Effect of alkali treatment on ground coffee waste/oxobiodegradable HDPE (GCW/oxo-HDPE) composites was evaluated using 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% volume fraction of GCW. The composites were characterized using structural (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)), thermal (thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)), mechanical (tensile and impact test) properties, and water absorption. FTIR spectrum indicated the eradication of lipids, hemicellulose, lignin, and impurities after the treatments lead to an improvement of the filler/matrix interface adhesion. This is confirmed by SEM results. Degree of crystallinity index was increased by 5% after the treatment. Thermal stability for both untreated and treated GCW composites was alike. Optimum tensile result was achieved when using 10% volume fraction with enhancement of 25% for tensile strength and 24% for tensile modulus compared to untreated composite. Specific tensile strength and modulus had improved as the composite has lower density. The highest impact properties were achieved when using 15% volume fraction that lead to an improvement of 6%. Treated GCW composites show better water resistance with 57% improvement compared to the untreated ones. This lightweight and ecofriendly biocomposite has the potential in packaging, internal automotive parts, lightweight furniture, and other composite engineering applications.
Considering the cost in utilization of organic natural filler as an alternative to manmade fiber and mineral inorganic filler-reinforced polymer composite is of great interest. The main reasons for using natural fillers are to reduce the dependence on petroleum-based, nonrenewable resources and are also a smarter use of environment and financial resources. Only limited research works have been done on the mechanical properties, such as tensile, flexural, and impact on particulate organic natural filler-reinforced polymer composite. The effect of particle size, particle loading, and chemical treatment on mechanical properties of organic natural filler-reinforced polymer composites is reviewed and discussed. The results show that a smaller particle size with an aspect ratio higher than its critical value provided better mechanical properties. With the assumption of good adhesion between the particle filler and matrix, mechanical properties increased with volume fraction until it reached its optimum condition or failure. Effective chemical treatments would improve the homogeneity and adhesion of the filler/matrix, thus enhancing the mechanical properties of the composites.
This paper presents composite of oxo-biodegradable high density polyethylene (oxo-HDPE) and ground coffee waste (GCW). The blends were evaluated at the proportion of 94.5 to 5.5 polymer-filler ratio with different particle sizes, extraction and mercerisation treatments. Compression moulding has been employed to fabricate the composite. Microstructure of the ground coffee waste was characterised using SEM. SEM showed the surface of the treated fibres were coarser as impurities were removed. Chemical modificated GCW showed better adhesion with the matrix. Both untreated and treated GCW/oxo-HDPE composite improved in tensile modulus.
The current work discusses ground coffee waste (GCW) reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composite. GCW underwent two types of treatment (oil extraction, and oil extraction followed by mercerization). The composites were prepared using stacking HDPE film and GCW, followed by hot compression molding with different GCW particle loadings (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%). Particle loadings of 5% and 10% of the treated GCW composites exhibited the optimum level for this particular type of composite, whereby their mechanical and thermal properties were improved compared to untreated GCW composite (UGC). SEM fracture analysis showed better adhesion between HDPE and treated GCW. The FTIR conducted proved the removal of unwanted impurities and reduction in water absorption after the treatment. Specific tensile modulus improved for OGC at 5 vol% particle loading. The highest impact energy absorbed was obtained by OGC with a 16% increment. This lightweight and environmentally friendly composite has potential in high-end packaging, internal automotive parts, lightweight furniture, and other composite engineering applications.
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