Advanced Materials Research Vol. 1133

Abstract: PVC-g-MA has been synthesized to replace the conventional PE-g-MA as the compatibilizer in PVC/ENR/kenaf core powder composites. The presence of the maleic anhydride grafting on PVC was made evident by infrared analysis. PVC/ENR/kenaf core powder composite samples were prepared using Haake Polydrive with the temperature of 140°C, with different kenaf core powder loading (5, 10, 15 and 20 phr) and incorporating PVC-g-MA with 4 phr. The water absorption and thermo-oxidative ageing properties of the composites were investigated. The results indicated that the percent of water uptake decreased with the incorporation of PVC-g-MA. The thermo-oxidative ageing test shows that the ageing properties of PVC/ENR/kenaf core powder composites with the addition of PVC-g-MA are lower compared to PVC/ENR/kenaf without PVC-g-MA.

Abstract: Tensile properties and morphological studies of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/kenaf (KNF) composites were investigated. The composites with different KNF loading (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 phr) were prepared using a Thermo Haake Polydrive internal mixer at 150°C and 50 rpm for 10 min. The results indicated that tensile strength and elongation at break were decreased with increasing KNF loading, whereas tensile modulus showed the opposite trend. Tensile fractured surfaces observed by scanning electron microscopy showed better interfacial adhesion between LLDPE/PVA and KNF at 10 phr KNF loading.

Abstract: Hollow shape product from ceramic material is produced generally by slip casting technique. This conventional technique is widely used in ceramic industries. Ceramic slip compound by rotating technique namely slip rotary moulding process is studied for producing the hollow shape green ceramic product. From experimental studies this advanced technique has exemplified high potential in producing green hollow shape ceramic product for mass production. Laboratory test result shows that the rotating technique is able to produce hollow shape green ceramic product with desired thickness and sufficient green strength (1 MPa) able to hold during de-moulding process.

Abstract: The effect of phthalic anhydride (PAH) as a coupling agent on the tensile properties, swelling behavior, and x-ray diffraction of recycled high density polyethylene/wood fiber (rHDPE/WF) composites were studied. rHDPE/WF and rHDPE/WF_PAH composites were prepared using Brabender plasticorder at temperature of 160°C with rotor speed of 50 rpm. The results indicate that rHDPE/WF_PAH composites showed higher tensile strength and percentages of equilibrium water absorption, but lower interparticle spacing (d) compared to rHDPE/WF composites.

Abstract: The carbon-copper (C-Cu) composites combine the positive characteristics of thermal and electrical conductivity from Cu, low thermal expansion coefficient and lubricating properties from conventional graphite. For that particular application, C-Cu composites are widely used as electrical contact devices such as carbon brushes and current-collector for railway power collection system. Due to economic and environment concern, activated-carbon produced from MPOB’s oil palm kernel shell (OPKS) is studies as replacement for conventional graphite. The OPKS is crushed and mixed with copper and resin powder before it is compacted into shape. Then the green body undergoes warm-compaction (1140MPa;100-150°C) followed by post-baking (150-250°C) process to enhance its properties. The physical and mechanical properties of the C-Cu composite were analysed. The resulting microstructures, electrical and wear properties also are presented and discussed. The prototype of current-collector for PUTRA LRT and carbon brushes for electrical applications was produced from this research work.

Abstract: Polypropylene (PP)/ recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr)/ banana skin powder (BSP) composites were studied. Different BSP filer loading (5, 10, 15,20,25,30 wt. %) were prepared by using heated two roll mill at 180 °C. Then, the composites were tested for functional group using FTIR model Perkin Elmer Series 2. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (VPFESEM) model Zeiss SUPRA 35VP also were using for morphological study. The effect of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APS) as coupling agent were evaluated.The FTIR test shows different bands around 3200-3500 and 1740 cm-1 which represent the stretching of OH and C=O groups respectively. As for BSP which composed mostly of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin, the cellulose backbone C-OH is represent by the peaks of 1050 and 1048 cm-1 respectively. The γ-APS intense band around 1167 cm-1 and 1098 cm-1 in treated composite was assigned to the stretching of the-Si-O-Cellulose and –Si-O-Si-bond respectively. The large band around 1050 cm-1 found on BSP filler was attribute to the –Si-OH group which later this band will disappear after the surface modification. This evidenced that bonding between γ-APS treated BSP with PP/NBRr matrices. Morphological study supported this finding which BSP filler treated with γ-APS has improved the adhesion between BSP filler and PP/NBRr matrices.

Abstract: Polypropylene (PP)/ recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr)/ banana skin powder (BSP) composites with different BSP filler loading (5,10,15,20,25,30wt. %) were studied. Composites were prepared by using heated two roll mill at 180 °C. The effect of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APS) as coupling agent were evaluated. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, Young’s Modulus and Elongation at Break (Eb) of the different composites were investigated. Tensile strength and Elongation at break of the composites were found to be decreasing with increasing BSP filler loading. The Young’s Modulus was found to be increasing with BSP filler loading due increment of composite rigidity. At similar BSP filler loadings, γ-APS treated BSP composites shows higher tensile strength and Young’s Modulus. This may due to strong bonding between BSP filler and PP/NBRr matrices in the presence of APS silane coupling agent. The morphological studies strongly support this findings whereby good interaction and less pull outs of BSP filler was noticed in the presence of APS silane.

Abstract: The Taguchi’s method is a statistical tool to design and process optimization for achieving quality of product. Natural fibre composition is a brilliant option for the most widely applied fibre in the composite innovation. The advantages of natural fibre composites are renewable, environmental friendly, low cost, low density, flexibility of usage and tend to decompose (biodegradability). Since there are hundreds fibre that could be utilized in natural fibre composite, optimization in design of experiment is a promising in fabricating natural fiber composite. Taguchi’s method is used within this study whiche it can reduce the time consumed rather than doing all the experiment instead. The point of this project is to understand and study parameters of composite from three options of fibre, volume ratio and matrix against the tensile stress. From these parameters, it can show the optimum level that produces the highest strength against tensile load. The best combination obtained from the result of Taguchi’s method for each parameter are Kenaf fibre, 55:45 fraction of volume ratio, and ‘Bisphenol A epoxy resin’ matrix (Miracast epoxy 1517). This composition gives the highest tensile stress value of 30.5277 MPa.

Abstract: The loadings effect of carbon black and silanized-silica filled 75/25 phr/phr of natural rubber/recycled chloroprene rubber (NR/rCR) blends were compared with the unfilled NR/rCR blends. Different filler loading between in the range of 10- 40 phr was used. The rubber blends were prepared by using a laboratory two-roll mill and rheometric characteristics were studied using the Monsanto moving die rheometer (MDR 2000) at 150 °C. The addition of CB and silanized-silica showed different trend in scorch and cure time but showed similar trend in torques. The incorporation of both fillers caused higher tensile strength than that unfilled rubber blends. By comparison, the silanized-silica filled NR/rCR blends showed higher tensile strength than CB filled NR/rCR blends. Morphological characterization as observed from SEM justified these results.

Abstract: This paper describes the use of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as hydrophilic filler in two types of natural rubber latexes which are high ammonia natural rubber (HA) and epoxidised natural rubber latex (ENR). Light microscopy (LM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tensile strength measurements were then conducted on the resulting films. The light microscopy analysis revealed that more MCC particles appeared at the air–facing (AF) surfaces relative to the substrate-facing (SF) surfaces of the HA films with increasing MCC content. In contrary, the ENR25 films showed more or less similar MCC particles appearing at both air-facing surfaces and substrate-facing surfaces. Further SEM cryo-fracture analysis at the cross sections of the MCC filled ENR25 films indicated that the MCC particles were randomly dispersed in the rubber matrix. It can be suggested that the phase separation of MCC particles to the films surfaces occurred due to the incompatibility of MCC with the rubber matrix. Thus, it can be inferred that the occurrence of phase separation is minimised in the MCC filled ENR films in comparison to the MCC filled HA films.