Filler Loading (filler + loading)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Conductivity and Methanol Permeability of Nafion,Zirconium Phosphate Composite Membranes Containing High Aspect Ratio Filler Particles,

FUEL CELLS, Issue 4 2009
M. Casciola
Abstract Gels of exfoliated ,-zirconium phosphate (ZrPexf) in dimethylformamide (DMF) were used to prepare Nafion/ZrPexf composite membranes with filler loadings up to 7,wt.-% by casting mixtures of Nafion 1100 solutions in DMF and suitable amounts of 2,wt.-% ZrP gels in DMF. TEM pictures showed that the ZrPexf particles had aspect ratio of at least 20. All samples were characterised by methanol permeability (P) and through-plane (,thp) and in-plane (,inp) conductivity measurements at 40,°C and 100% RH. The methanol permeability of Nafion membranes containing in situ grown ZrP particles with low aspect ratio (Nafion/ZrPisg) was also determined. The methanol permeability and the swelling behaviour of the composite membranes turned out to be strongly dependent on the filler morphology. As a general trend, both permeability and swelling decreased according to the sequence: Nafion/ZrPisg > Nafion > Nafion/ZrPexf. The maximum selectivity (,thp/P,=,1.4,×,105,S,cm,3,s) was found for the membrane filled with 1,wt.-% ZrPexf: this value is seven times higher than that of Nafion. For the Nafion/ZrPexf membranes, the ratio ,inp/,thp increases with the filler loading, thus indicating that the preferred orientation of the ZrP sheets is parallel to the membrane surface. [source]


Effects of the filler loading and aging time on the mechanical and electrical conductivity properties of carbon black filled natural rubber

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 2 2008
A. R. Azura
Abstract The effects of the filler loading and aging time on the mechanical and electrical conductivity properties of natural rubber were investigated. In this work, carbon black (type N220) was used as a filler, and its loading was varied from 0 to 50 phr. The mechanical properties (e.g., the tensile strength and catastrophic tearing energy) increased with a filler loading up to a certain loading, and a decrease in the mechanical properties was observed with higher filler loadings. The tensile strength and catastrophic tearing energy of the aged samples decreased after 3 and 6 days of aging at 100°C. The results for the electrical conductivity properties of unaged samples showed a percolation threshold at 20 phr, and the values were consistent with further filler loadings. After aging, the percolation threshold was still maintained at 20 phr. The morphologies of unaged and aged samples were significantly different: holes were observed to occur in the aged samples. This might have been due to the movement of fillers when the materials were subjected to heat, and this subsequently influenced the mechanical properties of the natural rubber composites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source]


Effective thermal conductivity behavior of filled vulcanized perfluoromethyl vinyl ether rubber

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2008
Li Wang
Abstract The effective thermal conductivity behavior of vulcanized perfluoromethyl vinyl ether (PMVE) rubber filled with various inorganic fillers was investigated and analyzed with thermal conductivity models. Experimental results showed that there was no significant improvement in the thermal conductivity of PMVE rubber if the intrinsic thermal conductivity of the fillers was greater than 100 times that of the rubber matrix, and this agreed with the prediction of Maxwell's equation. The thermal conductivity of PMVE rubber filled with larger size silicon carbide (SiC) particles was greater than that of PMVE filled with smaller size SiC because of the lower interfacial thermal resistance, and there existed a transition filler loading at about 60 vol %. It was also found that flocculent graphite was the most effective thermally conductive filler among the fillers studied. A modified form of Agari's equation with a parameter independent on the units used was proposed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source]


Effect of single-mineral filler and hybrid-mineral filler additives on the properties of polypropylene composites

JOURNAL OF VINYL & ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
A.K. Nurdina
The present study was carried out to determine the filler characteristics and to investigate the effects of three types of mineral fillers (CaCO3, silica, and mica) and filler loadings (10,40 wt%) on the properties of polypropylene (PP) composites. The characteristics of the particulate fillers, such as mean particle size, particle size distribution, aspect ratio, shape, and degree of crystallinity were identified. In terms of mechanical properties, for all of the filled PP composites, Young's modulus increased, whereas tensile strength and strain at break decreased as the filler loading increased. However, 10 wt% of mica in a PP composite showed a tensile strength comparable with that of unfilled PP. Greater tensile strength of mica/PP composites compared to that of the other composites was observed because of lower percentages of voids and a higher aspect ratio of the filler. Mica/PP also exhibited a lower coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) compared to that of the other composites. This difference was due to a lower degree of crystallinity of the filler and the CTE value of the mica filler. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the structure of fracture surfaces, and there was a gradual change in tensile fracture behavior from ductile to brittle as the filler loading increased. The nucleating ability of the fillers was studied with differential scanning calorimetry, and a drop in crystallinity of the composites was observed with the addition of mineral filler. Studies on the hybridization effect of different (silica and mica) filler ratios on the properties of PP hybrid composites showed that the addition of mica to silica-PP composites enhanced their tensile strength and modulus. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]


