Production and characterization of PLA_PBS biodegradable blends reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals extracted from hemp fibres

Damping analysis of polyurethane/epoxy graft interpenetrating polymer network composites filled with short carbon fiber and micro hollow glass bead

Polylactide/TiO2 nanocomposites with different contents of nanoscale TiO2 were prepared by melt blending with a vane extruder in this work. SEM and TEM microphotographs indicate that the nanoparticles were well dispersed in the polymer matrix under the elongational flow field of the vane extruder. Crystallization and melting behavior were examined with DSC. The results show that TiO2 nanoparticles have an inhibition for the cold crystallization process of PLA to some extent and the cold crystallization temperature of nanocomposites shifted to a maximum value at about 106 °C with low TiO2 loadings (0.5 wt% or 1 wt%). Dynamic rheological measurements and TGA results show that the introduction of TiO2 has significantly improved the thermal stability. The toughness, surface wettability and UV resistance of the composites were also investigated in detail.

Preparation, characterization and properties of PLA/TiO2 nanocomposites based on a novel vane extruder

There has been a growing interest in the utilization of sisal fibres as reinforcement in the production of polymeric composite materials. Natural fibres have gained recognition as reinforcements in fibre polymer–matrix composites because of their mechanical properties and environmental friendliness. The mechanical properties of sisal fibre-reinforced polymer composites have been studied by many researchers and a few of them are discussed in this article. Various fibre treatments, which are carried out in order to improve adhesion, leading to improved mechanical properties, are also discussed in this review paper. This review also focuses on the influence of fibre content and fabrication methods, which can significantly affect the mechanical properties of sisal fibre-reinforced polymer composites.

Mechanical properties of sisal fibre-reinforced polymer composites: a review

The effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the mechanical and thermal properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) blends was examined. Overall, it was found that PEG acted as an effective plasticizer for the PLA phase in these microphase-separated blends, increasing the elongation at break in all blends and decreasing the Tg of the PLA phase. Significant effects on other properties were also observed. The tensile strength and Young's modulus both decreased with increasing PEG content in the blends. In contrast, the elongation at break increased with the addition of PEG, suggesting that PEG acted as a plasticizer in the polymer blends. Scanning electron microscope images showed that the fracture mode of PLA changed from brittle to ductile with the addition of PEG in the polymer blends. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43044.

The effect of poly(ethylene glycol) as plasticizer in blends of poly(lactic acid) and poly(butylene succinate)

Poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene succinate)/calcium sulfate whiskers biodegradable blends prepared by vane extruder: Analysis of mechanical properties, morphology, and crystallization behavior

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/polypropylene (PP) blends of different weight ratios were prepared with a self-made vane extruder (VE), which generates global dynamic elongational flow, and a trad...

Novel dynamic elongational flow procedure for reinforcing strong, tough, thermally stable polypropylene/thermoplastic polyurethane blends.

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)/nanoprecipitated calcium carbonate (NPCC) nanocomposites were prepared with a self-made vane extruder (VE) that generates global dynamic elongational flow and with a single-screw extruder (SSE) that generates low shear flow. The mechanical properties, dispersed phase morphology, and thermal behavior of the nanocomposites were investigated to compare the different processing techniques. Scanning electron micrograph and transmission electron micrograph show that the elongational flow in the VE improves the dispersion of NPCC (5 wt%) particles in the LDPE matrix. The dimensional distribution of NPCC particles in the VE is significantly lower than that of the SSE. Differential scanning calorimetric curves indicate that dynamic elongational flow can enhance the crystallization ability of the LDPE/NPCC nanocomposites. The mechanical properties of the VE-extruded samples are superior to those of the SSE-extruded samples. When compared with that of SSE, morphology of tensile fracture surfaces suggests that the uniform and fine dispersion of NPCC particles in the LDPE matrix can successfully improve modulus and toughness of the LDPE/NPCC nanocomposites based on the novel VE. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:884–891, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers

Effects of dynamic elongational flow on the dispersion and mechanical properties of low‐density polyethylene/nanoprecipitated calcium carbonate composites

Sisal fibers were pretreated by alkali and maleic anhydride, and then mixed with polypropylene to fabricate sisal fiber-reinforced composites by a self-made vane extruder based on elongational flow...

Composites of sisal fiber/polypropylene based on novel vane extruder: Effect of interface and damage on mechanical properties

The impact strength of V-notched U-notched and non-notched specimens of hollow glass bead filled polypropylene composite (PP/HGB) were measured by using Charpy impact tester, and the directed gray relational grade (GRG) between the HGB size distribution and the impact strength of the composites was determined by means of gray relational analysis (GRA) in order to investigate the influence of the HGB size distribution on the impact strength of the composites. The results indicated that the particles with size range from 0.00 to 24.7 µm have a positive influence on the impact strength of the composites, and the particles with size ranging from 18.90 to 24.7 µm have a greater positive influence than that of the particles with size range from 0.00 to 18.9 µm. While the particles with size ranging from 24.72 to 256.0 µm have a negative influence, especially the particles with size in a range from 100.60 to 256.0 µm. That is, the impact strength of the composites could be enhanced by increasing the particle con...

Chengran Wu

Papers

Poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene succinate)/calcium sulfate whiskers biodegradable blends prepared by vane extruder: Analysis of mechanical properties, morphology, and crystallization behavior

Novel dynamic elongational flow procedure for reinforcing strong, tough, thermally stable polypropylene/thermoplastic polyurethane blends.

Effects of dynamic elongational flow on the dispersion and mechanical properties of low‐density polyethylene/nanoprecipitated calcium carbonate composites

Composites of sisal fiber/polypropylene based on novel vane extruder: Effect of interface and damage on mechanical properties

Gray Relational Analysis between Size Distribution and Impact Strength of Polypropylene/Hollow Glass Bead Composites: