In this study, nanocomposites based on Nylon 6 and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) were prepared by melt compounding. Then, morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties were analyzed for NCC content between 0 and 7 wt%. Morphological analyses showed different roughness in fractured surface of neat Nylon and its nanocomposites caused by the presence of NCC. Mechanical results showed that the optimum properties were obtained at 3% NCC which could be related to relatively good NCC dispersion at low concentrations with good Nylon-NCC bonding. Overall, flexural (41%) and tensile (23%) moduli, as well as tensile strength (11%) were increased up to 3% of NCC. However, elongation at break and impact strength decreased with NCC addition. Finally, density and hardness showed only a small increase of 5 and 3%, respectively. POLYM. COMPOS., 00:000-000, 2014.
Nanocomposite foams based on Nylon 6 and nanocrystalline cellulose were prepared via extrusion and injection molding to study the effect of nanocrystalline cellulose concentration (0 to 5%), chemical foaming agent content (0, 1%, and 2%), and mold temperature (30℃ and 80℃) on the morphological, physical, and mechanical properties of the samples. Nanocrystalline cellulose content, especially between 1 and 3 wt%, was very effective in reducing the cell size and increasing the cell density of the foam structure. Nanocrystalline cellulose addition (0–5%) was found to increase density (4% for composites and 20% for foams), tensile strength (10% for composite and 13% for foams), tensile modulus (20% for composites and 34% for foams), and flexural modulus (37% for composites and 29% for foams), but decreased the impact strength (35–40% for composites and 20–40% for foams). Foaming agent addition (1%) was able to improve the specific tensile (10%) and flexural (12%) moduli, tensile strength (14%), elongation at break (6%), and impact strength (27%). Finally, higher mold temperature decreased skin thickness and, consequently, decreased the mechanical properties, mostly tensile strength of the foam samples (1% for composites and 18% for foams).
This study addresses the issue of using recycled materials to obtain low-cost structural products for practical applications. Through the use and re-extrusion of virgin high-density polyethylene (HDPE), the effects of the degradation level of HDPE as a matrix phase on its mechanical properties and the mechanical performance of composites produced with the degraded polyethylene have been examined. The degradation level of HDPE caused by reextrusion has been evaluated by the measurement of the melt flow index and mechanical properties of virgin and degraded HDPEs. The results indicate that the modulus and strength of HDPE significantly increase with the addition of polypropylene filled with 30 wt % glass fiber [PP-GF(30)] without any other compatibilizer. However, the final properties of composites with specified glass-fiber contents are dependent on the degradation level of the matrix phase. In addition, the role of ground tire rubber (GTR) in HDPE/ PP-GF(30) systems has been examined by the preparation of composites with various GTR contents without any treatments. The results show that the presence of GTR in the final product results in lower stiffness because of its role as a soft filler, but the elongation of the product increases slightly. Furthermore, GTR does not produce any improvement in the impact properties, probably because of the low interfacial adhesion with the matrix phase; therefore, its content should be kept low in the final composition.
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