Plastic Binder Research Articles

A Polymer-Binder-Free Approach to Creating Functional LiFePO4 Cathodes by Organic Ionic Plastic Crystal-Derived Ion-Conductive Binders

Lithium-ion batteries are a promising technology to promote the phase-out of fossil fuel vehicles. Increasing efforts are focused on improving their energy density and safety by replacing current materials with more efficient and safer alternatives. In this context, binary composites of organic ionic plastic crystals (OIPCs) and lithium salts show promise due to their impressive mechanical properties and ionic conductivity. Taking advantage of this, the present paper substitutes the commercial non-electrochemically active binder with an OIPC component, N-ethyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide ([C2mpyr][FSI]), in combination with LiFSI. Slurry-formulation experiments revealed that varying the new binder’s composition allows the production of diverse LiFePO4 (LFP) cathodes via the conventional fabrication process. Large amounts of OIPC−lithium salt mixtures in the composition yielded thick electrodes with expected nominal areal capacities of up to 3.74 mAh/cm2, where the balanced composition with a reduced Li+ concentration can demonstrate >1.5 mAh/cm2 at 0.1C. Lowering the amount of these ion-conductive binders enabled LFP cathodes to perform effectively under fast cycling conditions at a C-rate as high as 2C. Preliminary battery tests with a limited Li+ source demonstrated the feasibility of full-cell operation without using the lithium-metal anode. This work paves the way for developing advanced rechargeable batteries using OIPC-based ion-conductive binders for a wide range of applications.

Adaptive reuse of waste plastic as binders in composites for sustainable construction

Effective and efficient handling of solid waste remains a significant issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and densely populated urban areas. Waste plastic is identified as a major contributor to solid waste streams. This study highlighted the viable reuse of waste Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) plastic as a binder and full replacement for cement in composite blocks. An extrusion technique was adopted to melt the plastic and mix it with the sand fillers to create a homogenous waste plastic binder composite block. Composite block samples were produced at various mixture ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 with waste plastic or cement as binder and sand as filler. The composite samples' compressive strength, flexural strength, tensile strength, UPV, thermal conductivity, skid resistance, Cantabro mass loss, and morphology were investigated. In addition, the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of the composites were carried out. The results showed that composite blocks containing waste LLDPE plastic as binder exhibited lower compressive strength, higher flexural strength, and tensile strength, better thermal insulation, and abrasion resistance compared to composite blocks containing cement as binder. Meanwhile, the cement binder composite gave better skid resistance when the surface was wet than the waste plastic binder composite. However, the waste LLDPE plastic composite mixes considered gave compressive strength above 5 N/mm2, which is the minimum requirement for building bricks according to BS 3921: 1985.

Large-grain scintillator screens for proton radiography.

Protons from the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center have been used for pulsed radiography in dynamic experiments for the past 25 years. Pulses of protons are imaged on a scintillator, and the light from these images is captured by fast gated cameras. The need for fast, bright scintillators has led to some compromises in image quality due to tiling the scintillators and backgrounds with totally internally reflected light. We show how large-grain scintillator screens, made using a thin plastic binder, solve these problems.

Kaolinite plastic binder in mortars: Rheological and mechanical properties

Portland cement and hydrated lime-based mortars are widely used in civil construction for covering and laying walls, sealing or structural restoration. However, the binders used in the production of mortar are produced in a way that is harmful to the environment, highlighting the need for alternative binders. In this work, the use of kaolinite plastic binder in mortars was evaluated, replacing hydrated lime with the material at levels of 0%, 50% and 100%. The importance of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of using an alternative binder in Portland cement and hydrated lime-based mortars. Fresh state properties were evaluated, such as consistency, squeeze flow and density in the fresh state; in addition to properties in the hardened state, such as compressive strength, water absorption, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The characterization results of kaolinite plastic binder (D10 = 0.00009 mm and D60 = 0.0004 mm) show that the material has a particle size closer to hydrated lime (D10 = 0.00001 mm and D60 = 0.0004 mm), than Portland cement and quartz sand, evidenced by parameters D10 and D60. Additionally, the kaolinite plastic binder presents moderate pozzolanicity, indicating the feasibility of being used in this type of application. The workability tests show that kaolinite plastic binder has the potential to improve the workability of the mortar. In dynamic tests (consistency) it was observed that the 100% kaolinite plastic binder composition is viable as it promotes an increase in spread from 253 to 265 mm. In static tests (squeeze flow) the composition with 50% kaolinite plastic binder showed the best spreading results, with values of 10.7 mm, while the compositions containing 0% and 100% showed spreading of 8.97 and 7.40 mm, respectively. This demonstrates the potential for using kaolinite plastic binder in mortars. The hardened state results, such as compressive strength and water absorption, were also satisfactory. Although the compressive strength values showed a reduction with the use of kaolinite plastic binder, the values reached 7.5 MPa after 28 days, which is compatible with the proposed application. Finally, it was observed from the results of XRD and SEM that the kaolinite plastic binder shows adhesion with the hydration products of the Portland cement in the mortar, promoting a reduction in ettringite and portlandite due to its moderate pozzolanicity. Based on these results, it is possible to conclude that kaolinite plastic binder is a viable substitute for hydrated lime in mortars.

