Pei Leng Teh

Effect of Poly(methyl Methacrylate) Modified Water Hyacinth Fiber on Properties of Low Density Polyethylene/Natural Rubber/Water Hyacinth Fiber Composites

The effect of poly(methyl methacrylate) modified water hyacinth fiber on properties of low density polyethylene (LDPE)/natural rubber (NR)/water hyacinth fiber (WHF) composites were investigated. The composites were prepared with Z-blade mixer at 180°C and rotor speed of 50 rpm. The poly(methyl methacrylate) modified water hyacinth fibers in LDPE/NR composites (LDPE/NR/WHF-PMMA) gave a greater value of tensile strength, Youngs modulus, glass transition temperature (Tg), melting temperature (Tm), and % crystallinity compared to unmodified water hyacinth fibers in LDPE/NR composites (LDPE/NR/WHF). FTIR analysis shows the presence of ester carbonyl group and C-O ester group in poly (methyl methacrylate) modified water hyacinth fiber. The SEM micrograph also shows a better interfacial adhesion between the fibers and LDPE/NR matrixes for LDPE/NR/WHF-PMMA composites than LDPE/NR/WHF composites. LDPE/NR/WHF-PMMA composites had a lower value of interparticle spacing compared to LDPE/NR/WHF composites thatenhanced the interparticle interaction between fiber and LDPE/NR matrixes.

Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Polylactic Acid/Recycled Low Density Polyethylene/Nypa fruticans Biocomposites Compatibilized with Polyetylene-co-Acrylic Acid

The main purpose of incorporating Nypa Fruticans (NF) into Polylactic Acid (PLA)/Recycled Low Density Polyethylene (rLDPE) biocomposites is to decrease costs and change the properties. Polyethylene–co–acrylic acid (PEAA) was used as a compatibilizer. The effect of NF content and PEAA on the mechanical properties and morphology of the biocomposites were investigated. Results show that the effect of NF content increased Young’s modulus but decreased the tensile strength and elngation at break of PLA/rLDPE/NF biocomposites. It was found that incorporation of compatibilizer (PEAA) increased the tensile strength and Young’s modulus but decreased the elongation at break of compatibilized biocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study of the tensile fracture surface of the biocomposites indicated that the presence of PEAA improved the interfacial interaction between Nypa Fruticans and LDPE matrix.

Effect of PE-g-MAH as Compatibilizer on Properties of LDPE/NR/WHF Composites

In this work, the effect of PE-g-MAH as compatibilizer in polyethylene/ natural rubber/ water hyacinth fibers composites were prepared and characterized in terms of tensile properties, morphology properties, swelling behavior and FTIR characteristic. Water hyacinth fibers (WHF) was used as reinforced fiber in the composites incorporated into the LDPE/NR matrices with different fiber loading. LDPE/NR/WHF composites were prepared with Z-blade mixer at 180°C with rotor speed of 50 rpm for 10 minutes. The presence of PE-g-MAH increased the tensile strength and Young’s modulus while reduced the elongation at break of LDPE/NR/WHF composites. The molar sorption of the composites decreased as the fiber loading increased. SEM morphology showed a better fiber dispersion and fiber distribution indicated PE-g-MAH improved the interfaces between water hyacinth fiber and LDPE/NR matrices. The absorption peak at 1741.52cm-1 indicated ester carbonyl group in LDPE/NR/WHFPE-g-MAH composites.

Effect of Sintering Atmosphere on the Electrical and Thermal Properties of Al-Doped ZnO Thin Films Prepared Using Inkjet Printing Method

Al-doped ZnO thin films were prepared by ink-jet printing and their electrical and thermal properties with different amounts of Al doping and sintering atmosphere were investigated. The XRD traces of films show the doped materials did not form additional crystalline phases with increasing amounts of Al doping. Electrical conductivity of film increased from 4.86 S/cm to 120.94 S/cm as the amounts of Al doping increased from 0 wt% to 4 wt%. However, the thermal conductivity decreased from 24 W/mK to 13 W/mK with increasing the Al doping from 0 wt% to 4 wt%. The electrical conductivity of film shows higher values sintered in vacuum (120.94 S/cm) compared to film sintered in air (114.1 S/cm).

