Investigation on Physical and Mechanical Properties of WPC from Corn stalk (Lignocellulosic Fiber) and HDPE

Summary: This study has tried to use HDPE and the coupling agent consistent MAPP and cornstalk fibers, create wood plastic composite material and its physical and mechanical properties such as tensile modulus, flexural modulus and humidity absorption is measured. After determining the percentage of 20, 30 and 40% of corn stalk fibers in the product and the use of two longitudinal mesh levels of 40 and 80 of them and using the 5% MAPP coupling agent testing was done and it was shown that increasing fiber length and percent increase in product humidity is absorbed. This is while the declines by increasing the fiber length changes of samples were during the tensile tests. In the bending test also increased fiber length and flexural modulus was increased.     

The influence of surface treatment on the tensile and tribological properties of wood fiber‐reinforced polyimide composite

In this paper, the effect of coupling agent surface treatment of wood fiber on tensile and tribological property of wood fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic polyimide (PI) composites was experimentally investigated. Experimental results revealed that coupling agent surface treatment could effectively improve the interfacial adhesion between wood fiber and PI matrix. Compared with the untreated wood fiber/PI composite, the coupling agent‐treated composite had better interfacial adhesion. The fracture surfaces and worn surface of samples were investigated by scanning electronic microscopy to analyze the effects of surface treatment methods.     

Monitoring the polymerization process of polypyrrole films by thermogravimetric and X-ray analysis

Bio-composite fibers were developed from wood pulp and polypropylene (PP) by an extrusion process. The thermo-physical and mechanical properties of wood pulp-PP composite fibers, neat PP and wood pulp were studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The thermal stability of bio-composite fibers was found to be significantly higher than pure wood pulp. An understanding into the melting behaviour of the composite system was obtained which would assist in selecting a suitable temperature profile for the extruder during processing. The visco-elastic properties of bio-composite fibers were also revealed from the study. The generated bio-composite fibers were also characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to understand the nature of chemical interaction between wood pulp reinforcement and PP matrix. The use of maleated polypropylene (MAPP) as a compatibilizer was investigated in relation to the fiber microstructure. Changes in absorption peaks were observed in FTIR spectra of bio-composite fibers as compared to the pure wood pulp which indicated possible chemical linkages between the fiber and polymer matrix.     

The research on the friction and wear properties of ionic liquid treated wood fiber filled PA6 composite

PA6 composites with various contents of wood fibers were prepared. The effects of fiber content and ionic liquid surface treatment on the tribological behavior of PA6 composite were studied under different nominal pressures ranging from 50 to 300 N. The tribological mechanisms were discussed based on scanning electron microscopy inspections of the worn surfaces. The surface treatment of wood fibers improves the tribological performance of the neat polymer matrix. The modification can improve O/C and N/C on the surface of wood fiber, while the increase of nitrogen and oxygen content on wood fiber surface can improve the surface polarity of wood fiber and improve the infiltration and bonding between wood fiber and PA6 resin.     

Physical and mechanical properties of ultra-oriented high-density polyethylene fibers

Ultra-oriented high-density polyethylene fibers (HDPE) have been prepared by solid-state extrusion over 60–140°C range using capillary draw ratios up to 52 and extrusion pressures of 0.12 to 0.49 GPa. The properties of the fibers have been assessed by birefringence, thermal expansivity, differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray analysis, and mechanical testing. A maximum birefringence of 0.0637 ± 0.0015 was obtained, greater than the calculated value of 0.059 for the intrinsic birefringence of the orthorhombic crystal phase. The maximum modulus obtained was 70 GPa. The melting point, density, crystallinity, and negative thermal expansion coefficient parallel to the fiber axis all increase rapidly with draw ratio and at draw ratios of 20–30 attain limiting values comparable with those of a polyethylene single crystal. The properties of the fibers have been analyzed using the simple rule of mixtures, assuming a two-phase model of crystalline and noncrystalline microstructure. The orientation of the noncrystalline phase with draw ratio was determined by birefringence and x-ray measurements. Solid-state extrusion of HDPE near the ambient melting point produced a c-axis orientation of 0.996 and a noncrystalline orientation function of 0.36. Extrusion 50°C below the ambient melting point produced a decrease in crystallinity, c-axis orientation, melting point, and birefringence, but the noncrystalline orientation increased at low draw ratios and was responsible for the increased thermal shrinkage of the fibers.     

