Advanced Materials Research Vols. 931-932

Abstract: A CaO based catalyst synthesized from mortar previously used in construction was chosen for pyrolysis of LDPE plastic waste. The samples were calcined at temperatures of 500 and 800 °C for comparison purpose. After calcination, two mixed oxides were obtained, denoted as catalyst A and B. The chemical composition of the metal oxide catalysts and the liquid products of the pyrolysis were characterized by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Simulated Distillation - Gas Chromatography (SD-GC), respectively. The XRF analysis indicated that the catalyst, reformed from the mortar cement, consisted of CaO, silica (silicon dioxide, SiO₂) and alumina (aluminium (III) oxide, Al₂O₃) as the main constituents, though, the composition of each compound differed because of the influence of calcination temperature. Catalyst A had 41.96% of CaO, 4.27% of Al₂O₃ and 30.82% of SiO₂ when the catalyst B had 37.04% of CaO, 2.38% of Al₂O₃ and 37.31% of SiO₂. The amount of CaO in the catalyst B was found to be less in catalyst A. The catalyst A gave higher percentage yield of naphtha oil (48±1.14%v/v), compared to catalyst B (21±1.26%v/v). The performance of this catalyst (A) towards the pyrolysis of plastic wastes was compared to commercial grade ZSM-5 and FCC catalysts. It was found that the catalyst A, CaO based catalyst, reformed from the mortar cement, gave the highest yield of naphtha oil (48±1.14%v/v) compared to ZSM-5 (26±1.52%v/v) and FCC (16±1.09%v/v). The optimum operating temperature for the pyrolysis was found at 410 °C (in the temperature range 370 °C to 450 °C) and the optimum catalyst (A) composition was 0.3 %w/w of mortar cement catalyst in LDPE. This optimum condition gave 86.67± 0 %w/w of liquid, 12.49± 0.24 %w/w of gas and 0.84± 0.24 %w/w of solid. The catalyst A showed the best performance amongst all the catalysts towards the pyrolysis process of plastic wastes.

Abstract: In this research, the polyurethane adhesive based on modified rubber seed oil with toluene diisocyanates was successfully synthesized in presence of DBTL catalyst. The chemical structure of modified rubber seed oil was characterized by ¹H-NMR. The suitable reaction time of the polyurethane adhesive synthesis was 4h by providing with FT-IR technique. The effects of NCO index and chain extender (1,4-butane diols) content in adhesive formulation as well as cure temperature were also studied by leather to leather on adhesion peel strength. It was found that the higher NCO index or chain extender content gave the higher adhesion of substrate. The cure temperature of adhesive at 70 °C gave the better peel strength than that at 30 °C during 24 h.

Abstract: This research work was carried out on the production of rice bran/poly (lactic acid) (PLA) composites. The composition during the batch molding process included rice bran, PLA, glycerol, and magnesium stearate (mold released agent). Afterwards, the composition was molded by bio-compression at temperature of 170°C for 5 min, and a pressure range of 50-100 kg/cm³. The result showed that the composition of rice bran, PLA, and glycerol could be used in the formation of food packaging. Also the mechanical properties, such as compressive strength and hardness, were investigated. It could be concluded that the most appropriate formulation of rice bran packaging was 5 phr PLA and 3 phr glycerol and 2 phr magnesium stearate. Moreover, FTIR results indicated the non-toxic nature of this method of food packaging.

Abstract: In this study, the morphologies, the hydrophilicity, and the anti-fouling of poly (ether imide) (PEI) membrane modified with an aqueous solution of polyether diamine predominantly PEO backbone (PEO-diamine) were investigated. A decrease in water contact angle and an increase in water absorption ratio indicated the hydrophilicity of modified membrane. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) showed a thinner skin layer of membrane and pores on the membrane surface for modified PEI membrane providing an increment of pure water flux and a reduction of BSA rejection of membrane. Under the protein filtration study, it was found that the flux recovery ratio of modified PEI membrane was higher than that of the unmodified PEI membrane.

Abstract: In this work, the sponge rubbers based on cassava starch masterbatch in latex phase with the difference technique (non-gelatinized and gelatinized cassava starch) were preformed. The cassava starch contents from 0 to 70 phr were also studied. The cure characteristic, mechanical and morphological properties were investigated. It was found that the scorch time and cure time were increased with an increasing of cassava starch contents in both techniques. The mechanical properties i.e., tensile strength, elongation at break and tear strength were decreased with an increasing of cassava starch contents, except 500% modulus. However, the sponge based on gelatinized technique gave the better mechanical properties than that of non-gelatinized cassava starch. The SEM micrographs of sponge NR from gelatinized technique were also able to confirm a good interfacial interaction between hydrophilic cassava starch and hydrophobic NR.

