scholarly journals Effect of Mineral Fillers on the Mechanical Properties of Commercially Available Biodegradable Polymers

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 394
Author(s):  
Wouter Post ◽  
Lambertus J. Kuijpers ◽  
Martin Zijlstra ◽  
Maarten van der Zee ◽  
Karin Molenveld

In the successful transition towards a circular materials economy, the implementation of biobased and biodegradable plastics is a major prerequisite. To prevent the accumulation of plastic material in the open environment, plastic products should be both recyclable and biodegradable. Research and development actions in the past few decades have led to the commercial availability of a number of polymers that fulfil both end-of-life routes. However, these biobased and biodegradable polymers typically have mechanical properties that are not on par with the non-biodegradable plastic products they intend to replace. This can be improved using particulate mineral fillers such as talc, calcium carbonate, kaolin, and mica. This study shows that composites thereof with polybutylene succinate (PBS), polyhydroxybutyrate-hexanoate (PHBH), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) as matrix polymers result in plastic materials with mechanical properties ranging from tough elastic towards strong and rigid. It is demonstrated that the balance between the Young’s modulus and the impact resistance for this set of polymer composites is subtle, but a select number of investigated compositions yield a combination of industrially relevant mechanical characteristics. Finally, it is shown that the inclusion of mineral fillers into biodegradable polymers does not negate the microbial disintegration of these polymers, although the nature of the filler does affect the biodegradation rate of the matrix polymer.

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Luda ◽  
V. Brunella ◽  
D. Guaratto

Three used PP-based car bumpers are characterized by many techniques (fractionation, IR, TGA, DSC, DMTA, and SEM). They show different impact and static and dynamic mechanical properties depending on their composition and morphology. It appears that block copolymer compatibilizers constituted by polyethylene-polypropylene sequences allow a better compatibility between the rubber domains and the PP matrix leading to relatively high impact resistance. Indeed if the ethylene sequences of the copolymer are large enough to crystallize, the decreased mobility of the whole system impairs the impact resistance. In addition, a higher amount of rubber in domains regular in shape and of greater dimension (1–3 μm) promotes a more homogeneous dispersion of external force inside the material, decreasing the risk of fracture. The amount of mineral fillers regulates the elastic modulus (the higher the load, the higher the modulus); however, a fairly good interfacial adhesion is required for satisfactory impact strength. All PP-based bumpers have been mechanically recycled in an internal mixer to redistribute oxidized species and to reestablish phase compatibilization. Recycling improves mechanical properties in slow speed test but fails to increase impact strength particularly in filled bumper, in which the quality of the matrix/filler interphase is hard to improve by simple remixing.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 6734-6742
Author(s):  
A. Syamsir ◽  
S. M. Mubin ◽  
N. M. Nor ◽  
V. Anggraini ◽  
S. Nagappan ◽  
...  

This study investigated the combine effect of 0.2 % drink cans and steel fibers with volume fractions of 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5% and 3% to the mechanical properties and impact resistance of concrete. Hooked-end steel fiber with 30 mm and 0.75 mm length and diameter, respectively was selected for this study.  The drinks cans fiber were twisted manually in order to increase friction between fiber and concrete. The results of the experiment showed that the combination of steel fibers and drink cans fibers improved the strength performance of concrete, especially the compressive strength, flexural strength and indirect tensile strength. The results of the experiment showed that the combination of steel fibers and drink cans fibers improved the compressive strength, flexural strength and indirect tensile strength by 2.3, 7, and 2 times as compare to batch 1, respectively. Moreover, the impact resistance of fiber reinforced concrete has increase by 7 times as compared to non-fiber concretes. Moreover, the impact resistance of fiber reinforced concrete consistently gave better results as compared to non-fiber concretes. The fiber reinforced concrete turned more ductile as the dosage of fibers was increased and ductility started to decrease slightly after optimum fiber dosage was reached. It was found that concrete with combination of 2% steel and 0.2% drink cans fibers showed the highest compressive, split tensile, flexural as well as impact strength.    


