%, and they reached the maximum at φ _f of 6%, and then decreased; while the flexural modulus increased as φ _f was less than 4%, and then decreased.     

Thermal,Mechanical and Morphological Characterization of Jute/Gelatin Composites

Jute fabrics/gelatin biocomposites were fabricated using compression molding. The fiber content in the composite varied from 20–60 wt%. Composites were subjected to mechanical, thermal, water uptake and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis. Composite contained 50 wt% jute showed the best mechanical properties. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus and impact strength of the 50% jute content composites were found to be 85 MPa, 1.25 GPa, 140 MPa and 9 GPa and 9.5 kJ/m², respectively. Water uptake properties at room temperature were evaluated and found that the composites had lower water uptake compared to virgin matrix.     

The Effects of Heat Treatment on Some Mechanical Properties of Juvenile Wood and Mature Wood of Eucalyptus grandis

Heat treatment is a well-known method for modifying wood that is applied in different ways, and treatment schedules change from tree to tree. This treatment improves the physical properties of wood but, in general, it reduces the mechanical properties of wood. The effects of heat treatment on the mechanical properties of juvenile and mature wood of the same tree species have not been well-defined. Therefore, we focused our study on the differences in the mechanical properties of juvenile wood and mature wood of Eucalyptus grandis after both were subjected to heat treatment. Wood samples were treated at temperatures of 120, 150, and 180°C for 4, 6, and 8 h. The test results showed that decreases in the mechanical properties of juvenile wood (e.g., modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), compression strength (CS), and impact bending (IB)) were greater than the decreases that occurred in mature wood that was heat treated at the same conditions.     

THE EFFECTS OF A MULTIFUNCTIONAL ADDITIVE ON CURING CHARACTERISTICS,MECHANICAL PROPERTIES,AND SWELLING BEHAVIOR OF NATURAL RUBBER/POLYCHLOROPRENE RUBBER BLENDS

The effects of a diamine salt of fatty acid of general structure [RNH₂ ⁺[CH₂)₃NH⁺] [R′COO^?]₂ referred to as a multifunctional additive (MFA) on curing characteristics and mechanical properties and swelling behavior of natural rubber (SMR L) and polychloroprene (CR) rubber blends were studied. Compared to SMR L/CR blends without MFA, the incorporation of 2 phr (parts per hundred parts of rubber) of MFA in the blends increased mechanical properties, i.e., tensile strength, tensile modulus and hardness, and improved swelling resistance toward toluene and ASTM oil No. 1. However the scorch time, t ₅ and cure index, Δt _L decrease with incorporation of MFA into the blends.     

ACETYLATED PLANT-FIBER-REINFORCED POLYESTER COMPOSITES: A STUDY OF MECHANICAL,HYGROTHERMAL, AND AGING CHARACTERISTICS

The potential of acetylation of plant fibers to improve the properties of composites was studied. The chemical modification of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB), coconut fiber (Coir), oil palm frond (OPF), jute, and flax using noncatalyzed acetic anhydride were investigated. Proof of acetylation was indicated by the increase in weight percent gain (WPG). Acetylation at a reaction temperature of 120°C had resulted in the reduction in the tensile properties (stress, modulus, and elongation at break) of EFB and Coir composites. However, at 100°C, the acetylated samples exhibited improved properties. The mechanical properties of acetylated EFB- and Coir-fiber-reinforced polyester composites was evaluated at different fiber loadings. The tensile strength and modulus were improved, but elongation at break was slightly reduced upon acetylation, particularly at high fiber loading. Impact properties were moderately increased for those composites with fiber loadings up to 45%. Acetylation exhibited a low moisture absorption, comparable with glass-fiber composites. Acetylated EFB and Coir composites showed superior retention of tensile and impact properties after aging in water up to 12 months.