scholarly journals Value-Added Application of Waste Rubber and Waste Plastic in Asphalt Binder as a Multifunctional Additive

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianqing Ling ◽  
Ya Lu ◽  
Zeyu Zhang ◽  
Chuanqiang Li ◽  
Markus Oeser

The feasibility and effectivity of recycling waste rubber and waste plastic (WRP) into asphalt binder as a waste treatment approach has been documented. However, directly blending WRP with asphalt binder brings secondary environmental pollution. Recent research has shown that the addition of WRP into asphalt binder may potentially improve the workability of asphalt binder without significantly compromising its mechanical properties. This study evaluates the feasibility of using the additives derived from WRP as a multifunctional additive which improves both the workability and mechanical properties of asphalt binder. For this purpose, WRP-derived additives were prepared in laboratory. Then, three empirical characteristics—viscosity, rutting factor, fatigue life were analyzed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were employed to evaluate the effect of WRP-derived additive on the workability and chemical and mechanical properties of base binder. The dispersity of WRP-derived additive inside asphalt binder was also characterized using fluorescence microscope (FM). Results from this study showed that adding WRP-derived additive increases the workability of base binder. The WRP-derived additive appears positive on the high- and low- temperature performance as well as the fatigue life of base binder. The distribution of the WRP-derived additive inside base binder was uniform. In addition, the modification mechanism of WRP-derived additive was also proposed in this paper.

e-Polymers ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Xiu Zhang ◽  
Shu Ling Zhang ◽  
Jin Kuk Kim

AbstractPolymer blends of WRT (waste rubber tire) powder/LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene) have been attempted to prepare thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). The effects of maleic anhydride-grafted styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS-g-MA) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) on mechanical, morphological and thermal properties of the blends were evaluated using universal testing machine (UTM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). It was found that combination of SEBS-g-MA and DCP could better enhance the mechanical properties of WRT powder/LLDPE blends compared to SEBS-g-MA or DCP alone. Better compatibility between WRT powder and LLDPE was responsible for the enhancement of mechanical properties, as supported by SEM. The incorporation of SEBS-g-MA and DCP with WRT powder/LLDPE blends reduced the crystallizable perfectness of the blends, but slightly increased the thermal stability of the blends, as shown from DSC and TGA results


2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasim Hadi ◽  
Faisal Najmuldeen ◽  
Iqbal Ahmed

This study examines the restoration of waste plastic polymers based on LDPE, HDPE or PP through dissolution/reprecipitation. Experimental conditions of the recycling process, including type of solvent/non-solvent, original polymer concentration and dissolution temperature were optimized. Results revealed that by using the different prepared solvents/non-solvents at various ratios and temperatures, the polymer recovery was always greater than 94%. The FTIR spectra and the thermal properties (melting point and crystallinity) of the polymers before and after recycling were measured using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Mechanical properties of the waste polymer before and after recycling were also measured. Besides small occasional deviations, the properties did not change. The tensile strength at maximum load was 7.1, 18.8, and 7.4 MPa for the recycled LDPE, HDPE and PP, respectively and 7.78, 18.54 and 7.86 MPa for the virgin polymer. For the waste, the strength was 6.2, 15.58 and 6.76 MPa.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1058
Author(s):  
Hikaru Okubo ◽  
Haruka Kaneyasu ◽  
Tetsuya Kimura ◽  
Patchiya Phanthong ◽  
Shigeru Yao

Each year, increasing amounts of plastic waste are generated, causing environmental pollution and resource loss. Recycling is a solution, but recycled plastics often have inferior mechanical properties to virgin plastics. However, studies have shown that holding polymers in the melt state before extrusion can restore the mechanical properties; thus, we propose a twin-screw extruder with a molten resin reservoir (MSR), a cavity between the screw zone and twin-screw extruder discharge, which retains molten polymer after mixing in the twin-screw zone, thus influencing the polymer properties. Re-extruded recycled polyethylene (RPE) pellets were produced, and the tensile properties and microstructure of virgin polyethylene (PE), unextruded RPE, and re-extruded RPE moldings prepared with and without the MSR were evaluated. Crucially, the elongation at break of the MSR-extruded RPE molding was seven times higher than that of the original RPE molding, and the Young’s modulus of the MSR-extruded RPE molding was comparable to that of the virgin PE molding. Both the MSR-extruded RPE and virgin PE moldings contained similar striped lamellae. Thus, MSR re-extrusion improved the mechanical performance of recycled polymers by optimizing the microstructure. The use of MSRs will facilitate the reuse of waste plastics as value-added materials having a wide range of industrial applications.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 626
Author(s):  
Siti Hajar Mohamed ◽  
Md. Sohrab Hossain ◽  
Mohamad Haafiz Mohamad Kassim ◽  
Mardiana Idayu Ahmad ◽  
Fatehah Mohd Omar ◽  
...  

