M. Rahail Parvaiz

Effect of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) on the thermal, mechanical and morphological property of biodegradable PLA/PBAT blend and its nanocomposites.

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/Polybutylene adipate co-terephthalate (PBAT) blend and its nanocomposites were prepared using melt blending technique. Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) has been used as a reactive compatibilizer to improve the interface between PLA and PBAT. Mechanical studies indicated an increase in impact strength and tensile modulus of PLA matrix with the increase in PBAT loading. PLA/PBAT blend prepared at ratio of 75:25 exhibited optimum impact strength. Further, incorporation of GMA to the tune of 5wt.% and nanoclay shows an increase of impact strength. Morphological interpretations through SEM reveals improved interfacial adhesion between the PLA/PBAT blend in presence of GMA and nanoclay. XRD studies indicated an increase in d-spacing in PLA/PBAT/C20A blend nanocomposite thus revealing intercalated morphology. DSC and TGA thermograms also showed improved thermal properties as compared with virgin PLA. DMA tests revealed an increase in damping factor, confirming strong influence between PLA/PBAT blend in presence of GMA and nanoclay.

Effect of Organoclays on Nonisothermal Crystallization Kinetics of Poly (trimethylene terephthalate) Nanocomposite

Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics, melting behavior of virgin PTT and PTT nanocomposites were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry with the Avrami equation. Mechanical properties of PTT/clay nanocomposite is also described with Einstien and Guth model. The rate of crystallization and half time required for crystallization increases with increasing the cooling rate for both virgin PTT and PTT/clay nanocomposites. Virgin PTT shows the double melting behavior which changes to single melting point in prances of C30B nanoclays in the case of PTT/C30B nanocomposites. Incorporation of loading of organoclays increases the activation energy (Ea) in PTT matrix and optimum Ea was observed in PTT/C30B-based system.

Fabrication of High Performance Fly Ash/Mica/Poly(ether-ether-ketone) Hybrid Composites

This paper deals with the preparation and characterization of poly(ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK) fly ash mica hybrid composites containing filler 5:15, 10:10 and 15:5 fly ash mica combinations loading. The performances and properties of the resulting 20 wt% loading of fly ash mica/PEEK hybrid composites were examined. The resulting hybrid composites of 20 wt% fly ash and mica with varying combinations exhibit the optimum improvement of mechanical properties and dielectric strength. MDSC showed the decrease in the crystallization temperature (Tc) with varying combinations of fly ash and mica. The morphology of fly ash/mica/PEEK hybrid composites was studied by SEM.

Effect of Coupling Agent on the Mechanical, Thermal, Electrical, Rheological and Morphological Properties of Polyetheretherketone Composites Reinforced with Surface-Modified Mica

The mica fillers reinforced Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composites were fabricated using compression molding technique. The mica surface was chemically modified using vinyltrimethoxy silane and 3–Aminopropyltriethoxy silane. The properties of treated mica PEEK composites were examined in terms of scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and rheological behavior. The modified mica was observed to disperse more uniformly than the unmodified counterpart. The tensile strength and modulus also improved with treated mica filled PEEK composites. The increment of the dynamic modulus for the PEEK/treated mica composites is 82% at 250°C, indicating apparent improvement of high temperature mechanical properties.

Effect of Particle Size of Mica on the Properties of Poly[Ether Ether Ketone] Composites

A study on high performance PEEK composites prepared by incorporating with three different particle sizes of mica was fabricated by compression molding. The effects of particle size of mica on the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties were studied. The incorporation of mica increased tensile modulus. The percentage crystallinity of PEEK mica composites was studied by using modulated DSC. The storage modulus changed significantly with the variation of the mica particle size and content in the PEEK matrix. Composite containing 20 wt% mica exhibited about a 79% increase in the storage modulus at 50°C and about a 68% increase at 250°C.