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Plastic Composites (plastic + composite)
Kinds of Plastic Composites Selected AbstractsWood/plastic composites co-extruded with multi-walled carbon nanotube-filled rigid poly(vinyl chloride) cap layerPOLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 5 2010Shan Jin Abstract Wood/plastic composites (WPCs) can absorb moisture in a humid environment due to the hydrophilic nature of the wood in the composites, making products susceptible to microbial growth and loss of mechanical properties. Co-extruding a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)-rich cap layer on a WPC significantly reduces the moisture uptake rate, increases the flexural strength but, most importantly, decreases the flexural modulus compared to uncapped WPCs. A two-level factorial design was used to develop regression models evaluating the statistical effects of material compositions and a processing condition on the flexural properties of co-extruded rigid PVC/wood flour composites with the ultimate goal of producing co-extruded composites with better flexural properties than uncapped WPCs. Material composition variables included wood flour content in the core layer and carbon nanotube (CNT) content in the cap layer of the co-extruded composites, with the processing temperature profile for the core layer as the only processing condition variable. Fusion tests were carried out to understand the effects of the material compositions and processing condition on the flexural properties. Regression models indicated all main effects and two powerful interaction effects (processing temperature/wood flour content and wood flour content/CNT content interactions) as statistically significant. Factors leading to a fast fusion of the PVC/wood flour composites in the core layer, i.e. low wood flour content and high processing temperature, were effective material composition and processing condition parameters for improving the flexural properties of co-extruded composites. Reinforcing the cap layer with CNTs also produced a significant improvement in the flexural properties of the co-extruded composites, insensitive to the core layer composition and the processing temperature condition. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Flame retarding effects of nanoclay on wood,fiber compositesPOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007G. Guo This research article focuses on investigating the effects of nanoclay particles on the flame retarding characteristics of wood,fiber/plastic composites (WPC) using ASTM D635. The processing aspects of nanocomposites with WPC are presented. The processing techniques for controlling the degree of exfoliation and the cost aspect are also described. It turns out that the coupling agent used for wood,fibers is also effective for the exfoliation of clay, and therefore, no additional cost is required. This research indicates that the structure of nanocomposites (i.e., the degree of exfoliation) and the clay content used have a large impact on the flame retardancy of WPC. The flame retardancy is investigated as a function of these parameters. Based on this, a cost-effective way to improve flame retardancy of WPC is presented. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:308,313, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers. [source] Recent research developments in wood plastic compositesJOURNAL OF VINYL & ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Laurent M. Matuana [source] Use of Turkish huntite/hydromagnesite mineral in plastic materials as a flame retardantPOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 10 2010Hüsnügül Y, lmaz Atay In this study, the flame retardancy properties of huntite/hydromagnesite mineral in plastic compounds were investigated for potential electrical applications. Before the production of composite materials, huntite/hydromagnesite minerals were ground to particle sizes of 10, 1, and 0.1 ,m. Phase and microstructural analysis of huntite/hydromagnesite mineral powders were undertaken using XRD and SEM-EDS preceding the fabrication of the composite materials. The ground minerals with different particle size and content levels were subsequently added to ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer to produce composite materials. After fabrication of huntite/hydromagnesite reinforced plastic composite samples, they were characterized using DTA-TG, FTIR, and SEM-EDS. Flame retardancy tests were undertaken as a main objective of this research. The size distribution and the mineral content effects are measured regarding the flame retardancy of the polymer composites It was concluded that the flame retardant properties of plastic composites were improved as the mineral content increased and the size was reduced. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:1692,1700, 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers. [source] The impact of silane chemistry conditions on the properties of wood plastic composites with low density polyethylene and high wood contentPOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 5 2010Yu Geng Silane chemistry was implemented on various formulations of wood/thermoplastic polymer composites (WPCs) with low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high wood content (60 wt%). Taguchi analysis was used to evaluate the impact of vinyltrimethoxysilane content (VTMS), dicumyl peroxide content (DCP), and processing temperature on the rheological, morphological, and dynamic mechanic properties of WPCs. The torque power was measured by a Haake torque rheometer and indicated that the VTMS content and temperature most significantly impacted the rheological properties related to silane reactions. Differential scanning calorimetry also showed a larger depression in LDPE melting point and crystallinity index when a high VTMS content (35 phr), high DCP content (0.5 phr), and a high compounding temperature (200°C) were used. With dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), it was shown that the compounded formulations had a higher storage modulus over a wide range of temperature whereas the , transition temperature increased with higher content in silane reactants. Interestingly, the high humidity/temperature conditioning step aimed at crosslinking resulted in a drop of dynamic moduli compared to the freshly compounded formulations. This was explained by the fact that during compounding of LDPE with high wood content and silane reactants, significant amounts of matrix and interfacial silane crosslinking already occurred. Subsequent conditioning in a high humidity and temperature environment was proposed to hydrolyze the interfacial siloxane bonds resulting in a degradation of mechanical properties. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers [source] Effect of temperature on hygroscopic thickness swelling rate of composites from lignocellolusic fillers and HDPEPOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 11 2009Abdollah 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] Mechanical properties of wood plastic composite panels made from waste fiberboard and particleboardPOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 6 2008Majid Chaharmahali The possibility of producing wood-plastic panels using a melt blend/hot press method was studied in this research. The studied panels were compared with conventional medium density fiberboard (MDF) and particleboard (PB) panels. Wood-plastic panels were made from high density polyethylene (as resin) and MDF waste and PB waste (as natural fiber) at 60, 70, and 80% by weight fiber loadings. Nominal density and dimensions of the panels were 1 g/cm3 and 35 × 35 × 1 cm3, respectively. Mechanical properties of the panels including flexural modulus, flexural strength, screw and nail withdrawal resistances, and impact strength were studied. Results indicated that the mechanical properties of the composites were strongly affected by the proportion of the wood flour and polymer. Maximum values of flexural modulus of wood plastic panels were reached at 70% fiber content. Flexural strength, screw and nail withdrawal resistance, and impact strength of wood plastic composites declined with the increase in fiber content from 60 to 80%. This was attributed to the lack of compatibility between the phases. The produced panels outperformed conventional PB panels regarding their mechanical properties, which were acceptable when compared with MDF panels as well. The best feature in the produced panels was their screw withdrawal resistance, which is extremely important for screw joints in cabinet making. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers [source] A review on interface modification and characterization of natural fiber reinforced plastic compositesPOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 9 2001Jayamol George An Important aspect with respect to optimal mechanical performance of fiber reinforced composites in general and durability in particular is the optimization of the interfacial bond between fiber and polymer matrix. The quality of the fiber-matrix interface is significant for the application of natural fibers as reinforcement for plastics. Since the fibers and matrices are chemically different, strong adhesion at their interfaces is needed for an effective transfer of stress and bond distribution throughout an Interface. A good compatibilization between cellulose fibers and non-polar matrices is achieved from polymeric chains that will favor entanglements and interdiffiusion with the matrix. This article gives a critical review on the physical and chemical treatment methods that improve the fiber-matrix adhesion and their characterization methods. [source] Development of an extrusion system for producing fine-celled HDPE/wood-fiber composite foams using CO2 as a blowing agentADVANCES IN POLYMER TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2004H. Zhang Abstract This paper presents an innovative design of a tandem extrusion system for fine-celled foaming of plastic/wood-fiber composites using a physical blowing agent (PBA). The plastic/wood-fiber composites utilize wood-fibers (WF) as a reinforcing filler in the plastic matrix and are known to be advantageous over the neat plastics in terms of the materials cost and some improved mechanical properties such as stiffness and strength. However, these improvements are usually accompanied by sacrifices in the ductility and impact resistance. These shortcomings can be reduced by inducing fine-celled or microcellular foaming in these composites, thereby creating a new class of materials with unique properties. An innovative tandem extrusion system with continuous on-line moisture removal and PBA injection was successfully developed. The foamed composites, produced on the tandem extrusion system, were compared with those produced on a single extruder system, and demonstrated significant improvement in cell morphology, resulting from uniform mixing and effective moisture removal. The effects of WF and coupling agent (CA) on the cell morphology were studied. An increase in the WF content had an adverse affect. The cell morphology and foam structures were improved when an appropriate CA was added. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 23: 263,276, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/adv.20016 [source] Expansion mechanisms of plastic/wood-flour composite foams with moisture, dissolved gaseous volatiles, and undissolved gas bubbles,POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 7 2003G. M. Rizvi The large quantity of moisture in wood-flour may lead to the deterioration of the cell structure of foamed plastic wood-flour composites in terms of cell size, non-uniformity, and poor surface quality. Since these anomalies can cause poor mechanical properties of the foamed composites, the removal of the moisture from wood-flour becomes a critical issue with respect to the improvement of these properties. The wood-flour in this experimental study was first oven-dried at different temperatures and then subjected to acetone extraction and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The oven-dried wood-flour was blended with plastic and then subjected to extrusion foaming. The results obtained from the TGA studies indicate that most volatiles were released from the extractives. Conversely, a comparative experimental study of the foaming behavior of these plastic/wood-flour composites versus that of undried wood-flour composites confirms that removal of the adsorbed moisture from wood-flour results in a better cell morphology. However, it seems that some gaseous emissions released from wood-flour are soluble in plastic and thereby favorably contribute to the development of the cell morphology. This paper describes the expansion mechanisms of wood-flour composite foams resulting from the adsorbed moisture and dissolved gaseous emissions as well as resulting from the finely dispersed undissolved gas bubbles released from a chemical blowing agent. [source] | ||||||||||