Tensile Strength Research Articles

Repurposing ABS to Produce Polyamide 6 (PA6)-Based Blends: Reactive Compatibilization with SAN-g-MA of a High Degree of Functionalization

In this study, recycled acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer (ABSr) was reused to produce polyamide 6 (PA6)-based blends. This was achieved through reactive compatibilization using styrene-acrylonitrile-maleic anhydride (SAN-g-MA) copolymer with a high degree of functionalization (6–10% MA). The PA6/ABSr and PA6/ABSr/SAN-g-MA blends were prepared through melt processing and injection molding and then analyzed for their rheological, mechanical, thermomechanical, thermal, and structural properties, as well as morphology. The torque rheometry revealed a maximum reactivity of the PA6/ABSr (70/30 wt%) blend with low SAN-g-MA (5 phr—parts per hundred resin) content, while above this threshold, torque began to decline, indicating compatibilizer saturation in the interface. These findings were further substantiated by the increase in complex viscosity and the lower melt flow index (MFI) of the PA6/ABSr/SAN-g-MA (5 phr) blend. The 5 phr SAN-g-MA reactive compatibilization of the PA6/ABSr blends significantly enhanced its impact strength, elongation at break, tensile strength, and heat deflection temperature (HDT) by 217%, 631%, 12.6%, and 9.5%, respectively, compared to PA6/ABSr. These findings are promising for the plastic recycling field, paving the way for the production of new tailor-made materials at a reduced price.

Fibrous‐biocomposites scaffold of natural rubber with bioactive glass–ceramic particles obtained by solution blowing spinning

AbstractBioactive glass‐ceramics (BGs) are widely used in clinical applications due to their excellent biodynamic and biological properties, though their low mechanical strength limits their use in load‐bearing contexts. This study aimed to develop fibrous biocomposite scaffolds based on natural rubber (NR) reinforced with BG particles, such as biosilicato (BioS) and 45S5‐K (BL0), to improve tensile strength, biocompatibility, and bioactivity for biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering. Morphological, tensile, thermal, and biological tests were conducted to evaluate the impact of BG particles on the NR fibrous matrix. TG/DTG analysis revealed similar decomposition profiles for NR/BioS and NR/BL0 biocomposites compared to NR mats, with primary degradation occurring in the 290–450°C range. Tensile tests demonstrated that the addition of 30 mass% BioS or BL0 enhanced the ultimate tensile strength (σbreak) of the NR matrix from 1.44 ± 0.08 to 3.38 ± 1.31 MPa (NR/BioS) and 1.97 ± 0.53 MPa (NR/BL0). The Cole–Cole plot indicated system heterogeneity and strong NR‐BG particle interactions. Cytotoxicity tests revealed over 70% MSC viability for NR, NR/BioS, and NR/BL0 biocomposites, meeting ISO 10993‐5:2009 standards. These findings suggest that incorporating BioS and BL0 enhances the mechanical and biological properties of NR‐based scaffolds, making them suitable for biomedical applications, such as bone regeneration.

New Materials from the Integral Milk Kefir Grain Biomass and the Purified Kefiran: The Role of Glycerol Content on the Film’s Properties

Microbial exopolymers are gaining attention as sources for the development of biodegradable materials. Milk kefir, a fermented dairy product produced by a symbiotic community of microorganisms, generates milk kefir grains as a by-product, consisting of the polysaccharide kefiran and proteins. This study develops two materials, one from whole milk kefir grains and another from purified kefiran. Film-forming dispersions were subjected to ultrasonic homogenisation and thermal treatment, yielding homogeneous dispersions. Kefiran dispersion exhibited lower pseudoplastic behaviour and higher viscous consistency, with minimal effects from glycerol. Both films exhibited continuous and homogeneous microstructures, with kefiran films being transparent and milk kefir films displaying a yellowish tint. Analysis revealed that milk kefir films comprised approximately 30% proteins and 70% kefiran. Kefiran films demonstrated stronger interpolymeric interactions, as evidenced using thermogravimetric and mechanical tests. Glycerol increased hydration while decreasing thermal stability, glass transition temperature, elastic modulus, and tensile strength in both films. However, in kefiran films, elongation at the break and water vapour permeability decreased at low glycerol content, followed by an increase at higher plasticiser contents. This suggests an unusual interaction between glycerol and kefiran in the absence of proteins. These findings underscore differences between materials derived from the whole by-product and purified kefiran, offering insights into their potential applications.