Effect of Benzyl Urea on Properties of Recycled High Density Polyethylene/Ethylene Vinyl Acetate/Egg Shell Powder Composites

This paper presents the study on the effects of benzyl urea (BU) on the mechanical, morphological, and water absorption properties of recycled high density polyethylene/ ethylene vinyl acetate/ eggshell (rHDPE/EVA/ESP) composites. The results indicated significant improvement in the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of the compatibilized composites due to better interfacial adhesion between the rHDPE and EVA. The water resistance properties were increased by the addition of the BU to the rHDPE/EVA/ESP composites. This study may suggest that BU can act as compatibilizer to enhance the interfacial interaction between the rHDPE and EVA matrix in the rHDPE/EVA/ESP composites.

Effect of Polyethylene Grafted Maleic Anhydride (PEgMAH) on Tensile Properties and Swelling Behavior of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)/ Natural Rubber (NR)/ Feldspar Composites

The effects of polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride (PEgMAH) as a compatibilizer on the tensile properties and swelling behavior of ethylene vinyl acetate /Natural Rubber/ Feldspar (EVA/NR/FP) composites were studied. The EVA/NR/FP composites with and without PEgMAH were prepared using Brabender Plasticoder at 160oC with 50rpm rotor speed. The results indicated that EVA/NR/FP/PEgMAH had higher value of tensile strength and M100 but lower elongation at break and percentage mass swell.

Effect of Isophthalic Acid-Maleic Anhydride (IAMA) as a Compatibilizer on Tensile Properties and Swelling Behavior of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)/ Natural Rubber (NR)/ Potash Feldspar Composites

The effect of isophathalic acid-maleic anhydride (IAMA) as a compatibilizer on the tensile properties and swelling behavior of ethylene vinyl acetate /natural rubber/ feldspar (EVA/NR/PF) composites were studied. The EVA/NR/PF composites with and without IAMA were prepared using Brabender Plasticoder at 160oC with 50rpm rotor speed. The results indicated that EVA/NR/PF/IAMA showed higher value of tensile strength and M100 but lower elongation at break and percentage mass swell compared to EVA/NR/PF composites.

Effect of Maleic Anhydride (MA) on Properties of Recycled High Density Polyethylene/Ethylene Vinyl Acetate/Egg Shell Powder (rHDPE/EVA/ESP) Composites

The difference in polarity of recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) blends leads to poor mechanical properties (Atul Rajan, 2013). Present works aim at finding the effects of maleic anhydride on the mechanical, morphological, and water resistance properties of rHDPE/EVA/ESP blends. It is shown that there is a significant improvement on tensile strength, interfacial adhesion between components, and water absorption resistance of adding maleic anhydride (MA) to rHDPE/EVA/ESP blends. This study may suggest that the MA can act as compatibilizer to enhance the interfacial interaction between the rHDPE and EVA matrix in the rHDPE/EVA/ESP composites.

Effect of Filler Loading and Isophthalic Acid-Maleic Anhydride (IAMA) on Properties of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate/Natural Rubber/Potash Feldspar (EVA/NR/PF) Composites

The EVA/NR/PF composites with and without IAMA were prepared using Brabender Plasticoder at 160oC with 50rpm rotor speed. The effects of potash feldspar loading and isophathalic acid-maleic anhydride (IAMA) on the tensile properties and morphology analysis of EVA/NR/PF composites were studied. The results indicated that tensile strength for EVA/NR/PF and EVA/NR/PFIAMA composites decreased but M100 increased as the filler loading increased. EVA/NR/PFIAMA composites showed higher value of tensile strength and M100.