Optimization of Processing Parameters and Fiber Content of Cocoa Pod Husk Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Polyurethane Composites by Taguchi Method

A composite of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) pod husk (CPH) fiber reinforced themoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was prepared by melt-blending method followed by compression moulding. Specimens were cut from the sheets that were prepared by compression moulding. The criteria of optimization was testing the specimens by tensile test and comparing the ultimate tensile strength. The aim of this study is to optimize processing parameters and fiber loading using Taguchi approach. These four parameters were investigated in three levels each. The L9 orthogonal array was used based on the number of parameters and levels that have been selected. Furthermore ANOVA was used to determine the significance of parameters. The processing parameters chosen for this study were temperature, speed and time of processing and fiber content. The results showed that optimum values were 190°C, 40 rpm, 11min and 30% for processing temperature, processing speed, processing time and fiber content; respectively. Using ANOVA; fiber content showed the highest significance value followed by processing time. Processing temperature and speed showed no significance in the optimization of TPU/CPH.

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Optimization of Blending Parameters and Fiber Size of Kenaf-Bast-Fiber-Reinforced the Thermoplastic Polyurethane Composites by Taguchi Method

Advances in Materials Science and Engineering ◽

10.1155/2013/686452 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Y. A. El-Shekeil ◽

S. M. Sapuan ◽

M. D. Azaman ◽

M. Jawaid

Keyword(s):

Processing Time ◽

Thermoplastic Polyurethane ◽

Processing Parameters ◽

Compression Molding ◽

Processing Temperature ◽

Blending Method ◽

Fiber Size ◽

C 50 ◽

Kenaf Fibers ◽

Polyurethane Composites

“Kenaf-fibers- (KF-)” reinforced “thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)” composites were prepared by the melt-blending method followed by compression molding. Composite specimens were cut from the sheets that were prepared by compression molding. The criteria of optimization were testing the specimens by tensile test and comparing the ultimate tensile strength. The aim of this study is to optimize processing parameters (e.g., processing temperature, time, and speed) and fiber size using the Taguchi approach. These four parameters were investigated in three levels each. The L9 orthogonal array was used based on the number of parameters and levels that has been selected. Furthermore, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the significance of different parameters. The results showed that the optimum values were 180°C, 50 rpm, 13 min, and 125–300 micron for processing temperature, processing speed, processing time, and fiber size, respectively. Using ANOVA, processing temperature showed the highest significance value followed by fiber size. Processing time and speed did not show any significance on the optimization of TPU/KF.

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Effect of Fiber Loading on Tensile Properties of Cocoa Pod Husk Fibers Reinforced Thermoplastic Polyurethane Composites

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.606.25 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 606 ◽

pp. 25-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Y.A. El-Shekeil ◽

S.M. Sapuan ◽

M. Haron

Keyword(s):

Thermoplastic Polyurethane ◽

Processing Parameters ◽

Mean Value ◽

Fiber Loading ◽

Blending Method ◽

Cocoa Pod Husk ◽

Polyurethane Composites ◽

Internal Mixer ◽

Fibre Loading ◽

Temperature Time

In this study, cocoa (Theobroma cacao) pod husk (CPH) fiber reinforced themoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was prepared by melt blending method using Haake Polydrive R600 internal mixer. The composites were prepared with different fiber loading: 20%, 30% and 40% (by weight), with the optimum processing parameters: 190°C, 11 min, and 40 rpm for temperature, time and speed, respectively. Five samples were cut from the composite sheet. Mean value was taken for each composite according to ASTM standards. Increase of fibre loading showed increase in tensile strength and modulus and decreasing trend of strain.

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Effect of Fiber Loading on Tensile Properties of Cocoa Pod Husk Fibers Reinforced Thermoplastic Polyurethane Composites

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.564.346 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 564 ◽

pp. 346-349 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Y.A. El-Shekeil ◽

S.M. Sapuan ◽

M. Haron

Keyword(s):

Thermoplastic Polyurethane ◽

Processing Parameters ◽

Mean Value ◽

Fiber Loading ◽

Blending Method ◽

Cocoa Pod Husk ◽

Polyurethane Composites ◽

Internal Mixer ◽

Fibre Loading ◽

Temperature Time

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Influence of fiber content on the mechanical and thermal properties of Kenaf fiber reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane composites

Materials & Design (1980-2015) ◽

10.1016/j.matdes.2012.04.003 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 40 ◽

pp. 299-303 ◽

Cited By ~ 170

Author(s):

Y.A. El-Shekeil ◽

S.M. Sapuan ◽

K. Abdan ◽

E.S. Zainudin

Keyword(s):

Thermal Properties ◽

Thermoplastic Polyurethane ◽

Fiber Content ◽

Mechanical And Thermal Properties ◽

Fiber Reinforced ◽

Kenaf Fiber ◽

Polyurethane Composites

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Synthesis of Si3N4 from Na2SiF6 as a Solid Precursor: Microstructural Evolution

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.560.109 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 560 ◽

pp. 109-114

Author(s):

Ana Lilia Leal-Cruz ◽

Martin I. Pech-Canul

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Substrate Temperature ◽

Microstructural Evolution ◽

Microstructure Evolution ◽

Processing Time ◽

Processing Parameters ◽

Processing Temperature ◽

Morphology Changes ◽

Porous Substrates

The effect of processing parameters on the weight loss of the silicon solid precursor (Na2SiF6) and the deposition characteristics and morphology of Si3N4 formed onto SiCp/Si porous substrates by CVD has been investigated. The results show that the weight loss of Na2SiF6 is most significantly affected by the processing temperature, followed by the processing time and the type of nitrogen precursor. Formation of Si3N4 is mostly influenced by the substrate temperature, followed by the type of nitrogen precursor and processing time. An increase in processing time and temperature from 60 to 120 min and from 900 to 1300 oC, respectively, favors dissociation of Na2SiF6 and formation of Si3N4. Moreover, N2 enhances Na2SiF6 dissociation and hampers Si3N4 formation, while the N2-NH3 mixture hinders the solid precursor dissociation and favors Si3N4 formation. With regard to microstructure evolution, it is found that in N2 the amount of Si3N4 increases with temperature and the morphology changes from wool-like and light fibers to thicker and compact fibers. When N2-NH3 is used and the processing temperature is increased, the morphology of Si3N4 is modified from deposits with wool-like and compact appearance to whiskers and spheres and finally to thick and compact fibers.

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