Mechanical Behavior of Polyurethane Composite Foams from Kenaf Fiber and Recycled Tire Rubber Particles

Abstract:

In the present work polyurethane foams containing various content loadings of kenaf fiber and recycled tire rubber particulates were prepared and studied, with the objective of developing alternative composite rigid foams. The influence of the filler content on the foam microstructure and its physical and mechanical behavior has been studied for three different polyurethane resin densities. Microstructural observation on fracture surface of composites was carried out using scanning electron microscopy. It has shown closed spherical cells with reduced size when the fillers are added. Nevertheless, the incorporation of kenaf fiber and recycled tire rubber particulates that refined at 80 mesh led to higher mechanical properties than that unfilled polyurethane foam. A 6% filler content loading exhibited the optimum compression stress and compression modulus, while further increase of filler content loading resulted in decline in mechanical behavior. The presence of larger filler content deteriorated the polyurethane system cellular structure and lead to poor composites strength. Overall, the use of kenaf fiber and recycled tire rubber particulates gives composite foams with comparable mechanical behavior for the studied filler reinforcement level.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 315)
• Pages: 861-866
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.315.861
• Online since: April 2013
• Authors: S. Kanna Subramaniyan, Shahruddin Mahzan, Mohd Imran bin Ghazali, Maznan Bin Ismon, Ahmad Mujahid Ahmad Zaidi
• Keywords: Composite, Foams, Kenaf Fiber, Mechanical Property, Polyurethane (PU), Recycled Tire Rubber Particles

References

[1] A.M. Mohd Edeerozey, H.M. Akil, A.B. Azhar, M.I. Zainal Ariffin, Chemical modification of kenaf fibers, Material letter 61 (2003) 2023 – (2025).

DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2006.08.006

[2] D. Garcia, J. Lopez, R. Balart, R.A. Ruseckaite, P.M. Stefani, Composites based on sintering rice husk – waste tire rubber mixtures, Materials and Design 28 (2007) 2234 – 2238.

DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2006.06.001

[3] H.D. Rozman, Y.S. Yeo, G.S. Tay, A. Abubakar, The mechanical and physical properties of polyurethane composites based on rice husk and polyethylene glycol, Polymer Testing 22 (2003) 617 – 623.

DOI: 10.1016/s0142-9418(02)00165-4

[4] P. Yang, F. Zhang, Study on cure conditions of PMDI-based binder in use of wheat straw particleboard, China Adhesive 95 (2004) 37 – 39.

[5] K.H. Badri, Z. B. Othman, I.M. Razali, Mechanical properties of polyurethane composites from oil palm resources, Iranian Polymer Journal 14 (2005) 441 – 448.

[6] N.R.A. Norzali, K.H. Badri, M.Z. Nuawi, Effect of aluminum hydroxide loading on the compression stress and modulus, thermal conductivity and acoustic properties of palm-based polyurethane hybrid composite, Sains Malaysiana 40 (2011) 379 – 384.

[7] N.R.A. Norzali, K.H. Badri, M.Z. Nuawi, The properties of palm-based polyurethane hybrid composites filled with aluminum hydroxide, Malaysian Polymer International Conference, Putrajaya, 21-22 October (2009).

[8] M. Antunes, A. Cano, L. Haurie, J. I Velasco, Esparto wool as reinforcement in hybrid polyurethane composite foams, Industrial Crops and Products 34 (2011) 1641 – 1648.

DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2011.06.016