M. Masudul Hassan

Influence of Mercerization Along with Ultraviolet (UV) and Gamma Radiation on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Jute Yarn by Grafting with 3‐(Trimethoxysilyl) Propylmethacrylate (Silane) and Acrylamide Under UV Radiation

Abstract Jute yarns were pretreated by alkali (5% NaOH) and were grafted with two types of monomer such as 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)‐propylmethacrylate (silane) and acrylamide (AA) under ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The monomer concentrations were 30% in Methanol (MeOH) and irradiation times were 30 min and 60 min for silane and AA, respectively. The alkali‐treated silane‐grafted jute yarn produced enhanced tensile strength (TS) (265%), elongation at break (Eb) (350%) with 27% polymer loading (PL) and alkali‐treated AA‐grafted jute yarn produced enhanced TS (210%), Eb (270%) with 23% PL than that of virgin fiber. Again, the surface of jute yarns were pretreated by alkali along with UV and gamma radiation with different intensities and grafted with silane and acrylamide to further improve the tensile properties of the jute yarn. The jute yarns were pretreated with alkali and UV radiation and grafted with silane showed the best properties such as TS (360%), EB (380%) and 31% PL. Simulated weathering test and water uptake of untreated and treated jute yarns were studied. The alkali + UV‐pretreated silanized jute yarn showed lesser water uptake as well as less weight loss and mechanical properties as compared with treated samples.

Improvement of physico-mechanical properties of jute yarn by photografting with 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propylmethacrylate

Jute yarns were treated with an alkoxy silane monomer 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propylmethacrylate under UV radiation. The monomer concentration and radiation intensity were optimized with respect to the extent of grafting and mechanical properties of the grafted (silanized) jute yarn. The enhanced tensile strength by 159%, elongation-at-break (237%) and polymer grafting (26.2%) were observed when the yarn was treated at 30 wt% silane in methanol under UV radiation for 30 min. The surfaces of both treated and untreated jute yarns were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) and it was concluded that the silane reacted or deposited on jute surface as a result of UV radiation. Water uptake and degradation properties of untreated and silanized jute yarn were studied in various conditions such as simulated weathering and in soil containing 25% water. The silanized jute yarn showed lesser water uptake as well as less weight loss and mechanical properties as compared to virgin samples.

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.

Surface Modification of Cellulose by Radiation Pretreatments with Organo-Silicone Monomer

Abstract: Cellulose (Whatman 41 filter paper) was grafted under in situ UV radiation with organosilicone monomer 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propylmethacrylate (silane) at optimized system (30% silane and 30-min irradiation) and obtained enhanced mechanical properties like tensile strength factor (TS = 140%) and elongation at break (Eb = 200%) with 25% polymer loading. To improve the mechanical properties, cellulose was pretreated under UV and gamma radiation at different radiation intensities and was grafted with 30% silane under in situ UV radiation. Although the gamma pretreated grafted sample shows higher polymer loading (PL = 31%), the UV-pretreated grafted sample shows better enhancement of mechanical properties (PL = 33%, TS = 250%, and Eb = 274%). For further improvement, cellulose was pretreated by alkali (5% NaOH) along with UV and gamma radiation with different intensities and grafted with silane under UV radiation. Among the treatments, the alkali + UV-irradiated grafted sample showed the best performance (TS = 260% and Eb = 280%) with 37% polymer loading at 10th UV pass. Water uptake of treated and untreated samples was studied and less water uptake was observed by the treated samples, which corroborates the finding that silane might be deposited or reacted on cellulose backbone of pure cellulose.

Effect of Surface Treatment on Betel Nut (Areca catechu) Fiber in Polypropylene Composite

Betel nut fiber (Bn)/polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared in the different ratio of 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60 (Bn wt%:PP wt%) using extruding and hot press moulding technique. From the results, it can be inferred that Bn30:PP70 mixture composite (BnPP) showed better performance among the composites prepared. For further improvement, betel nut fiber was subjected to detergent wash as well as alkali treatment for composite preparation. This work investigated the tensile strength, bending strength, tensile modulus, bending modulus, elongation at break and impact strength of the composites. Fracture morphology of the composite as well as the water absorption capacity has been monitored.