Self-Healing and Mechanical Behaviour of Fibre-Reinforced Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Incorporating Superabsorbent Polymer Under Repeated and Sustained Loadings

This study investigated the mechanical responses and self-healing capability of incorporating superabsorbent polymer (SAP) particles in Fibre-Reinforced Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) mixes under repetitive flexural and sustained tensile loadings. UHPC with SAP addition of 0.3% and 0.4% of the binder ratio were studied along with a control UHPC mix. The methodology included investigating the mechanical properties of these mixes under ambient, water, and 100% of relative humidity (RH) curing conditions. In addition, the mechanical performance of ambient-, water-, and 100% RH-cured prismatic specimens (100 mm × 100 mm × 500 mm) under repeated load was studied under the same curing conditions. Prismatic specimens (75 mm × 75 mm × 500 mm) were kept under cure conditions of wet and dry cycles with applied tensile load for 28 days for the sustained tensile load. The results showed that incorporating SAP into UHPC enhances the elastic modulus, flexural strength, and tensile strength. Also, mixes with SAP have exhibited compressive strength above 120 MPa after 90 days. Furthermore, the load recovery of the prisms under repetitive flexural load and prisms under sustained tensile loading demonstrated the self-healing efficiency of SAP incorporated into the UHPC mixes higher than the control mix specimens.

The influence of fine recycled asphalt pavement aggregates on the properties of self-compacting mortar in fresh and hardened state

Sustainable development is a contemporary concern in the field of asphalt pavements, as road construction consumes a significant amount of new aggregates. Furthermore, road maintenance necessitates the milling of old pavement layers, which generates a substantial quantity of bituminous material waste. This study explores the use of recycled sand from asphalt waste as a substitute for 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of natural sand in self-compacting mortar, aiming to achieve both sustainable and economical asphalt production. The differences in physical properties between natural sand (NS) and fine recycled asphalt pavement (FRAP) aggregates are analyzed and compared. The characteristics of the various self-compacting mortars are measured, including spread, flow time, as well as compressive and tensile strength, shrinkage and sorptivity. Compared to the control mortar, the mortars containing RPAS exhibit a rougher surface, additional pores, and more complex pore structures. The need for superplasticizers increases with the substitution rate, as do the rheological parameters. The results indicate that recycled mortar can be an alternative to natural sand, although this comes with negative impacts on the mechanical properties of the mortar. Nonetheless, these effects can be mitigated when considering their economic and environmental implications.

Effect of ultra-fine grain zone on mechanical properties of CuCrZr-Hastelloy X bimetallic structure manufactured by laser-directed energy deposition

In this study, CuCrZr-Hastelloy X bimetallic structure featuring an ultra-fine grain zone (UFGZ) near the interface were fabricated by laser-directed energy deposition (L-DED). Samples with UFGZ were obtained with 300 °C preheating, whereas samples without preheating did not contain UFGZ. The microstructures and mechanical properties of samples with and without UFGZ were compared. The formation of UFGZ was attributed to the presence of a spherical phase near the interface, which was identified as Ni (Fe, Cr, Mo). Due to the higher melting point of Hastelloy X compared to CuCrZr, Ni elements mixed into CuCrZr with the flow of the molten pool, solidified first, and served as substrates for the heterogeneous nucleation, ultimately promoting the formation of UFGZ. With 300 °C preheating, the hardness of CuCrZr near the interface increased from 115.07 HV to 148.51 HV due to the presence of UFGZ. And the hardness gap near the interface decreased from 172.58 HV to 147.19 HV, which improved the uniformity of mechanical properties. Moreover, the nanoindentation tests results that UFGZ increased the hardness of the zone near the interface from 1.42 GPa to 1.72 GPa. Tensile test results indicated that the UFGZ altered the fracture mode from brittle to ductile. Samples with UFGZ exhibited ductile fracture, while those without UFGZ exhibited brittle fracture. At room temperature, the tensile strength of samples with UFGZ increased from 298.44 MPa to 347.05 MPa. For tests conducted at 400 °C, the tensile strength increased from 165.12 MPa to 229.53 MPa. This enhancement indicated that UFGZ could improve the strength and toughness of the interface, thereby enhancing the interfacial bonding strength. This study is of great significance for improving the interfacial bonding strength of CuCrZr-Hastelloy X bimetallic structures.

Evaluation of Admixture Silane Added into Cementitious Pastes

This manuscript evaluated the performance of silanes in cementitious matrices in the partial replacement of superplasticizers by silanes. For this, pastes with a water/cement ratio of 0.186 were produced and the superplasticizer admixture based on polycarboxylate esters was partially substituted by three types of silanes—vinyltriethoxysilane silanes (VTES), n-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AEAPTMS), and methacryloxypropyltrimethox-ysilane (MCPTMS)—in two substitutions levels (20% and 40%), and then tested in Portland cement pastes. Specific gravity, trapped air, mini-slump, and hydration kinetics (evaluated by isothermal calorimetry up to 48 h) of the pastes were determined in the fresh state. Thus, in the hardened state, the compressive and flexural strength tests (7 and 28 days), specific gravity, and absorption by immersion of the pastes were carried out. The results showed that the substitution of 20% and 40% of VTES and AEAPTMS considerably reduced the workability and increased the air content of the pastes in comparison to the reference sample. In contrast, the incorporation of 20% and 40% of MCPTMS did not significantly affect these properties. The presence of silane, for all analyzed samples, had a delaying effect on the hydration process: the maximum delay verified had a hydration peak in approximately 36 h for the 40% MCPTMS sample and the minimum delay verified had a hydration peak in approximately 11 h for the 20% VTES sample. The replacement of 20% and 40% by any of the silanes progressively reduced the flexural strength at both 7 and 28 days. In the compressive strength, as well as in the tensile strength in flexion, there was a decrease in the results when compared to the reference, except for the MCPTMS, at 7 and 28 days. In immersion absorption, all samples showed high percentages of absorption and void index when compared to the reference.

Surface metamorphosis techniques for sustainable polymers: Optimizing material performance and environmental impact

The transition to sustainable polymers is crucial for reducing the environmental footprint of additive manufacturing, particularly in fused deposition modeling (FDM). This study investigates surface metamorphosis techniques—methods to modify polymer surfaces at micro and nanoscale levels to enhance performance and minimize environmental impact. We explore plasma treatment, chemical etching, and laser texturing on biodegradable and recycled polymers, assessing their effects on surface properties, such as adhesion, roughness, and chemical resistance. Our results demonstrate significant enhancements in mechanical properties. For example, PLA’s tensile strength increased from 55.3 MPa (untreated) to 63.8 MPa (plasma treated), and its elongation improved from 4.2% to 5.1%. PHA showed a similar trend, with tensile strength rising from 45.1 MPa to 52.6 MPa, and elongation increasing from 5.6% to 6.4%. rPET and rPP also exhibited improvements, indicating the effectiveness of these surface treatments. Employing a multi-criteria decision-making approach, we assess and prioritize these techniques based on their mechanical enhancements and sustainability profiles. While this study presents hypothetical results, it establishes a comprehensive framework for optimizing surface metamorphosis processes, guiding future experimental research. Our findings suggest that tailored surface modifications can significantly improve the performance and environmental sustainability of polymers in FDM, offering pathways for integrating eco-friendly materials into advanced manufacturing. This work contributes to the development of green manufacturing technologies by highlighting surface metamorphosis as a key strategy for achieving high-performance and sustainable materials.

Taguchi, Grey Relational Analysis, and ANOVA Optimization of TIG Welding Parameters to Maximize Mechanical Performance of Al-6061 T6 Alloy

This study presents a comprehensive investigation into optimizing Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding parameters to enhance the mechanical performance of the widely used Al-6061 T6 alloy, specifically in a double V joint configuration with a plate thickness of 6 mm, for aerospace applications. The Taguchi method was employed to design the experiments, providing a robust framework for analyzing the influence of the electrical current, voltage, and gas flow rate on weld quality. Additionally, a Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) and an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to validate the optimal welding parameters and quantify the significance of each factor. The optimized parameters were determined to be an amperage of 180 A, a voltage of 18 V, and a gas flow rate of 10 L/min, resulting in significant improvements of up to 40% in tensile strength and 23% in hardness, demonstrating the effectiveness of the optimized conditions. The findings provide valuable insights into welding metallurgy, offering practical guidelines for enhancing high-performance welded joints in critical industrial applications. This study underscores the potential of combining Taguchi, GRA, and ANOVA methodologies to achieve superior mechanical properties and reliability in welded structures.

Cyclic Fatigue Failure of Perforated 3D-Printed Polylactide (PLA) Specimens by Inserted Pin Loading

The failure of 3D-printed Polylactide (PLA) specimens with circular holes was studied under tensile and cyclic loading, respectively, by an inserted pin. Experiments were conducted for the perforated PLA specimens with various print angles from 0° to 90°, as well as [0°/90°]s and [0°/±45°/90°]s. The hole locations varied along the specimens. The PLA specimens showed two different failure modes: one through the print lines and the other between the print lines. Different print angles resulted in different tensile failure stresses under pin loading. The cyclic tests of different print angles showed very similar S-N data as the applied stresses were normalized to their tensile failure stresses if the failure mode was through the print lines. On the other hand, cyclic failure between print lines showed distinctly separated S-N data, even with the normalized applied stresses. The tensile failure stresses, failure locations, and orientations were successfully predicted using the failure criterion that is based on both stress and stress gradient conditions. A proposed mathematical interpolation equation provided good estimations of the tensile failure stresses and S-N curves of specimens with different print angles once the failure stresses were known for the 0° to 90° specimens.

Research on the Connection Technology of Assembled Monolithic Residential Wallboard

In this paper, a novel technique for connecting residential shear walls to floor slabs is investigated. Shear wall structures with two different connection methods were established and numerically analyzed using ABAQUS (2024) finite element software. The two structures were connected by sleeve grouted connections (hereinafter referred to as the original structure) and profile + bolted connections (hereinafter referred to as the new structure). Numerical analyses yielded a positive maximum load for the new structure 1.41 times that of the original structure and a negative maximum load 1.12 times that of the original structure. The ratio of the ultimate tensile strength (load value corresponding to the peak point) to the yield strength (load value corresponding to the yield point) of the two structures (strength-to-yield ratio) was in the range of 1.15–1.27. The original structure was 2.62 times more ductile in the negative direction and 2.24 times more ductile in the positive direction than the new structure. The stiffness degradation of the new structure was greater in the later stages of loading, and that of the original structure was greater in the early stages of loading. The original structure had 1.08 times the energy-consuming capacity of the new structure. The cost of labor and materials for the original structure was approximately 1.50 times the cost of the new structure. The results of the data analysis showed that, compared to the original structure, the new structure had comparable performance in terms of strength-to-flexure ratio, ductility, stiffness degradation, and energy dissipation capacity. However, the new structure was more advantageous in terms of load-bearing capacity and required lower construction costs than the original structure. Therefore, the connection nodes designed in this paper are of great significance for engineering practice.

Experimental and numerical evaluation of fibre-reinforced concrete vault forming slabs subjected to low-velocity impact loading

Vaults and dome structures are attractive in architecture due to their ability to evenly distribute weight and support substantial loads without internal columns. Fibre-reinforced concrete is ideal for these compressive structures, which experience low tensile stress. Assessing their performance under impact loading is crucial for safety, financial protection, and preserving cultural heritage. In this study, twelve arch-shaped slabs with thicknesses of 50, 75, and 100 mm, incorporating varying fibre percentages, were tested using a drop-weight impact test machine. Finite element analysis, validated against experimental results, was employed to evaluate the slabs’ behaviour under low-velocity impacts. The analysis revealed multiple flexural cracks in fibre-reinforced specimens, with maximum crack widths decreasing as fibre ratios increased. Although the number of microcracks rose with higher fibre content, crack spacing diminished. Results indicated that adding steel fibres significantly enhances tensile strength and energy absorption—showing a 90% increase in the 100 mm thick dome with 1.5% fibres—while reducing cracking. These improvements contribute to the durability, stability, and safety of concrete domes, lowering maintenance costs. Thus, incorporating steel fibres in the design and construction of impact-resistant concrete domes is highly recommended.

Heat treatment effect on the carbides in T-15 and M-4 steels

ABSTRACT In the present work, the effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of T-15 and M-4 high-speed steels was investigated. These steels were produced by powder metallurgy. Due to their frictional wear resistance properties, T-15 and M-4 high-speed steels are widely used in the cutting tool manufacture of the metalworking industry. A heat treatment was applied to both steels, heating them to 1250°C, then air quenching and, finally tempering at 550°C for 2 h, 3 times (triple tempering at 550°C). Steels were characterized by hardness test, metallographic analysis, tensile strength test, and fracture analysis after the heat treatment. Results were compared and related to the metallurgical microstructure, mainly to the distribution of carbides, and also to fracture type and characteristics. Test results and chemical analysis showed important differences between T-15 and M-4 steels.

Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of Reeled X65 Pipeline Steel during Cyclic Plastic Deformation and Natural Aging

The reel laying is recognized as a cost‐effective installation process for offshore pipelines. However, the mechanical properties are modified due to plastic deformation during the reel laying and lowering process of reeled pipelines and the subsequent natural aging in service. Cyclic plastic deformation (CPD) is conducted on X65 pipeline steel to simulate the strain experienced in the reel‐laying and lowering process, and then, the CPD specimen is aged at 250 °C to simulate natural aging in service. The dislocation configurations gradually evolve from dislocation lines and tangles into dislocation walls and cells due to the increase in strain level. After CPD and aging, the tensile strength increases by about 25 MPa, which is not significantly affected by the last introduced load direction and strain level. At the end of compressive loading, the yield strength and yield ratio decrease, but the uniform elongation increases significantly. In contrast, at the end of tensile loading, the yield strength and yield ratio increase, but the uniform elongation decreases slightly. The yield strength further increases as the strain level increases from 2 to 3%. Therefore, CPD and aging modify the mechanical properties of X65, considerably depending on the last introduced load direction and strain level.

Comparison of Novel 1 GPa Low‐Carbon, Low‐Alloyed Steel Produced with Simulated and Laboratory‐Scale Thermomechanical Controlled Processes

A laboratory‐scale hot‐rolled Ti–Mo–V–Nb steel with 1 GPa tensile strength is produced, and its microstructure and tensile properties are characterized using advanced analysis techniques and uniaxial tensile testing. A Gleeble 3800 thermomechanical simulator is used to determine a process window for the thermomechanical controlled processing (TMCP) procedure. Although the simulated TMCP specimens are fully ferritic at coiling temperatures (CT) of 590 and 630 °C, the bainitic and mixed (bainitic + ferritic) microstructure is formed in the hot‐rolled steels. The variation in the microstructure causes variations in the dislocation density through the sheet thickness, which significantly reduces the steel's ductility properties, whereas a 16% elongation is achieved with the fully bainitic microstructure. Another significant difference between the simulated TMCP and hot‐rolled specimens is the precipitation behavior. No nanosized interphase‐precipitated (IP) carbides are formed in the hot‐rolled steel during the austenite‐to‐ferrite phase transformation, although the formation of the nanosized spherical IPs is observed within the polygonal ferrite grains of the simulated TMCP specimens at the CT of 630 °C. Relatively coarse (5–20 nm) spherical (V,Mo,Ti,Nb)C carbides do not strongly affect the tensile properties of the hot‐rolled Ti–Mo–V–Nb steel. The results show that the dislocation and grain boundary strengthening mainly contribute to the strength properties of this steel.

Luminous Fish‐Inspired Hydrogels with Underwater Long‐Lived Room Temperature Phosphorescence

AbstractSome marine animals form long‐lived luminescence for predation, communication, camouflage, and anti‐predation. These marine animals demonstrate soft nature, sustainable glowing, and underwater emission, which are difficult to achieve in synthetic room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials. Inspired by these marine animals, here the study reports RTP hydrogels that show long‐lived phosphorescence (lifetime >500 ms and afterglow >10 s) in water. Exceptional underwater mechanical properties are simultaneously achieved, including tensile strength of 5.1 MPa, tensile strain of 452%, and toughness of 19.3 MJ m−3. The key to this achievement lies in the in situ phase separation microarchitecture formed between polyacrylamide (PAM) and its partial hydrolysates, which confines the motions of polymer chains and protects vulnerable triplet excitons from quenching of water. Such a strategy shows the merits of facile fabrication without laborious synthesis. In addition, these RTP hydrogels offer repeatable photoprinting and highly stability in water, providing a versatile platform for underwater applications of RTP materials, including information encryption and camouflage of marine animals.