Is paper bag plastic-free, without plastic in colourful logo area?

The concern over plastic contamination has led to bans on plastic shopping bags, often replaced by paper ones. However, logos painted or printed on paper bags may still contain plastics, as investigated herein. In some logos, for example, white pigment of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are bound with plastic binder onto the cellulose surface of the paper. This hybrid of plastic and nanoparticle is examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) to characterise morphology physically, and Raman imaging to identify and visualise them chemically. Raman imaging scans the sample to separate images and identify not only plastic but also the co-formulated pigment. The scan generates a hyperspectral matrix containing hundreds to thousands of spectra, and subsequent analysis can enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. Decoding the hyperspectral matrix using chemometrics like principal component analysis (PCA) can effectively map plastic and pigment separately with increased certainty. The image can be further refined through 3-dimensional surface fitting for deconvolution, providing direct visualisation of the plastic-nanoparticle hybrid at a density of approximately 7.3 million particles per square millimetre. Overall, caution should be exercised when using paper bags, as they may not be entirely free of plastics. Raman imaging proves to be an effective method for identifying and visualising complex components, including plastics and nanoparticles. Environmental ImplicationThe concern over plastic contamination has led to bans on plastic shopping bags, replaced by paper alternatives. However, some logos on paper bags may still contain plastics, which is investigated to confirm the presence of plastic-nanoparticle hybrid using SEM and Raman imaging. By employing decoding algorithms such as PCA to separately map plastic and pigment, and utilising 3D surface fitting to deconvolute the image, the hybrid plastic-nanoparticle is estimated at a density of approximately 7.3 million particles per square millimetre. It's important to exercise caution and not assume these items are plastic-free. This aspect of plastics may have been overlooked as another potential source of contamination.

Fecundity and egg viability of Sargassum oligocystum Montagne, 1845 in Iligan Bay, Northern Mindanao, Philippines

Fertile thalli of Sargassum oligocystum were collected from the intertidal area of Naawan, Misamis Oriental, in northern Mindanao, Philippines. The early development, fecundity, egg viability, and recruitment of S. oligocystum were studied to gain insights into the species' biology in preparation for its future ecological and commercial applications. The embryonic development of S. oligocystum followed almost the same pattern as other Sargassum species found in the literature: 1) the presence of unfertilized eight-nuclei eggs, 2) zygotes undergoing division into embryos after fertilization, and 3) the development of dense rhizoids on embryos after 4–5 days from release. The fecundity of one thallus of S. oligocystum produced 0.5 million eggs and 746 ± 1.5 eggs per receptacle, with 94.72% viability of eggs developing rhizoids for attachment. Recruitment of zygotes ranged from 0.52 ind cm−2 to 3.37 ind cm−2, with clay bricks found to be the most suitable substrate with a significantly higher recruitment rate than nylon rope and plastic binder. The present study implies the high potential of producing S. oligocystum biomass through the mass production of seed stocks in the hatchery.

A biobased binder of carboxymethyl cellulose, citric acid, chitosan and wheat gluten for nonwoven and paper

The amount of disposable nonwovens used today for different purposes have an impact on the plastic waste streams which is built up from several single-use products. A particular problem comes from nonwoven products with “hidden” plastic (such as cellulose mixed with synthetic fibers and/or plastic binders) where the consumers cannot see or expect plastic. We have here developed a sustainable binder based on natural components; wheat gluten (WG) and a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) made from chitosan, carboxymethyl cellulose and citric acid which can be used with cellulosic fibers, creating a fully biobased nonwoven product. The binder formed a stable dispersion that improved the mechanical properties of a model nonwoven. With WG added, both the dry and the wet strength of the impregnated nonwoven increased. In dry-state, PEC increased the tensile index with >30 % (from 22.5 to 30 Nm/g), and with WG, with 60 % (to 36 Nm/g). The corresponding increase in the wet strength was 250 % (from 8 to 28 Nm/g) and 300 % (to 32 Nm/g). The increased strength was explained as an enrichment of covalent bonds (ester and amide bonds) established during curing at 170 °C, confirmed by DNP NMR and infrared spectroscopy.

