Materials Science Forum Vol. 981

Abstract: In the present study, welan gum (WG) was modified with a quaternary amine group producing cationic welan gum (CWG) to enhance its thermal and viscosity properties. N-(3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride (CHPTAC) was used as the source of the quaternary amine group. The effect of CHPTAC amount in the presence of NaOH was investigated and analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), thermal and viscosity analysis. The viscosity results were increases as the amount of CHPTAC increased. From the thermal analyses, it is observed that the CWG has better thermal resistance compared to WG. This study showed that modification of WG by attaching quaternary amine group on the hydroxyl group is promising for the exploration of the high-temperature reservoir.

Abstract: Everyday human life cannot be separated from plastic. Almost all objects that are around us are made of plastic. In general, plastics are non-biodegradable, causing environmental problems caused by the increased volume of plastic waste. One way to overcome this is by recycling existing plastic waste. But the use of recycled plastics is very limited and considered inefficient because the process is more difficult and processing is more expensive than buying new plastic raw materials. Another alternative is to use bioplastics or biodegradable plastic. This plastic is more environmentally friendly because it is biodegradable or easily decomposed by microorganisms. Basically, bioplastics can be made from vegetable starches. In this study we will use starch extracted from banana peel waste as a base material for making bioplastics. In this research, glycerin which is used as a bioplastic adhesive or plasticizer will be used. Whether or not bioplastics depend on the resistance to water, the attractiveness of the bioplastics, the ability of the plastic to be decomposed by microorganisms. From this research, it is expected to produce bioplastics with high water resistance and high tensile strength and easy to decompose microorganisms.

Abstract: Conductive polymer composites (CPCs) have attracted great attention of researchers due to their enhanced properties such as an adjustable electrical conductivity, good processability, good mechanical and thermal properties, etc. CPCs had many potencies for wider application in electronic devices. Poly (lactic acid) or PLA is one of the interesting polymers used in the developing of these new important materials. PLA properties are comparable to the synthetic petroleum-based polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), etc. This research focuses on studying the rheological and thermal properties of PLA/micro-graphite as a conductive polymer composite which adjustable its electrical conductivity. In this study, the PLA/micro-graphite was prepared through solvent blending method using chloroform. The micro-graphite composition was varied from 0%, 5%, and 10 % (w/w) with different stirring time (30 and 60 minutes) and then, poured in glass mould. In the melt rheology study, the frequency sweep test showed that the complex viscosity (|η*|) of the bio-composite increased with the micro-graphite loading. The same tendency was also found in thermal property and stability. The melting temperature and thermal degradation were slightly increasing. The crystallinity of PLA was influenced by the presence of micro-graphite. In this solvent blending method, the homogeneous distribution of micro-graphite in the bio-composite required at least 60 minutes (stirred at 650 rpm and 60 °C).

Abstract: The objective of this research is to investigate the effect of incorporating graphite filler on mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of wood recycled plastic composites (WrPC). WrPC was prepared using recycled polypropylene (rPP), kenaf core, maleic anhydride polypropylene (MAPP) and graphite filler. The graphite content in WrPC is 3 phr. All materials were premixed manually and fed into a single screw extruder and compression molded to prepare mechanical test specimens. The effect of graphite on tensile properties, impact strength, glass transition temperature (T_g) and morphological properties of WrPC were studied. Tensile strength was increased from 6.81 MPa to 10.07 MPa due to stronger interfacial adhesion between graphite and kenaf/rPP. However, the tensile modulus decreased significantly with the incorporation of graphite. Impact strength of WrPC was increased from 2.48 kJ/m² to 2.83 kJ/m² due to the present of graphite that gave effective distribution of applied stress and increase resistance of crack propagation. DSC results indicated that T_g of graphite/WrPC is comparable to WPC at 163°C. The internal structure of WrPC showed the addition of graphite had filled the voids and lead to smooth morphology.

Abstract: This research aim to investigate the effect of graphite loadings in unsaturated polyester (UPE) / acrylated epoxidized palm oil (AEPO) blend resin. The modification of epoxidized palm oil (EPO) to AEPO was carried out using acrylation process and further blended with synthetic UPE resin. Graphite powder was added at 0.03, 0.05 and 0.1 phr into the UPE/AEPO blend resin and cured in an oven at 100 °C and 160 °C. FTIR spectrums showed the disappearance of oxirane ring and existence of carbon double bond indicating successful of AEPO synthesis process. Tensile and Izod impact test revealed that, graphite showed different effects to neat UPE and UPE/AEPO blend resin. In neat UPE, graphite significantly improved the stiffness properties at 0.1 phr additions. However in UPE/AEPO blend resin, the toughness properties were improved with increased graphite loadings.

