Effect of Flame Retardant on Mechanical Properties and Flammability of Sisal/PP Composites

2008 ◽  
Vol 47-50 ◽  
pp. 403-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitinat Suppakarn ◽  
Kasama Jarukumjorn ◽  
Saowapa Tananimit
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Flame Retardant ◽  
Natural Fiber ◽  
Fire Behavior ◽  
Sisal Fiber ◽  
Thermo Gravimetric ◽  
Polypropylene Composites ◽  
Thermo Gravimetric Analyzer ◽  
Automotive Parts ◽  
Housing Materials

Due to environmental reasons and their acceptable mechanical properties, natural fiber based polymer composites have been increasingly used in various applications, e.g. housing materials, automotive parts. However, their low thermal resistance and fire behavior limit the use of these materials. In this work, magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2), as a flame retardant, was incorporated into sisal/polypropylene composites. Ratio of sisal fiber to Mg(OH)2 in each composite sample was varied. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) was also used to improve the interface of polypropylene and fillers. Flammability and thermal behavior of the composites were examined using a horizontal burning test and thermo gravimetric analyzer, respectively. Morphology and mechanical properties of the composites were also investigated.

scholarly journals Effects of High-Temperature Exposure on the Mechanical Properties of Kenaf Composites

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabilah Afiqah Mohd Radzuan ◽  
Dulina Tholibon ◽  
Abu Bakar Sulong ◽  
Norhamidi Muhamad ◽  
Che Hassan Che Haron
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Natural Fiber ◽  
Molding Process ◽  
Kenaf Fiber ◽  
Polypropylene Composites ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Automotive Parts ◽  
Kenaf Composites ◽  
Temperature Exposure ◽  
Kenaf Fibers

Automotive parts, including dashboards and trunk covers, are now fabricated through a compression-molding process in order to produce lightweight products and optimize fuel consumption. However, their mechanical strength is not compromised to avoid safety issues. Therefore, this study investigates kenaf-fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites using a simple combing approach to unidirectionally align kenaf fibers at 0°. The kenaf composite was found to withstand a maximal temperature of 120 °C. The tensile and flexural strengths of the aligned kenaf composites (50 and 90 MPa, respectively) were three times higher than those of the commercialized Product T (between 39 and 30.5 MPa, respectively) at a temperature range of 90 to 120 °C. These findings clearly showed that the mechanical properties of aligned kenaf fibers fabricated through the combing technique were able to withstand high operating temperatures (120 °C), and could be used as an alternative to other commercial natural-fiber products.

scholarly journals Effects of Graphene Nanoplatelets on Mechanical and Fire Performance of Flax Polypropylene Composites with Intumescent Flame Retardant

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (13) ◽  
pp. 4094
Author(s):  
Imran Ali ◽  
Nam Kyeun Kim ◽  
Debes Bhattacharyya
Keyword(s):  
Flame Retardant ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Natural Fiber ◽  
Fire Retardant ◽  
Graphene Nanoplatelets ◽  
Intumescent Flame Retardant ◽  
Fume Hood ◽  
Fire Dynamics ◽  
Polypropylene Composites ◽  
Set Up

The integration of intumescent flame-retardant (IFR) additives in natural fiber-based polymer composites enhances the fire-retardant properties, but it generally has a detrimental effect on the mechanical properties, such as tensile and flexural strengths. In this work, the feasibility of graphene as a reinforcement additive and as an effective synergist for IFR-based flax-polypropylene (PP) composites was investigated. Noticeable improvements in tensile and flexural properties were achieved with the addition of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) in the composites. Furthermore, better char-forming ability of GNP in combination with IFR was observed, suppressing HRR curves and thus, lowering the total heat release (THR). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) detected a reduction in the decomposition rate due to strong interfacial bonding between GNP and PP, whereas the maximum decomposition rate was observed to occur at a higher temperature. The saturation point for the IFR additive along with GNP has also been highlighted in this study. A safe and effective method of graphene encapsulation within PP using the fume-hood set-up was achieved. Finally, the effect of flame retardant on the flax–PP composite has been simulated using Fire Dynamics Simulator.

scholarly journals Water Absorption and Hygrothermal Aging Behavior of Wood-Polypropylene Composites

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Wang ◽  
Xiaomin Guo ◽  
Defang Zhao ◽  
Liu Liu ◽  
Ruiyun Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Water Absorption ◽  
Natural Fiber ◽  
Glass Fibers ◽  
Diffusion Constant ◽  
Water Molecules ◽  
Wood Powder ◽  
Polypropylene Composites ◽  
Effect Of Water ◽  
Composite Samples

Environmentally sound composites reinforced with natural fibers or particles interest many researchers and engineers due to their great potential to substitute the traditional composites reinforced with glass fibers. However, the sensitivity of natural fiber-reinforced composites to water has limited their applications. In this paper, wood powder-reinforced polypropylene composites (WPCs) with various wood content were prepared and subjected to water absorption tests to study the water absorption procedure and the effect of water absorbed in the specimens on the mechanical properties. Water soaking tests were carried out by immersion of composite specimens in a container of distilled water maintained at three different temperatures, 23, 60 and 80 °C. The results showed that the moisture absorption content was related to wood powder percentage and they had a positive relationship. The transfer process of water molecules in the sample was found to follow the Fickian model and the diffusion constant increased with elevated water temperature. In addition, tensile and bending tests of both dry and wet composite samples were conducted and the results indicated that water absorbed in composite specimens degraded their mechanical properties. The tensile strength and modulus of the composites reinforced with 15, 30, 45 wt % wood powder decreased by 5.79%, 17.2%, 32.06% and 25.31%, 33.6%, 47.3% respectively, compared with their corresponding dry specimens. The flexural strength and modulus of the composite samples exhibited a similar result. Furthermore, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) also confirmed that the detrimental effect of water molecules on the composite specimens.

Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Sisal/Glass Fiber-Polypropylene Composites

2008 ◽  
Vol 47-50 ◽  
pp. 486-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasama Jarukumjorn ◽  
Nitinat Suppakarn ◽  
Jongrak Kluengsamrong
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Glass Fiber ◽  
Natural Fiber ◽  
Hybrid Composites ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Morphological Properties ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Polypropylene Composites ◽  
Specific Strength ◽  
Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites became more attractive due to their light weight, high specific strength, biodegradability. However, some limitations e.g. low modulus, poor moisture resistance were reported. The mechanical properties of natural fiber reinforced composites can be improved by hybridization with synthetic fibers such as glass fiber. In this research, mechanical properties of short sisal-PP composites and short sisal/glass fiber hybrid composites were studied. Polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) was used as a compatibilizer to enhance the compatibility between the fibers and polypropylene. Effect of weight ratio of sisal and glass fiber at 30 % by weight on the mechanical properties of the composites was investigated. Morphology of fracture surface of each composite was also observed.

scholarly journals Flame Retardant Polypropylene Composites with Low Densities

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nerea Pérez ◽  
Xiao-Lin Qi ◽  
Shibin Nie ◽  
Pablo Acuña ◽  
Ming-Jun Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Flame Retardant ◽  
Flame Retardancy ◽  
Zirconium Phosphate ◽  
Synergetic Effect ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Material Density ◽  
Polypropylene Composites ◽  
Peak Heat Release Rate ◽  
Pp Composites

Polypropylene (PP) is currently widely used in areas requiring lightweight materials because of its low density. Due to the intrinsic flammability, the application of PP is restricted in many conditions. Aluminum trihydroxide (ATH) is reported as a practical flame retardant for PP, but the addition of ATH often diminishes the lightweight advantage of PP. Therefore, in this work, glass bubbles (GB) and octacedylamine-modified zirconium phosphate (mZrP) are introduced into the PP/ATH composite in order to lower the material density and simultaneously maintain/enhance the flame retardancy. A series of PP composites have been prepared to explore the formulation which can endow the composite with balanced flame retardancy, good mechanical properties, and low density. The morphology, thermal stability, flame retardancy, and mechanical properties of the composites were characterized. The results indicated the addition of GB could reduce the density, but decreased the flame retardancy of PP composites at the same time. To overcome this defect, ATH and mZrP with synergetic effect of flame retardancy were added into the composite. The dosage of each additive was optimized for achieving a balance of flame retardancy, good mechanical properties, and density. With 47 wt % ATH, 10 wt % GB, and 3 wt % mZrP, the peak heat release rate (pHRR) and total smoke production (TSP) of the composite PP-4 were reduced by 91% and 78%, respectively. At the same time, increased impact strength was achieved compared with neat PP and the composite with ATH only. Maintaining the flame retardancy and mechanical properties, the density of composite PP-4 (1.27 g·cm−3) is lower than that with ATH only (PP-1, 1.46 g·cm−3). Through this research, we hope to provide an efficient approach to designing flame retardant polypropylene (PP) composites with low density.

Characterization of polypropylene composites reinforced with flax fibers treated by mechanical and alkali methods

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 79-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Hu ◽  
Minh-Tan Ton-That ◽  
Johanne Denault ◽  
Christian Belanger
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Natural Fiber ◽  
Alkali Treatment ◽  
Alkaline Treatment ◽  
Thermal And Mechanical Properties ◽  
Polypropylene Composites ◽  
Flax Fibers ◽  
Fiber Separation ◽  
As Stress

AbstractFlax is a type of natural fiber widely used as reinforcing materials for polymer composites. The commercially available flax fibers in Canada consist of a significant amount of shive and other impurities, which could act as stress concentration regions to negatively affect the mechanical property of composites. In this study, the shive was manually removed from the commercial flax fibers by screening and combing to obtain different shive contents from 0 to 30 wt%. By contrast, the obtained flax fibers were further treated with alkaline solution. The fibers obtained from mechanical and alkali treatment were compared on their thermal and mechanical properties. As expected, it was found that the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the flax reinforced polypropylene composites increased significantly with the removal of the shive content. However, the alkali treatment on flax fiber did not further improve the composites properties. The possible reason was that the proper mechanical treatment (screening and combing) prior to alkaline treatment effectively loosened the fiber bundles for better single fiber separation in matrix and significantly removed the impurities, thus the effect of alkaline treatment did not become obvious.

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