共聚酯型热熔粘结纤维结晶结构及其熔融行为

采用DSC与WAXD相结合的方法研究了两个系列的无规嵌段共聚酯型热熔粘结纤维的结晶结构并探讨了系列样品的熔融行为.实验表明,以最低熔融温度为界,可将样品分为两组,每组只含一种可结晶单元的结晶.其结构与物理机械性质随该可结晶单元的加入量而有规律的变化.纤维的粘结性能则取决于非晶区结构,非晶区分子链柔性增加,会明显改善粘结效果.     

The improvement in interfacial shear strength of wood fiber/epoxy composite by sizing with epoxy sizing agent containing MWCNTs

This paper discloses a feasible and high efficient strategy for wood fiber treatment to introducing multi‐wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to the surface of wood fibers for the aim of improving the interfacial shear strength of wood fiber/epoxy composite. Briefly, a layer of MWCNT was deposited on wood fibers through sizing wood fibers with epoxy sizing agent containing amine‐treated MWCNTs (MWCNT‐PEI). The surface functional groups, morphology, wettability, and interphase properties of MWCNTs on the surface of wood fiber were studied. The remarkable enhancements were achieved in interfacial shear strength of reinforced composites by dipping wood fiber in MWCNTCOOH suspension and wood fiber sizing containing MWCNT‐PEI.     

原位聚合聚乙烯/蒙脱土纳米复合材料的结晶行为

用DSC研究了HDPE与MMT负载的催化剂熔融共混和原位聚合得到的两种纳米复合材料的熔融、 结晶行为和等温结晶动力学.  结果表明, HDPE与熔融共混样品的结晶度、 平衡熔点、 球晶生长速率和结晶能力大体相同; 原位聚合得到的HDPE/MMT纳米复合材料的结晶度和平衡熔点高于纯HDPE; 在相同过冷度条件下熔融结晶速率和结晶能力低于纯HDPE, 而在相同结晶温度Tc下, 熔融结晶速率和结晶能力则高于纯HDPE.  纯HDPE的晶体生长侧向单位面积表面自由能最小, 其次是熔融共混样品, 原位聚合样品最大, 且随ＭＭＴ含量的增加逐渐升高.     

The effect of coupling agents on the interfacial properties of wood‐fiber–reinforced polyimide composites

Wood‐fiber–reinforced polyimide (PI) has been widely used in many engineering fields because of its high specific strength and stiffness. However, PI does not adhere well with wood fibers because it has a low free surface energy. In addition, high viscosity in the melted phase causes poor impregnation. In this study, surface treatment methods, ie, coupling agents with plasma treatment on wood fibers, were applied to increase the interfacial strength between the wood fibers and the PI matrix. The modified wood fiber surfaces were analyzed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. To analyze the effectiveness of the surface treatment method, the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) was measured using the 3‐point bending test. From the test results, the ILSS of the specimens treated with the silane coupling agent after the plasma treatment increased by 48.7% compared with those of the untreated specimens.     

Influence of extrusion ratio on the thermal properties and morphology of ultradrawn high-density polyethylene

Solid-state extrusion of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) has received considerable attention. It has been shown that extrudate may have high values of optical clarity, tensile modulus (～70 GPa = 7 × 10¹¹ dyn/cm²), and c-axis orientation. The effects of extrusion conditions on the properties of the resultant fibers have, however, not yet been clarified. A systematic study has thus been made here to evaluate extrusion pressure, temperature, and extrusion (draw) ratio, and the molecular weight of extruded HDPE. The effects of extrusion ratio on the degree of crystallinity, melting behavior, crystal orientation, and dimensional change along the extrusion direction are reported.     

A Comparative Study of Modified and Unmodified High-Density Polyethylene/Borassus Fiber Composites

In this work, composite samples were prepared using Borassus fibers and a high-density polyethylene matrix. Alternatively, a chemically modified matrix (maleic anhydride grafted HDPE) was also used to improve fiber-matrix compatibility. The effect of fiber loading on the mechanical properties was investigated. Borassus fiber/modified HDPE composites exhibited improved mechanical performance as compared to pure HDPE composites. SEM studies on the fractured specimens of unmodified HDPE fiber composites reveal the poor fiber-matrix interaction, whereas the interaction is strong with enhanced mechanical properties for modified HDPE fiber composites. This is due to an improvement of the chemical bonding between the modified HDPE matrix and the Borassus fiber as also supported by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results. Thermal stability was also found to be enhanced slightly for modified HDPE composites.     

