Neat Polymer Research Articles

The effect of vermiculite on flame retardancy, physical and mechanical properties of wood plastic composites

The effect of expanded vermiculite (e-VMT) was evaluated relative to the physical, mechanical, and flame retardancy performance of flat-pressed wood plastic composites (WPCs). Various contents of e-VMT (2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15%) were added instead of wood flour (WF) to the matrix. Due to the hydrophilic nature of the WF, water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS) of WPCs increased as compared to neat polymer-based panels. Meanwhile, e-VMT incorporation limited the WA and TS values. As expected, the lowest WA and TS values were obtained from the highest e-VMT-reinforced WPCs. The addition of e-VMT was also found to enhance the mechanical properties of WPCs. As the e-VMT content increased and the WF content decreased, there was an improvement in flexural strength, modulus of elasticity (MOE), and tensile strength. Compared to the neat polymer panels, the MOE of WPCs increased by up to 77%. Additionally, the flame retardancy performance of WPCs improved with e-VMT reinforcement, with limiting oxygen index (LOI) values increasing up to 24%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images also demonstrated the favorable integration of e-VMT with matrix, thereby improving the mechanical properties. The inconsistency between WF and polymer was also well-observed, highlighting the tendency of WF to interact easily with water.

Photodegradation of Plastic Blends in Seawater and Its Risk to the Marine Environment

The production and use of plastic blends have been gradually increasing owing to their versatility and low cost. However, the photodegradation of plastic blends in seawater and the potential risk to the marine environment are still not well understood. In this study, plastic blends including polypropylene/thermoplastic starch blends(PP/TPS) and polylactic acid/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/thermoplastic starch blends(PLA/PBAT/TPS) were investigated. The corresponding neat polymers, namely polypropylene(PP) and polylactic acid(PLA), were set as control groups. We investigated the formation of MPs and the changes in the physicochemical properties of plastic blends after photodegradation in seawater. The size distribution of MPs indicated that PP/TPS and PLA/PBAT/TPS were more likely to produce small-sized particles after photodegradation than PP and PLA owing to their poorer mechanical properties and lower resistance to UV irradiation. Noticeable surface morphology alterations, including cracks and wrinkles, were observed for plastic blends following photodegradation, whereas PP and PLA were relatively resistant. After photodegradation, the ATR-FTIR spectrum of PP/TPS and PLA/PBAT/TPS showed a significant decrease in the characteristic bands of thermoplastic starch(TPS), indicating the degradation of their starch fractions. The C 1s spectra demonstrated that aged plastic blends contained fewer -OH groups than the pristine MPs did, further confirming the photodegradation of TPS. These results indicate that PP/TPS and PLA/PBAT/TPS had a higher degree of photodegradation than PP and PLA and thereby generated more small-sized MPs. In summary, plastic blends may pose a higher risk to the marine environment than neat polymers, and caution should be taken in the production and use of plastic blends.

Poly-Lactic Acid-Bagasse Based Bio-Composite for Additive Manufacturing.

Beer bagasse is a residue waste produced in great amounts; nevertheless, it is still underestimated in the industry. The aim of this paper is to develop an innovative and efficient methodology to recycle the beer bagasse by producing Poly-lactic acid(PLA)-based bio-composites, in the forms of pellets and filaments, to be used in additive manufacturing processes. To assess the suitability of beer bagasse for extrusion-based 3D printing techniques, it was, firstly, physically and chemically characterized. Then, it was added in combination with different kinds of plasticizers to PLA to make bio-composites, analyzing their thermal and physical properties. The results prove the great potential of bagasse, evidencing its printability. Both composites' pellets and filaments were used in two different 3D printing machines and the mechanical properties of the 3D-printed models were evaluated as a function of the composition and the kind of technology used. All the used plasticizers improved processability and the polymer-bagasse interface. Compared to neat PLA, no changes in thermal properties were detected, but a lowering of the mechanical properties of the 3D-printed composites compared to the neat polymers was observed. Finally, a comparison between the efficiency of the two 3D printing techniques to be used with the bio-based composites was performed.