Role of Amino Acids on In Situ Photografting of Jute Yarn with Acrylamide Using Ultraviolet Radiation

Abstract To improve the mechanical performance of jute yarn, grafting with acrylamide (AM) monomer has been performed on in situ UV radiation and optimized; the monomer concentration (30%) and irradiation time (60 min) attained 195% tensile strength with 22% polymer loading (PL). The effect of amino acids (1%) as additives in AM with photografted jute yarn at optimized system has been studied. The PL and tensile properties, such as tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (Eb), of treated samples were enhanced by incorporation of amino acids, and the highest TS value (270%) and Eb value (300%) with 27% PL value were achieved by the sample treated with L‐arginine (Arg). Weak acid [3% acetic acid (Ace)] and strong acid [1% sulfuric acid (Sul)] were also incorporated in the optimized system of AM grafting to investigate their effect on the mechanical properties of photografted jute yarn. Water absorption and weathering resistance of treated untreated samples (TS0) were also studied.

Role of N-(β-amino ethyl) γ-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane as Coupling Agent on the Jute-polycarbonate Composites

New composites of jute fabrics and polycarbonate (PC) were prepared by compression molding. The surface of the composites was modified by coupling agents N-(β-amino ethyl) γ-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane (Z-6020) to improve the interfacial adhesion between jute and PC. Enhanced mechanical properties were produced by the modified jute composites. The treated and untreated jute surface as well as composites were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Effect of Gamma Radiation on the Mechanical Properties of Urea-Treated Rice Straw Polypropylene Composites

Rice straw (RS) polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared in the different ratios of 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60 and 50:50 (RS wt% : PP wt%) by extrusion moulding and hot press compression technique and investigated the mechanical properties like tensile strength (TS), bending strength (BS), impact strength (IS) and elongations at break (Eb%) of the composites. RS was soaked in the different ratios of urea solution and it was observed that 1% urea-treated RS content composites exhibited better mechanical properties. Gamma-irradiated RSPP composites showed superior performance. Water uptake and degradation studies of composites were also monitored.

Effect of γ-Radiation on the Mechanical Performance of Hybrid Rice Straw/Seaweed-Polypropylene Composites

Hybrid composites of rice straw (Rs)/seaweed (Sw) and polypropylene (PP) were prepared at a fixed filler ratio of 30:70 and variable ratio of the two reinforcements, viz. 30:0, 25:5, 20:10, 10:20, 0:30 by weight. Mechanical properties of the composites such as tensile strength (TS), bending strength (BS), impact strength (IS) and elongation at break (Eb%) were investigated and the composite formulation of 20:10:70 (Rs:Sw:PP) was found to be optimum that showed TS = 2.8 MPa, BS = 68 N/mm2, IS = 2.5 kJ/mm2 and Eb = 50%. For better compatibility, Rs and Sw were subjected to surface treatment using various intensities of γ-radiation to prepare improved hybrid composites. γ-irradiated filler hybrid composites significantly enhanced mechanical properties and the composite in which fillers were irradiated at 100 krad achieved maximum enhancement with TS = 35 MPa, BS = 75 N/mm2, IS = 2.7 kJ/mm2 and Eb = 68%. Water absorption capacity of the different composites was also studied and irradiated filler composites showed less water uptake.

Surface Modification of Sisal (Agavae sisalana) Fiber by Photocuring: Effect of Additives

The sisal fiber (Agavae sisalana) was grafted with methacrylonitrile (MAN) under UV radiation in order to modify its mechanical and degradable properties. A number of MAN solutions of different concentrations in methanol (MeOH) along with photoinitiator Darocur-2959 were prepared. The soaking time, radiation dose and monomer concentration were optimized. Sisal fiber soaked for 60 min in 50% MAN and irradiated at 8th UV pass achieved highest values of tensile properties like tensile strength (TS = 140.2 MPa), and elongation at break factor (Ef = 8) with 8% polymer loading (PL). To further improve the properties of sisal fiber, a number of additives (1%) such as urea (U), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PNVP), tripropelene glycol diacrylate (TPGDA), hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA), trimethyl propane triacrylate (TMPTA), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) were used in the 50% MAN formulation to graft at the optimized condition. Among the additives used, urea has significantly influenced the PL (9%), TS (190 MPa), and Ef (9) values of the treated sisal fiber. Water uptake and accelerated weathering test were also performed.