Thermal property determination of hybridized kenaf/PALF reinforced HDPE composite by thermogravimetric analysis

This article presents the thermal degradation behavior of hybridized kenaf (bast)/pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) reinforced high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites by thermogravimetric and derivative thermogravimetric analyses (TG/DTG) with respect to the proportions of fiber in the composite, variation in fiber loading and fiber length. It was observed that the thermal decomposition of all the samples had taken place within the scheduled temperature range of 35?C615?°C. For hybrid composites prepared at 40% fiber loading, the initial peak between 236.9 and 331?°C corresponds to a mass loss of between 23 and 26%, and expectedly, PALF composite and 1:1 hybrid composite have the highest mass lost at this point. Main decomposition temperature as revealed from DTG curves occurred around 467?°C for all except composite prepared with 0.75 and 2?mm fiber length. The mass loss at this temperature was between 64.4 and 73.7%. However, at 464.87?°C, around 98% of neat HDPE had already degraded. Decomposition temperature of other composites was a little higher than the temperature at which HDPE concluded decomposition. Kenaf composite on its own showed initial thermal resistance, but above 240?°C, a sharp increase in decomposition occurred with temperature. Interestingly, hybridization took care of this. Kenaf and PALF composite have shown weaker thermal stability compared to neat HDPE at lower temperatures. The introduction of more fiber into the matrix at onset caused the thermal stability of the hybridized composite to decrease. This reduction in thermal stability of the hybrid with increase in fiber loading became obvious after the dehydration process. Decomposition of hybrid composite is directly proportional to increase in fiber loading. However, at 385?°C, where neat HDPE started decomposing, the percentage degradation of the hybrid showed inverse proportionality with increase in fiber loading. As observed, the size of the lignin and hemicelluloses shoulders in DTG curves deepen with increase in fiber loading, an indication of increased presence with increase in fiber loading.     

不同的偶联剂处理木纤维对木纤维和低密度聚乙烯复合材料力学性能的影响

本文对木纤维作增强填料填充低密度聚乙烯（LDPE）所获得的生物降解复合材料力学性能进行了研究．分别用四种不同的偶联剂：改性钛酸酯类偶联剂TC－POT、TC－PBT和硅烷类偶联剂γ-（2，3环氧丙氧基）丙基三甲基硅烷（KH－560）、甲基乙烯基硅烷（205－Silane）处理水纤维，经实验发现用改性钛酸酯类偶联剂TC－POT、TC-PBT处理的木纤维对低密度聚乙烯（LDPE）具有较好增强作用，所组成的复合材料具有较好的力学性能．本文也研究了不同偶联刘含量处理木纤维对复合材料力学性能的影响。     

Effect of a post‐annealing process on microstructure and mechanical properties of high‐density polyethylene/silica nanocomposites

High‐density polyethylene (HDPE) and nanosilica nanocomposites were prepared for SiO₂ content up to 15 wt%. Microstructural characterization evidenced a homogenous distribution of silica aggregates with a mean size increasing with the filler content finally resulting in a rheological percolation between 7.5 and 10 wt%. Nanoparticles did not induce any significant impact on the matrix crystallinity but led to a real improvement on elastic properties accompanied with a large embrittlement above the percolation threshold. The effect of annealing near HDPE melting temperature was studied. Differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction, and small‐angle X‐ray scattering analyses showed a significant change in the HDPE microstructure after annealing at 125°C. A large increase in the crystallinity (from 68 to 76%) and a clear improvement of Young's modulus (by 55%) were observed prior to polymer degradation. A valuable impact of silica particles on thermal stability was also obvious regarding the evolution of elastic properties for extended exposure times (850–1,200 h). © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 535–546     

Structural characteristics of some high density polyethylene/EPDM blends

Blends of ethylene propylene diene terpolymer rubber (EPDM) with high density polyethylene were obtained by melt mixing. Mechanical properties of the composites, tensile strength, hardness, resilience, elongation at break, 100% modulus and tear strength were determined. Differential scanning calorimetry and wide angle x-ray diffraction were employed to study melting behavior and crystalline structure. The surface properties were analyzed using contact angle determinations. Also, compatibilization with PE-g-MA or dynamical vulcanization using phenolic resins was applied to obtain improved mechanical properties. It was found that the crystalline structure of HDPE was not changed during blending. The vulcanized composite presents a lower degree of crystallinity. Elongation at break and hardness were significantly increased for composites containing compatibilizing agent. The morphology of EPDM composites was studied by atomic force microscopy.     