The Role of Filler Networking in Fatigue Crack Propagation of Elastomers under High-Severity Conditions

MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS & ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2009
Manfred Klüppel
Abstract Structural parameters of the filler network have been evaluated by fitting quasi-static stress/strain cycles to the dynamic flocculation model. It is found that the size of filler clusters as well as the strength of filler,filler bonds increase with filler loading and carbon black activity (specific surface). This correlates with the behavior of the tear resistance obtained for pulsed loading under high-severity conditions, implying that the characteristics of the filler network govern the fracture properties of filled elastomers. The behavior of the power law exponent of fatigue crack propagation versus tearing energy can be explained by flash temperature effects in the crack tip area. [source]


Ethylene vinyl acetate/Mg-Al LDH nanocomposites by solution blending

POLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 4 2009
T. Kuila
Partially exfoliated ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA-40, 40% vinyl acetate content)/layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites using organically modified layered double hydroxide (DS-LDH) have been synthesized by solution intercalation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies of nanocomposites shows the formation of exfoliated LDH nanolayers in EVA-40 matrix at lower DS-LDH contents and partially intercalated/exfoliated EVA-40/MgAl LDH nanocomposites at higher DS-LDH contents. These EVA-40/MgAl LDH nanocomposites demonstrate a significant improvement in tensile strength and elongation at break for 3 wt% of DS-LDH filler loading compare to neat EVA-40 matrix. Thermogravimetric analysis also shows that the thermal stability of the nanocomposites increases with DS-LDH content in EVA-40. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]


The effect of biological studies of polyester composites filled carbon black and activated carbon from bamboo (Gigantochloa scortechinii)

POLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 1 2007
H.P.S. Abdul Khalil
The development of composites using various filler material increased significantly nowadays. Composite materials need to implement the biological and mechanicals impact in their life cycle. The carbon black (CB) and activated carbon (AC) from bamboo (Gigantochloa scortechinii) were used as filler in polyester composites. CB and AC were pyrolized to 700°C and activated with ZnCl2. The composites were prepared with 40% filler loading. The degradation of the composites CB and AC (mechanical properties) to the soil burial test was determined. Tensile, flexural, impact and mass changes of the buried samples were investigated. The deterioration of the samples affected by the biological attack was confirmed by SEM studies. The assessment was done after 0, 3, 6, and 12 months of the biological exposure and the results were compared with the composites filled CaCO3 (commercial filler) and cast polyester resin (as control). POLYM. COMPOS. 28:6,14, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]


Relative viscosity models and their application to capillary flow data of highly filled hard-metal carbide powder compounds

POLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 1 2005
Tomas Honek
The rheological behavior of highly filled polymer systems used in powder injection molding (PIM) technology strongly influences the final properties of the products. In this study, the capillary flow data of multi-component polymer binders,based on polyethylene, paraffin, ethylene-based copolymers, and polyethylene glycol,compounded with three various hard-metal carbide powders were employed. The rheology of such highly filled (up to 50 vol%) multiphase systems is necessarily a complex phenomenon characterized by strain dependent, non-Newtonian properties complicated by flow instabilities and yield. Over 15 mathematical models proposed for highly filled systems were tested, some of them calculating the maximum filler loading. Due to the complex structure of the filler (irregular shape, particle size distribution) and a multi-component character of the binder, the applicability of these models varied with the powder-binder systems studied. However, the particular values of maximum loadings are in good accordance with the predictions based on powder characteristics. Simple modification of Frankel-Acrivos model to the systems containing unimodal hard-metal carbide powders with particles of an irregular shape and broad particle size distribution gave precise agreement between experimental data and model prediction. POLYM. COMPOS., 26:29,36, 2005. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers. [source]


AC impedance analysis and EMI shielding effectiveness of conductive SBR composites

POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 10 2006
G.T. Mohanraj
Flexible conductive polymer composites were prepared using styrene,butadiene rubber (SBR) as a matrix and conductive carbon black as filler. The filler loading was varied from 10 to 60 phr. The complex AC impedance and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of the composites were measured at the microwave frequencies of 7.8,12.4 GHz. The effect of variation in filler concentration and measurement frequency on the AC impedance and EMI SE of the composites were investigated. Equivalent circuits describing the conduction behavior of the composites were determined by means of Nyquist plots. The complex electric modulus of the composites was also determined. Increase in the filler loading increased the capacitive nature of the materials. The composites were better defined by a parallel resistor,capacitor circuit in series with a resistor. The EMI SE was found to pass through a maximum with increase in frequency. However, with the increase in filler loading and sample thickness of the material, the EMI SE was found to increase continuously. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 46:1342,1349, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers. [source]


Rheological behavior of brominated isobutylene-co-paramethylstyrene: Effect of fillers, oil and blending with EPDM

POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 12 2002
Bhuwneesh Kumar
The melt flow properties of unfilled and filled brominated isobutylene-co-paramethylstyrene (BIMS) were measured by means of a capillary viscometer at three different temperatures (90°C, 110°C and 130°C) and four different shear rates (61, 122, 245 and 306 s,1). The effect of addition of EPDM rubber on melt flow properties of unfilled BIMS was also studied. Evaluation of the processability was done by measuring the extrudate roughness (ER) of the extrudates obtained from the MPT. The viscosity of the systems decreased with the shear rate, indicating their pseudoplastic or shear thinning nature. As expected, the viscosity of BIMS increased with the addition of fillers and decreased with the addition of oil. For the neat systems, viscosity increased with the addition of EPDM, and the blends showed a positive deviation, indicating interdiffusion of the polymer chains across the phase boundaries. The activation energy of the filled systems at constant filler loading increased with increasing filler surface area (N330 > N550 > N774, each at 30 phr loading), and filler loading (50 > 30 > 10 phr, for N330) and decreased with the addition of oil (2.5 > 5.0 > 7.5 phr, for system containing 30 phr of N330). The silica filled system showed a higher activation energy and ER than the carbon black-filled systems. With addition of N330 and N550 carbon blacks to BIMS, the extrudate roughness (ER) decreased, whereas it increased with the addition of N774 carbon black. With an increase in filler loading, ER initially increased and then decreased as compared to the neat system. For the filled systems, ER initially decreased up to 5 phr of oil, beyond which it increased. [source]


From carbon nanotube coatings to high-performance polymer nanocomposites

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2008
Stéphane Bredeau
Abstract Since their discovery at the beginning of the 1990s, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been the focus of considerable research by both academia and industry due to their remarkable and unique electronic and mechanical properties. Among numerous potential applications of CNTs, their use as reinforcing materials for polymers has recently received considerable attention since their exceptional mechanical properties, combined with their low density, offer tremendous opportunities for the development of fundamentally new material systems. However, the key challenge remains to reach a high level of nanoparticle dissociation (i.e. to break down the cohesion of aggregated CNTs) as well as a fine dispersion upon melt blending within the selected matrices. Therefore, this contribution aims at reviewing the exceptional efficiency of CNT coating by a thin layer of polymer as obtained by an in situ polymerization process catalysed directly from the nanofiller surface, known as the ,polymerization-filling technique'. This process allows for complete destructuring of the native filler aggregates. Interestingly enough, such surface-coated carbon nanotubes can be added as ,masterbatch' in commercial polymeric matrices leading to the production of polymer nanocomposites displaying much better thermomechanical, flame retardant and electrical conductive properties even at very low filler loading. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Conductivity and Methanol Permeability of Nafion,Zirconium Phosphate Composite Membranes Containing High Aspect Ratio Filler Particles,