Studying the mechanical behavior of a generic thermoplastic by means of a fast coarse-grained molecular dynamics model

Polymers play an emerging role in modern engineering applications due to their comparatively low cost, low density, and versatile manufacturing. The addition of nano-sized fillers further enhances the polymer’s properties but also induces a strong dependence on the resulting microstructure, particularly the matrix-filler interphase. Since an experimental characterization of this nano-sized interphase is extremely difficult, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to study the effects at such small scales. However, MD’s high computational costs usually limit the scope of a mechanical characterization. Therefore, this study presents the methodology and tools to generate and analyze samples of an efficient generic thermoplastic model. In this first contribution, we focus on the neat polymer and introduce a versatile and numerically stable self-avoiding random walker with adjustable linearity of chain growth. Moreover, we verify our equilibration procedure by preparing samples in liquid and solid state which behave physically sound. Finally, we perform uniaxial tensile tests with a maximum strain of 10 % to evaluate the mechanical properties. In the liquid case, the polymer chains are sufficiently mobile, such that the tensile stresses fluctuate only around zero, while the solid exhibits an almost linear elastic regime followed by a nonlinear part. This contribution forms the basis for a thorough mechanical characterization of polymer nanocomposites which we will address in future studies. The methodology and tools introduced are not limited to our generic polymer, but applicable to many coarse-grained models.

Effect of intermolecular interactions on the glass transition temperature of chemically modified alternating polyketones

Thermal properties of polymers depend on the chemical structure of the polymer chain and intermolecular forces arising from hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking. Here we analyzed the effect of increasing the amount of supramolecular interactions on the glass transition temperature of polyketones by chemically modifying the same polymer backbone with five amine derivatives, namely (1-(3-aminopropyl)-imidazole, 4-(aminomethyl) benzoic acid, 6-aminohexanoic acid, benzylamine or hexylamine, at various molar concentrations. The grafting was performed via the Paal-Knorr reaction and the interactions between the pyrrole backbone and different grafted functional groups were elucidated by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well as differential scanning calorimetry and computational modeling. The modification of polyketone with 4-(aminomethyl) benzoic acid and 6-aminohexanoic acid, allowed for new possibilities of hydrogen bonding and led to a significant increase in the glass transition temperature as compared to the neat polymer and pyrrole-containing polymers that did not bear reactive side groups. In contrast, modification with the imidazole derivative was found to introduce new and more robust CH⋯π interactions between imidazole groups and the π-system of the pyrrole backbone chain, based on electrostatic effects. Both types of supramolecular interactions affect the mobility of the backbone chains and this systematic study demonstrates how the combined effect of π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding to carboxylate moieties can be used to tune the molecular mobility and phase transition temperature of these chemically modified polyketones.

Enhanced dielectric and hydrophobic behaviour of aurin based polybenzoxazine dye composites

Herein, three novel bi-functional benzoxazines were synthesized using aurin as the precursor phenol with three different aromatic amines (i.e.) aniline, fluoroaniline, and trifluoromethylaniline with paraformaldehyde through Mannich condensation. The structural confirmation was done using FTIR and proton NMR. The effects of substituents present in the amines on the curing behaviour and thermal stability were studied using DSC and TGA. The aurin based trifluoromethyl substituted benzoxazine shows better thermal stability than that of the other two benzoxazines and it was selected for the preparation of composites with varying weight percentages of graphitic carbon nitride derived from dicyandiamide (Dicy-GCN) to utilize them for high k applications. The dielectric behaviour and thermal properties of both neat polymer matrix and composites were studied and compared. The 15 wt% Dicy-GCN reinforced composite shows the highest dielectric constant value of 10.25, with a low dielectric loss value of 0.046 at 1 MHz frequency. The polybenzoxazine composites developed show better thermal stability and superhydrophobic behaviour than those of neat polybenzoxazine matrix. These properties ascertain that the aurin based bifunctional polybenzoxazines and its composites can be considered for high-performance high k applications.

