Sam Sung Ting

Modified Corn Cob Filled Chitosan Biocomposite Films

The present work was investigated the effect of filler content and chemical modification on mechanical, thermal properties and morphology study of CS/CC biocomposite films. The acrylic acid was used as chemical modification of corn cob. The increasing of CC content has decreased the tensile strength and elongation at break, but increased the modulus of elasticity of CS/CC biocomposite films. The modified corn cob with acrylic acid (AA) has enhanced the tensile properties and thermal properties of CS/CC biocomposite films by improving the interfacial interaction. The chemical reaction between acrylic acid and corn cob was confirmed by Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR) and the improvement of interfacial bonding was proven by scanning electron microscopy.

A comparative study of different crosslinking agent-modified chitosan/corn cob biocomposite films

The effect of corn cob (CC) content and crosslinking agent on tensile, morphological, thermal properties, gel fraction and enzymatic degradation of chitosan (CS)/corn cob (CC) biocomposite films was studied. Epichlorohydrin (EP) and adipic acid (ADP) as crosslinking agents were added to improve the properties of CS/CC biocomposite films. The addition of CC decreased the tensile strength and elongation at break, but increased the modulus of elasticity of CS/CC biocomposite films. The EP-modified CS/CC exhibited higher tensile and thermal properties than ADP-modified CS/CC. The formation of crosslinkages between CS and EP or CS and ADP was proven by Fourier transform infrared studies. The modified CS/CC biocomposite films with ADP and EP, respectively, showed better interface interaction, as demonstrated in scanning microscopy electron. Furthermore, the incorporation of CC in CS increased the weight loss of enzymatic degradation of biocomposite films. Moreover, EP-modified CS/CC shows better resistance to hydrolysis in α-amylase enzymatic degradation than ADP-modified CS/CC. The gel fraction of CS/CC biocomposite films increases with the increasing CC content, whereas the gel fraction of modified CS/CC with EP is higher compared to modified CS/CC with ADP. The novelty of our research showed that the modified biocomposite films with EP have the highest tensile and thermal properties, also gel content than others biocomposite films. The biocomposite films modified with ADP confer plasticization effect compared to unmodified and other modified biocomposite films.

Effect of Cross-linking Agent on Tensile Properties of Chitosan/Corn Cob Biocomposite Films

Glutaraldehyde (GLA) was used as cross-linking agent in chitosan (CS)/corn cob (CC) biocomposite films. The effect of GLA content on tensile properties of CS/CC biocomposite films was studied. The CS/CC biocomposite films were produced through solvent casting method. The tensile strength of modified CS/CC biocomposite films were increased with GLA content and the optimum increment at 1% of GLA content. Similar, modulus of elasticity of biocomposite films increased with GLA content. In contrast, the elongation at break of modified CS/CC biocomposite films reduced as increasing of GLA content. The modified CS/CC biocomposite films with 1% of GLA exhibited the highest elongation at break. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results showed the presence of imine bonds (C=N) and ethylenic groups (C=C) due to the cross-linking reaction occurred between CS and GLA. Furthermore, GLA was enhanced the wettability and interfacial interaction between CS matrix and CC filler, as proven by a morphology study. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Screening of Total Phenolic Content of Antioxidant Thin Film from Pomelo (Citrus grandis) Peel

Recently, there has been an interest in potential of antioxidant film incorporated with natural extract. The film was produced by using chitosan in the presence of pomelo (Citrus grandis) peel extract. In this study, there were 3 different effects of parameter that had been screened by using 2-Level Factorial which were concentrations of chitosan, pomelo peel extract and glycerol. Meanwhile, the response that had been investigated which was Total Phenolic Content (TPC). The data were analyzed by using ANOVA to screen the parameters affecting the antioxidant activity of films. Factor B (concentration of pomelo peel extract) and AC (interaction between the concentration of chiotosan and glycerol) were significant parameters in this studied. Meanwhile, FTIR spectra of antioxidant film revealed that there were interaction between functional groups of chitosan with pomelo peel extract with presence of aromatic ring C=C stretch at wavelength of 1555.3 cm-1 and 1410.7 cm-1. These results suggested that chitosan films containing pomelo peel extract have potential as the antioxidant thin film, which can be used for development of antioxidant food packaging materials.

