Optimizing the formulation of polypropylene and rubberwood flour composites for moisture resistance by mixture design

Abstract

D-optimal mixture experimental design was used to determine the optimal mixture of composites from rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) flour and recycled polypropylene and to systematically analyze the effects of composition, namely recycled polypropylene, rubberwood flour, maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene, and ultraviolet stabilizer fractions. Panel samples were extruded, and their properties were characterized. The overall compositions significantly affected water absorption, thickness swelling, flexural strength and modulus, and maximum strain. Water absorption and thickness swelling increased with the fraction of rubberwood flour. At long immersion times, flexural strength and modulus decreased, but maximum strain increased with high fraction of rubberwood flour. The fraction of maleic anhydridegrafted polypropylene only slightly affected water absorption and flexural properties, while the ultraviolet stabilizer fraction had a clear negative effect increasing water absorption and decreasing flexural properties. The models fitted were used for optimization of a desirability score, substituting for the multiple objectives modeled. The optimal formulation found was 68.9 wt% recycled polypropylene, 25.0 wt% rubberwood flour, 5.0 wt% maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene, 0.1 wt% ultraviolet stabilizer, and 1.0 wt% lubricant. This formulation of the composites can be used for most suitable applications based on the moisture resistance.

Effect of Particle Size and Filler Content on Mechanical Properties of Avocado Wood Flour-Low Density Polyethylene Composite

“…This trend could be due to high dispersion of AWF in the LDPE matrix that needs higher energy for impact failure. Similar results were previously examined by earlier researchers (Yang, et al 2004;Rahman et al, .2010;Government et al, 2022;Homkhiew et al, 2014;Government et al,2019 (a-e)). Analysis of the optimization: From Table 4, it was recorded from CCD using RSM that the optimal conditions for the properties of AWF-LDPE composites was observed at 100 mesh particle size and 25 % filler weight which corresponded to the factors at this condition.…”

“…Government et al, 2018(a-b). The trend has been reported previously (Soury et al, 2009;Hadi, 2011;Patpen et al, 2015;Government et al,, 2021(a); Government et al, 2022;Homkhiew et al, 2014;; Government et al, 2019(b-e); Peng et al, 2015;Rostamiyan, et al 2015(b)). The Eq.6-9 stated the models for prediction of VE, VFS, VFM and VIM using RSM and the results of the ANOVA presented in Tables a to 3d Analysis of predicted and actual plots: Figure 1 presents actual and predicted plots of the mechanical properties of AWF-LDPE composite.…”

“…2(c), respectively. These discussions have been displayed by previous works (Obasi, 2015;Brent et al, 2014;Nwanenyi, 2013;Government et al, 2022: Homkhiew et al, 2014). It can be shown in Fig.…”

“…This result was in agreement with previous authors (Thakore et al, 1999;Ahmed et al, 1996;Obasi, 2012;Supri and Lim, 2009;Government. et al, 2022;Homkhiew. et al, 2014;Government.…”

“…The problem results to low interaction of wood flour and the matrix, high water absorption and reduced stress transfer from the filler to the matrix (Haristov and Vasileva, 2003;Nunes et al, 2002;André et al, 2018;Fortunati et al., 2019;Obasi and Onuegbu, 2013;Reddy et al, 2013;Azeez et al, 2019;Azeez et al, 2013;Azeez et al,, 2018;Government et al., 2019(b-d); Government et al, 2022;Homkhiew, Ratanawilai et al, 2014;Laadila et al, 2017). This can be reduced to minimum by the introduction of chemical modifying agents (sodium hydroxide, acetic acid, maleated polyethylene, etc) (Nachtigall et al, 2007;Aimi et al, 2014;Rashid et al, 2016; Homkhiew et al, 2014;Feldmann et al, 2016;Government et al, 2022;Hakeem et al., 2015;Zhang et al, 2020).Previous work demonstrated that numerous researches have been performed on the experimentation of the mechanical properties of various wood filler polymer composite (Supri and Lim, 2009;Obasi, 2012;Netra et al, 2012;Salmal et al, 2013;Blezki and Gassan, 1999;Ochi, 2008;Kannappan and Dhuri, 2012;Laadila et al, 2017;Turku et al., 2018). Notwithstanding, few concern is attributed to the main component factors binding the properties and compositions of the composite using optimization process (Chanda, 2015;Harun and Geok, 2016;Laadila et al, 2017;Najafi et al., 2013;Turku et al, 2018;Governmen...…”