Development of poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(lactic acid) blend as sustainable biomaterial for dental applications

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is gaining popularity in manufacturing due to environmental concerns. When comparing to poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), PLA exhibits low melting and glass transition temperature (Tg). To enhance the properties of these polymers, a PMMA/PLA blend has been introduced. This study aimed to investigate the optimal ratio of PMMA/PLA blends for potential dental applications based on their mechanical properties, physical properties, and biocompatibility. The PMMA/PLA blends were manufactured by melting and mixing using twin screw extruder and prepared into thermoplastic polymer beads. The specimens of neat PMMA (M100), three different ratios of PMMA/PLA blends (M75, M50, and M25), and neat PLA (M0) were fabricated with injection molding technique. The neat polymers and polymer blends were investigated in terms of flexural properties, Tg, miscibility, residual monomer, water sorption, water solubility, degradation, and biocompatibility. The data was statistically analyzed. The results indicated that Tg of PMMA/PLA blends was increased with increasing PMMA content. PMMA/PLA blends were miscible in all composition ratios. The flexural properties of polymer blends were superior to those of neat PMMA and neat PLA. The biocompatibility was not different among different composition ratios. Additionally, the other parameters of PMMA/PLA blends were improved as the PMMA ratio decreased. Thus, the optimum ratio of PMMA/PLA blends have the potential to serve as novel sustainable biomaterial for extensive dental applications.

Solid polymer electrolytes based on a high dielectric polymer and ionic liquids for lithium batteries

Solid-state batteries were produced using new solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) based on the high dielectric constant polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene), P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) and 40 wt% of different ionic liquids (IL) sharing the same bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [TFSI] anion and different cations. The morphological, thermal, mechanical and electrochemical properties of the SPEs were investigated, as a function of the interaction between IL and polymer matrix. The addition of IL increased the amorphous phase of the polymer with respect to the neat polymer, leading to room temperature ionic conductivity values between 2.3 × 10−5 and 1.4 × 10−4 S cm−1, depending on the specific IL. Further, the highest lithium transference number of 0.71 was obtained for the [PMPyrr][TFSI] sample. Li/LiFePO4 half batteries using these SPEs show excellent and stable battery performance at room temperature at different C-rates. The highest discharge capacity value is achieved for the [PMPyrr][TFSI] sample, reaching 137 mAh.g−1 and 117 mAh.g−1 at C/10 and C/2 rates, respectively, with high coulombic efficiency (∼100%) and low capacity fade after 100 cycles. The use of P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) allows the development of room temperature solid-state lithium-ion batteries and the improved results are associated to the high polymer dielectric constant which facilitates IL ions dissociation, improving SPE ionic mobility.

On the modeling of cavitation and yielding in rubber-toughened amorphous polymers: Fully implicit implementation and optimization-based calibration

In the present contribution, a finite strain visco-elastic visco-plastic (three-dimensional) constitutive model is proposed to predict the nonlinear response of neat, porous and rubber-toughened amorphous polymers. In this context, a well-known nucleation law is modified and coupled with a nucleation criterion to suppress nucleation under compression and shear loadings, as well as to identify its material parameters directly. The growth of both the nucleated and initial voids is ruled by a modified version of the Gurson’s potential, ensuring the coherence in the energy dissipation between the macro and microscales. The post-yield strain hardening of the material is modeled with the well-established eight-chain model. A fully implicit integration algorithm is formulated under the infinitesimal strains functional format, and both constitutive state update and consistent tangent modulus are properly established. A three-stage optimization-based calibration procedure is designed to identify the model’s material parameters efficiently. This decoupled calibration strategy is only possible due to the well-defined influence of the model’s material parameters in the numerical response. The predictive capability of the proposed constitutive model is validated against literature results for polycarbonate and three rubber-filled polycarbonate blends. Moreover, the numerical response of the model is assessed under different triaxial states and is further compared with the homogenized response of a Representative Volume Element of the voided-amorphous polymer microstructure. The results highlight that the model can capture the typical behavior of amorphous polymers, namely yield stress, strain-softening and strain hardening under different loading conditions, as well as the decrease of stress associated with the increase of the void volume fraction. The additional numerical analyses conducted, validated some constitutive assumptions. The efficiency of the calibration procedure and the overall numerical strategy is also demonstrated.

