Mechanical recycling: Compatibilization of mixed thermoplastic wastes

There have been a number of review papers on layered silicate and carbon nanotube reinforced polymer nanocomposites, in which the fillers have high aspect ratios. Particulate-polymer nanocomposites containing aerogel with extremely low density, large open pores, and high surface area are also an important class of polymer nanocomposites. Thus, this article provides an overview on the effect of aerogel on mechanical and thermal properties of polymer-based nanocomposites. Moreover, the preparation, history, classification, and characteristics of the aerogel are addressed. Among the polymer-aerogel nanocomposites, various categories including silica and carbon aerogel-polymer nanocomposites were discussed in detail. POLYM. COMPOS., 2017. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers

A review on aerogel: 3D nanoporous structured fillers in polymer‐based nanocomposites

Free Radical–Induced Graft Copolymerization onto Natural Fibers

Effect of ZnO particle sizes on thermal aging behavior of natural rubber vulcanizates

In recent years, cellulose nanofiber (CNF) has become an avidly researched material in cutting edge research fields involving prominent researchers, both in academia and industry. This has become an exciting time reaching beyond just scientific curiosity as CNF is beginning to enter various marketplaces. CNF shows unique and potentially useful features, which includes abundance, high specific surface area, renewability, high strength, eco-friendliness and high crystallinity. It is an excellent material for polymer reinforcement. Many studies have been conducted to understand the effects of CNF as a filler in polymer composites. Interestingly, most CNF polymer composites have shown a better mechanical performance compared to the neat base polymer. Thus, this enhances the application of CNF into reinforced polymer composites in several industries such as automotive, packaging, medical implant, electronics, building material and paper. Therefore, in this review, the performances of CNF polymer composites are carefully evaluated. Beyond that, several factors influencing the performance of these composites are discussed.

Performance evaluation of cellulose nanofiber reinforced polymer composites

Blends of recycled polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) were prepared and some mechanical and morphological properties were investigated. To compatibilize these blends, ABS-g-(maleic anhydride) (ABS-g-MA) and (ethylene–vinyl acetate)-g-(maleic anhydride) (EVA-g-MA) with similar degree of grafting of 1.5% were used. To compare the effect of the type of compatibilizer on mechanical properties, blends were prepared using 3, 5 and 10 phr of each compatibilizer. A co-rotating twin-screw extruder was used for blending. The results showed that ABS-g-MA had no significant effect on the tensile strength of the blends while EVA-g-MA decreased the tensile strength, the maximum decrease being about 9.6% when using 10 phr of this compatibilizer. The results of notched Charpy impact strength tests showed that EVA-g-MA increased the impact strength of blends more than ABS-g-MA. The maximum value of this increase occurred when using 5 phr of each compatibilizer, it being about 54% for ABS-g-MA and 165% for EVA-g-MA. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that the particle size of the dispersed phase was decreased in the continuous phase of PC by using the compatibilizers. Moreover, a blend without compatibilizer showed brittle behaviour while the blends containing compatibilizer showed ductile behaviour in fracture. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry

Blends of recycled polycarbonate and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene: comparing the effect of reactive compatibilizers on mechanical and morphological properties

In this research, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer is melt grafted with maleic anhydride (MAH) to obtain EVA-g-MAH. It has been used at different concentration as a reactive compatibilizer for polycarbonate (PC)/poly (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS) blends. The blends were injection molded and samples for tensile and impact strength tests were prepared. The results of tensile test show that yield strength decreases from 61.2 MPa to 53.4 MPa with increasing EVA-g-MAH concentration in prepared blends from 0 to 10 phr. Moreover, strain at break increases from 38% to 59% with increasing amount of EVA-g-MAH in blends from 0 to 5 phr. By increasing EVA-g-MAH content to more than 5 phr, elongation at break decreases. Moreover, the charpy notched impact test results show notched charpy impact strength of blends increases from 36.3kJ/m2 to 65.1kJ/m2 with increasing EVA-g-MAH content in prepared blends from 0 to 10 phr. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of broken samples confirms a ductile behaviour a...