FUEL CELLS, Issue 4 2009
M. Casciola
Abstract Gels of exfoliated ,-zirconium phosphate (ZrPexf) in dimethylformamide (DMF) were used to prepare Nafion/ZrPexf composite membranes with filler loadings up to 7,wt.-% by casting mixtures of Nafion 1100 solutions in DMF and suitable amounts of 2,wt.-% ZrP gels in DMF. TEM pictures showed that the ZrPexf particles had aspect ratio of at least 20. All samples were characterised by methanol permeability (P) and through-plane (,thp) and in-plane (,inp) conductivity measurements at 40,°C and 100% RH. The methanol permeability of Nafion membranes containing in situ grown ZrP particles with low aspect ratio (Nafion/ZrPisg) was also determined. The methanol permeability and the swelling behaviour of the composite membranes turned out to be strongly dependent on the filler morphology. As a general trend, both permeability and swelling decreased according to the sequence: Nafion/ZrPisg > Nafion > Nafion/ZrPexf. The maximum selectivity (,thp/P,=,1.4,×,105,S,cm,3,s) was found for the membrane filled with 1,wt.-% ZrPexf: this value is seven times higher than that of Nafion. For the Nafion/ZrPexf membranes, the ratio ,inp/,thp increases with the filler loading, thus indicating that the preferred orientation of the ZrP sheets is parallel to the membrane surface. [source]


Flammability and mechanical properties of Al(OH)3 and BaSO4 filled polypropylene

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2010
S. Tan
Abstract The flammability and mechanical properties of Al(OH)3/BaSO4/polypropylene (PP) composites were investigated. The flow, morphological, and thermal properties were also analyzed by melt flow index (MFI), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) studies, respectively. Total filler amount was fixed at 30 wt % to optimize physical characteristics of the composites. In addition to the flame retardant filler Al(OH)3, BaSO4 was used to balance the reduction in impact strength at high filler loadings. Substantial improvement in mechanical properties was achieved for 20 wt % Al(OH)3 (i.e., 10 wt % BaSO4) composition while maximum flammability resistance was obtained for 30 wt % Al(OH)3 composite. SEM studies showed that the presence of aggregated Al(OH)3 particles led to low interfacial adhesion between them and PP matrix ending up with decreased mechanical strength. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010 [source]


Effects of the filler loading and aging time on the mechanical and electrical conductivity properties of carbon black filled natural rubber

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 2 2008
A. R. Azura
Abstract The effects of the filler loading and aging time on the mechanical and electrical conductivity properties of natural rubber were investigated. In this work, carbon black (type N220) was used as a filler, and its loading was varied from 0 to 50 phr. The mechanical properties (e.g., the tensile strength and catastrophic tearing energy) increased with a filler loading up to a certain loading, and a decrease in the mechanical properties was observed with higher filler loadings. The tensile strength and catastrophic tearing energy of the aged samples decreased after 3 and 6 days of aging at 100°C. The results for the electrical conductivity properties of unaged samples showed a percolation threshold at 20 phr, and the values were consistent with further filler loadings. After aging, the percolation threshold was still maintained at 20 phr. The morphologies of unaged and aged samples were significantly different: holes were observed to occur in the aged samples. This might have been due to the movement of fillers when the materials were subjected to heat, and this subsequently influenced the mechanical properties of the natural rubber composites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source]


Utilization of bowstring hemp fiber as a filler in natural rubber compounds

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 1 2008
E. Osabohien
Abstract The cure characteristics and physicomechanical properties of natural rubber (standard Nigerian rubber) vulcanizates filled with the fiber of bowstring hemp (Sansevieria liberica) and carbon black were investigated. The results showed that the scorch and cure times decreased, whereas the maximum torques increased, with increasing filler loadings for both bowstring hemp fiber and carbon black filled vulcanizates. The tensile strength of both bowstring hemp fiber and carbon black filled vulcanizates increased to a maximum at a 40 phr filler concentration before decreasing. The elongation at break and rebound resilience decreased, whereas the modulus, specific gravity, abrasion resistance, and hardness increased, with increasing filler contents. The carbon black/natural rubber vulcanizates had higher tensile strength, which was about 1.5 times that of bowstring hemp fiber/natural rubber vulcanizates. This superiority in the tensile strength was probably due to the higher moisture content and larger particle size of the bowstring hemp fiber. However, the bowstring hemp fiber/natural rubber vulcanizates showed superior hardness. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source]


Effect of single-mineral filler and hybrid-mineral filler additives on the properties of polypropylene composites

