Full Factorial Design Analysis on Mechanical Properties of Electron Beam Irradiated-Flame Retarded LDPE/EVA Composites

Abstract:

This study aims to investigate the effect of three factors, namely alumina trihydrate (ATH), montmorillonite (MMT) and irradiation dosage on the mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation at break) of flame-retarded LDPE-EVA composites. In this study, full factorial design analysis was used to examine the effects of factors and their combination interactions on mechanical properties. ATH is the most significant factor in affecting the tensile strength of LDPE-EVA blends due to the poor compatibility effect between ATH particles and LDPE-EVA matrix. However, MMT is the least significant factor on tensile strength of LDPE-EVA composites. ATH was the most significant in affecting the elongation at break of LDPE-EVA blends. This is because the increasing of ATH amount in LDPE-EVA matrix could restrict the mobolity of polymer chains in LDPE-EVA matrix. However, the factor of irradiation dosage was found to be insignificant in affecting the elongation at break of LDPE-EVA blends.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 786)
• Pages: 58-62
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.786.58
• Online since: August 2015
• Authors: Tiam Ting Tee*, Soo Tueen Bee, Azman Hassan, Chantara Thevy Ratnam, Lee Tin Sin, Chong Yu Low
• Keywords: Full Factorial Design, Low Density Polyethylene, Mechanical Properties, Montmorillonite, Pareto Chart

References

[1] S. T. Bee, A. Hassan, C. T. Ratnam, T. T. Tee, L. T. Sin, Effects of Montmorillonite on the Electron Beam Irradiated Alumina Trihydrate Added Polyethylene and Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Nanocomposite, Polym Compos. 33(11) (2012) 1883-1892.

DOI: 10.1002/pc.22328

[2] S. T. Bee, A. Hassan, C. T. Ratnam, T. T. Tee, L. T. Sin, D. Hui, Dispersion and roles of montmorillonite on structural, flammability, thermal and mechanical behaviours of electron beam irradiated flame retarded nanocomposite, Compos B, 61 (2014).

DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2014.01.035

[3] L. T. Sin, S. T. Bee, T. T. Tee, A. A. H. Kadhum, C. Ma, A. R. Rahmat, P. Veerasamy, Characterization of α-tocopherol as interacting agent in polyvinyl alcohol-starch blends, Carbohyd Polym, 98 (2013) 1281-1287.

DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.07.069

[4] S. T. Bee, A. Hassan, C. T. Ratnam, T. T. Tee, L. T. Sin, Investigation of nano-size montmorillonite on electron beam irradiated flame retardant polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate blends, Nuc Inst Meth Phys Res B, 299 (2013) 42-50.

DOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2013.01.040

[5] S. T. Bee, C. T. Ratnam, L. T. Sin, T. T. Tee, W. K. Wong, J. X. Lee, A. R. Rahmat, Effects of electron beam irradiation on the structural properties of polylactic acid/ polyethylene blends, Nuc Inst Meth Phys Res B, 334 (2014) 18-27.

DOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2014.04.024

[6] L. Haurie, A. I. Fernandez, J. I. Velasco, J. M. Chimenos, J. M. Lopez Cuesta, F. Espiell, Thermal stability and flame retardancy of LDPE/EVA blends filled with synthetic hydromagnesite/ aluminium hydroxide/ montmorillonite mixtures, Polym Degrad Stab, 92 (2007).

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2007.02.014

[7] S. T. Bee, A. Hassan, C. T. Ratnam, T. T. Tee, T. S. Lee, Interactions of montmorillonite and electron beam irradiation in enhancing the properties of alumina trihydrate-added polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate blends, J. Compos Mater, 48(10) (2014).

DOI: 10.1177/0021998313484073

[8] L. T. Sin, A. R. Rahmat, W. A. W. A. Rahman, Polylactic Acid: PLA Biopolymer Technology and Application, William Andrew, United State American, 2013, pp.177-192.

[9] H. M. Ng, S. T. Bee, C. T. Ratnam, L. T. Sin, Y. Y. Phang, T. T. Tee, A. R. Rahmat, Effectiveness of trimethylopropane trimethacrylate for the electron-beam-irradiation-induced cross-linking of polylactic acid, Nuc Inst Meth Phys Res B, 319 (2014).

DOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2013.10.027

[10] A. A. Basfar, Flammability of radiation cross-linked low density polyethylene as an insulating material for wire and cable, Radiat Phys Chem, 63 (2002) 505-508.

DOI: 10.1016/s0969-806x(01)00545-x

[11] S. T. Bee, C. T. Ratnam, L. T. Sin, T. T. Tee, D. Hui, A. A. Kadhum, A. R. Rahmat, J. Lau, Effects of electron beam irradiation on mechanical properties and nanostructural-morphology of montmorillonite polyvinyl alcohol composite, Compos B, 63 (2014).

DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2014.03.021

[12] L. T. Sin, L. H. Ng, S. T. Bee, T. T. Tee, A. R. Rahmat, W. He, Factorial design investigation on two-way quaternary factors of thermal aging of chlorinated nitrile latex tensile properties, J. Elast Plast, (2014) doi: 10. 1177/0095244313507806.

DOI: 10.1177/0095244313507806

[13] M. Sain, S. H. Park, F. Suhara, S. Law, Flame retardant and mechanical properties of natural fibre-PP composites containing magnesium hydroxide, Polym Degrad Stab, 83 (2004) 363-367.

DOI: 10.1016/s0141-3910(03)00280-5

[14] S. T. Bee, A. Hassan, C. T. Ratnam, T. T. Tee, L. T. Sin, Effects of irradiation on mechanical, electrical and flammability properties of (low-density polyethylene)/(ethylene-[vinyl-acetate] copolymer) blends containing alumina trihydrate, J. Viny Addit Technol, 20(2) (2014).

DOI: 10.1002/vnl.21340

[15] S. T. Bee, A. Hassan, C. T. Ratnam, T. T. Tee, L. T. Sin, Investigation of enhancing effect of nano-montmorillonite on fire-retardant added low-density polyethylene-ethylene vinyl acetate hybrid system, J. Thermoplast Mater, 27(11) (2014).

DOI: 10.1177/0892705712474978

[16] T. T. Tee, L. T. Sin, R. Gobinath, S. T. Bee, D. Hui, A. R. Rahmat, I. Kong, Q. H. Fang, Investigation of nano-size montmorilonite on enhancing polyvinyl alcohol-starch blends prepared via solution cast approach, Compos B, 47 (2012) 238-247.

DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2012.10.033