Showing papers by "Muhammad Remanul Islam published in 2015"

Preparation and Characterization of Poly(lactic acid)-Based Composites Reinforced with Poly Dimethyl Siloxane/Ultrasound-Treated Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch

Abstract: Oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber and polylactic acid were used to produce composites by melting cast method. Fiber loading was considered up to 40 wt%. Oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers were treated using ultrasound and polydimethylsiloxane to improve the interfacial adhesion. The structure and surface properties of the fibers were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and contact angle measurement. Moreover, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, tensile, flexural, X-ray diffraction, contact angle, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to investigate composites’ properties. The analysis revealed that polydimethylsiloxane treatment composites show reduced wettability with increased crystallinity.

Effects of poly(dimethyl siloxane) on the water absorption and natural degradation of poly(lactic acid)/oil-palm empty-fruit-bunch fiber biocomposites

Abstract: Composites were fabricated with poly(lactic acid) and oil-palm empty-fruit-bunch (EFB) fibers with extrusion; this was followed by an injection-molding technique. Before compounding, the surface of the fiber was modified through ultrasound and poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS). The influences of the ultrasound and PDMS on the water absorption and biodegradability of the composites were investigated. Additionally, the composites were buried under soil for 6 months, and their biodegradability was assessed through different characterization techniques, such as tensile testing and weight loss and diffussability measurement. The changes on the surface of the fibers due to treatment were examined by scanning electron microscopy analysis, and the influences on the biodegradability of the composites were observed. Functional group analysis and possible changes before and after degradation were also examined by a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometric technique. The results analyses revealed that the treatment of fibers improved the density of the fibers and reduced the water uptake of the composites. The overall weight loss due to soil burial testing was found to be maximum for the untreated-fiber-based composites (6.8%), whereas the ultrasound- and silane-treated composites showed the minimum value of weight loss (3.7%). The deterioration of the tensile strength due to degradation was found to be at a maximum for the untreated-fiber-based composite (27%), whereas the ultrasound- and silane-treated-fiber-based composites showed a minimum value of 8%.

Characterization Of Ultrasound-Treated Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch-Glass Fiber-Recycled Polypropylene Hybrid Composites

Abstract: Glass fiber (GF) and ultrasound-treated oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) were used to prepare recycled polypropylene (RPP)-based hybrid composites through the extrusion and injection molding technique. The ultra- sound technique was used to remove the lignin and other surface impurities from the EFB fiber by varying the treat- ment conditions (treatment time and temperature). A fixed concentration (10%) of NaOH solution was used as the treatment medium. Fiber loading was considered as 40%, while EFB and GF ratio was maintained as 70:30. Two types of coupling agents of maleic anhydride grafted PP (MAPP), Polybond and Fusabond, were used, each of an amount 2.5% (of the total fiber content), to improve the interfacial adhesion between fibers and matrix. Compos- ites were characterized through density, melt flow index (MFI), tensile, flexural and Izod impact testing. In addi- tion, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scan- ning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were also performed to evaluate the thermal and morphological properties, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was performed to evaluate the crystalline structure of the samples. Finally, water uptake (WU) meas- urement was performed for 180 days of soaking period. Result analyses revealed improved mechanical, thermal and crystalline properties, with reduced WU as the out- come of treatment and coupling agent effects.

The effects of five different types of acid anhydrides and incorporation of montmorillonite nanoclays on thermosetting resins

Abstract: Five different types of acid anhydrides such as succinic anhydride (SA), maleic anhydride (MA), phthalic anhydride (PA), 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride (TPA) and cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride (CDA) were used to prepare various polyalkyd resins from palm oil by following alcoholysis and esterification reaction. Palm oil was subjected to dehydration process using concentrated sulphuric acid prior to alcoholysis to improve the unsaturation in the fatty acid chains. Various physicochemical properties of the resins such as acid value, iodine value, yield, density, specific gravity, molecular weight, non-volatile material content, drying time, colour, solubility, etc., were tested by using standard methods. The resins were cured by using methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP), styrene and cobalt naphthenate at 120 °C. To enhance the thermal, structural and other resinous properties, 0.5 wt% of montmorillonite nanoclays (MNCs) was dispersed in TPA-based resin. The cured films were tested for X-ray diffraction, surface morphology, tensile properties, pencil hardness, gloss, gel content, swelling ratio, adhesion, thermogravimetric analysis, and chemical resistivity. In addition, hydrophobicity of the cured films was observed by contact angle measurement. A comparison was drawn among the resins as well as the films prepared from different acid anhydrides. Analysis revealed that TPA-based resin/film shows improved characteristics among the others due to high degree of crosslinking. On the other hand, incorporation of MNCs into the polyalkyds led to higher thermal properties, acceptable pencil hardness and reduced wettability, which may suit this film to be applied for high-performance surface coating applications.

The Effects of Increasing Unsaturation in Palm Oil and Incorporation of Carbon Nanotubes on Resinous Properties

Abstract: Considering palm oil as non-drying oil owing to its low iodine value, an attempt was taken to increase the unsaturation in the fatty acid chains of palm oil for the preparation of alkyds. To increase the unsaturation in the palm oil, sulphuric acid (SA) and para-toluene sulphonic acid (PTSA) was used prior to alcoholysis for the dehydration process. The iodine number of the oil samples was checked for the unsaturation measurement by Wijs method. Alkyd resin was prepared using the dehydrated palm oil by following alcoholysis and esterification reaction. To improve the film properties 0.5wt.% multi-wall carbon nano tubes (MWCNTs) were used to manufacture polymeric film. The properties of the resins were characterized by various physico-chemical properties such as density, viscosity, iodine value, saponification value, etc. Structural elucidation was confirmed by Fourier transform of infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance; surfaces of the films were examined by field-emission scanning electron microscope. In addition, pencil hardness and chemical resistivity was also measured by using standard methods. The effect of enhancement of the unsaturation in the fatty acid chain found significant and motivational. The resin prepared with dehydrated palm oil showed improved properties regarding hardness and chemical resistivity testing. The incorporation of MWCNTs enhanced the thermal stability and hardness of the films as well.

The Effects of Increasing Unsaturation in Palm Oil and Incorporation of Carbon Nanotubes on Resinous Properties

Abstract: Considering palm oil as non-drying oil owing to its low iodine value, an attempt was taken to increase the unsaturation in the fatty acid chains of palm oil for the preparation of alkyds. To increase the unsaturation in the palm oil, sulphuric acid (SA) and para-toluene sulphonic acid (PTSA) was used prior to alcoholysis for the dehydration process. The iodine number of the oil samples was checked for the unsaturation measurement by Wijs method. Alkyd resin was prepared using the dehydrated palm oil by following alcoholysis and esterification reaction. To improve the film properties 0.5wt.% multi-wall carbon nano tubes (MWCNTs) were used to manufacture polymeric film. The properties of the resins were characterized by various physico-chemical properties such as density, viscosity, iodine value, saponification value, etc. Structural elucidation was confirmed by Fourier transform of infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance; surfaces of the films were examined by field-emission scanning electron microscope. In addition, pencil hardness and chemical resistivity was also measured by using standard methods. The effect of enhancement of the unsaturation in the fatty acid chain found significant and motivational. The resin prepared with dehydrated palm oil showed improved properties regarding hardness and chemical resistivity testing. The incorporation of MWCNTs enhanced the thermal stability and hardness of the films as well.