Enhancing Structural and Thermal Properties of Poly(lactic acid) Using Graphene Oxide Filler and Anionic Surfactant Treatment.

Graphene has attracted extensive attention in various fields due to its intriguing properties. In this work, nanocomposite films based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA and PLLA) polymers filled with graphene oxide (GO) were developed. The impact of treating GO with the anionic surfactant dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium salt (AOT) on the properties of the resulting nanocomposites was investigated. To determine the morphological, optical, and structural properties of the obtained materials, physicochemical analyses were performed, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Additionally, the thermal properties and wettability of neat polymers and nanocomposites were thoroughly investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and contact angle analysis. It was observed that GO was well dispersed throughout the PLA and PLLA matrix, leading to stronger interface bonding. The results demonstrate that the untreated and treated GO improved the crystallinity and thermal stability properties of the PLA and PLLA. However, the AOT-treated GO has significantly higher performance compared to the untreated GO in terms of crystallinity, melting temperature (increased by ~15 °C), and wettability (the contact angle decreased by ~30°). These findings reveal the high performance of the developed novel composite, which could be applied in tissue engineering as a scaffold.

Studying the relationship between microstructure and properties of polylactic acid/styrene-ethylene butyl-styrene blend reinforced by graphene

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between microstructure and mechanical performance of polylactic acid when mixed with styrene-ethylene butylene-styrene copolymer and also graphene nanoplatelets. For this purpose, a series of neat polymer blends were first prepared with varying mixing ratios through a one-step melt mixing technique. Subsequently, the effect of various loadings of graphene nanoplatelets on the best mixing ratio (optimal composition) of the binary blend was investigated. To understand the different performances of various nanocomposites, the correlation of mechanical, rheological, and microstructural properties was thoroughly investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, linear viscoelastic behavior, tensile testing, and impact strength analyses. Furthermore, the influence of the mixing sequence of nanocomposites preparation on the microstructure and mechanical performance of nanocomposites was studied. Results demonstrated that the incorporation of graphene nanoplatelets as well as mixing sequence has a substantial effect on the final properties of prepared nanocomposites which was deeply discussed.

3D Printing of Low-Filled Basalt PA12 and PP Filaments for Automotive Components

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) enables many advantages compared to traditional manufacturing techniques, but the lower mechanical performance due to the higher porosity still hinders its industrial spread in key sectors like the automotive industry. PP and PA12 filaments filled with low amounts of basalt fibers were produced in the present work to improve the poor mechanical properties inherited from the additive manufacturing technique. For both matrices, the introduction of 5 wt.% of basalt fibers allows us to achieve stiffness values comparable to injection molding ones without modifying the final weight of the manufactured components. The increased filament density compared with the neat polymers, upon the introduction of basalt fibers, is counterbalanced by the intrinsic porosity of the manufacturing technique. In particular, the final components are characterized by a 0.88 g/cm3 density for PP and 1.01 g/cm3 for PA12 basalt-filled composites, which are comparable to the 0.91 g/cm3 and 1.01 g/cm3, respectively, of the related neat matrix used in injection molding. Some efforts are still needed to fill the gap of 15–28% for PP and of 26.5% for PA12 in tensile strength compared to injection-molded counterparts, but the improvement of the fiber/matrix interface by fiber surface modification or coupling agent employment could be a feasible solution.

Chemical Recycling of Commercial Poly(l-lactic acid) to l-Lactide Using a High-Performance Sn(II)/Alcohol Catalyst System.

Poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) is a leading commercial polymer produced from biomass, showing useful properties for plastics and fiber applications; after use, it is compostable. One area for improvement is postconsumer waste PLLA chemical recycling to monomer (CRM), i.e., the formation of l-lactide (l-LA) from waste plastic. This process is currently feasible at high reaction temperatures and shows low catalytic activity accompanied, in some cases, by side reactions, including epimerization. Here, a commercial Sn(II) catalyst, applied with nonvolatile commercial alcohol, enables highly efficient CRM of PLLA to yield l-LA in excellent yield and purity (92% yield, >99% l-LA from theoretical max.). The depolymerization is performed using neat polymer films at low temperatures (160 °C) under a nitrogen flow or vacuum. The chemical recycling operates with outstanding activity, achieving turnover frequencies which are up to 3000× higher than previously excellent catalysts and applied at loadings up to 6000× lower than previously leading catalysts. The catalyst system achieves a TOF = 3000 h-1 at 0.01 mol % or 1:10,000 catalyst:PLLA loading. The depolymerization of waste PLLA plastic packaging (coffee cup lids) produces pure l-LA in excellent yield and selectivity. The new catalyst system (Sn + alcohol) can itself be recycled four times in different PLLA "batch degradations" and maintains its high catalytic productivity, activity, and selectivity.

Tuning of Silver Content on the Antibacterial and Biological Properties of Poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/Biphasic Calcium Phosphate 3D-Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering.

There is a growing interest in tissue engineering, in which biomaterials play a pivotal role in promoting bone regeneration. Furthermore, smart functionalization can provide biomaterials with the additional role of preventing orthopedic infections. Due to the growing microbial resistance to antimicrobials used to treat those infections, metal ions, such as silver, thanks to their known wide range of bactericidal properties, are believed to be promising additives in developing antibacterial biomaterials. In this work, novel poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-based 3D scaffolds have been designed and developed, where the polymer matrix was modified with both silver (Ag), to supply antibacterial behavior, and calcium phosphates (biphasic calcium phosphate, BCP) particles to impart bioactive/bioresorbable properties. The microstructural analysis showed that constructs were characterized by square-shaped macropores, in line with the morphology and size of the templating salts used as pore formers. Degradation tests demonstrated the important role of calcium phosphates in improving PCL hydrophilicity, leading to a higher degradation degree for BCP/PCL composites compared to the neat polymer after 18 days of soaking. The appearance of an inhibition halo around the silver-functionalized PCL scaffolds for assayed microorganisms and a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in both adherent and planktonic bacteria demonstrate the Ag+ release from the 3D constructs. Furthermore, the PCL scaffolds enriched with the lowest silver percentages did not hamper the viability and proliferation of Saos-2 cells. A synergic combination of antimicrobial, osteoproliferative and biodegradable features provided to 3D scaffolds the required potential for bone tissue engineering, beside anti-microbial properties for reduction in prosthetic joints infections.

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) and thermoplastic polyurethane composites filled with carbon black‐polypyrrole for electromagnetic shielding applications

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the electromagnetic interference shielding properties of composites based on immiscible polymer blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) filled with carbon black doped with polypyrrole (CB‐PPy) prepared by compression molding and fused filament fabrication. Composites of PVDF/CB‐PPy and TPU/CB‐PPy were also prepared for comparison. Rheological measurements showed that although the rheological behavior of PVDF/TPU composites was an intermediate behavior between PVDF/CB‐PPy and TPU/CB‐PPy composites, the effect of the conductive filler was much more pronounced in PVDF than in TPU. Moreover, the addition of CB‐PPy was found to increase the storage modulus of the composites leading to more rigid materials, and to decrease the Tg values of the composites due to the reduction of the mobility of the polymeric chains. In addition, PVDF/TPU composites presented an intermediate behavior when compared to composites based on the neat polymers demonstrating that the addition of TPU to PVDF contributes to the development of composites with improved flexibility. Furthermore, the addition of CB‐PPy increased the electrical conductivity of all composites. However, the electrical conductivity of PVDF/TPU 50/50 vol% co‐continuous blends was higher than the electrical conductivity of PVDF/TPU 38/62 vol% composites with the same amount of conductive filler. Composites with higher electrical conductivity showed better shielding from electromagnetic radiation. As expected, composites based on the co‐continuous blend displayed higher EMI shielding efficiency than the 38/62 vol% composites. The main mechanism of shielding was absorption for all composites. Overall, composites based on the PVDF/TPU 50/50 vol% co‐continuous blend showed a better combination of EMI shielding efficiency and mechanical properties. Moreover, specimens prepared by fused filament fabrication displayed diminished electrical conductivity and EMI‐SE responses when compared to compression‐molded samples with the same composition. This difference is attributed to the presence of voids, defects, and overlapping layers, which can hamper the electron flow.