Abstract: The simultaneous graft copolymerization between natural rubber (NR) and styrene monomer (St) was induced by electron beam irradiation. The grafted polystyrene in graft copolymer was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). This research investigated the influence of three factors (radiation dose, type of emulsifier and adding of sensitizer; normal butyl acrylate (n-BA)). It was found that the appropriated emulsifier was ammonium laurate which lead to higher monomer conversion and grafting efficiency. The adding of n-BA could notably enhance monomer conversion and crosslink density. Moreover increasing radiation dose, the monomer conversion and crosslink density increased. This technique was a cleaner and faster technology suitable for grafting application.

Abstract: New bio-based thermosetting resin was synthesized from palm oil. In this study the epoxy groups presented on the epoxidized palm oil (EPO) were first acrylated and then further maleinized. The acrylation reaction was done by introducing acrylic acid into epoxy group of the epoxidized palm oil. Hydroquinone and triethylamine were used as inhibitor and catalyst, respectively. This reaction was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). To render acid groups on the resulting monomer, the acrylated epoxidized palm oil (AEPO) was further reacted with maleic anhydride. The resulting maleinated acrylated epoxidized palm oil (MAEPO) was characterized by FTIR and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (¹H NMR).

Abstract: Polyhydroxybutylate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) is biodegradable aliphatic polyester that produced by a wide range of microorganism. In this research aims to study the melt rheological and extrudate swelling behavior of PHBV filled with bagasse. The composites prepared by melt mixing (Two roll mill and Twin screw extruder). The effects of processing techniques for PHBV powder and bagasse loading, aspect ratio (particle size i.e. x<150μm, 150250μm) and, surface treatment of bagasse were investigated by capillary rheometry at 180 °C. The dispersion of the bagasse was inspected by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A different compositions based on PHBV/bagasse were investigated according to the following weight ratios, i.e. 100/0, 95/5, 90/10, 80/20 and 70/30 wt% respectively. The results showed that the PHBV/bagasse composites exhibit pseudoplastic behaviour as the shear stress and extrudate swell increased with increasing shear rate while shear viscosity decreased. The apparent shear stress and apparent shear viscosity increased with increasing bagasse loading and, at a given apparent shear rate, the apparent shear stress increased slightly with increasing bagasse particle size. However, detrimental bagasse agglomeration was clearly observed to take place for sample with bagasse loading in excess of 20 wt%. The surface treatment of bagasse was carried out using silane coupling agent and benzoic acid. The results proved the effect of functionalization on the interfacial adhesion between PHBV and bagasse. Also, there was also further confirmed by rheology behaviour and SEM-EDS image.

Abstract: This research was aimed to study and develop a method for recycle epoxy resin from waste printed circuit board by hot solvent methods and DMSO/NaOH catalytic extraction method. It was found that the pressure tank system, sub set of hot solvent method, variable as following; pressure of 15 bar, temperature of 80 °C, reaction time for 6 h and ethyl acetate solvent presented maximum yield 50.46 %, while DMSO/NaOH catalytic system at 145 °C for 5 h was found maximum yield of 42.97 %. Recycled epoxy resin, the final product from hot solvent and DMSO/NaOH catalytic were showed similarly clear orange-yellow high viscosity. Comparatively, DMSO/NaOH system showed slightly darker color than that of hot solvent system. Functional group at 3000-2850, 1480-1540 and 1020-1040 cm^-1, characterized from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), indicated that the both product were alkane, aromatic, and phenyl-O-C group, respectively. It could be confirmed that the beneficial functional group of recycled epoxy resin was appeared as a new epoxy resin.

Abstract: Abstract. Performance of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), using polymer composite membrane, can be directly affected by membrane properties, including permeability, proton conductivity and membrane thickness. In order to obtain high DMFC performance, methanol permeability of the membrane should be low, while keeping high proton conductivity. This may be achieved by modification of incorporating inorganic filler into high proton conducting membrane. In this work, the analytical modeling for DMFC performance prediction was developed to be a guideline for Nafion based membrane improvement. Methanol permeability and proton conductivity were set at 0.30 – 5.60 cm²×S^-1 and 0.08 – 0.15 S×cm^-1 with the thickness of 25 – 1000 μm. The results show that DMFC performance strongly depends on the methanol permeability especially with thin membrane giving maximum power density of 1034 and 100mW×cm^-2 at the permeability of 0.30 and 5.60 cm²×S^-1, respectively, with thickness of 45 μm, while with thick membrane the permeability has negligibly effect. However, the proton conductivity mainly affects DMFC performance only with thick membrane as a result of ohmic resistance.