scholarly journals Obtaining a Flexible Film Elaborated from Cassava Thermoplastic Starch and Polylactic Acid

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Germán A. Arboleda ◽  
Camilo E. Montilla ◽  
Héctor S. Villada ◽  
Giovanni A. Varona

A flexible film was obtained from a blend of cassava thermoplastic starch and polylactic acid, using maleic anhydride as coupling agent. For this, an experimental design with three factors was used: polylactic acid content, coupling agent content, and temperature profile of the blown extrusion. It was found that the three factors generated significant differences on the response variables of tensile mechanical properties individually as in their triple interaction. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used by understanding the behavior of thermal properties of TPS/PLA blends with and without coupling agent, finding similar results between both. From this, the combination with 28% polylactic acid, 0.87% coupling agent, and 155.75°C temperature profile permitted the obtaining of a material with outstanding mechanical properties and offered advantages from the economic point of view.

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1459
Author(s):  
Agbelenko Koffi ◽  
Fayçal Mijiyawa ◽  
Demagna Koffi ◽  
Fouad Erchiqui ◽  
Lotfi Toubal

Wood–plastic composites have emerged and represent an alternative to conventional composites reinforced with synthetic carbon fiber or glass fiber–polymer. A wide variety of wood fibers are used in WPCs including birch fiber. Birch is a common hardwood tree that grows in cool areas such as the province of Quebec, Canada. The effect of the filler proportion on the mechanical properties, wettability, and thermal degradation of high-density polyethylene/birch fiber composite was studied. High-density polyethylene, birch fiber and maleic anhydride polyethylene as coupling agent were mixed and pressed to obtain test specimens. Tensile and flexural tests, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry analysis and surface energy measurement were carried out. The tensile elastic modulus increased by 210% as the fiber content reached 50% by weight while the flexural modulus increased by 236%. The water droplet contact angle always exceeded 90°, meaning that the material remained hydrophobic. The thermal decomposition mass loss increased proportional with the percentage of fiber, which degraded at a lower temperature than the HDPE did. Both the storage modulus and the loss modulus increased with the proportion of fiber. Based on differential scanning calorimetry, neither the fiber proportion nor the coupling agent proportion affected the material melting temperature.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 891-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lijun Wang ◽  
Jianhui Qiu ◽  
Eiichi Sakai

AbstractIn this work, the rolling process was employed to fabricate polylactic acid/multi-walled carbon nanotube (PLA/MWCNT) composites at room temperature. The effects of the rolling conditions on the mechanical and electrical properties of the fabricated composites were investigated. The evolution processes of the internal molecular structures, i.e. changes in molecular orientation and crystallinity, were examined by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and density method. The results suggested that the molecular orientation improved; however, the crystallinity decreased when the rolling ratio increased. The analysis of the mechanical properties revealed that the rolled composites displayed anisotropy during the rolling process. In the rolling direction, after adding 1 wt.% MWCNTs, the tensile strength increased from 58.6 to 94.3 MPa with the rolling ratio, whereas the fracture strain sharply increased to 131.5% at the rolling ratio of 60%. In addition to the mechanical properties, electrical resistivity was also investigated; notably, this property was not significantly affected by the rolling process. Furthermore, the MWCNT dispersion and morphology were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. These findings offer a simple and effective method to fabricate conductive composites with excellent mechanical properties.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 3226
Author(s):  
Siti Shazra Shazleen ◽  
Lawrence Yee Foong Ng ◽  
Nor Azowa Ibrahim ◽  
Mohd Ali Hassan ◽  
Hidayah Ariffin