Bottlebrush Thermoplastic Elastomers as Hot-Melt Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives.

Hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesives (HMPSAs) are used in applications from office supplies to biomedical adhesives. The major component in HMPSA formulations is thermoplastic elastomers, such as styrene-based block copolymers, that provide both mechanical integrity and moldability. Since neat polymer networks are unable to establish an adhesive bond, large quantities of plasticizers and tackifiers are added. These additives enhance the adhesive performance but complicate the phase behavior and property stability of the pressure-sensitive adhesive. Herein, we introduce an alternative additive-free approach to HMPSA design based on self-assembly of bottlebrush graft-copolymers, where side chains behave as softness, strength, and viscoelasticity mediators. These systems maintain moldability of conventional thermoplastic elastomers, while architecturally disentangled bottlebrush network strands empower several benefits such as extreme softness for substrate wetting, low melt viscosity for molding and 3D-printing, and a broad frequency range of viscoelastic responses for adhesion regulation within almost four orders of magnitude. The brush graft-copolymers implement five independently controlled architectural parameters to regulate the Rouse time, work of adhesion, and debonding mechanisms.

Development and erosion wear analysis of polypropylene/Linz‐Donawitz sludge composites

AbstractIn the present investigation, a steel industry waste Linz–Donawitz (LD) sludge was added in different proportions with a polypropylene (PP) matrix and composite specimens were manufactured using the hand layup method. Experiments were performed to study the physical, mechanical, and erosion wear properties of the PP–LD sludge composites. This investigation also includes scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and x‐ray diffraction analysis of filler and composites. The erosion wear tests were carried out by Taguchi's experimental array design, where the effect of five control factors (impingement angle, filler content, erodent size, impact velocity, and erodent temperature) on erosion rate was analyzed. It was observed that filler content is the most influencing factor affecting were rate of the composites. At the maximum filler content of 20 wt%, the compressive strength and hardness increased to 85.71 MPa and 0.643 GPa, respectively. The tensile strength of the composites marginally decreased by 12.97% with the addition of 20 wt% filler. It was further observed that the flexural strength of the neat polymer decreased from 29.23 to 22.98 MPa with the addition of 20 wt% LD sludge. The SEM pictures of the eroded surface exhibited that the material removal is due to micro cracking and crack propagation.Highlights In this study, an industrial waste (LD sludge) is successfully used as a potential filler material in the PP matrix. Physical and mechanical properties of the PP‐LD sludge composites are analyzed. Effects of different parameters like filler content, impact velocity, impingement angle, erodent size and erodent temperature on the wear behavior are studied. Scanning electron microscopy is carried out so that a micro‐examination of the surfaces can be performed, as well as an assessment of the wear derbies.

Effect of hybridization and stacking sequences on mechanical properties and thermal stability of aloe vera‐roselle‐glass fiber reinforced polymer composites