Effect of EVA-g-MAH on Mechanical Properties of PC/ABS Blends

In this research, the effect of nano zinc oxide (ZnO) and conventional ZnO on cross-linking densities of natural rubber (NR)/butadiene rubber (BR) and NR/styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) blends was investigated. The cross-linking densities of blends were determined using swelling behavior technique. Blends of NR/BR and NR/SBR with various concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 5 parts per 100 g of rubber (phr) of nano ZnO and ZnO were prepared. A sheet of each compound was prepared using compression molding method and tests were carried out. The results indicated that the incorporation of nano ZnO instead of conventional rubber grade ZnO resulted in increasing the cross-linking density. The swelling test results show that the compounds containing nano ZnO absorb less solvent, since they had greater cross-link density in comparison with compounds that had conventional ZnO. Nano ZnO provides a more effective surface for the formation of accelerator–sulfur–ZnO complex. As a result, interfacial interaction increase...

Comparison of the effect of nano ZnO and conventional grade ZnO on the cross-linking densities of NR/BR and NR/SBR blends

In this study, the effect of nanoclay and carbon black on the curing system of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)/butadiene rubber (BR) and natural rubber (NR)/BR blends were investigated. The dispersion of nanoclay and carbon black in blends was studied under the x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Intercalated microstructure of SBR/BR blends is more stable than NR/BR blends. The presence of carbon black did not affect the dispersion state of nanoclay in NR/BR nanocomposites. By increasing the amount of nanoclay from 0 to 9 phr, the scorch time, optimum cure time, and difference between maximum and minimum torque were reduced in both the blends.

Investigating the effect of nanoclay/carbon black on sulfur curing system of SBR/BR and NR/BR blends

In this article, polyamide 6 (PA6)/clay nanocomposites, PA6/polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA) blends, and PA6/PE-g-MA/clay nanocomposites were prepared and their gasoline permeation behavior and some mechanical properties were investigated. In PA6/clay nanocomposites, cloisite 30B was used as nanoparticles, with weight percentages of 1, 3, and 5. The blends of PA6/PE-g-MA were prepared with PE-g-MA weight percents of 10, 20, and 30. All samples were prepared via melt mixing technique using a twin screw extruder. The results showed that the lowest gasoline permeation occurred when using 3 wt % of nanoclay in PA6/clay nanocomposites, and 10 wt % of PE-g-MA in PA6/PE-g-MA blends. Therefore, a sample of PA6/PE-g-MA/clay nanocomposite containing 3 wt % of nanoclay and 10 wt % of PE-g-MA was prepared and its gasoline permeation behavior was investigated. The results showed that the permeation amount of PA6/PE-g-MA/nanoclay was 0.41 g m−2 day−1, while this value was 0.46 g m−2 day−1 for both of PA6/3wt % clay nanocomposite and PA6/10 wt % PE-g-MA blend. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40150.

Gasoline permeation behavior and mechanical properties of polyamide 6/nanoclay, polyamide 6/PE-g-maleic anhydride blend, and polyamide 6/PE-g-maleic anhydride/clay nanocomposite

Alireza Farzadfar

Papers

Blends of recycled polycarbonate and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene: comparing the effect of reactive compatibilizers on mechanical and morphological properties

Effect of EVA-g-MAH on Mechanical Properties of PC/ABS Blends

Comparison of the effect of nano ZnO and conventional grade ZnO on the cross-linking densities of NR/BR and NR/SBR blends

Investigating the effect of nanoclay/carbon black on sulfur curing system of SBR/BR and NR/BR blends

Gasoline permeation behavior and mechanical properties of polyamide 6/nanoclay, polyamide 6/PE-g-maleic anhydride blend, and polyamide 6/PE-g-maleic anhydride/clay nanocomposite