This work investigated the combined effects of CNF nucleation (3 wt.%) and PLA-g-MA compatibilization at different loadings (1–4 wt.%) on the crystallization kinetics and mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA). A crystallization kinetics study was done through isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization kinetics using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. It was shown that PLA-g-MA had some effect on nucleation as exhibited by the value of crystallization half time and crystallization rate of the PLA/PLA-g-MA, which were increased by 180% and 172%, respectively, as compared to neat PLA when isothermally melt crystallized at 100 °C. Nevertheless, the presence of PLA-g-MA in PLA/PLA-g-MA/CNF3 nanocomposites did not improve the crystallization rate compared to that of uncompatibilized PLA/CNF3. Tensile strength was reduced with the increased amount of PLA-g-MA. Contrarily, Young’s modulus values showed drastic increment compared to the neat PLA, showing that the addition of the PLA-g-MA contributed to the rigidity of the PLA nanocomposites. Overall, it can be concluded that PLA/CNF nanocomposite has good performance, whereby the addition of PLA-g-MA in PLA/CNF may not be necessary for improving both the crystallization kinetics and tensile strength. The addition of PLA-g-MA may be needed to produce rigid nanocomposites; nevertheless, in this case, the crystallization rate of the material needs to be compromised.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 230-238
Author(s):  
Mohamad Firdaus Omar ◽  
NURIAH MOHAMAD ◽  
Fathilah Ali

Latex compounding which incorporates various types of clays as filler to the rubber can significantly give reinforcement in the rubber matrix when rubber/clay nanocomposites are formed, but the filler agglomerates. Thus, study was conducted by using Kaolin clay as the filler in the rubber nanocomposites with silane coupling agent to functionalize the surface of the filler. This study was done in order to investigate the mechanical properties of various functionalized Kaolin in latex nanocomposites, to prepare various ratios of Kaolin to rubber, and to characterize mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of the Kaolin in latex nanocomposites. To achieve these, six types of silane coupling agents was used for Kaolin filler surface functionalization purpose during the filler’s incorporation in latex compounding. The optimized coupling agent, USi-7301 (?-chloropropyltrimetoxysilane) – with tensile strength value of 32.77 MPa, elongation at break value of 632.589 % and force at break value of 6.737 N – was used to further functionalize Kaolin filler in different ratios so as to achieve the optimum mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of the filler in the polymer matrix. Universal tensile machine was used to analyze the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites, while the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were used to observe the morphological and thermal properties of the nanocomposites, respectively. The results showed that reducing the Total Solids Content (TSC) of Kaolin filler to 26 % somehow showed the optimized properties of the nanocomposites, giving 34.00 MPa tensile strength, 576.494 % elongation at break and 6.564 N force at break. Rough surface morphology was observed under SEM suggesting the occurrence of phase separation between the hydrophilic filler and the hydrophobic rubber matrix. In the DSC plot, sample with USi-7301 and with functionalized Kaolin filler 26 % TSC showed glass transition temperature shifted to lower region compared to normal nitrile rubber. The reinforcement of nanocomposites formed will not only enhance the properties of the nanocomposites, but is also economically feasible thus brings advantages to the industry. ABSTRAK: Penyebatian lateks yang menggabungkan pelbagai jenis tanah liat sebagai pengisi dalam getah dapat memberi pengukuhan dalam matriks getah dengan ketara apabila nanokomposit getah / tanah liat terbentuk, tetapi pengisi mengagregat. Oleh itu, kajian dijalankan dengan menggunakan tanah liat Kaolin sebagai pengisi dalam nanokomposit getah dengan ejen gandingan silan untuk menambah-fungsi permukaan pengisi tersebut. Kajian ini dilakukan untuk mengenalpasti sifat mekanik pelbagai Kaolin (yang berfungsi) dalam nanokomposit lateks, untuk menyediakan pelbagai nisbah Kaolin terhadap getah, dan untuk mencirikan sifat mekanik, haba dan morfologi Kaolin dalam nanokomposit lateks. Untuk mencapainya, enam jenis ejen gandingan silan digunakan untuk tujuan menambah-fungsi permukaan pengisi Kaolin semasa penggabungan pengisi dalam penyebatian lateks. Ejen gandingan silan yang paling optimum, USi-7301 (?-silan kloropropiltrimetoksi) - dengan nilai kekuatan tegangan 32.77 MPa, nilai pemanjangan ketika pemutusan 632.589% dan kekuatan daya ketika pemutusan 6.737 N - digunakan dengan lebih lanjut untuk menambah-fungsi pengisi Kaolin dalam nisbah yang berbeza untuk lebih mencapai sifat mekanikal, haba dan morfologi optimum pengisi dalam matriks polimer lateks. Mesin tegangan universal digunakan untuk menganalisis sifat mekanik nanokomposit, sementara Mikroskopi Elektron Pengimbasan (SEM) dan Kalorimetri Pengimbasan Berbeza (DSC) digunakan untuk menganalisa sifat morfologi dan haba nanokomposit tersebut. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa pengurangan Jumlah Kandungan Pepejal (TSC) pengisi Kaolin kepada 26% menunjukkan sifat optimum nanokomposit, dengan kekuatan tegangan 34.00 MPa, pemanjangan ketika pemutusan sebanyak 576.494% dan daya ketika pemutusan sebanyak 6.564 N. Morfologi permukaan kasar diperhatikan di bawah SEM dan ia menunjukkan berlakunya pemisahan fasa antara pengisi hidrofilik dan matriks getah hidrofobik. Dalam plot DSC, sampel dengan USi-7301 dan dengan pengisi Kaolin yang difungsikan dengan 26% TSC menunjukkan suhu peralihan kaca beralih ke kawasan yang lebih rendah berbanding getah nitril biasa. Pengukuhan nanokomposit yang terbentuk bukan sahaja akan meningkatkan sifat nanokomposit, tetapi juga dapat dilaksanakan secara ekonomi sehingga memberi banyak kelebihan kepada industri.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés Niño ◽  
Nelson Arzola ◽  
Oscar Araque

