No abstract

In this study, styrene butadiene rubber was used for toughened polystyre/graphene nanoplatelets (PS/GNP) nanocomposites. The objective of this research is to determine the effect of styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) contents on the toughness of PS/GNP nanocomposites. In order to achieve the objectives of the research PS/GNP nanocomposites were prepared with various SBR content styrene butadiene rubber content, while the contents of GNP were fixed at 0.5 wt%. The PS/GNP/SBR nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending technique. Mechanical properties of SBR toughened PS/GNP nanocomposites showed a decrement of toughness and tensile strength with increasing content of SBR. SEM study shows that the rubber dispersed uniformly within the blends with polystyrene nanocomposites. SEM results show that the polystyrene mixed with graphene nanoplatelets (PS/GNP) had the smooth surface compare to samples have toughened with styrene butadiene rubber. The mechanical properties of PS/GNP nanocomposites with contain of 15 wt% of SBR shown the best of toughening effect.

Since technical education involves equipment and workshop/laboratory activities, safety and health risks due to hazardous situations have become the primary issue and require immediate mitigation measures. The main issue that needs immediate attention here is that most ADTEC (Advanced Technology Training Center) staff lack expertise in workplace risk assessment techniques. Some of them are also unaware of these life-threatening safety and health risks. They are unable to anticipate the long-term impact of their everyday activities on their safety and health. Thus, knowledge of hazard identification and prevention strategies is essential for them to improve their workplace environment. This program has been executed in four stages, which are off-the-job training, walkabout and hands-on activity, oral presentation, and followed by an individual assessment. As for an individual assessment, all participants need to sit the written test and an oral interview. The purpose of an individual assessment is to gauge participant understanding and the effectiveness of the program. The program has been conducted successfully whereby all the 32 participants have undergone the training and passed the assessment (written test and interview). All participants gave very encouraging feedback and believed this program would equip them with knowledge on conducting the risk assessment for all activities in their organization. The authors strongly believe that this initiative and program will ultimately assist ADTEC in reducing the probability of accident occurrence in their organization.

Graphene Oxide (GO) was added to Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) to test the mechanical properties of the compound. Compared to other types of polyethylene, LDPE provides a good balance of mechanical properties and processability, which leads to its being chosen as the research’s matrix material. This experiment aims to prepare LDPE/GO through melt mixing technique and analyse mechanical properties of tensile strength/tensile elongation of LDPE/GO composite based on GO concentration (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 wt%). The compounding of LDPE/GO was blended using a five-stage twin-screw extruder under specific conditions before going through the moulding process at melting temperature. The composites were cut according to ASTM D638 specimen dimension. The tensile properties of LDPE composites were filled separately with different weight fractions of GO at a 50 mm/min rate. It was found that the values of Young’s modulus of the composites increased, but the values of the tensile elongation at break decreased with increasing the GO weight fraction. The relatively big interfacial area and excellent interfacial adhesion between the matrix and the GO may be responsible for the composites’ reinforcement. This study provided a basis for further development of GO-reinforced LDPE composites with desirable mechanical performance and good damage behaviour.