The use of silica based bagasse fiber ash (BFA) as a reinforcing filler in polylactic acid (PLA) biocomposites was examined. The effects of surface-treated BFA on the rheological, swelling behavior, and mechanical properties and water absorption of biocomposites were studied. BFA was treated using a silane coupling agent (Bis-[3-(triethoxysilyl)propy]-tetrasulfide). Composites with BFA were varied from 5 to 25wt.%. The PLA/BFA composite melts were pseudoplastic non-Newtonion fluid and exhibited a shear thinning behavior. The viscosity of the surface-treated BFA biocomposites was higher than that of the untreated. The viscosity of the composites decreased with increasing BFA content and shear rate. The extrudate swell of the composites increased with increasing shear rate, whereas it decreased with increasing BFA content and die temperature. The extrudate swell tended to be suppressed when surface-treated BFA was used. Silane treated BFA composites showed improvement in their mechanical properties, and exhibited significantly reduced water absorption.
The objective of this research is to implement the design of experiment method to optimize the forming conditions of bipolar plate fabrication for PEMFC, based on a compression of polymer composite materials. The polymer composite made from epoxy resin mixed with graphite powder, with 1:3 weight ratios. The dimension of specimen is 5 cm x 5 cm in width and 5 mm thick. The flow field area is 70 mm x 70 mm with serpentine flow scheme. Each flow channel is 1x1 mm in width and depth. Three factors are studied, consisting of compression pressure, compression time and compression temperature. Surface roughness and plate flatness are the responses of the experiment. The optimal conditions were found at 1400 lb/in 2 compression pressure, 5 minute compression time at 125°C compression temperature. At this point, the surface roughness of the specimen was 1.48 μm and the average deviation of plate flatness is 0.15 mm.
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