Development of a modified Marshall mix design for Hot-mix asphalt concrete mixed with recycled plastic based on dry mixing processes

Plastic waste, particularly single-use plastic products, is becoming a more significant environmental problem that must be mitigated effectively. Applying thermoplastic waste in the hot-mix asphalt concrete would create an alternative to recycling plastic waste before going to landfills. This study aims to introduce a modified Marshall mix design framework developed for hot-mix asphalt concrete mixed with recycled plastic (ACP). The Marshall mix design method was used as the baseline procedure for the ACP mix design development of the dry mixing process in which plastic was mixed directly with the hot aggregate instead. Two types of recycled plastic, multilayer, and mixed plastics, were employed in the ACP mix design development process. A new parameter of the plastic-to-binder ratio (PBR) and a replacement concept were introduced as add-on steps to the conventional Marshall mix design to appropriately determine an optimum amount of additional plastic and asphalt binder according to the developed mix design. A full series of laboratory tests were also conducted to compare conventional asphalt concrete (AC) and ACP performances. The laboratory test results indicated the superior performance of ACP over AC.

Scanning electron microscopic evaluation of broad ion beam milling effects to sedimentary organic matter: Sputter-induced artifacts or naturally occurring porosity?

Research examining organic-matter hosted porosity has significantly increased during the last decade due to greater focus on understanding hydrocarbon migration and storage in source-rock reservoirs, and technological advances in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) capabilities. The examination of nanometer-scale organic-matter hosted porosity by SEM requires the preparation of exceptionally flat geologic samples beyond the abilities of traditional mechanical polishing, which can deform or otherwise obscure organic surfaces. To meet this demand, broad ion beam (BIB) milling was introduced as a sample preparation technique for SEM petrographic analysis of geologic samples. As with any sample preparation technique, there can be unintended consequences. In this study, we examined the development of nanometer-scale sputter-induced voids caused by BIB milling of thermoset plastic binder material [poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA] used for the mounting of geologic samples, and artifact sputter-induced voids in the organic matter of Green River Formation and Kimmeridge Clay Formation source rocks. Development of artifact sputter-induced voids was evaluated in relation to variations in the slope of the sample examination surface (0.0–4.9% slope), effectively varying the angle of ion incidence. The results indicate that only minor variations in the angle of ion incidence can generate sputter-induced voids in both PMMA (10.0–386.2 nm diameter sputter-induced voids) and sample sedimentary organic matter (solid bitumen; 12.2–103.6 nm diameter sputter-induced voids). Overall, average artifact pore diameters increased with increasing ion incidence angle within PMMA. Although sputter-induced voids within solid bitumen in the Green River Formation sample were only found in limited extent, the size of these void artifacts falls within the same size range as naturally occurring meso-macroporosity. That is, the pore-like artifacts could easily be misconstrued as naturally developed organic porosity, which is a major concern for SEM-based porosity evaluation methods. This study describes the factors that contribute to the creation of artifact sputter-induced voids, their distinguishing characteristics, and best practices for avoiding the creation of ion-induced artifacts.

Effects of filler types on the microstructural and engineering properties of waste plastic binder composite for construction purposes

Effects of filler types on the microstructural and engineering properties of waste plastic binder composite for construction purposes

Mechanisms of shock-induced initiation at micro-scale defects in energetic crystal-binder systems

Crystals of energetic materials, such as HMX, embedded in plastic binders are the building blocks of plastic-bonded explosives. Such heterogeneous energetic materials contain microstructural features such as sharp corners, interfaces between crystal and binder, intra- and extra-granular voids, and other defects. Energy localization or hotspots arise during shock interaction with the microstructural heterogeneities, leading to the initiation of PBXs. In this paper, high-resolution numerical simulations are performed to elucidate the mechanistic details of shock-induced initiation in a PBX; we examine four different mechanisms: Shock-focusing at sharp corners or edges and its dependency on the shape of the crystal, and the strength of the applied shock; debonding between crystal and binder interfaces; collapse of voids in the binder located near an HMX crystal; and the collapse of voids within HMX crystals. Insights are obtained into the relative contributions of these mechanisms to the ignition and growth of hotspots. Understanding these mechanisms of energy localization and their relative importance for hotspot formation and initiation sensitivity of PBXs will aid in the design of energetic material-driven systems with controlled sensitivity, to prevent accidental initiation and ensure reliable performance.