In search of guaranteeing global energy requirements, waste from different agricultural, forestry and industrial sources is presented as a renewable and sustainable energy source. The manufacture of solid fuels from biomass based on the densification of this to improve its mechanical and energy properties is one of the mechanisms of viable energy production from the technical-economic point of view. The biomass mixture is one of the topics currently researched, in which various factors can affect the final behavior of the briquettes. In this research the influence on the mechanical properties of briquettes obtained from the mixture between two biomasses is studied: rice husk and pine sawdust. A mixed factorial experimental factorial design is used, in which the process temperature, the proportion of the rice husk biomass over the total mass, and the compaction time are defined as experimental factors. Experimental statistical models are obtained that partially explain the behavior of several responses that characterize the mechanical properties of the briquettes based on the selected independent parameters. It was found that the mechanical durability of the briquettes is higher than 97.5%, meets the existing standards, like German Institute for Standardization (DIN) 51731, Theological Institute Batista Ebenézer (ITEBE) SS187120 or International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17225-2, for a compaction temperature of 110 °C and a proportion of rice husk that does not exceed 60% of the total biomass mixture in the briquette. The compaction time was also statistically significant to achieve a briquettes density and an appropriate elasticity modulus in the briquettes. The results of this research are of interest and can serve as a starting point for the design of the industrial process of densification of these two mixed biomasses.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 545-556
Author(s):  
A. Hamza ◽  
R. K. Arya ◽  
A. D. Palsodkar ◽  
G. R. Bhadu ◽  
S. J. A. Rizvi

Abstract Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was nucleated in-situ with calcium pimelate during melt compounding. Calcium pimelate is a highly effective β-nucleator for isotactic polypropylene (iPP). The β-nucleated iPP was characterized by wide angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for its crystallinity and crystal structure. In addition, the injection-molded samples were tested for thermo-mechanical properties. It is found that very low quantity (< 0.1 wt. %) of β-nucleator is required to produce sufficiently high β-crystal fraction (Kβ) in isotactic polypropylene. β-nucleated iPP shows increment of 11 to 14 °C in its heat deflection temperature (HDT). It was also observed that slow cooling rate of β-nucleated iPP promotes the formation of β-crystals and that tensile stretching leads to complete transformation of β crystals into a-crystals at room temperature. It was also revealed that the presence of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA), a well-known coupling agent (or compatibilizer), may reduce the (Kβ) value to a marginal extent. It was also observed that the thermo-mechanical properties were not much affected by the presence of PP-g-MA. Therefore, calcium pimelate may be used as β-nucleator in case of neat as well as reinforced polypropylene containing maleic anhydride as coupling agent.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1031 ◽  
pp. 7-16
Author(s):  
Ilya Vasilyev ◽  
Vladimir Ananiev ◽  
Yulia Sultanova ◽  
Valentina Kolpakova

The purpose of this work is to improve the production technology of biodegradable hybrid compositions based on low-density polyethylene with thermoplastic starch and new plasticizer–distilled monoglyceride and determination of the composition effect on mechanical properties. Starch was plasticized with a mixture of glycerol and distilled monoglycerides, instead of the known sorbitol. This article describes methods for producing biodegradable hybrid composite films based on polyethylene and thermoplastic starches (corn, pea and rice) with a mass ratio of components, respectively, 40:60÷60:40 and their mechanical properties. Properties and structure of composite films are studied using test methods, rheological parameters, optical microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The advantages of using monoglycerides as a plasticizer in thermoplastic starch/ polyethylene compositions have been demonstrated. Composites obtained using distilled monoglycerides and thermoplastic corn, pea and rice starch have been characterized by 62-81% higher values of critical stress and 62-93% elongation at rupture, compared with BHC containing sorbitol. The thickness of biodegradable hybrid composite films with monoglycerides is 55-86% less than that of films containing sorbitol in composition of thermoplastic starch. Higher elongation values at rupture and lower film thickness will ensure more effective destruction in environment and more cost-efficient use in packaging.


2010 ◽  
Vol 150-151 ◽  
pp. 1438-1443
Author(s):  
Yi Qiang Wu ◽  
Zhi Yong Qin ◽  
Yan Qing ◽  
Xin Gong Li

Biodegradable composites of polylactic acid reinforced with wood fiber were fabricated by using twin screw extruder followed by the injection molding machine. The effects of different pretreatments of wood on mechanical properties of the biodegradable composite were discussed. The nature of composites were also examined through scanning electron microscope and Infrared Spectrum Analysis, the results reveal that both acid and stearic acid could be used as effective surface modifier for wood fiber/polylactic acid system, the composite system by adding Benzoic acid, the tensile strength has improved greatly, and about stearic acid composite system, the impact strength has improved significantly; After alkali treatment, coupling agent treatment and combination of alkali treatment and coupling agent treatment, and the use of alkali treatment and the coupling agent treatment is the best, follow by alkali treatment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 45-59
Author(s):  
Lu Han ◽  
Fangwu Ma ◽  
Shixian Chen ◽  
Yongfeng Pu

The effect of basalt fiber (BF) content on the properties of BF-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) composites was investigated. Composites with 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 wt% BF were fabricated. The results revealed that (1) the mechanical properties improved with increasing BF content. The maximum tensile strength and modulus of the composites (i.e. 140 and 5050 MPa, respectively) occurred at a BF content of 50%. The maximum flexural strength, that is, 159.5 MPa was two times larger than that of the pure PLA and was obtained at a BF content of 40%. However, the mechanical properties deteriorated at BF contents >50%. (2) BF can stop storage modulus loss and are effective in improving the crystallinity, as revealed by dynamic mechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. The crystallinity improved from 34.6% to 54.6% with BF addition. (3) After the accelerated aging test, pure PLA was too weak for testing. However, high values of the tensile modulus (i.e. 60% that of the nonaged samples) were maintained by the BF-reinforced PLA. This resulted possibly from the high crystallinity of the PLA composites. Therefore, suitable amounts of BF as reinforcements can yield improvements in the performance of PLA composites.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 171-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Benoit ◽  
Rubén González-Núñez ◽  
Denis Rodrigue

This work investigates the loss of performance and the recyclability of natural fibre composites for a long-term closed-loop process. Composites based on flax fibres and high-density polyethylene are subjected up to 50 extrusion cycles under constant processing conditions with or without maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene as a coupling agent. The results show that the addition of fibre increases the rigidity but decreases the elongation properties. The initial processing cycle leads to an important decrease of the fibre length and modification of the molecular weight distributions, thus indicating that the addition of fibre enhances chain scission and that fibre breakup mainly happens during the initial processing. The effect of recycling is much less significant, except for the mechanical properties. Negligible variations are observed for density, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, gel permeation chromatography and impact results. On the contrary, the mechanical properties are strongly affected by recycling as most of them increase with recycling. The addition of a coupling agent improves the composite properties, but this effect disappears with recycling. These trends are associated to a balance between fibre breakup and macromolecular chain scission compared to more homogeneous materials (better fibre distribution) taking place in the materials during recycling. The results show that long-term recycling of composites is possible as their overall performances remain acceptable.


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