Josephine Chang Hui Lai

Synthesis and Characterization of Cellulose from Green Bamboo by Chemical Treatment with Mechanical Process

Bamboo cellulose was prepared by chemical process involving dewaxing, delignification, and mercerization process. Four samples namely, green bamboo fiber (GBF), dewaxed bamboo fiber (DBF), delignified bamboo fiber (DLBF), and cellulose fiber (CF) had been analysed. FTIR and TGA analysis confirmed the removal of hemicellulose and lignin at the end stage of the process. FTIR results reveal that the D-cellulose OH group occurred at 1639 cm−1 region. SEM micrograph showed that mercerization leads to fibrillation and breakage of the fiber into smaller pieces which promote the effective surface area available for contact. Barrer, Joiyner, and Halenda (BJH) method confirmed that the effective surface area of CF is two times larger compared to GBF. CF showed the highest activation energy compared to GBF. It indicates that CF was thermally stable.

Effect of fiber treatment and nanoclay on the tensile properties of jute fiber reinforced polyethylene/clay nanocomposites

The tensile properties of chemically treated jute fiber reinforced polyethylene/clay nanocomposites were investigated. Nanocomposites were prepared using hot press moulding technique by varying jute fiber loading (5, 10, 15 and 20 wt%) for both treated and untreated fibers. Raw jute fibers were chemically treated with benzene diazonium salt to increase their compatibility with the polyethylene matrix. Physical and mechanical properties were subsequently characterized. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was utilized to study physical properties. Tensile test was conducted for mechanical characterization. FTIR and SEM study showed interfacial interaction among jute fiber, polyethylene and nanoclay. It was observed that at optimum fiber content (15 wt%), treated composites exhibited improvements in tensile strength and modulus by approximately 20 % and 37 % respectively over the raw ones. On the other hand, this composite exhibited improvements in tensile strength and modulus by approximately 8 % and 15 % respectively over the composites without nanoclay. However, treated jute fiber reinforced composites showed better tensile properties compared with untreated ones and also nanoclay incorporated composites enhanced higher tensile properties compared without nanoclay ones.

Clay Dispersed Styrene-co-Glycidyl Methacrylate Impregnated Kumpang Wood Polymer Nanocomposites: Impact on Mechanical and Morphological Properties

Physical, mechanical, and morphological properties of a clay dispersed styrene-co-glycidal methacrylate (ST-co-GMA) impregnated wood polymer nanocomposite (WPNC) were evaluated. The WPNC was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 3-point bending, free-vibration testing, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The FT-IR results showed that the absorbance at 1730 cm−1 was increased for ST-co-GMA-clay-WPNC compared with other nanocomposites and the raw material. The XRD results revealed that crystallinity index and d-spacing were increased compared to raw wood. The SEM results showed that ST-co-GMA-clay-WPNC had a smoother surface than other nanocomposites and raw wood. The modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and dynamic Young’s moduli (Ed) of WPNCs were considerably increased compared to wood polymer composites (WPCs) and raw wood. The raw wood exhibited a higher water uptake (WU) than WPNCs and WPCs.

Physical, Mechanical, and Thermal Analysis of Polylactic Acid/Fumed Silica/Clay (1.28E) Nanocomposites

Polylactic acid/fumed silica/clay (PLA/FS/clay) (1.28E) nanocomposites have been successfully prepared by solution-intercalation film-casting technique. The resultant nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), tensile test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and moisture absorption test. The FT-IR spectrum indicated that PLA/FS/clay with 2 wt% had much broader peak compared to 5 wt%, 10 wt%, and 15 wt% nanocomposites. Incorporation of clay (1.28E) with 2 wt% showed the best compatibility with PLA/FS matrix. PLA/FS/clay (1.28E) nanocomposite with 2 wt% of clay loading had higher tensile strength and modulus compared to other nanocomposites. The thermal stability and activation energy of 2 wt% of PLA/FS/clay (1.28E) nanocomposite are the highest among all the nanocomposites. The moisture absorbed into PLA/FS/clay (1.28E) nanocomposite was significantly reduced with clay loading of 2 wt%.

Synthesis of Cotton from Tossa Jute Fiber and Comparison with Original Cotton

Cotton fibers were synthesized from tossa jute and characteristics were compared with original cotton by using FTIR and TGA. The FTIR results indicated that the peak intensity of OH group from jute cotton fibers occurred at 3336 cm−1 whereas the peak intensity of original cotton fibers occurred at 3338 cm−1. This indicated that the synthesized cotton fiber properties were very similar to the original cotton fibers. The TGA result showed that maximum rate of mass loss, the onset of decomposition, end of decomposition, and activation energy of synthesized cotton were higher than original cotton. The activation energy of jute cotton fibers was higher than the original cotton fibers.