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3140
Author(s):  
Kamil Dydek ◽  
Anna Boczkowska ◽  
Rafał Kozera ◽  
Paweł Durałek ◽  
Łukasz Sarniak ◽  
...  

The main aim of this work was the investigation of the possibility of replacing the heavy metallic meshes applied onto the composite structure in airplanes for lightning strike protection with a thin film of Tuball single-wall carbon nanotubes in the form of ultra-light, conductive paper. The Tuball paper studied contained 75 wt% or 90 wt% of carbon nanotubes and was applied on the top of carbon fibre reinforced polymer before fabrication of flat panels. First, the electrical conductivity, impact resistance and thermo-mechanical properties of modified laminates were measured and compared with the reference values. Then, flat panels with selected Tuball paper, expanded copper foil and reference panels were fabricated for lightning strike tests. The effectiveness of lightning strike protection was evaluated by using the ultrasonic phased-array technique. It was found that the introduction of Tuball paper on the laminates surface improved both the surface and the volume electrical conductivity by 8800% and 300%, respectively. The impact resistance was tested in two directions, perpendicular and parallel to the carbon fibres, and the values increased by 9.8% and 44%, respectively. The dynamic thermo-mechanical analysis showed higher stiffness and a slight increase in glass transition temperature of the modified laminates. Ultrasonic investigation after lightning strike tests showed that the effectiveness of Tuball paper is comparable to expanded copper foil.


2013 ◽  
Vol 844 ◽  
pp. 53-56
Author(s):  
Saravalee Saengthaveep ◽  
Sadhan C. Jana ◽  
Rathanawan Magaraphan

To produce a tough material for application demanding high impact resistance and low moisture absorption, melt blending of Nylon12 (Polyamide 12, PA12) and natural rubber (NR) was carried out in a brabender plasticorder at 210 °C with rotor speed of 70 rpm in the presence of polystyrene/maleated natural rubber (PS/MNR) blend as a compatibilizer. The effect of compatibilizer content (1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 phr) on phase morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties of [Nylon12/NR]/[PS/MNR] blends was investigated by using SEM, DSC, and Izod impact tester, respectively. The result revealed that PS/MNR blend improved the compatibility of Nylon12/NR blends efficiently due to the presence of amide linkage at the interfaces from the reaction between the reactive groups of MNR and the NH2 end groups of Nylon12 during mixing. A fine phase morphology (good dispersion and small dispersed phase size of NR domains in Nylon12 matrix) of [Nylon12/NR]/[PS/MNR] blends was observed at the optimum compatibilizer content of 7 phr, relating to the improvement of mechanical property. The impact energy of [Nylon12/NR]/[PS/MNR] blends was 503 J/m higher than that of neat Nylon12 (115 J/m) and Nylon12/NR binary blend (241 J/m) due to the toughening effect of rubber and proper morphology. The melting temperature of all blends did not change obviously from thermal analysis. However, the presence of rubber particle obstructed the crystallization of Nylon12 phase, leading to the decreasing of %crystallinity from 93% to around 70%.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (2019) ◽  
pp. 404-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weijuan Li ◽  
Haijian Xu ◽  
Xiaochun Sha ◽  
Jingsong Meng ◽  
Zhaodong Wang

AbstractIn this study, oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) ferritic steels with nominal composition of Fe–14Cr–2W–0.35Y2O3 (14Cr non Zr-ODS) and Fe–14Cr–2W–0.3Zr–0.35Y2O3 (14Cr–Zr-ODS) were fabricated by mechanical alloying (MA) and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) technique to explore the impact of Zr addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 14Cr-ODS steels. Microstructure characterization revealed that Zr addition led to the formation of finer oxides, which was identified as Y4Zr3O12, with denser dispersion in the matrix. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the non Zr-ODS steel is about 1201 MPa, but UTS of the Zr-ODS steel increases to1372 MPa, indicating the enhancement of mechanical properties by Zr addition.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Paolo La Mantia ◽  
Manuela Ceraulo ◽  
Maria Chiara Mistretta ◽  
Marco Morreale

Purpose Biodegradable polymers are currently gaining importance in several fields, because they allow mitigation of the impact on the environment related to disposal of traditional, nonbiodegradable polymers, as well as reducing the utilization of oil-based sources (when they also come from renewable resources). Fibers made of biodegradable polymers are of particular interest, though, it is not easy to obtain polymer fibers with suitable mechanical properties and to tailor these to the specific application. The main ways to tailor the mechanical properties of a given biodegradable polymer fiber are based on crystallinity and orientation control. However, crystallinity can only marginally be modified during processing, while orientation can be controlled, either during hot drawing or cold stretching. In this paper, a systematic investigation of the influence of cold stretching on the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of fibers prepared from different biodegradable polymer systems was carried out. Methods Rheological and thermal characterization helped in interpreting the orientation mechanisms, also on the basis of the molecular structure of the polymer systems. Results and conclusions It was found that cold drawing strongly improved the elastic modulus, tensile strength and thermomechanical resistance of the fibers, in comparison with hot-spun fibers. The elastic modulus showed higher increment rates in the biodegradable systems upon increasing the draw ratio.


2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 27-35
Author(s):  
Idawu Yakubu Suleiman ◽  
Auwal Kasim ◽  
Abdullahi Tanko Mohammed ◽  
Munir Zubairu Sirajo

This paper aims to investigate the mechanical (tensile, hardness, impact, elongation), microstructure and wear behaviours of aluminium alloy reinforced with mussel shell powder (MSP) at different weight percentages (0 wt. % to 15 wt. %) at 3 wt. % interval. The mussel shell powder was characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The matrix and the composites’ morphology were studied using a scanning electron microscope attached with energy dispersive spectroscopy for the distribution of mussel shell powder particles within the matrix. The wear behaviour of the alloy and composites produced at various reinforcements were carried out using a Taber abrasion wear-testing machine. The XRF showed the compositions of MSP to contain calcium oxide (95.70 %), silica (0.83 %) and others. Mechanical properties showed that tensile values increase with increases in MSP, hardness value increases from 6 wt. % to 15 wt. % of MSP. The impact energy decreased from 42.6 J at 3 wt. % to 22.6 J at 15 wt. %; the percentage elongation also decreased from 37.4 % at 3 wt. % to 20.5 % at 15 wt. % MSP, respectively. The bending stress results increase with increases in the percentage of reinforcement. The morphologies revealed that uniform distribution of MSP within the matrix resulted to improvement in mechanical properties. The wear resistance of the composites increases with increase in the applied load and decreases with increases in the weight percentage of MSP and can be used in the production of brake pads and insulators in the automobile industry.


2011 ◽  
Vol 197-198 ◽  
pp. 1100-1103
Author(s):  
Jian Li

A polyurethane/clay (PU/clay) composite was synthesized. The microstructure of the composite was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The impact properties of the composite were characterized by impact testing. The study on the structure of the composite showed that clays could be dispersed in the polymer matrix well apart from a few of clusters. The results from mechanical analysis indicated that the impact properties of the composite were increased greatly in comparison with pure polyurethane. The investigation on the mechanical properties showed that the impact strength could be obviously increased by adding 20 wt% (by weight) clay to the matrix.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 1245-1257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianjun Wang ◽  
Timothy C. Ovaert

Nanoindentation is a widely accepted test method for materials characterization. On account of the complexity of contact deformation behavior, design of parametric constitutive models and determination of the unknown parameters is challenging. To address the need for identification of mechanical properties of viscoelastic/plastic materials from nanoindentation data, a combined numerical finite element/optimization-based indentation modeling tool was developed, fully self-contained, and capable of running on a PC as a stand-alone executable program. The approach uses inverse engineering and formulates the material characterization task as an optimization problem. The model development consists of finite element formulation, viscoelastic/plastic material models, heuristic estimation to obtain initial solution boundaries, and a gradient-based optimization algorithm for fast convergence to extract mechanical properties from the test data. A four-parameter viscoelastic/plastic model is presented, then a simplified three-parameter model with more rapid convergence. The end result is a versatile tool for indentation simulation and mechanical property analysis.


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