Muhamad Zaini Yunos

Effects of water as non-solvent additive on performance of polysulfone ultrafiltration membrane

In this work, polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes were prepared via simple phase inversion with distilled water as non-solvent additive. The main reason for the addition of water in polysulfone dope solution preparation was to enhance the membranes structure. In the dope, 15 wt. % of polysulfone was used and water was varied up to 6 wt. %. The effects of water on morphology, porosity and tensile properties were investigated in detail. From the porosity test, results showed that the addition of water has improved membrane porosity up to 53 %. The FESEM images revealed that membrane morphology has also been modified. However, the tensile properties of membrane decreased as water content increased which may be due to the porosity interaction between polysulfone/NMP with water.

Effect of Thermodynamic Properties on Porosity of Ceramic Membrane Prepared by Phase Inversion

In this present work, the effects of phase inversion ceramic membranes prepared by phase inversion were investigated. Kaolin with 25µm was used as the composition of membrane preparation. The amounts of kaolin investigated were 60g, 70g and 80g respectively while the temperature was conducted assist room temperature and 3°C. Non-solvent additive with 6g distilled water present formation of pore during phase inversion.The effects of phase inversion temperature and kaolin composition on morphology and porosity were investigated in detail. Result of porosity showed that by decreasingphase inversion temperature improve the membrane porosity up to 64%. In addition, the FESEM images explained that membrane morphology obviously change with the effect of temperature during phase inversion process.

Performance Studies of Polysulfone-Based Membrane: Effect of Silica Morphology

In the present work, polysulfone (PSf) ultrafiltration membranes were prepared by solution casting. The effects of rice husk silica (RHS) on the surface properties of the PSf/Polyethylene glycol (PEG) membrane were observed and investigated. Characterizations were conducted to determine the membrane cross-section area and RHS distribution. The structure of RHS and morphology of membrane were analyzed by using X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). XRD pattern showed that the amorphous silica was produced from rice husk ash (RHA). The analysis of SEM indicates that the addition of RHS obviously changed the microstructure of the membrane especially at top layer and sub layer.

The Effect of Amorphous Rice Husk Silica to the Polysulfone Membrane Separation Process

This study investigates the effect of additive rice husk silica and Polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the performance of polysulfone (PSf) membrane. The membrane was prepared by phase inversion method using PSf, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and rice husk silica was added as an additive. The performance of the membrane was analyzed by using distilled water for permeation test and humic acid for the rejection test. The result showed that the hydrophilic of PSf/PEG membrane has significantly improved the permeation and rejection performance with addition of rice husk silica. The results showed that with addition of 3% rice husk silica give the highest rejection flux at 196.63 L/m2hr with the rejection value 98%.

The effect of crystalline rice husk silica on Polysulfone membrane for wastewater treatment

This study investigates the effect of additive rice husk silica and Polyethylene glycol(PEG) at different concentration on of Polysulfone (Psf) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. The polymer membranes were prepared by a phase inversion method using Polysulfone (PSf) , N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as a solvent and distilled water as non-solvent. The performances of the membranes were measured in term of pure water flux by using distilled water and solute rejection at different wastewater concentration at 50%, 75% and 87.5%. The results demonstrated that the addition 2% and 3% rice husk silica give the good rejection for membranes but the best rejection was at membranes contains 3% rice husk silica where successfully do rejection of 80.5%. As a conclusion,the range between 2%-3% of rice husk silica gives the ideal composition based on the result of flux permeation and rejection.

Simulation and experimental investigation of vehicle braking system employing a fixed caliper based electronic wedge brake

This paper presents an investigation into the performance of a fixed caliper based electronic wedge brake (FIXEWB) in a vehicle braking system. Two techniques were used as assessment methods, which are simulation via MATLAB Simulink software and experimental study through hardware-in-the-loop-simulation (HILS). In the simulation study, the vehicle braking system was simulated by using a validated quarter vehicle traction model with a validated FIXEWB model as the brake actuator. A proportional–integral–derivative controller was utilized as the brake torque control, whereas proportional–integral and proportional controllers were used as the position and speed control of the actuator, respectively. To study the effectiveness of the FIXEWB, the response of the vehicle using the FIXEWB is compared with the responses of a vehicle using a conventional hydraulic brake. A dynamic test, namely braking in the sudden braking at constant speeds of 40 and 60 km/h was then used as the testing method. The simulation results show that the usage of the FIXEWB with an appropriate control strategy produces similar behavior to that of a hydraulic brake in terms of the produced desired braking torque but with faster time response. To study the performance of the FIXEWB when implemented on a real vehicle, an experimental rig using HILS was designed and the results are analyzed using the same dynamic tests. The performance areas evaluated are vehicle body speed, wheel speed, tire longitudinal slip, and the stopping distance experienced by the vehicle. The outcomes from this study can be considered in the design optimization of an antilock braking system control in a real car in the future.