石墨填充高密度聚乙烯基复合材料导热性能的研究

选用导热系数较高的无机填料石墨对高密度聚乙烯(HDPE)进行填充改性;采用偶联剂和磨盘型力化学反应器对石墨进行表面处理,提高石墨与聚合物基体的界面相互作用;用自行研制的升温速率测定装置测试材料的导热性能,并研究材料的导热机理;用SEM观察复合材料的微观形态.实验结果表明:经偶联剂处理后,石墨在HDPE中均匀分布;测试试样的上表面温度随时间的变化可用三次多项式T=A₀+A₁t+A₂t²+A₃t³拟会;HDPE/石墨复合材料升温速率随石墨含量增加而增大;石墨含量为35％的复合材料最大升温速率为HDPE的1.75倍.     

Effect of compounding procedure on morphology and crystallization behavior of isotactic polypropylene/high‐density polyethylene/carbon black ternary composites

The effect of compounding procedure on morphology and crystallization behavior of isotactic polypropylene/high‐density polyethylene/carbon black (iPP/HDPE/CB) composite was investigated. iPP/HDPE/CB composites were prepared by four compounding procedures (A: iPP + HDPE + CB; B: iPP/HDPE + CB; C: HDPE/CB + iPP; D: iPP/CB + HDPE). Scanning electron microscopy observation showed that CB particles are mainly distributed in HDPE in all composites, and the phase morphology of composites was obviously affected by a compounding procedure. The size of the HDPE/CB domains in the composites prepared by procedures A and D decreased with the increase in CB content, whereas that of HDPE/CB in the composites prepared by procedures B and C rarely changed with the increase in CB content. The crystallization behaviors of the composites were significantly affected by their phase morphology, which resulted from the variation of compounding procedure. The isothermal crystallization rate of iPP in the composites prepared by procedures A and D was obviously increased, which may originate from the small HDPE/CB droplets dispersed in the iPP phase. The non‐isothermal crystallization curves of composites prepared by procedure D represented two peaks because the iPP component in these composites had the fastest crystallization rate, whereas the curves of composites prepared by other compounding sequences only exhibited one peak. Moreover, the crystallinity of HDPE almost increased by one time with the incorporation of only 1 phr CB because the CB particles selectively located in the HDPE phase, and the crystallinity of HDPE decreased with the further increase of CB content because of the strong restriction of CB on the HDPE chains. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of surface coating of CNTs on the mechanical properties of CF‐filled HDPE composites

Mechanical properties of carbon fiber (CF) and carbon nanotube (CNT)‐filled thermoplastic high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) composites were studied with particular interest on the effects of filler content and fiber surface treatment by coupling agent. Surface‐treated CF‐filled HDPE composites increased their tensile strength and impact strength, which is further increased with the addition of CNT. SEM showed that CNT‐coating‐treated CF‐HDPE composites show better dispersion of the filler into the matrix, which results in better interfacial adhesion between the filler and the matrix. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SMC WHISKER REINFORCED HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITES

A new type of SiO_2-MgO-CaO (SMC) whisker was used to modify high density polyethylene (HDPE).The melting behavior and crystallinity were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).The dispersion of whiskers and interfacial adhesion in the prepared HDPE/SMC whisker composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).The mechanical properties were evaluated by mechanical tests and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA).DSC data indicated that the melting temperature and the crystall...     

高密度聚乙烯/全同立构聚丙烯共混物超拉伸纤维的热行为与力学行为

用热拉法制备了高密度聚乙烯(HDPE)/全同立构聚丙烯(iPP)共混物超拉伸纤维,研究了拉伸比对其热行为及力学行为的影响,随拉伸比增加,纤维中HDPE与iPP的结晶度增大,熔融温度升高、熔程变宽;纤维中HDPE与iPP的结晶度低于其纯组分,熔融湿度与熔程基本不受组分比的影响,随拉伸比增加,纤维的模量增高,以HDPE为主的纤维的拉伸强度增大,以iPP为主的纤维拉伸强度增至一定值后,不再随拉伸比增加而增大,并有下降趋势。