Haydar U. Zaman

Comparative Studies of Mechanical and Interfacial Properties Between Jute and E-glass Fiber-reinforced Polypropylene Composites

Jute fiber (hessian cloth)-reinforced polypropylene matrix composites (50 wt% fiber) were fabricated by compression molding. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus, and impact strength of the composites were found to be 48 MPa, 2.5 GPa, 56 MPa, 4.5 GPa, and 18 kJ/m2, respectively. Then E-glass fiber (woven)-reinforced polypropylene-based composites (50 wt% fiber) were fabricated and the mechanical properties were compared with those of the jute-based composites. It was revealed that E-glass fiber-based composites had almost double the mechanical properties as compared to jute composites. The interfacial shear strength of the jute and E-glass fiber-based systems was investigated and found to be 2.13 and 4.66 MPa, respectively, measured using the single-fiber fragmentation test. Fracture sides after flexural testing of both types of the composites were studied by scanning electron microscope and the results revealed poor fiber matrix adhesion for jute-based composites when compared to that of the E-glass fiber composites.

Physico-mechanical properties of wound dressing material and its biomedical application.

A bioadhesive wound dressing material, based on gelatin, was prepared by solution casting, and its properties were evaluated. The tensile strength (TS) and percentage elongation at break (Eb) of the membranes were found to be 12.7 MPa and 40.4%, respectively. The buffer uptake and water uptake of the prepared membranes were found to be 298 and 312%, respectively, after 8 min. A scanning electron micrograph of the membrane revealed its uniform porosity, which is an essential criterion to be an ideal wound dressing. From microbial sensitivity analysis, it was found that the membrane had a significant resistance against infection. The wound-healing characteristics of the membrane were evaluated using a rat (Rattus norvegicus) model. Full-thickness wounds were created on the ventral side of the Rattus norvegicus and were dressed with the membrane; eco-plast was used as a control. The wound healing and bioadhesion were monitored at 3-day intervals by real-time imaging. The results revealed that the prepared membrane was more effective in healing the wound than conventional wound dressing.

Effect of Surface Modification of Jute with Acrylic Monomers on the Performance of Polypropylene Composites

Jute fabrics reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites (40% fiber by weight) are prepared using compression molding. Different formulations using oligomer urethane diacrylate (M-1100), monomers 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate (EHA), 1-vinyl 2-pyrrolidone (NVP), and photo-initiator (Irgacure-369) in methanol were prepared in order to modify the surface of jute fabrics. Jute fabrics are soaked in the prepared formulations and then cured by UV radiation source of varying intensities. The formulation containing 5% NVP, 5% EHA, 2.5% oligomer, and 2% photo-initiator and cured at 15 UV passes perform the highest mechanical properties. Tensile strength (TS), bending strength (BS), tensile modulus (TM), and bending modulus (BM) of the composites are found to be 54, 62, 915, and 2030 MPa, respectively. To investigate the effect of thermal initiator, benzyl peroxide is used in the optimized formulation instead of the Irgacure-369 photo-initiator. The TS, BS, TM, and BM of the composites are found to be 54, 63, 998, and 2150 MPa, respectively by treating jute with 2% benzoyl peroxide as the thermal initiator.

Physico-mechanical performance of hybrid betel nut (Areca catechu) short fiber/seaweed polypropylene composite.

The objective of this research was to investigate the mechanical performance (tensile, bending, and impact properties) of polypropylene (PP) composites filled with betel nut (Areca catechu) short fiber (Bn) at different compositions (3, 5, 10, 20, 30wt%), using extruding and hot press moulding technique. Results showed that Bn10:PP90 mixture composite (BnPP) had better performance among the composites prepared. Because of the suitability of seaweed (Sw) as a filler in PP composite, as shown in our previous work, seaweed is subjected to hybridize with betel nut short fiber in PP composite to achieve superior mechanical performance. Water sorption capacity, degradation behavior such as simulating weathering and soil buried test of different composites were also performed.

Morphology, mechanical, and crystallization behaviors of micro- and nano-ZnO filled polypropylene composites

The aim of this study was to study the effect of ZnO concentration on the morphology, mechanical, and crystallization behaviors of iPP. Three compositions of iPP/mZnO and iPP/nZnO composites were prepared in a co-rotational twin-screw extruder machine with ZnO content of 2 wt%, 5 wt%, and 8 wt%. Tensile tests showed that the tensile strength at yield and tensile modulus of the composites tended to increase with increasing contents of mZnO/nZnO particles. This improvement in the tensile properties was attributed to good interfacial adhesion between the fillers and the matrix, as evidenced by TEM examination. The tensile strength at yield and tensile modulus values of iPP/nZnO composite with the addition of 2–8 wt% nZnO are higher than those of virgin iPP, and even higher than those of iPP/mZnO composite with the addition of 2–8 wt% mZnO. The non-isothermal crystallization behavior of iPP/mZnO and iPP/nZnO composites was investigated using DSC. The results indicated that the interfacial interaction between iPP and mZnO/nZnO increased the crystallization temperature when the content of ZnO is 5 wt%.

A Comparative Study Between Gamma and UV Radiation of Jute Fabrics/Polypropylene Composites: Effect of Starch

Jute fabrics (hessian cloth) reinforced polypropylene (PP) matrix composites were fabricated by compression molding. Jute fabrics and matrices were irradiated with gamma and UV radiation at different doses. Mechanical properties of irradiated jute fabrics and matrices based composites were found to increase significantly. Optimized jute fabrics were treated with starch solution of different concentrations for different soaking time and composite made of 0.5% (for UV) and 0.3% (for gamma) starch treated jute fabrics (5 min soaking time) showed the best mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopic analysis of untreated and treated composites was also performed.

A Comparative Study on the Mechanical, Degradation and Interfacial Properties of Jute/LLDPE and Jute/Natural Rubber Composites

Jute fabric (hessian cloth) reinforced low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) composites (40 wt%) and solid natural rubber-(NR) based composites (40 wt%) were fabricated by compression molding. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM) and percentage elongation at break (Eb) of jute/LLDPE composites were found to be 29, 680 MPa and 20%, and for jute/NR-based composites were also found to be 15, 122 MPa and 94%, respectively. Interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the jute/LLDPE and jute/NR systems was investigated by using the single fiber fragmentation test (SFFT). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and aqueous degradation tests were also performed.

Preparation and Characterization of Gelatin-Based PVA Film: Effect of Gamma Irradiation

Gelatin-based polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films were prepared (using a casting process) by mixing aqueous solutions of gelatin and PVA in different ratios. Monomer 1, 4-butanediol diacrylate (BDDA) was dissolved in methanol. Films containing 95% gelatin + 5% PVA were soaked in 3% BDDA monomer (w/w). These films were then irradiated under gamma radiation (60Co) at different doses (50–500 krad) at a dose rate of 350 krad/h. The physico-mechanical and thermal properties of these films were evaluated. It was evident that 5% PVA-containing gelatin blend film exhibited the highest tensile strength (TS) value at 50 krad (51 MPa), which was 46% higher than that of non-irradiated blend films. It was also found that incorporation of PVA significantly reduced the TS value of the blend films compared to the raw film, whereas elongation at break (Eb) value was increased. A significant improvement of the blend films was also confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and thermo-mechanical analysis (TMA) when the acrylate group (from BDDA) was introduced into the film.

Surface Modification of Jute Fabrics Using Acrylic Monomers: Effect of Additives

Jute fabrics were modified with methyl acrylate (MA), ethyl acrylate (EA), and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (2-HEA) using UV radiation at different periods of time. It was found that 30% MA at 60 min, 15% EA at 40 min, and 15% 2-HEA at 15 min irradiation time in methanol along with photoinitiator showed the best results. Some additives, such as urea, acrylamide (AM), ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA), tripropelene glycol diacrylate (TPGDA), and trimethylol propane triacrylate (TMPTA), were incorporated into the optimized monomer solutions and monitored its effect on the properties. Various physico-mechanical properties of both treated and untreated jute fabrics were also performed.

Physico-Mechanical and Degradation Properties of Banana Fiber/LDPE Composites: Effect of Acrylic Monomer and Starch

Banana fiber-reinforced low density polyethylene (LDPE) based unidirectional composites (40% fiber by weight) were manufactured by compression molding. Banana fibers were treated with 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) mixed with methanol (MeOH) under UV radiation. A series of solutions of different concentrations of EHA in methanol along with photoinitiator were prepared. Monomer concentration and radiation dose were optimized in terms of polymer loading and mechanical properties. Chemically-treated banana fiber-reinforced specimens yielded better mechanical properties compared to the untreated composites. For the improvement of the properties, optimized banana fibers were again treated with aqueous starch solution (3–7%, w/w) for 2–8 min. Composites made of 6% starch-treated banana fiber (5 min soaking time) showed the best mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy, water uptake and soil degradation test of the composites were also investigated.