JOURNAL OF VINYL & ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
A.K. Nurdina
The present study was carried out to determine the filler characteristics and to investigate the effects of three types of mineral fillers (CaCO3, silica, and mica) and filler loadings (10,40 wt%) on the properties of polypropylene (PP) composites. The characteristics of the particulate fillers, such as mean particle size, particle size distribution, aspect ratio, shape, and degree of crystallinity were identified. In terms of mechanical properties, for all of the filled PP composites, Young's modulus increased, whereas tensile strength and strain at break decreased as the filler loading increased. However, 10 wt% of mica in a PP composite showed a tensile strength comparable with that of unfilled PP. Greater tensile strength of mica/PP composites compared to that of the other composites was observed because of lower percentages of voids and a higher aspect ratio of the filler. Mica/PP also exhibited a lower coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) compared to that of the other composites. This difference was due to a lower degree of crystallinity of the filler and the CTE value of the mica filler. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the structure of fracture surfaces, and there was a gradual change in tensile fracture behavior from ductile to brittle as the filler loading increased. The nucleating ability of the fillers was studied with differential scanning calorimetry, and a drop in crystallinity of the composites was observed with the addition of mineral filler. Studies on the hybridization effect of different (silica and mica) filler ratios on the properties of PP hybrid composites showed that the addition of mica to silica-PP composites enhanced their tensile strength and modulus. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]


Comparative Characterization of PP Nano- and Microcomposites by In-Mold Shrinkage Measurements and Structural Characteristics

MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS & ENGINEERING, Issue 6 2007
Rodolfo Revilla-Díaz
Abstract Poly(propylene)-clay nanocomposites and poly(propylene) containing conventional inorganic fillers such as calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and glass fiber were used in a comparative study focusing on dimensional stability, structure, mechanical and thermal properties. Micro- and nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending in a twin-screw extruder. The relative influence of each filler was observed from dimensional stability measurements and structural analysis by WAXD, TEM, and thermal and mechanical properties. At equal filler loadings, PP/clay nanocomposites exhibit an improvement in dimensional stability and were the only composites capable of reduced shrinkage in both in-flow and cross-flow directions. The flexural modulus of PP increased nearly 20% by compounding with 4% organoclay, as compared to a similar performance obtained by compounding with 10 wt.-% of CaCO3 or approximately 6 wt.-% of glass fiber. The HDT and thermal stability of PP were enhanced by using nanoclay as filler. [source]


Influence of Coupling Agents on Melt Flow Behavior of Natural Fiber Composites

MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS & ENGINEERING, Issue 5 2007
Velichko Hristov
Abstract The influence of coupling agents on the melt rheological properties of natural fiber composites has been investigated in this work using capillary and rotational rheometers. Scanning electron microscopy was also employed to supplement the rheological data. It was found that molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the polymer matrix and coupling agent characteristics influence the filler wetting and the melt flow properties of the filled composites. Generally, low molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution polyethylene matrix provides relatively larger increase of the viscosity of the composites. Coupling agents tend to increase the resistance to shearing, but wall slip effects may interfere with the measured values, especially at very high filler loadings. Entrance pressure loss in capillaries is also influenced by polymer matrix and coupling agent used. [source]


Effect of temperature on hygroscopic thickness swelling rate of composites from lignocellolusic fillers and HDPE

POLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 11 2009
Abdollah Najafi
Effect of temperature on hygroscopic thickness swelling rate of lignocellolusic fillers/HDPE (high density polyethylene) composites was investigated. The composites were manufactured using a dry blend/hot press method. In this method, powder of plastic and dried powder of lignocellolusic material were mixed in high-speed mixer and then the mixed powder were pressed at 190°C. Lignocellolusic fillers/HDPE composites panels were made from virgin and recycled HDPE (as plastic) and wood sawdust and flour of rice hull (as filler) at 60% by weight filler loadings. Nominal density and dimensions of the panels were 1 g/cm3 and 35 × 35 × 1 cm3, respectively. Thickness swelling rate of manufactured wood plastic composites (WPCs) were evaluated by immersing them in water at 20, 40, and 60°C for reaching a certain value where no more thickness was swelled. A swelling model developed by Shi and Gardner [Compos. A, 37, 1276 (2006)] was used to study the thickness swelling process of WPCs, from which the parameter, swelling rate parameter, can be used to quantify the swelling rate. The results indicated that temperature has a significant effect on the swelling rate. The swelling rate increased as the temperature increased. The swelling model provided a good predictor of the hygroscopic swelling process of WPCs immersed in water at various temperatures. From the activation energy values calculated from the Arrhenius plots, the temperature had less effect on the thickness swelling rate for the composites including wood sawdust compared with the rice hull as filler and the composites including recycled compared with the virgin HDPE as plastic. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]