An Evaluation of Mechanical Properties on Kenaf Natural Fiber/Polyester Composite Structures as Table Tennis Blade

Nowadays, natural fibers getting attention from researchers and industries to optimize the use it, with combination of polymers as composite structure, due to environmental awareness. Furthermore, it show a few advantage, such as biodegradability, light in weight and non-toxic characteristic. In this study, kenaf natural fibers was used as reinforcement material, with combination of polyester as matrix material, known as polymer matrix composites. The main purpose of this study is to analysis the mechanical properties of kenaf natural fiber/polyester composite structure, in order to know the suitability of kenaf natural fibers as replacement material for table tennis blade structure, instead of using wood. The structural panel of composite laminates has been produced using hand lay-up technique. The experimental works are performed in tension, impact (Charpy) and shear condition. The characteristic of different condition on kenaf composite structure was studied. Based on the result, it found the properties of kenaf composite structure, and it will used as a benchmark, to compare with initial properties of table tennis blade made by wood. In addition, the strength and a weakness of that particular materials and lamination structure will be identified.

Synthesis of carbon nanostructures from high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste by chemical vapour deposition

In this study, carbon nanostructures were synthesized from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste by single-stage chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method. In CVD, iron was used as catalyst and pyrolitic of carbon source was conducted at temperature 700, 800 and 900oC for 30 minutes. Argon gas was used as carrier gas with flow at 90 sccm. The synthesized carbon nanostructures were characterized by FESEM, EDS and calculation of carbon yield (%). FESEM micrograph shows that the carbon nanostructures were only grown as nanofilament when synthesized from PET waste. The synthesization of carbon nanostructure at 700oC was produced smooth and the smallest diameter nanofilament compared to others. The carbon yield of synthesized carbon nanostructures from PET was lower from HDPE. Furthermore, the carbon yield is recorded to increase with increasing of reaction temperature for all samples. Elemental study by EDS analysis were carried out and the formation of carbon nanostructures was confirmed after CVD process. Utilization of polymer waste to produce carbon nanostructures is beneficial to ensure that the carbon nanotechnology will be sustained in future.

PCL/PLA Polymer Composite Filament Fabrication using Full Factorial Design (DOE) for Fused Deposition Modelling

In this study, Polycaprolactone / Polylactice Acid (PCL/PLA) composite are used to fabricate filament wire with the specific diameter, which is in the range of 1.75 to 1.80 mm. Full factorial experimental design technique was used to study the main effects and the interaction effects between operational parameter which is (A) die temperature, (B) roller puller speed, (C) spindle speed and (D) inlet temperature. Besides that, there are two levels (-1 and +1) and the response are filament wire diameter. There are 16 numbers of runs and plus 8 centre points per blocks which makes the runs into 24 runs. From the experiment it shows that there are four factor that are significant effects on the filament wire diameter which is A, B, C and BC. The optimum parameter setting are also determined and there are 10 suggestions to achieve the target with different setting of parameter. The margin error for confirmation run is below than 15% when the parameter set at 6 Hz spindle speed, 4.99 rpm roller puller, 100.31 °C die temperature and 79.65 °C inlet temperature which can be noted that the confirmation run result is acceptable. The optimization parameter setting can use to continue in Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM). Filament wire from PCL/PLA are succesfully fabricated with acceptable diameter size and ready to be used for Fused Depotion Modelling process (FDM).

Effect of solvent concentration on performance of polysulfone membrane for filtration and separation

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of solvent concentration on the performance of polysulfone membrane via airbrush spray method. The solvent concentration was varied from 73% to 80% in dope solution. The study also investigated airbrush processing parameter such as spray time and distance at different solvent concentration. The prepared membrane was characterized in respect to its morphology and the performance of the membrane were evaluated via gas permeability performance. This study found that the membrane fiber size was reduced as solvent concentration increases. When time increased the diameter of fiber also increased. The distance also affected the fiber size, when the distance increased the diameter of fiber became smaller. 80% of solvent concentration has better filtration and separation ability compared to other solvent due to its porosity and morphology. From the gas permeability cell testing it shows that the permeability is increasing as the solvent concentration decrease.