Effect of processing temperatures on the thermal and mechanical properties of leather waste-ABS composites

Abstract

The effect of varying processing temperatures (200, 220 and 240°C) on the thermal and mechanical properties of uncoated and epoxy-coated chrome-tanned leather wastes-ABS composites has been studied. The results obtained showed that the mechanical properties of the composites decreased as the processing temperature increased. Epoxy-coated leather wastes fibre-ABS (CLWABS) composite yielded better mechanical properties compared to the uncoated leather wastes-ABS composite (LWABS). These results were obtained at an optimized processing temperature of 200°C. Furthermore, the results were confirmed by the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) studies. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies revealed that the epoxy-coated leather wastes fibres (CLW) showed higher onset and melting temperatures of 131.8 and 179.35°C than the uncoated leather wastes fibres (LW) with glass transition (Tg) and melting (Tm) temperatures of 128.2 and 169.4°C, respectively. When the LW and CLW fibres were mixed with Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), the Tg and Tm of CLWABS composite were found to be 94.9 and 269.8°C, respectively, higher than the LWABS composite with Tg and Tm of 89.1 and 261.6°C, respectively. Thus, this study has demonstrated that utilization of epoxy-coated chrome-tanned leather wastes fibres as fillers in the design of ABS-based composites will help a great deal in addressing the problem of solid waste pollutants in our environment.

Effects of high‐temperature optimization and resin coating treatment on the mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of natural kenaf fiber‐filled engineering plastic composites

“…The few available findings in this regard are limited. The effect of processing temperatures at 200, 220, and 240°C for coated short leather waste fibers/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymer was studied [ 30 ] and superior properties were gotten at an enhanced temperature of 200°C. An investigation into the microstructural properties of kenaf/ABS composites for reasonable temperature applications was studied [ 31 ] using different processing temperatures of 200, 220, and 240°C.…”

“…The composites had the best properties at 5 wt% leather fiber loading as higher loadings resulted in a reduced performance index. Owen et al [27] also studied the impact properties of chrome-tanned leather-reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) at different filler loadings (5,10,15, and 20 wt%) using resin surface coating techniques, and results obtained also show improved thermal stabilities and maximum impact properties found at filler loading of 5 wt%.…”

Effect of glass fiber loading and reprocessing cycles on the mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of isotactic polypropylene composites

“…Composite materials' properties are determined by the reinforcing fiber properties making them find broad applications in various sectors due to their distinctive blending of mechanical and physical properties 15–17 . The composites strengthened with man‐made fibers, carbon and glass fibers, for example, are presently dominating natural fiber‐reinforced composites because of their moisture and corrosion resistance, stability, and improved strength 18–21 .…”

Characterization of recycled and virgin polyethylene terephthalate composites reinforced with modified kenaf fibers for automotive application

“…The few attempts made using the epoxy surface coating treatments to improve the thermal stability of natural fibers and interfacial interactions with engineering polymers at high‐temperature conditions include jute fabric/RPET composites, [ 51 ] leather waste‐ABS composites, 52–54 and epoxy‐coated kenaf fiber/recycled polyethylene terephthalate [ 50,55,56 ] where high‐temperature stability of the natural fibers was recorded. However, the lowest possible extrusion temperature in combination with a short residence time is recommended to be ideally useful.…”

“…[22,42] However, the use of natural fibers at high temperature with engineering polymers such as PET presents restrictions, due to limitations in thermal stability, interfacial adhesion, wetting, dispersion, and distribution in the matrix, making the chemical modifications necessary for effective transfer of applied load from the polymeric matrix to the natural fiber, given the low thermal degradation of fiber and incompatibility between the hydrophilic nature of the fibers and the hydrophobic character of the polymeric matrices. [42,49,50] The few attempts made using the epoxy surface coating treatments to improve the thermal stability of natural fibers and interfacial interactions with engineering polymers at high-temperature conditions include jute fabric/ RPET composites, [51] leather waste-ABS composites, [52][53][54] and epoxy-coated kenaf fiber/recycled polyethylene terephthalate [50,55,56] where high-temperature stability of the natural fibers was recorded. However, the lowest possible extrusion temperature in combination with a short residence time is recommended to be ideally useful.…”