Abstract: The surfaces with characteristic of water repellent, corrosion resistance and self-cleaning is important to achieve for the commercial application. The uses of hydrophobic on the compressed oil palm trunk (OPT) give opportunity for OPT become the potential product for indoor and outdoor furniture application and paneling by increase the characteristic of OPT surface with variances parameter. In this study, the characteristic and behavior of OPT was determined by investigates the functional groups exist in samples and the bonding force between them using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy that show the similar pattern of hydrophobic OPT and silica nanoparticles. This research also focuses on study the swelling and shrinkage behavior of hydrophobic OPT with uncoated OPT by experimental approach that resulted on average of 20% less water absorption level and 38% reduction of thickness swelling compared to uncoated OPT.

Abstract: The bonding strength of wood veneer (Picea abies) attached between a geopolymer matrixes were investigated by means of a pull-out test. Effects of pre-treatment of wood on the bonding strength were applied whereas a strong influence of pre-treatment on bonding strength could be observed. The treatment of wood veneer showed that using wet veneer (~90% moisture content) leads to the best results compared to untreated dry (~12% moisture content) veneer. Furthermore, the effects of sodium hydroxide extraction and sodium silicate treatment were examined. The lignin UV absorbance values in treated wood, obtained by scanning ultraviolet microspectrophotometry (UMSP), do not show any significant changes in absorbance which mean that there were no complex changes in phenolic wood components, including modification of the lignin side chains. It can be said that the alkaline environment needed for geopolymer was not the main problem that limits wood (Picea abies)-geopolymer compatibility.

Abstract: Nowadays, the usage of blowing agent in polyurethane preparation has been an essential enhance the characterization of polymers or composites material. The use of blowing agent may affect the properties of the materials and directly alter the performance of resulting product. In this paper, the effect of a blowing agent on dielectric properties of palm oil-based polyurethane (POlyOP) have been studied. The palm oil-based polyurethane ( POlyOP) has been prepared using the presence of water act as a blowing agent and tegostab 8486 act as a surfactant. The Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) was used in the composite as filler. The dielectric constant and loss factor analysis in this study was carried out by Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) at x-band frequency using Nicholson-Ross-Weir (NRW) technique. The dielectric study of PolyOP composite showed that the presence of blowing agent in composite enhance the value of dielectric properties of composite at x-band frequencies.

Abstract: Natural dyes are dyes that are environmentally friendly, harmless to actors and users, and the colors are more diverse. Natural dyes can be obtained by extraction treatment that is removing pigments from plant parts. The results of Kesumba Keling seed extract (Bixa orellana) and Secang wood (Caesalpinia sappan Linn) were obtained from boiling. The purpose of this study are to extract natural dyes from Kesumba Keling seed and secang wood and to determine the direction of the color produced from dyeing the fabric using extracted solution of Kesumba Keling and Secang wood. The dyeing fabric has the shortest wavelength of 624 nm and the longest is 776.5 nm. The direction of the color produced was red. The use of different fixators gives different colors. Lime fixator (Ca (OH)₂) gives a color younger than the original color, while the tunjung fixator (FeSO₄) gives an effect of color older than the original color. The lime fixator produces red to orange, while the tunjung fixator produces red in the direction of brown. While, the different dipping temperatures did not significantly affect the color of the cloth. Additionally, the different cloth dipping schemes considerably affected the color of cloth produced, especially the intensity of the color.

Abstract: Nowadays, the demand for renewable energy increases dramatically which is caused by the crisis of fossil fuel. Bio-oil is one of the environmental renewable energy since it can be produced from biomass. Pine flowers as biomass mostly still become waste so that it has the potential to become a source of energy production. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of temperature and catalyst treatment on the characterization of bio-oil obtained. This research was using Zeolit catalyst activated by HCl 4N for six hours and impregnated by Fe₂(NO₃)₃.9H₂O. The experiment was carried out at different temperature treatment (450 °C, 500 °C, 550 °C) and different catalyst treatment (non-catalyst, non-impregnated catalyst, and impregnated catalyst). The catalyst and the biomass with size of (-100+120) mesh and (-30+40) mesh, respectively, were mixed where the catalyst used was 5% of the total weight of the biomass. The mixed catalyst-biomass was then put into the reactor to be pyrolyzed. The pyrolysis process was carried out by flowing N₂ gas to prevent the presence of oxygen in the reactor. The result showed that optimum bio-oil production, 33.73%, was obtained from the sample with 550 °C with non-impregnated catalyst. The resulting bio-oil has the following properties : dark brown, yield of bio-oil 17.58%-33.73%, pH 2.95-3.56, density 1.055 gr/mL-1.068 gr/mL, and heating value 2,065.07-2,490.40 cal/gr. Finally, the GCMS results with the effect of temperature and catalyst treatment show the difference in the percentage of the phenolic-aromatic compound, acid, hydrocarbon, and ketone.