Norhayani Othman

Effect of Compatibilizer Type on Properties of 70:30 Polyamide 6/Polypropylene/MMT Nanocomposites

PA6/PP nanocomposites with either polyethylene octene elastomer grafted maleic anhydride (POEgMAH) or PP grafted maleic anhydride (PPgMAH) as compatibilizer were prepared using co-rotating twin-screw extruder followed by injection molding. The mechanical and microstructural properties of the composites were investigated by means of tensile, flexural, and impact testing and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize the formation of nanocomposites. The result indicated that the miscibility of PA6/PP nanocomposites was improved with the addition of POEgMAH and PPgMAH. The impact strength of PA6/PP nanocomposite with POEgMAH increased about 5 times higher than uncompatibilized composite. Increment in tensile properties was observed when PPgMAH was used as compatibilizer. XRD results revealed that PA6/PP nanocomposites were successfully formed. Uniform dispersion of PP in matrix were observed through SEM, which showed the improvement of the compatibility between polymers.

Effect of Zeolite Modification via Cationic Exchange Method on Mechanical, Thermal, and Morphological Properties of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate/Zeolite Composites

In this research, organozeolite filled ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) composites were prepared in a melt-mixing process and followed by compression molding using hot press machine according to standard test specimen. Prior to mixing process, zeolite was modified via cationic exchange of alkylammonium ions. The effect of zeolite or organozeolite loading from 5 up to 25 volume percentages on the properties of EVA/zeolite composites was evaluated. A combination of Fourier Transform Infrared Radiation (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis were done to characterize the resultant organoclay. Tensile test was performed in order to study the mechanical properties of the composites. EVA filled with organozeolite showed better tensile properties compared to EVA filled with unmodified zeolite, which might be an indication of enhanced dispersion of organophilic clay in the composites. Meanwhile, morphological study using SEM revealed the fibrillation effect of organozeolite. Besides, thermal properties of the composites were also characterized by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the application of the cation exchange treatment increases both decomposition and melting temperature of EVA/zeolite composites.

Characterizations of Carbon-Based Polypropylene Nanocomposites

Abstract In the past decade, growing interest in the use of carbon-based nanocomposites in industrial applications has been observed because of their excellent mechanical, thermal, electrical, physical, and barrier properties. Various carbon-based nanoparticles, including graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), have very different physical and electrochemical properties from each other. In this chapter, an overview of carbon-based polymer nanocomposites is presented with special emphasis on the most important and novel studies conducted to explore the properties of polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites reinforced with GNPs and CNTs. Enhancement in the characteristic features of PP matrix with the incorporation of carbon-based nanoparticles has been observed. The nanocomposites reinforced with carbon-based nanoparticles having extraordinary specific strength and stiffness represent tremendous opportunity for application in the 21st century. Mechanical and thermal properties are the focus of this chapter as the properties are important for industrial applications. Further research in this area is also being proposed.

Effects of Halloysite Nanotubes on Mechanical and Thermal Stability of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate)/Polycarbonate Nanocomposites

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) loading on mechanical and thermal properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/polycarbonate (PET/PC) nanocomposites. Nanocomposites containing 70PET/30PC and 2-8 phr HNTs were prepared by twin screw extruder followed by injection moulding. As the percentage of HNTs increased, the flexural modulus increased. However, the flexural strength decreased with increasing HNTs content. The impact strength also decreased when HNTs increased. Thermogravimetry analysis of PET/PC/HNTs nanocomposites showed higher thermal stability at high HNTs content. However, on further addition of HNTs up to 8 phr, thermal stability of the nanocomposites decreased due to the poor dispersion of HNTs.

Effect of silane modification on mechanical and thermal properties of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/zeolite composites

In this research, both untreated and silane treated zeolite filled ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) composites were prepared in a melt-mixing process and followed by compression molded using hot press machine according to standard test specimen. For silane surface treatment, zeolite was treated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (AMPTES) prior to the mixing process. The effect of untreated and AMPTES treated zeolite loading from 5 up to 25 volume percentages on the properties of EVA/zeolite composites were evaluated. A combination of Fourier Transform Infrared Radiation (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were done to characterize the resultant treated zeolite. Tensile test was performed in order to study the mechanical properties of the composites. EVA filled with AMPTES treated zeolite showed better tensile properties compared to EVA filled with untreated zeolite, which might be an indication of enhanced dispersion of zeolite in the composites. Meanwhile for morphological study using SEM, the micrograph of EVA/untreated zeolite composites exhibit several voids, agglomerations and also brittle morphology. On the contrary, the micrograph of AMPTES treated zeolite filled EVA composites showed more fibrilous and ductile morphology which suggests that the silane treatment is capable of improving an interfacial adhesion between EVA matrix and zeolite. Besides, thermal properties of the composites were also characterized by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the application of the silane treatment increases both decomposition and melting temperature of