Lab-scale biocomposite manufacturing: Exploring rice bran-based bioplastics reinforced with natural fillers through extrusion and injection molding

Bioplastics from agro-food industry by-products offer a sustainable alternative to the environmental concerns linked to petroleum-derived plastics. Rice bran (RB), an abundant and low-cost by-product rich in protein and starch, is a promising feedstock but poses challenges due to its complex composition. This study investigates the integration of natural fillers (cellulose, flax, and hazelnut shell) into a RB-based matrix. At low filler content (2 wt.%), all fillers increased stiffness from 138 MPa to 190, 184 and 196 MPa for cellulose, flax and hazelnut shell, respectively. Higher contents (5–10 wt.%) showed varied effects: flax and cellulose improved Young's modulus only up to 5 wt.% due to agglomeration, while hazelnut shell had beneficial effects even at 10 wt.% even for tensile strength (improving from 2.5 to 3.4 MPa). Additionally, all fillers enhanced viscoelastic moduli and thermal stability, with hazelnut shells showing the most significant improvements, making them a promising additive for bioplastics.

Harnessing nanostructures and fiber architecture: A synergistic leap in shape memory polymer composites

This research investigates the synergistic effects of carbon fiber orientation and nanostructure reinforcement across 21 configurations of shape memory polymer composites. It examines uni-directional (UD), bi-directional Twill (BDT), and bi-directional Plain (BDP) fiber architectures, along with varying concentrations of MWCNT and GnP at 0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.8%. The fabrication process involves initially preparing nanostructure-modified epoxy nanocomposites through ultrasonication followed by hand layup techniques to fabricate three-phase shape memory polymer composites. Optimal tensile performance is observed in GnP-modified UD composites at a 0.6 wt% concentration, achieving a tensile strength of 728.32 MPa and a modulus of 71.29 GPa. Furthermore, enhancements in thermomechanical and shape memory properties are noted in GnP-modified BDT composites and are further improved in GnP-modified BDP composite configurations. GnP-modified composites outperform MWCNT ones due to GnP’s sheet structure aligning parallel to the load and its larger surface area, which facilitate enhanced interaction with the matrix. These improvements, supported by FESEM analysis, highlight enhanced interfacial bonding and result in high shape recovery ratios, with all configurations exceeding 90%, despite polymer modification.

Experimental and Numerical Indentation Tests to Study the Crack Growth Properties Caused by Various Indenters Under High Temperature

ABSTRACTThis paper investigates the influence of indenter shape and rock texture on the crack growth properties and rock hardness. For this purpose, two different rock specimens such as basalt and marble with various textures were prepared and tested by Vickers indentation hardness device with rhombus indenter shape under two different temperatures of 35°C and 100°C. Concurrent with the experimental test, Vickers indentation simulations have been done on three calibrated rock models with nine different indenter shapes. The tensile strength of marble was 8 MPa, while basalt had a tensile strength of 10.8 MPa. Regarding compressive strength, marble exhibited 71 MPa, whereas basalt had a compressive strength of 153 MPa. Marble and basalt had elastic moduli of 45 and 95 GPa, respectively. The physical loading was applied vertically at a rate of 0.004 mm/min. The rock's texture and temperature significantly impact Vickers indentation hardness. Penetration by the Vickers indenter creates an elastic‐plastic stress field, leading to radial cracks due to exceeding the critical stress level. Ring cracks are caused by bulging of the test material and nested cracks directly under the indentation due to high shear and bending stresses in the region. The indentation shape affected the extent of the damage zone below it, leading to increased crack growth with smaller indentation diameters. The radial fracture number increased when the cross‐section changed from circular to quadrilateral shape. The crack growth and damage zone area increased with higher rock temperature due to increased rock brittleness.

Fabrication and characterization of extracted microsized chitosan embedded PVDF membrane for wastewater treatment

Abstract Critical water crisis due to overpopulation, industrialization and urbanization has resulted to the shortfall of providing safe drinking water to one billion people in the world. This work intends to fabricate modified hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane by hydrophilic chitosan extracted from waste fish scales for wastewater treatment. Chitosan was blended with PVDF in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone solution by solution casting method. Three different concentrations of 1, 3 and 5 wt% of chitosan were taken. The morphological, spectral and thermal analysis of the produced films were elaborately studied. The contact angle decreased with the increase of chitosan content from 82.64° to 60.97°. The tensile strength decreases from 1.11 to 0.38 MPa and Young’s modulus decreased from 12.08 to 7.4 MPa with increase in chitosan content in the film from 1 to 3 %. The performance of microparticle embedded membrane was compared with the pristine PVDF membrane, and it was affirmed that the microsized-chitosan embedded PVDF membrane manifests a broad promising application perspective towards wastewater treatment owing to its excellent water flux (76 L m−2 h−1) as well as antibacterial properties.