AbstractEnvironment friendly polymer composites made of plant based natural fibers such as bamboo fiber, roselle fiber (RF), aloe vera fiber (AF) oil, or kenaf fiber are cardinal of the current world toward sustainability. They offer lower carbon footprint, higher biodegradability, higher specific strength, higher thermal, and acoustic characteristics. On the other hand, properties of synthetic glass fibers (GFs) such as high specific strength to weight ratio, great resistance during impact, and high durability extend their application perspective for various engineering materials. As such, in the present study, mechanical properties and thermal stability of hybrid laminate comprising of natural fiber (i.e., AF and RF) and synthetic fiber (i.e., GF) fabricated using hand layup process were investigated. Experimental findings reveal that sequencing of the fibers significantly affects properties of the composite. Introducing a layer of AF between RF increased the tensile strength by 30.2% respectively while hybrid laminates composed of three successive layers of RF exhibited 12.6% higher impact strength compared to hybrid laminate composed of AF. Besides, the thermal stability of hybrid laminates was higher (i.e., minimal weight loss of &lt;6.1% when heated up to 800°) compared to neat polymer or laminates with single reinforcement. The enhanced thermal stability, mechanical properties, and tribological properties of the “greener” hybrid laminates can be employed in various structural or lightweight industrial applications.Highlights Hybridization using natural fibers and synthetic fibers are attempted and investigated. Fiber sequencing significantly affects mechanical properties of the composite. Higher thermal stability of hybrid laminates, that is, minimal weight loss of &lt;6.1% when heated up to 800°. Laminated composed of AF in between RF exhibited lowest frictional coefficient. “Green” hybrid polymer laminate suitable for various structural and lightweight industrial applications is identified.

Analysis of sample size for friction test of short fiber reinforced polymer composites

AbstractAccording to the recommendations of literature and standards, the minimum sample size for the friction test of thermoplastics is usually 3–5. While this size is valid for the friction test of neat polymer resins with homogeneous structures, its applicability to short fiber reinforced polymer composites with inhomogeneous structures remains unclear because the uneven distribution of discontinuous fibers or fillers in the matrix leads to the performance of the composites being dispersed. In this work, as a typical example, 100 friction samples made of short carbon fiber reinforced polyetherimide (SCF/PEI) composite with a typical content of 10 vol% SCFs are prepared, and their friction coefficients are measured. The maximum likelihood estimation and goodness of fit methods are employed to assess the fitting degree between the overall friction coefficient results and five mathematical distributions. The results show that the overall friction coefficient data distribution is in good agreement with the Lognormal, Generalized extreme value (GEV), and Burr distributions, respectively. Based on the fitting result, the minimum sample size is analyzed by Monte Carlo Simulation. It shows that the minimum sample size strongly depends on the property dispersion parameter (COV: coefficient of variation). Based on this parameter, the minimum sample size is given. In a practical test, the performance dispersion degree of a composite cannot be known in advance, hence a sample size determination method is proposed to yield a reasonable performance description parameter by applying the results of this work, and this method is validated by the overall test data.Highlights Proposed a sample size determination method for practical friction tests. The minimum sample size for the friction test is yielded statistically. The minimum sample size strongly depends on a property dispersion parameter.

Nanocomposite polymer blend membrane molecularly re-engineered with 2D metal-organic framework nanosheets for efficient membrane CO2 capture

Membrane gas separation technology is an energy-efficient alternative to the traditional industrial processes for CO2 capture towards the mitigation of global warming. To overcome the inherent performance trade-off behavior of polymeric membranes, many nanoarchitectures have been incorporated for developing high-performance mixed matrix membranes. Yet, a successful nanocomposite membrane design remains challenging, especially for CO2 capture, because of polymer-filler incompatibility and interfacial defects. Herein, 2D Cu-TCPP nanosheets were synthesized and incorporated into Pebax/Poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA) blends to design MMMs with exceptional CO2/N2 separation performance. This synergistic polymer blend after crosslinking, offers a highly accommodating and robust matrix environment for the homogenous distribution of nanosheets. Cu-TCPP particles were also produced as 3D nanoflowers to probe their morphological effect on gas transport. The finely dispersed 2D nanosheets expanded the free volume of the resultant nanocomposite membranes, leading to a significantly enhanced CO2 permeability of up to 1183 Barrer which was 93% higher than the neat polymers, while they also increased the transport pathway tortuosity that contributes to a very high CO2/N2 selectivity of 57.6 at a loading of merely 0.1 wt%. Not only do such separation performances surpassed the Robeson upper bound by a large margin and outcompeted many existing advanced MMM designs, but they also remained stable after long-term operations. By carefully elucidating the gas transport tuning effect of 2D metal-organic framework nanosheets in nanocomposite membranes, this work could help broaden their applicability for other environmentally important molecular separations.