Mohammed Iqbal Shueb

Cure Characteristics of Natural Rubber/EPDM Blends for the Effect of MAH Grafted EPM and Compounding Parameters via Response Surface Methodology

Natural Rubber/EPDM blends were successfully prepared by direct melt compounding method using an internal mixer. The significance of MAH grafted EPM (MAH-g-EPM) and compounding parameters were studied via the response surface methodology (RSM) using the two-level full factorial design. The MAH-g-EPM loading, mixing temperature, rotor speed and mixing time were selected as four independent variables. Cure characteristics of scorch time, cure time and maximum torque were selected as the responses. The statistical significance of all variables and their interactions during compounding were analysed using ANOVA. The degree of agreement between experimental results with those predicted by the statistical model was confirmed using constant of determination, R2 with values approaching ~0.99. It was observed in the results, that the incorporation of high loading (10 phr) of MAH-g-EPM has predominantly enhanced the scorch safety time of NR/EPDM blends, as well as increased the modulus of NR/EPDM blends to some extent compared to low loading (5 phr and 7.5 phr). These finding were further supported by the Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis.

Dispersion Stability of Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) and Noncovalent-Functionalization of GNPs with Chitosan in Ethanol

A facile method for surface modification of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in the presence of chitosan was developed to improve their interfacial interaction and dispersion within polymer matrix. The selection of a suitable organic dispersant for GNPs was performed using a sedimentation test of the GNPs in different organic media. GNPs exhibited the highest stability in ethanol dispersant after 3 weeks sedimentation test, and this was supported by TEM observation, which shows that GNPs dispersed well and fully exfoliated into individual sheets in ethanol. The dispersed GNPs in the ethanol dispersion were then functionalized with chitosan-acid solution, filtered and oven-dried into powder form for further characterization. FTIR spectra further verified that the formation of amide linkage between hydroxyl and carboxylic groups of GNP with the amide group of chitosan. The possible functionalization mechanism of GNPs with chitosan was also proposed.

Cable and Wire Application: Adoption of Nanomagnesium Hydroxide Blended with LDPE/EVA for Mechanical and Physical Properties

Effect of nanoMagnesium Hydroxide (MH) nloading amount to the mechanical and physical properties of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)/ Poly (ethylene-co vinyl acetate)(EVA) nanocomposite has been described and investigated in this paper. The tensile strength results show that increased amount of nanofiller will decrease and deteriorate the mechanical properties. The elongation at break decreased continuously with increasing loading of nanofiller. Generally, mechanical properties become poorer as loading amount increase. Melt Flow Index values for physical properties also provide same trend as mechanical properties results. Increase filler amount reduced MFI values whereby increased resistance to the flow.