Abstract
High aspect ratio Phlogopite mica was used to enhance the dimensional stability and mechanical properties of extruded rigid Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) foam. Mica was added to rigid PVC compound at different concentrations (0 - 20 wt%) and processed using a single screw profile extruder. PVC foam-Mica composites were characterized for their dimensional stability, and structural, thermal, and mechanical properties. Experimental results showed that the dimensional stability increased by 44% and heat resistance of the samples improved as the amount of mica increased in the composites. The storage modulus and tensile strength of the composites were also enhanced with the addition of mica. However, increasing the concentration of mica had no significant effect on the impact and flexural properties of the composites. SEM micrographs show good dispersion and orientation of the mica flakes along the cell walls of the PVC foam. Overall, the platy structure and physical properties of mica seemed to have played an important role in providing good interfacial bonding with the cell membranes of the foam, thus enhancing the dimensional stability of the PVC- Mica foam composites.
Highlights
Polymer foams are a unique class of materials that are widely used due to their light weight, low cost, and good formability along with load bearing and insulation capabilities
It is evident that increasing the percentage of mica reduces the thermal shrinkage of the Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)-mica composites from an initial value of 3.4% to 1.9% in samples reinforced with 20% mica, which accounts for a net reduction of 44%
Samples containing 5% mica barely show any improvement in dimensional stability when compared to the pristine PVC foam
Summary
Polymer foams are a unique class of materials that are widely used due to their light weight, low cost, and good formability along with load bearing and insulation capabilities. Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) foams and their composites have been used as an excellent replacement for wood in the building material industry in the form of profiles, sheets, and pipes due to their low cost, low density, fire retardancy, and high insulation and damping properties. Certain applications of PVC foam products require excellent dimensional stability; such as in exterior molding, siding, decking and railing applications. Solid fillers, such as calcium carbonate, talc, glass fibers, carbon fibers, and wood fibers, have been reported as effective PVC reinforcement additives in many publications [3]-[5]. The selection process for an effective reinforcement filler depends on its compatibility with the polymer matrix and the desired relationship among structure, property, and performance of the composite
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