Investigation of mechanical properties and biodegradability of compatibilized thermoplastic starch/ high impact polystyrene blends reinforced by organophilic montmorillonite

2021 ◽  
pp. 096739112110468
Author(s):  
Nour El Houda Aouadi ◽  
Abdelhak Hellati ◽  
Nizamudeen Cherupurakal ◽  
Melia Guessoum ◽  
Abdel-Hamid I Mourad

This work consists of preparation and characterization of composites produced from thermoplastic starch (TPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS). Due to the immiscibility of the system (TPS/HIPS), it was necessary to incorporate concentrations of 1, 2 and 3% of an organophilic montmorillonite (MMT) to improve the properties of the mixtures, in particular their rigidity. The composites thus prepared were characterized using XRD, FTIR, mechanical test, degree of swelling in water and biodegradability. The results show that the addition of MMT improves the mechanical properties of the mixtures such as the tensile strength and the Young’s modulus by 5% and 10%, respectively. In contrast, the resilience of the system has significantly decreased. Moreover, for 3% of MMT, the composites biodegradability is enhanced by 15% when compared to the TPS/HIPS mixture without MMT.

Recycling ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Job Momanyi ◽  
Michael Herzog ◽  
Peter Muchiri

Polypropylene and polystyrene are petroleum-based thermoplastics which are commonly used and disposed of in the environment after their service life, leading to environmental degradation. There is a need to recycle polypropylene and polystyrene, but the effect of recycling on thermo-mechanical properties is not well understood. This study aims to determine thermo-mechanical properties of the recycled polypropylene and recycled polystyrene and compare them with corresponding virgin polypropylene and newly produced polystyrene (general purpose polystyrene 1540 and high impact polystyrene 7240). The study was carried out by preparing bar-shaped samples of recycled polypropylene, recycled polystyrene, general purpose polystyrene 1540, and high impact polystyrene 7240 by compression molding using a hot press and thermally characterizing them to determine glass transition temperature and melting temperature using differential scanning calorimetry. The changes in Young’s modulus, tensile strength, hardness, and toughness due to recycling activities were determined at room temperature (24 °C), 40 °C, 60 °C, and 80 °C. The thermo-mechanical properties of recycled polystyrene (PS) were found to be comparable to those of high impact polystyrene (HIPS) 7240. The study revealed that the hardness and toughness for the recycled polymers were higher than those of corresponding virgin polymers. On the other hand, tensile strength and Young’s modulus for the recycled polymers were lower than those of the virgin polymers. Understanding the thermo-mechanical properties of the recycled polymers will contribute to more industrial applications hence increase the rate of recycling, resulting in a reduction in environmental pollution.


2008 ◽  
Vol 47-50 ◽  
pp. 1245-1249
Author(s):  
Zhong Wei Wu ◽  
Qing Jie Jiao ◽  
Chong Guang Zang ◽  
Hui Lan

PPO was a better intensifier and charred material for High-impact polystyrene (HIPS), it could make HIPS achieve UL94V-0 with APP, MC, RDP. Especially, RDP not only improved the flame-retarded property but also controlled the hole producing, and had the best consistent with matrix which could improve the mechanical properties. SBS and SEBS were better consistent with matrix, especially SEBS was tiny granule, which could be dispersed in matrix easily. The properties of SEBS toughened the non-halogen flame-retarded HIPS was followed: tensile strength: 18.83MPa; izod notch impact strength: 15.7kJ/m2; UL94V-0.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-51
Author(s):  
Pedro Duarte Menezes ◽  
Tomás De Meireles Carneiro ◽  
António Torres Marques

The usage of bio-fibres and recycled materials is a growing approach to address the ecological problems being faced today. Inspired by the guidelines defining the Waste for Life initiative, the present study reports new composite materials, based on the recycling of high-impact polystyrene, found, for instance in yogurt cups, and paper plastic laminates, deriving from disposable paper cups. Given their recycling incompatibility, paper plastic laminates are either dumped in landfills or incinerated after their first usage, threatening the environmental condition. Therefore, through the development of a new composite solution, the goal was to reduce this damaging environmental impact by providing a second life to both paper plastic laminates and high-impact polystyrene. Samples presented overall good mechanical properties, from which it is highlighted a Young’s Modulus of 1.75 GPa and a Tensile Strength of 21.2 MPa, encouraging the application of the present material to identified global obstacles.