Sustainable Application of Various Monomer/Clay Dispersed Wood Polymer Nanocomposites

The goal of this study was to evaluate the decay resistance of different ratio of ST/MMA/clay monomer system impregnated batai wood polymer nanocomposites (WPNCs) against Trametes versicolor (white-rot) and Chaetomium globosum (soft rot) fungi. Besides, Kumpang wood was impregnated by styrene, 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (MSPMA), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), maleic acid (MA), glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), and nanoclay. Overall, both fungi very lightly attacked to the 50:50:5 ST/MMA/clay monomers impregnated WPNCs. 50:50:5 ST/MMA/clay monomer impregnated WPNCs greatly enhance the decay resistance against the both fungi. For Kumpang wood, the raw wood was well impregnated and improved the decay resistance toward Trametes versicolor and Coniphora puteana. Therefore, it is recommended that 50:50:5 ST/MMA/clay monomers impregnated WPNCs as well as ST-co-MSPA-WPC, ST-clay-WPNC, ST-co-MA-WPC, and ST-co-GMA-WPCs are technically suitable for exterior use where both moisture and favorable conditions for fungi development are present. Besides, WPCs at pH8 and pH9 showed higher decay resistance toward Coniphora puteana and Trametes versicolor, respectively.

Physico-mechanical, Morphological, and Thermal Properties of Clay Dispersed Styrene- co -Maleic Acid Impregnated Wood Polymer Nanocomposites

In this study, we evaluate the physical, mechanical, and morphological properties of a clay dispersed styrene-co-glycidyl methacrylate (ST-co-GMA) impregnated wood polymer nanocomposite (WPNC). The WPNC was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), 3-point bending, and free-vibration testing. The FT-IR results showed that the absorbance at 1730 cm−1 was increased for ST-co-GMA-clay-WPNC compared with other nanocomposites and the raw material. The SEM results showed that ST-co-GMA-clay-WPNC had a smoother surface than other nanocomposites and raw wood. The modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and dynamic Young’s moduli (Ed) of WPNCs were considerably increased compared to wood polymer nanocomposites (WPNCs) and raw wood. The raw wood exhibited a higher water uptake (WU) than WPNCs.

Physico-Mechanical, Thermal, and Morphological Properties of Styrene-co-3-(Trimethoxysilyl)Propyl Methacrylate with Clay Impregnated Wood Polymer Nanocomposites

In this study, the physico-mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of styrene-co-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (ST-co-SPMA) with clay impregnated wood polymer nanocomposites (WPNCs) were investigated. The WPNCs were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), 3-point bending and free-vibration testing, and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The FT-IR results showed that the absorbance intensity at 698 cm−1 was higher for ST-co-MSPM-clay-WPNC and ST-

Preparation and Characterizations of Clay-Dispersed Styrene-co-Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate-Impregnated Wood Polymer Nanocomposites

In this study, physico-mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of wood polymer nanocomposites (WPNCs) of styrene-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate with clay (ST-co-EGDMA-clay) and styrene with clay (ST-clay) wood polymer composite (WPC) of styrene-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (ST-co-EGDMA) and styrene (ST) were investigated. The WPNC was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), 3-point bending and free-free vibration testing, and thermogravimatric analysis (TGA). The FT-IR results showed that the absorbance at 1730 cm−1 increased for ST-co-EGDMA-clay-WPNC and ST-co-EGDMA-WPC compared to other composites and the raw wood. The XRD result revealed that the d-spacing of ST-clay-WPNC, ST-co-EGDMA-WPC, ST-WPC, and ST-co-EGDMA-clay-WPNC was higher than the raw wood. The SEM results showed that ST-co-EGDMA-clay-WPNC and ST-clay-WPNC had a smoother surface compared to the other composites and raw wood. The modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and dynamic Young’s moduli (E d) of ST-co-EGDMA-clay-WPNC were higher than those of ST-co-EGDMA-WPC, ST-clay-WPNC, ST-WPCs, and raw wood, respectively. The raw wood exhibited a higher water uptake (WU) compared to WPNCs and WPCs. ST-co-EGDMA-WPC was more thermally stable, compared to other composites and raw wood.

Studies on the Physical, Mechanical, Thermal and Morphological Properties of Impregnated Furfuryl Alcohol-co-Glycidyl Methacrylate/Nanoclay Wood Polymer Nanocomposites

In this study, physical, morphological, mechanical, and thermal properties of furfuryl alcohol/glycidyl methacrylate/halloysite nanoclay wood polymer nanocomposites (FA-co-GMA-HNC WPNCs) were investigated. FA-co-GMA-HNC WPNCs were prepared via impregnation method, and the effect of different ratio between the polymers was subsequently investigated. The properties of nanocomposites were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), three-point flexural test, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), differential Scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, and moisture absorption test. The weight percent gain for 50:50 FA-co-GMA-HNC WPNCs was the highest compared to raw wood (RW) and other WPNCs. FT-IR results confirmed the polymerization took place in the nanocomposites especially 50:50 FA-co-GMA-HNC WPNCs with reducing hydroxyl groups. SEM result revealed that the 50:50 FA-co-GMA-HNC WPNCs showed the best surface morphology among all the compositions. Besides, 50:50 FA-co-GMA-HNC WPNCs showed the highest flexural strength and modulus of elasticity. The DMA results revealed that the storage modulus and loss modulus of FA-co-GMA-HNC WPNCs were higher while the tan δ of FA-co-GMA-HNC WPNCs was lower compared to RW. FA-co-GMA-HNC WPNCs exhibited the higher thermal stability through TGA and DSC analysis. 50:50 FA-co-GMA-HNC WPNCs exhibited significantly lower moisture absorption compared to RW. From the analysis, 50:50 FA-co-GMA showed the best compatibility with RW among all the compositions.