Thermal degradation of high-density polyethylene/soya spent powder blends

Abstract This study investigates the properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with different soya spent powder (SSP) blend contents upon oven aging. The aged properties of the HDPE/SSP blends were studied by using tensile test, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared analysis. The tensile strength and elongation at break (Eb) decreased inversely proportional to SSP content and aging period. The thermal stability of the blends was significantly reduced after 21 days of aging. After aging, the melting temperature and crystallinity of the blends decreased with increasing aging period. These results revealed that samples with higher SSP content are more brittle upon oven aging.

The Properties of Linear Low Density Polyethylene/Cyperus Odoratus (LLDPE/CY) Blends: Effect of Sodium Hydroxide

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of treated Cyperus Odoratus (CY) with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) on the properties of biodegradable plastics made from linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/CY blends. Alkali treatments for natural fibers can increased adhesion between the hydrophilic fibers and hydrophobic matric. After CY was treated with 5% NaOH solution, it can be seen that the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the LLDPE/CY blends significantly increased. Therefore, alkali treatments can be considered in modifying the properties of natural fibers.

Paddy straw powder filled PHBV biocomposites: The effects of filler loading and surface modification

The sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was used as chemical modifier to improve the properties of paddy straw powder (PSP) filled Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) biocomposites. The effects of filler content and NaOH on tensile properties and morphology of PHBV/PSP biocomposites were investigated. It was found that the addition of PSP to PHBV biocomposites have decreased the tensile strength and elongation at break, however the modulus of elasticity increased. The treated PHBV/PSP biocomposites with NaOH have higher tensile strength and modulus of elasticity but lower elongation at break. Surface treatment using NaOH has enhanced filler–matrix interaction. The better interfacial interaction between PSP and PHBV matrix was confirmed through scanning electron microscope study.

Effects of aminopropyltriethoxysilane (γ-APS) on tensile properties and morphology of polypropylene (PP), recycle acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) composites

The performance of sugarcane baggase (SCB) treated with γ-APS filled polypropylene (PP)/recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr) biocomposites were investigated. The composites with different filler loading ranging from 5 to 30 wt % were prepared using heated two roll mill by melt mixing at temperature of 180 °C. Tensile properties of the PP/NBRr/SCB composites which is tensile strength, Young Modulus and elongation at break were investigated. Increasing of treated SCB filler loading in PP/NBRr/SCB composites have increased the Young modulus however decreased the tensile strength and elongation at break of the PP/NBRr/SCB composites. From the results, γ-APS treated SCB composites shown higher tensile strength and Young Modulus but lower elongation at break when compared to the untreated SCB composites. This is due to the stronger bonding between γ-APS treated SCB with PP/NBRr matrices. These findings was supported by micrograph pictures from morphological study. SCB filler treated with γ-APS has imp...

Effects of Oven Ageing on Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)/ Recycled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBRr)/ Rice Husk Powder (RHP) Composites

The thermal degradation of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/ recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr)/ rice husk powder (RHP) composites with and without epoxidized nature rubber (ENR-50) were studied. The thermal degradation of this composite was evaluated for 30 days using oven ageing. The NBRr content was manipulated in this work and the particle size for the rice husk powder was 150-300 μm. The composites were prepared by using two-roll mills at 180 °C and then were compressed at 180 °C to produce a 1 mm thin sheets. The dumbbell samples then were analysed by using universal testing machine and field emission screening electron microscopy for tensile and morphological properties. The results obtained showed that tensile strength was decreased with the increasing of NBRr content for both oven ageing and control composites. However the oven ageing composites recorded much lower tensile properties. This may possibly due to the chain session of LDPPE matrix at longer heat exposure duration. This finding is supported by the morphological micrograph with less ductile features of the respective specimens.

Properties of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)/Recycled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBRr)/Banana Skin Powder (BSP) Composites: Oven Ageing

The thermal degradation of high density polyethylene (HDPE)/ recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr)/ banana skin powder (BSP) composites with and without ENR-50 are fabricated and studied. The thermal degradation of this composite was evaluated for 30 days oven ageing. The BSP with size of 150 – 300 μm was utilized in this work. All compounds were mixed using heated two roll mill at 180 °C. The compounds were molded in a hot press machine at 180 °C for 11 minutes to produce 1 mm thin sheet. Then the sheet were cut into dumbbell shape for the mechanical testing using universal testing machine. The tensile strength of high density polyethylene/ recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/ banana skin powder composites showed the decreasing trend with the increasing NBRr loading for the composites with and without ENR-50. However, the result for the oven ageing showed lower tensile strength. This may due to the chain session of PP matrix at heat exposure duration of 30 days.