2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.C. Santana ◽  
Sati Manrich

This study consisted of an investigation of the thermo-mechanical properties of post-consumer high impact polystyrene (HIPS) through five consecutive injection moulding steps to simulating the recycling cycles. The selectively collected HIPS residue was ground, washed only in water, dried, agglutinated and then moulded as a set of mechanical test specimens before the first step. The melt flow index (MFI), glass transition temperature (Tg), complex viscosity (η*), deflection temperature under flexural load (HDT), tensile, flexural and impact strength tests were determined at each reprocessing cycles. The results revealed that the degradative effect of consecutive recycling on the material's thermal properties was low and may be considered negligible. After five reprocessing cycles, the results showed an ∼8°C decrease of Tg in DSC, an increase of MFI, a decrease in viscosity and a slight decrease of HDT, which could be attributed to chain scission caused by consecutive cycles of exposure to shear stresses and high temperature. The material became slightly more rigid and fragile, as indicated by the mechanical tests.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1105 ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.M. Gupta ◽  
Kishor Kalauni

Bhimal fibres are quite a newer kind of bio-degradable fibres. They have never been heard before in literatures from the view point of their utility as engineering material. These fibres have been utilized for investigation of their properties. Characterization of this fibre is essential to determine its properties for further use as reinforcing fibre in polymeric, bio-degradable and other kinds of matrix. With this objective, the fabrication method and other mechanical properties of Bhimal-reinforced-PVA biocomposite have been discussed. The stress-strain curves and load-deflection characteristics are obtained. The tensile, compressive, flexure and impact strengths have been calculated. The results are shown in tables and graphs. The results obtained are compared with other existing natural fibre biocomposites. From the observations, it has been concluded that the tensile strength of Bhimal-reinforced-PVA biocomposite is higher than other natural fibre composites. Hence these can be used as reinforcement to produce much lighter weight biocomposites.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 404
Author(s):  
Nur Sharmila Sharip ◽  
Hidayah Ariffin ◽  
Tengku Arisyah Tengku Yasim-Anuar ◽  
Yoshito Andou ◽  
Yuki Shirosaki ◽  
...  

The major hurdle in melt-processing of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposite lies on the high melt viscosity of the UHMWPE, which may contribute to poor dispersion and distribution of the nanofiller. In this study, UHMWPE/cellulose nanofiber (UHMWPE/CNF) bionanocomposites were prepared by two different blending methods: (i) melt blending at 150 °C in a triple screw kneading extruder, and (ii) non-melt blending by ethanol mixing at room temperature. Results showed that melt-processing of UHMWPE without CNF (MB-UHMWPE/0) exhibited an increment in yield strength and Young’s modulus by 15% and 25%, respectively, compared to the Neat-UHMWPE. Tensile strength was however reduced by almost half. Ethanol mixed sample without CNF (EM-UHMWPE/0) on the other hand showed slight decrement in all mechanical properties tested. At 0.5% CNF inclusion, the mechanical properties of melt-blended bionanocomposites (MB-UHMWPE/0.5) were improved as compared to Neat-UHMWPE. It was also found that the yield strength, elongation at break, Young’s modulus, toughness and crystallinity of MB-UHMWPE/0.5 were higher by 28%, 61%, 47%, 45% and 11%, respectively, as compared to the ethanol mixing sample (EM-UHMWPE/0.5). Despite the reduction in tensile strength of MB-UHMWPE/0.5, the value i.e., 28.4 ± 1.0 MPa surpassed the minimum requirement of standard specification for fabricated UHMWPE in surgical implant application. Overall, melt-blending processing is more suitable for the preparation of UHMWPE/CNF bionanocomposites as exhibited by their characteristics presented herein. A better mechanical interlocking between UHMWPE and CNF at high temperature mixing with kneading was evident through FE-SEM observation, explains the higher mechanical properties of MB-UHMWPE/0.5 as compared to EM-UHMWPE/0.5.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 343-351
Author(s):  
Norbert Kępczak ◽  
Radosław Rosik ◽  
Mariusz Urbaniak

Abstract The paper presents an impact of the addition of industrial machining chips on the mechanical properties of polymer concrete. As an additional filler, six types of industrial waste machining chips were used: steel fine chips, steel medium chips, steel thick chips, aluminium fine chips, aluminium medium chips, and titanium fine chips. During the research, the influence of the addition of chips on the basic parameters of mechanical properties, i.e., tensile strength, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and Young’s modulus, was analyzed. On the basis of the obtained results, conclusions were drawn that the addition of chips from machining causes a decrease in the value of the mechanical properties parameters of the polymer concrete even by 30%. The mechanism of cracking of samples, which were subjected to durability tests, was also explored. In addition, it was found that some chip waste can be used as a substitute for natural fillers during preparation of a mineral cast composition without losing much of the strength parameters.


2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-26
Author(s):  
Myrtha Karina ◽  
Lucia Indrarti ◽  
Rike Yudianti ◽  
Indriyati

The effect of castor oil on the physical and mechanical properties of bacterial cellulose is described. Bacterial cellulose (BC) was impregnated with 0.5–2% (w/v) castor oil (CO) in acetone–water, providing BCCO films. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that the castor oil penetrated the pores of the bacterial cellulose, resulting in a smoother morphology and enhanced hydrophilicity. Castor oil caused a slight change in crystallinity indices and resulted in reduced tensile strength and Young's modulus but increased elongation at break. A significant reduction in tensile strength and Young's modulus was achieved in BCCO films with 2% castor oil, and there was an improvement in elongation at break and hydrophilicity. Impregnation with castor oil, a biodegradable and safe plasticiser, resulted in less rigid and more ductile composites.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongfang Qian ◽  
Zhen Zhang ◽  
Laijiu Zheng ◽  
Ruoyuan Song ◽  
Yuping Zhao

Design and fabrication of nanofibrous scaffolds should mimic the native extracellular matrix. This study is aimed at investigating electrospinning of polycaprolactone (PCL) blended with chitosan-gelatin complex. The morphologies were observed from scanning electron microscope. As-spun blended mats had thinner fibers than pure PCL. X-ray diffraction was used to analyze the degree of crystallinity. The intensity at two peaks at 2θof 21° and 23.5° gradually decreased with the percentage of chitosan-gelatin complex increasing. Moreover, incorporation of the complex could obviously improve the hydrophilicity of as-spun blended mats. Mechanical properties of as-spun nanofibrous mats were also tested. The elongation at break of fibrous mats increased with the PCL content increasing and the ultimate tensile strength varied with different weight ratios. The as-spun mats had higher tensile strength when the weight ratio of PCL to CS-Gel was 75/25 compared to pure PCL. Both as-spun PCL scaffolds and PCL/CS-Gel scaffolds supported the proliferation of porcine iliac endothelial cells, and PCL/CS-Gel had better cell viability than pure PCL. Therefore, electrospun PCL/Chitosan-gelatin nanofibrous mats with weight ratio of 75/25 have better hydrophilicity mechanical properties, and cell proliferation and thus would be a promising candidate for tissue engineering scaffolds.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL N. OLAYA ◽  
SAGAR PATIL ◽  
GREGORY M. ODEGARD ◽  
MARIANNA MAIARÙ

A novel approach for characterization of thermosetting epoxy resins as a function of the degree of cure is presented. Density, cure kinetics, tensile strength, and Young’s modulus are experimentally characterized across four mixing ratios of DGEBF/DETDA epoxy. Dynamic differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is used to characterize parameters for a Prout-Thompkins kinetic model unique to each mixing ratio case through a data fitting procedure. Tensile strength and Young’s modulus are then characterized using stress-strain data extracted from quasi-static, uniaxial tension tests at room temperature. Strains are measured with the 2-D digital image correlation (DIC) optical strain measurement technique. Strength tends to increase as amine content use in the formulation increases. The converse trend is observed for Young’s modulus. Density measurements also reveal an inverse relationship with amine content.


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