Soo Jin Tan

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.

Properties of Chicken Feather Fiber-Filled Low-Density Polyethylene Composites: The Effect of Polyethylene Grafted Maleic Anhydride

The effects of polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride on tensile properties, morphology, thermal degradation, and swelling behavior of low density polyethylene/chicken feather fiber composites were studied. The LDPE/CFF composites were prepared using a Z-Blade mixer at 180°C and rotor speed of 50 rpm for 15 min. LDPE/CFF/PEgMAH composites exhibit higher tensile strength, Youngs modulus, and final decomposition temperature, but lower mass swell percentage and elongation at break than LDPE/CFF composites. SEM morphology showed that the chicken feather fiber more widely dispersed in the LDPE matrix with the addition of polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride as a coupling agent. It was also found that the addition of PEgMAH offers better thermal stability in LDPE/CFF/PEgMAH composites than LDPE/CFF composites.

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.

Structural and Electrical Properties of Graphite in Polyaniline/Graphite (PANI/G) Composites

Polyaniline and graphite composites at different graphite loading were synthesized via solution method by using N-Methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) as a solvent. The structural and electrical properties of the composites were analyzed by using XRD, FT-IR and four-point probe method. The increment in the graphite content improved the conductivity of polyaniline (PANI) from 0.017 to 0.050 S/cm. The improvement in conductivity were also being observed through peak shifted in XRD pattern and FT-IR spectra.

Characterization of Alum Crystals Synthesized from Waste Aluminium Beverage Cans

This study investigated the recycling of waste aluminium beverage cans into potash alum. The experimental procedure was carried out using concentrated H2SO4 and KOH solutions. The aluminium can pieces were dissolved in KOH solution. Then, the solution was reacted with H2SO4 solution and followed by crystallization in cold water. The results showed that the percentage yield of alum is 80% with 5 g of aluminium cans. The XRD, EDX and FTIR spectra of both commercial alum and prepared alum from experimental revealed that the two alums have essentially the same composition and have high purity.

Strength of Portland Cement with Several Composition of Bottom Ash in Different Fineness with Curing Time of 28 Days

Concrete is produced increasingly worldwide and accounting 10-20% emission of carbon dioxide. The potential long term opposing cost of environmental effects need to recognize. Residue of coal combustion ashes especially bottom ash will use to develop reuse application. This study focused on compressive strength of several composition of bottom ash as cement replacement in mortar. Curing of cement mortar techniques and duration also plays an important role and effects on the strength. The objective of this research is to examine the compressive strength of bottom ash in Portland cement under various compositions and fineness of bottom ash.

Review on the Effect of Bottom Ash in Performance of Portland Cement Mortar

Utilization and suitability of bottom ash in Portland cement have been increasing significantly in recent year. Bottom ash has substantial effects on mechanical properties with different composition of replacement in mixture of bottom ash and Portland cement. Bottom ash was used to determine the feasibility of the substitution as recycling product from industry depending on the percentage of the bottom ash. On the other hand, bottom ash offers a better solution for maintaining materials characteristic of Portland cement mortar and also provide beneficial mechanical performance. The result of using bottom ash in Portland cement mortar showed that it could make better the mechanical properties and hence disposed bottom ash wastes safely in technical, economic and environmental methods.

Effect of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA) on Tensile Properties and Spectroscopy Infrared (FTIR) Characteristics of LDPE/WHF Composites

In this work, the effect of PMMA in low density polyethylene/water hyacinth fibers composites were prepared and characterized in terms of tensile properties and FTIR characteristics. Water hyacinth fibers (WHF) were incorporated into the LDPE matrix with different fiber loading. LDPE/WHF and LDPE/WHFPMMA composites were prepared with Z-blade mixer at 180 °C with rotor speed of 50 rpm. The PMMA modified WHF increased the tensile strength and Young’s modulus while reduced the elongation at break of LDPE/WHFPMMA composites in comparison with LDPE/WHF composites. The absorption peak at 1736.28 cm-1 indicated the presence of ester carbonyl group (C=O) in LDPE/WHFPMMA composites.

Mechanical Properties, Swelling Behavior and Morphology Properties of Dynamic Vulcanized Low Density Polyethylene/Natural Rubber/Water Hyacinth Fibers Composites

The effect of dynamic vulcanization and fiber loading on properties of low density polyethylene (LDPE)/natural rubber (NR)/water hyacinth fibers (WHF) were investigated. In this study, the vulcanized thermoplastics were obtained by in situ dynamic curing of LDPE/NR/WHF composites. The LDPE/NR/WHF composites with different fiber loading were prepared by using Brabender mixer at 180 °C with the rotor speed of 50 rpm. The results showed that dynamic vulcanized LDPE/NR/WHF composites gave a higher tensile strength, Young’s modulus, elongation at break but lower molar sorption than unvulcanized LDPE/NR/WHF composites. The SEM micrographs also displayed better fibers dispersion and the crosslink formation in dynamic vulcanized LDPE/NR/WHF composites indicated better interfacial bonding among fibers and matrix compared to unvulcanized LDPE/NR/WHF composites.