SYNOPSISThree new types of fillers for polypropylene are investigated. The first two were derived from burnt rice husk ash (RHA), whereas the third, a wood-based filler, was processed from oil palm trunk. One important characterization of the composites involves the checking for the actual filler content and filler distribution within the matrix. An analytical technique is described here for computation of the filler content in the composites based on a simple expression derives from thermogravimetric analyses. For filler with volatiles such as the black RHA, the derived expression was pt = 1 0 6 ( r h / m ) , and for easily burnt fillers (wood-based), the expression was p f = 156(md/m,). The technique has shown good agreement and consistency between analyzed and actual filler contents and a uniform filler distribution within the polypropylene matrix.
This study examines the water absorption of sago hampas biocomposite utilizing glycidyl methacrylate as its matrix. Composites were fabricated with 25, 30, 40 wt% sago hampas content and another sample of pure sago hampas using hydraulics hot press machine. The water absorption properties of composites with different sago hampas composition were investigated according to Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials of ASTM D570. Water absorption of pure sago hampas composite have the highest average water absorption percentage with 59.1 wt% as compared to the lowest average water absorption percentage recorded for 30 wt% sago hampas content biocomposite with 16.8%. However sago hampas loading was increased resulting in the increased in average water absorption on biocomposite for 40 wt% sago hampas content which is 33.1%.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.