scholarly journals Effect of Cellulose Nanofiber (CNF) Surface Treatment on Cellular Structures and Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene/CNF Nanocomposite Foams via Core-Back Foam Injection Molding

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Long Wang ◽  
Kiyomi Okada ◽  
Yuta Hikima ◽  
Masahiro Ohshima ◽  
Takafumi Sekiguchi ◽  
...  

Herein, lightweight nanocomposite foams with expansion ratios ranging from 2–10-fold were fabricated using an isotactic polypropylene (iPP) matrix and cellulose nanofiber (CNF) as the reinforcing agent via core-back foam injection molding (FIM). Both the native and modified CNFs, including the different degrees of substitution (DS) of 0.2 and 0.4, were melt-prepared and used for producing the polypropylene (PP)/CNF composites. Foaming results revealed that the addition of CNF greatly improved the foamability of PP, reaching 2–3 orders of magnitude increases in cell density, in comparison to those of the neat iPP foams. Moreover, tensile test results showed that the incorporation of CNF increased the tensile modulus and yield stress of both solid and 2-fold foamed PP, and a greater reinforcing effect was achieved in composites containing modified CNF. In the compression test, PP/CNF composite foams prepared with a DS of 0.4 exhibited dramatic improvements in mechanical performance for 10-fold foams, in comparison to iPP, with increases in the elastic modulus and collapse stress of PP foams of 486% and 468%, respectively. These results demonstrate that CNF is extraordinarily helpful in enhancing the foamability of PP and reinforcing PP foams, which has importance for the development of lightweight polymer composite foams containing a natural nanofiber.

2018 ◽  
Vol 772 ◽  
pp. 13-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wapoon Tappanawatch ◽  
Paweena Prapainainar ◽  
Pongdhorn Sae-Oui ◽  
Surapich Loykulnant ◽  
Peerapan Dittanet

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were extracted from corn cob and synthesized by alkaline treatment using 3 wt% sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Acid hydrolysis with 64 wt% sulfuric acid (H2SO4) at different reaction times (30, 45, 60 min) was performed to obtain CNC solutions. CNC was evaluated as a reinforcing agent in natural rubber (NR) at CNC loadings from 1-5 wt%. Gamma-ray radiation was used as vulcanization method and varied at 10 and 20 kGy. The tensile modulus and tensile strength of NR vulcanizates increased with addition of CNC and contents. In addition, radiation by gamma ray impacts the mechanical performance, where CNC/NR composites vulcanized with higher dose of radiation of 20 KGy were found to have the higher values in tensile strength, elongation at break, and modulus than with 10 KGy. Moreover, the tensile strength and elongation at break of the composites after aging were found to slightly increase due to post-curing during the aging process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 119 ◽  
pp. 22-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinchuan Zhao ◽  
Guilong Wang ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Bo Li ◽  
Chongda Wang ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 821 ◽  
pp. 89-95
Author(s):  
Wanasorn Somphol ◽  
Thipjak Na Lampang ◽  
Paweena Prapainainar ◽  
Pongdhorn Sae-Oui ◽  
Surapich Loykulnant ◽  
...  

Poly (lactic acid) or PLA was reinforced by nanocellulose and polyethylene glycol (PEG), which were introduced into PLA matrix from 0 to 3 wt.% to enhance compatibility and strength of the PLA. The nanocellulose was prepared by TEMPO-mediated oxidation from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) powder and characterized by TEM, AFM, and XRD to reveal rod-like shaped nanocellulose with nanosized dimensions, high aspect ratio and high crystallinity. Films of nanocellulose/PEG/PLA nanocomposites were prepared by solvent casting method to evaluate the mechanical performance. It was found that the addition of PEG in nanocellulose-containing PLA films resulted in an increase in tensile modulus with only 1 wt% of PEG, where higher PEG concentrations negatively impacted the tensile strength. Furthermore, the tensile strength and modulus of nanocellulose/PEG/PLA nanocomposites were higher than the PLA/PEG composites due to the existence of nanocellulose chains. Visual traces of crazing were detailed to describe the deformation mechanism.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Ungerer ◽  
Ulrich Müller ◽  
Antje Potthast ◽  
Enrique Herrero Acero ◽  
Stefan Veigel

