Effect Of Filler Surface Treatment Research Articles

Rubberized geopolymer composites: Effect of filler surface treatment

Existing waste tire management strategies such as landfill, warehousing, incineration, and pyrolysis are associated with significant emissions of hazardous compounds including gases, heavy metals, and oils. A sustainable rubber waste disposal strategy is immobilizing them in a crushed form in eco-friendly geopolymer (GP) matrices. However, the implementation of this approach is constrained by the strength degradation of rubberized geopolymer composites. In order to solve this problem, this article includes a comparative investigation of the effect of various physical and chemical pre-treatments of tire crumb rubber (CR) with NaOH, H2SO4, (CH3)2CO and KMnO₄ solutions, as well as ultraviolet radiation, on the mechanical performances and microstructure of rubberized fly ash-based GP composites. It has been established that the best effects are demonstrated by treatment with an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate; oxidative reactions with the solution lead to the formation of surface-active functional groups on the rubber. As a result, there is more than a twofold increase in the hydrophilicity of CR particles, estimated from the mass of adsorbed water vapor (from 1.5 to 3.3 wt%). This provides a strong adhesive contact of the filler with the geopolymer matrix, which favorably affects the change in the mechanical properties of the composites. The compressive strength in this case has been increased from 12.8 MPa (GP/untreated CR composite) to 15.5 MPa at addition of 10.0 wt% KMnO4 treated CR. Further optimization of the composition and of the curing mode of the geopolymer binder can potentially provide an additional positive effect in this aspect.

Effect of filler surface treatment on the properties of recycled high-density polyethylene/(natural rubber)/(Kenaf powder) biocomposites

Biocomposites were prepared from a kenaf core powder and recycled high-density polyethylene/(natural rubber) blend by using an internal mixer at 165oC and 50 rpm. The effect of the filler content and the filler surface treatment was studied. Chemical modification of kenaf filler was performed with alkali pretreatment followed by treatment with silane. Scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy studies confirmed changes in the chemical compositions and structural characteristics induced through the modification. It was found that treated biocomposites offered higher tensile strength and tensile modulus, but lower elongation at break compared with untreated biocomposites. Lower water absorption and higher thermal stability of the resultant biocomposites were also obtained when treated fillers were used. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 20:218–224, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers

Effect of filler surface treatment on mechanical properties and thermal properties of single and hybrid filler–filled PP composites

AbstractThe influence of two types of surface treatments (aminosilane and Lica‐12) on the mechanical and thermal properties of polypropylene (PP) filled with single and hybrid filler (silica and mica) was studied. An improvement in tensile properties and impact strength was found for both treatments compared to those of untreated composites. However, the filler with silane coupling agent showed better improvement compared to the filler with Lica‐12 coupling agent. This was due to better adhesion between filler and matrix. Thermal analysis indicates that surface treatments increased the nucleating ability of filler, but decreased the coefficient of thermal expansion of PP composites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011

Mechanical Properties and Filler Distribution as a Function of Filler Content in Silica Filled PDMS Samples

ABSTRACTAtomic force microscopy (AFM) phase imaging and tensile stress-strain measurements are used to study a series of model compression molded fumed silica filled polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) samples with filler content of zero, 20, 35, and 50 parts per hundred (phr) to determine the relationship between filler content and stress-strain properties. AFM phase imaging was used to determine filler size, degree of aggregation, and distribution within the soft PDMS matrix. A small tensile stage was used to measure mechanical properties. Samples were not pulled to break in order to study Mullins and aging effects. Several identical 35 phr samples were subjected to an initial stress, and then one each was reevaluated over intervals up to 26 weeks to determine the degree to which these samples recovered their initial stress-strain behavior as a function of time. One sample was tested before and after heat treatment to determine if heating accelerated recovery of the stress-strain behavior. The effect of filler surface treatment on mechanical properties was examined for two samples containing 35 phr filler treated or untreated with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDZ), respectively. Fiduciary marks were used on several samples to determine permanent set. 35 phr filler samples were found to give the optimum mechanical properties. A clear Mullins effect was seen. Within experimental error, no change was seen in mechanical behavior as a function of time or heat-treatment. The mechanical properties of the sample containing the HDMZ treated silica were adversely affected. AFM phase images revealed aggregation and nonuniform distribution of the filler for all samples. Finally, a permanent set of about 3 to 6 percent was observed for the 35 phr samples.

Polystyrene/Sn–Pb alloy blends. II. Effect of alloy particle surface treatment on dynamic rheological behavior

AbstractThe effect of filler surface treatment on the dynamic rheological behaviors of polystyrene filled with Sn–Pb alloy particles was tested below and above the melting temperature (Tm) of the alloy. The mechanical relaxation relevant to the Tm of the alloy in the composite was diminished by the filler surface pretreatment. In the whole temperature range of interest, there existed a secondary plateau of the storage modulus at low frequencies. The effect of alloy particle surface treatment on the plateau was related to the matter‐state change (from solid to liquid) of the alloy. Above the Tm of the alloy, the surface treatment of the alloy affected the secondary plateau, but below the Tm, it did not. The analyses of Cole–Cole diagrams of the systems suggested that untreated and pretreated alloy fillers all retarded the relaxation processes in the molten state of polystyrene below the Tm of the alloy and that the relaxation process was separated into the high‐frequency relaxation of the phases and the low‐frequency relaxation of the droplets above the Tm. The surface treatments of the alloy filler further enhanced this action. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3173–3179, 2002

Mechanical behaviour of polypropylene composites containing fine mineral filler: Effect of filler surface treatment

The inclusion of mineral fillers in thermoplastics improves some mechanical properties but reduces others, such as impact strength. However, the use of ultrafine fillers limits this degradation. The influence of two surface treatments on the mechanical properties of polypropylene/ultrafine-kaolin composites was studied. In the first treatment, stearic acid was used on dry powder, and the second was a cationic treatment with quaternary ammonium in suspension. An improvement in the impact strength was found when the second agent was used. This can be explained from both macroscopic and microscopic points of view. We observe a better particle dispersion in the matrix and thermal analysis indicates that the crystalline structure of these materials is finer. In addition, tensile tests carried out on matrix/agent blends show that a soft interface around each particle could act as a shock absorber during an impact test.