There is an interest in the sustainable utilization of waste cotton cloths because of their enormous volume of generation and high cellulose content. Waste cotton cloths generated are disposed of in a landfill, which causes environmental pollution and leads to the waste of useful resources. In the present study, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were isolated from waste cotton cloths collected from a landfill. The waste cotton cloths collected from the landfill were sterilized and cleaned using supercritical CO2 (scCO2) technology. The cellulose was extracted from scCO2-treated waste cotton cloths using alkaline pulping and bleaching processes. Subsequently, the CNCs were isolated using the H2SO4 hydrolysis of cellulose. The isolated CNCs were analyzed to determine the morphological, chemical, thermal, and physical properties with various analytical methods, including attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EF-TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the isolated CNCs had a needle-like structure with a length and diameter of 10–30 and 2–6 nm, respectively, and an aspect ratio of 5–15, respectively. Additionally, the isolated CNCs had a high crystallinity index with a good thermal stability. The findings of the present study revealed the potential of recycling waste cotton cloths to produce a value-added product.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1851
Author(s):  
Hye-Seon Park ◽  
Chang-Kook Hong

Poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA) is a promising biomedical polymer material with a wide range of applications. The diverse enantiomeric forms of PLLA provide great opportunities for thermal and mechanical enhancement through stereocomplex formation. The addition of poly (d-lactic acid) (PDLA) as a nucleation agent and the formation of stereocomplex crystallization (SC) have been proven to be an effective method to improve the crystallization and mechanical properties of the PLLA. In this study, PLLA was blended with different amounts of PDLA through a melt blending process and their properties were calculated. The effect of the PDLA on the crystallization behavior, thermal, and mechanical properties of PLLA were investigated systematically by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), polarized optical microscopy (POM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and tensile test. Based on our findings, SC formed easily when PDLA content was increased, and acts as nucleation sites. Both SC and homo crystals (HC) were observed in the PLLA/PDLA blends. As the content of PDLA increased, the degree of crystallization increased, and the mechanical strength also increased.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2367
Author(s):  
Junhyuk Son ◽  
Dong-Yurl Yu ◽  
Yun-Chan Kim ◽  
Shin-Il Kim ◽  
Min-Su Kim ◽  
...  

In this study, the interfacial reactions and mechanical properties of solder joints after multiple reflows were observed to evaluate the applicability of the developed materials for high-temperature soldering for automotive electronic components. The microstructural changes and mechanical properties of Sn-Cu solders regarding Al(Si) addition and the number of reflows were investigated to determine their reliability under high heat and strong vibrations. Using differential scanning calorimetry, the melting points were measured to be approximately 227, 230, and 231 °C for the SC07 solder, SC-0.01Al(Si), and SC-0.03Al(Si), respectively. The cross-sectional analysis results showed that the total intermetallic compounds (IMCs) of the SC-0.03Al(Si) solder grew the least after the as-reflow, as well as after 10 reflows. Electron probe microanalysis and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the Al-Cu and Cu-Al-Sn IMCs were present inside the solders, and their amounts increased with increasing Al(Si) content. In addition, the Cu6Sn5 IMCs inside the solder became more finely distributed with increasing Al(Si) content. The Sn-0.5Cu-0.03Al(Si) solder exhibited the highest shear strength at the beginning and after 10 reflows, and ductile fracturing was observed in all three solders. This study will facilitate the future application of lead-free solders, such as an Sn-Cu-Al(Si) solder, in automotive electrical components.


2021 ◽  
pp. 002199832199945
Author(s):  
Jong H Eun ◽  
Bo K Choi ◽  
Sun M Sung ◽  
Min S Kim ◽  
Joon S Lee

In this study, carbon/epoxy composites were manufactured by coating with a polyamide at different weight percentages (5 wt.%, 10 wt.%, 15 wt.%, and 20 wt.%) to improve their impact resistance and fracture toughness. The chemical reaction between the polyamide and epoxy resin were examined by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The mechanical properties and fracture toughness of the carbon/epoxy composites were analyzed. The mechanical properties of the carbon/epoxy composites, such as transverse flexural tests, longitudinal flexural tests, and impact tests, were investigated. After the impact tests, an ultrasonic C-scan was performed to reveal the internal damage area. The interlaminar fracture toughness of the carbon/epoxy composites was measured using a mode I test. The critical energy release rates were increased by 77% compared to the virgin carbon/epoxy composites. The surface morphology of the fractured surface was observed. The toughening mechanism of the carbon/epoxy composites was suggested based on the confirmed experimental data.


Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1142
Author(s):  
S. V. Sajadifar ◽  
P. Krooß ◽  
H. Fröck ◽  
B. Milkereit ◽  
O. Kessler ◽  
...  

In the present study, microstructural and mechanical properties of EN AW 7075 following stress-aging were assessed. For this purpose, properties of stress-aged samples were compared with values obtained for conventionally aged counterparts. It is revealed that the strength and hardness of EN AW 7075 can be increased by the presence of external stresses during aging. Precipitation kinetics were found to be accelerated. The effects of conventional and stress-aging on the microstructure were analyzed using synergetic techniques: the differently aged samples were probed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in order to characterize the precipitation processes. DSC was found to be an excellent screening tool for the analysis of precipitation processes during aging of this alloy with and without the presence of external stresses. Furthermore, using electron microscopy it was revealed that an improvement in mechanical properties can be correlated to changes in the morphologies and sizes of precipitates formed.


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