AbstractIn the development of structural composites based on regenerated cellulose filaments, the physical and chemical interactions at the fibre-matrix interphase need to be fully understood. In the present study, continuous yarns and filaments of viscose (rayon) were treated with either polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (pMDI) or a pMDI-based hardener for polyurethane resins. The effect of isocyanate treatment on mechanical yarn properties was evaluated in tensile tests. A significant decrease in tensile modulus, tensile force and elongation at break was found for treated samples. As revealed by size exclusion chromatography, isocyanate treatment resulted in a significantly reduced molecular weight of cellulose, presumably owing to hydrolytic cleavage caused by hydrochloric acid occurring as an impurity in pMDI. Yarn twist, fibre moisture content and, most significantly, the chemical composition of the isocyanate matrix were identified as critical process parameters strongly affecting the extent of reduction in mechanical performance. To cope with the problem of degradative reactions an additional step using calcium carbonate to trap hydrogen ions is proposed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-118
Author(s):  
Esmail Sharifzadeh ◽  
Yasahr Amiri

Abstract In this work, the effects of the morphological variation and the polymer/polymer interface on the tensile modulus of binary polymer blends were evaluated using a combined modeling method. The characteristics of the polymer/polymer interface region were evaluated using a neural network system and the results were used to improve the analytical model. The model accuracy was investigated by comparing its predictions with the tensile test results of some prepared iPP/PA blend samples and also some other data from literature which revealed an acceptable accuracy (error < 5%).


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mpho Phillip Motloung ◽  
Simphiwe Zungu ◽  
Vincent Ojijo ◽  
Jayita Bandyopadhyay ◽  
Suprakas Sinha Ray

Abstract This study examines the influence of cellulose nanocrystal (CN) particles on the morphological, thermal, and thermo-mechanical properties of polylactide (PLA)/poly [(butylene succinate)-co-adipate] (PBSA) blend foams prepared by casting and particulate leaching method using fructose as porogen particles. The morphological analysis showed an interconnected open-cell structure, with porosity above 80%. The crystallinity of the prepared foams was disrupted by the inclusion of CN particles as observed from XRD analyses, which showed a decrease in PLA crystal peak intensity. With regards to neat blend foam, the onset thermal degradation increased with the addition of CN particles, which also increased the thermal stability at 50% weight loss. Furthermore, CN acted as a reinforcing agent in improving the stiffness of the prepared blend foam. Overall, completely environmentally friendly foams were successfully prepared, as a potential material that can replace the current existing foam materials that pose many environmental concerns. However, there is a need to develop an environmentally friendly processing technique.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1895
Author(s):  
Tomasz Kozior ◽  
Czesław Kundera

This research paper reviews the test results involving viscoelastic properties of cellular structure models made with the PolyJet Matrix—PJM additive technology. The designed test specimens were of complex cellular structure and made of three various photo-curable polymer resin types. Materials were selected taking into account the so-called “soft” and “tough” material groups. Compressive stress relaxation tests were conducted in accordance with the recommendations of standard ISO 3384, and the impact of the geometric structure shape and material selection on viscoelastic properties, as well as the most favorable geometric variants of the tested cellular structure models were determined. Mathematica and Origin software was used to conduct a statistical analysis of the test results and determine five-parameter functions approximating relaxation curves. The most favorable rheological was adopted and its mean parameters determined, which enables to match both printed model materials and their geometry in the future, to make a component with a specific rheological response. Furthermore, the test results indicated that there was a possibility of modelling cellular structures within the PJM technology, using support material as well.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document