Influence of material composition on the morphology and engineering properties of waste plastic binder composite for construction purposes

Ways of mitigating the menace caused by the abundance of waste plastic generated have been a global concern. Efforts are geared towards intensification of the recycling culture for circular economy. Recent studies combined waste plastic and sand to make Waste Plastic Binder (WPB) composite materials. However, sand mining operation has been associated with environmental and ecological issues. This study explores the engineering properties of waste plastic and quarry dust composite for sustainable infrastructural development. The polyethylene terephthalate type of plastic (PET) was employed, and which was melted and mixed with QD at different compositions of 1:0, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 respectively. The influence of the varying compositions on the morphological and engineering properties of resulting WPB composite was investigated. The scanning electron microscopy image showed that WPB composite with higher percentage of QD possess lesser pore space, and which influenced the high strength values. The findings showed P&QD 1:3 have highest compressive strength value of 20.1MPa, and which meets up with the American Concrete Institute and South African standard minimum requirement of 17MPa for structural lightweight concrete applicable for walkways, walling and water retaining structures constructions.

Analysis of Parameters of Sintered Metal Components Created by ADAM and SLM Technologies

Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing (ADAM) is a recent metal sintering process based on known composite printing technology. ADAM can be classified as indirect additive production using fibre of metal powder bound in a plastic matrix. The plastic binder allows the metal powder to remain in place when is printing. Thus, a "green part" is printed and then the plastic binder is removed by the post-washing and sintering process. The aim of this work is providing a brief description of the ADAM process patented by Markforged. Furthermore, the main task was to compare the technology with other sintering technology, namely SLM technology. It works on the basis of selective bonding of metal powder using the thermal energy of the laser beam. Parameters, such as dimensional and shape accuracy, roughness of printed surfaces or tensile strength of printed samples were examined and compared. Dimensional accuracy of the ADAM process was evaluated using ISO IT grades - determined on the basis of the reference standard. The observed accuracy of the sintering process was comparable to traditional production processes.

Insights into plastic deformation and binder lamella orientation in hardmetal turning inserts

This paper studies the underlying mechanisms to binder phase lamella formation (in WC/WC grain boundaries) in hardmetal inserts used in face turning. A distribution of lamellae orientations has been quantified for used turning inserts as well as pristine inserts and coupled to the direction of the applied stress, calculated by FEM. Furthermore, more detailed FEM calculations on the micro scale have been used to examine a suggested theory of lamella formation based on shear stresses.

The Effect of Waste Plastics on the Ageing Phenomenon of Bituminous Binders and Asphalt Mixtures.

The push for environmental sustainability in the civil engineering industry has resulted in an increased interest in the use of recycled construction materials, with one example being the use of waste plastic for the modification of bituminous binder in asphalt mixtures. Existing research has associated waste plastics with various binder and asphalt mixture performance enhancing properties. However, there is a lack of research on the age-related durability of waste plastic-modified roads. This research compared the effect of commercially available waste plastic binder modifiers on the ageing phenomenon of bituminous binders and asphalt mixtures, to the effect of conventional polymers SBS and EVA, through artificial bituminous binder and asphalt mixture ageing performed in a laboratory. The addition of polymers (both waste and virgin) resulted in an increase in binder stiffness after short-term ageing as the polymer content increased. The effect of the waste plastic on ageing was comparable to the effects associated with the conventional polymers, and it was concluded that the waste plastic binder modified products should be considered sustainable alternatives to standard polymers for bituminous binder and asphalt mixture modification.

Carbon Plastic Binders Based on Epoxy Oligomers Modified by Thermoplast

Carbon Plastic Binders Based on Epoxy Oligomers Modified by Thermoplast

Preliminary study of modified asphalt binders with thermoplastics: The Rheology properties and interfacial adhesion between thermoplastics and asphalt binder

