Effect of filler surface treatment on the properties of recycled high-density polyethylene/(natural rubber)/(Kenaf powder) biocomposites

Abstract

Biocomposites were prepared from a kenaf core powder and recycled high‐density polyethylene/(natural rubber) blend by using an internal mixer at 165oC and 50 rpm. The effect of the filler content and the filler surface treatment was studied. Chemical modification of kenaf filler was performed with alkali pretreatment followed by treatment with silane. Scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy studies confirmed changes in the chemical compositions and structural characteristics induced through the modification. It was found that treated biocomposites offered higher tensile strength and tensile modulus, but lower elongation at break compared with untreated biocomposites. Lower water absorption and higher thermal stability of the resultant biocomposites were also obtained when treated fillers were used. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 20:218–224, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers

Mechanical, morphological, and thermal properties of kenaf filled linear low‐density polyethylene/poly(vinyl alcohol) composites: Effect of chemical treatment

“…This attributed to the decrease in flexibility by the enhancement in KNF‐LLDPE/PVOH interfacial adhesion after treatment. Similar finding was reported by Pang and Ismail and Cao et al .…”

“…, which corresponds to the three main degradation stages that occurred for KNF‐filled LLDPE/PVOH composites. The initial peak was seen in the region of 100–200°C, which relates to the evaporation of surface moisture of KNF . The next peak was found between the region of 280–380°C, which attributes to the thermal degradation of natural fibers (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) .…”

“…In order to enhance the properties, KNF can be chemically treated to promote uniform KNF dispersion, good wettability, and fiber‐matrix interaction . There are various chemicals used in the surface modification of KNF, such as maleated polymer , silane coupling agents , sodium hydroxide , isocyanate , permanganate and acetylation . Datta and Kopczyńska (2015) studied the effect of various chemical treatments of KNF fiber using acetylation, blocked isocyanate, maleic anhydride, and permanganate.…”

Polyethylene Composites with Lignocellulosic Material

“…Reutilizing the post-consumed polymeric materials reduces the environmental impact and the consumption of virgin plastics [19]. Regarding the reuse of polyethylene, considerably research has been conducted in the area of the polyethylene-lignocellulosic composites materials [12,[19][20][21][22][23][24].…”

Aging studies of a polypropylene and natural rubber blend

“…In the second procedure, the elastomeric phase is dynamically vulcanized, leading to a thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) or also called dynamic vulcanizates (DVs). The TPVs are characterized by finely dispersed micron-sized cross-linked elastomeric particles distributed in a thermoplastic matrix [13]. The dynamic vulcanization operation makes the morphology of the material more stable.…”