In recent decades, polymer-modified asphalt materials have been used in response to increased traffic on the roads. The main objective of this paper is to explore the modification effect of thermoplastics on asphalt binders and investigate the effectiveness of maleic anhydride in improving interfacial adhesion. Three different thermoplastics were used with a dosage of 4 wt%. and a co-reactant maleic anhydride was added with a content of 2 wt% by weight of the binder. The thermoplastics showed a great improvement on high-temperature performance grade (PG) and a slight decrease on low-temperature PG. In addition, the usage of maleic anhydride enhanced the high performance PG on all plastic modified binders. With the addition of maleic anhydride, the binders increased a few degrees of higher temperature, indicating an improvement in compatibility. The compatibility improvement may be related to form a copolymer where maleic anhydride modified with different asphalt components. With the addition of maleic anhydride, the Jnr decreased and the percent recovery increased, which showed a better interaction between plastic and asphalt binders. High-temperature PG results in Unified Performance Tests by incremental Method (UPTiM) were strongly connected with Jnr3.2 in Multiple Stress Creep Recovery test with a power fit trend, where its R2 was 0.97. Based upon results obtained, it can be concluded that the performance of the resulting asphalt can be improved when maleic anhydride was used to treat the added thermoplastics.

Mechanical, physical and microstructural properties of a mortar with melted plastic waste binder

The feasibility of using plastic waste as a binding material to develop a new construction material (mortar with plastic waste binder (MPB)) is presented in this paper. Two types of plastic: high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE), are combined in three blend (weight) ratios (HDPE/ LDPE of 40/60, 50/50, 60/40) and mixed with sand in four plastic contents (45%, 50%, 60%, and 65%). First, the plastic material is melted in an oven. Then, sand and the melted plastic are thoroughly mixed under a controlled temperature into an homogenous mixture. The mixture is then poured into standardized molds and cured for different periods of time. Mechanical, physical and water absorption tests are performed on the MPB samples after different curing times to assess the influence of the change in the plastic content and the blend ratio (HDPE/LDPE or H/L) on their mechanical and physical properties. Moreover, microstructural analyses and tests are performed on some of the samples for a better understanding of the behavior of this MPB at its microstructure level. The results show that samples with plastic contents of 50% and 60% and a blend ratio of 50/50 have the highest unconfined compressive strength. The same range of plastic content is found to provide the MPB with the highest splitting tensile strength when the H/L blend ratio is equal to 40/60 or 60/40. A relationship between the splitting tensile strength (ft) and the compressive strength is proposed. It is also found that the MPB is more ductile with greater plasticity than conventional mortar materials that use Portland cement. The plastic content and H/L ratio have significant effects on the water absorption, density and microstructure of the mortar. The microstructure of the MPB plays an important role in the development of its strength. This new material has good potential for use as a construction material to recycle plastic waste and reduce the impact of plastic on the environment.

Discoloration of Historical Plastic Objects: New Insight into the Degradation of β-Naphthol Pigment Lakes.

Light is a determining factor in the discoloration of plastics, and photodegradation processes can affect the molecular structures of both the polymer and colorants. Limited studies focused on the discoloration of heritage plastics in conservation science. This work investigated the discoloration of red historical polyethylene (PE) objects colored with PR 48:2 and PR 53:1. High-density and low-density PE reference polymers, neat pigment powders, and historical samples were assessed before and after accelerated photoaging. The applied methodology provided insight into the individual light-susceptibility of polyethylenes, organic pigment lakes, and their combined effect in the photoaging of historical plastic formulations. After light exposure, both PE references and historical samples yellowed, PR53:1 faded, and PR 48:2 darkened; however, both organic pigments faded severely in the historical samples. This highlights the role played by the plastic binder likely facilitating the pigment photofading. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry techniques—EGA-MS, PY-GC/MS, and TD-GC/MS—were successfully employed for characterizing the plastic formulations and degradation. The identification of phthalic compounds in both aged β-naphthol powders opens new venues for studies on their degradation. This work’s approach and analytical methods in studying the discoloration of historical plastics are novel, proving their efficacy, reliability, and potentiality.

Shock Hugoniot measurements of single-crystal 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) compressed to 83 GPa

We present laser-driven shock Hugoniot measurements of single-crystal (SC) 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) between 15 and 83 GPa, spanning pressures below and well above the Chapman–Jouguet pressure of ∼28 GPa for TATB formulations (TATB grains mixed with plastic binders at 5–10 wt. %). The new SC data are generally ∼3% more compressible than previously published data on neat and formulated TATB measured in gas-gun and explosive-driven experiments. An exception is at compressions in the density of ∼1.5 (∼30–40 GPa), where our new SC data exhibit significantly lower pressures than previous results on overdriven TATB formulations, suggesting that our SC samples remain largely unreacted below 35 GPa over the short nanosecond-time scales inherent to our laser-driven experiments. These novel equation-of-state measurements are a critical step toward understanding TATB in its most fundamental form and improving predictive modeling of TATB-based explosives.