A Study on Some Properties of Polypropylene Based Nanocomposites Made Using Almond Shell Flour and Organoclay

Abstract

Natural fibers reinforced polymers, known as FRPs, have received a great deal of attention during the past decades 1,2. FRPs include lignocellulosic materials, such as wood, hemp, linens, corns stalks, coconut shells, peanuts shells, almond shells, wheat and rice straws, etc., as fiber or filler and thermoplastic or thermoset polymers as a matrix. Although the use of natural fibers is not as popular as the use of mineral or inorganic fillers, it has several advantages over traditional fillers and reinforcing materials such as low density, flexibility during the processing with no harm to the equipment, acceptable specific strength properties and low cost on per volume basis. Despite all these advantages, there are also serious concerns. The main disadvantage of using natural fibers as fillers is their high water absorption or desorption when subjected to changes in the relative humidity of the environment and low mechanical properties, mainly, due to highly hydrophilic nature of natural fibers that causes compatibility problems with the hydrophobic polymers in composites. Various approaches are used for the improvement of mechanical properties of composites. There are two major ways to improve mechanical

Thermal Analysis and Morphological Characterization of Thermoplastic Composites Filled with Almond Shell Flour/Montmorillonite

“…Lignocellulosic materials have been used as fillers in the thermoplastic industry for the replacement of conventional synthetic fibers, such as aramid and glass, because of their low density, good thermal insulation and mechanical properties, reduced tool wear, unlimited availability, low price, and problem-free disposal (Bledzki and Gassan 1999;Mishra et al 2001;Belgacem and Gandini 2008;Ghasemi and Farsi 2010;Ayrilmis et al 2013;Lashgari et al 2013;Salmah et al 2013a).…”

“…Since the almond shell has no important industrial value, it is normally incinerated or dumped. It is a waste material in western Iran, generated during nut processing and usually burnt (Lashgari et al 2013). Previous studies (Pirayesh and Khazaeian 2012;Lashgari et al 2013;García et al 2014) reported that almond shell flour (ASF) could play an important role in the manufacture of filled thermoplastic composites and wood-based panels, thereby reducing the demand for wood material.…”

“…It is a waste material in western Iran, generated during nut processing and usually burnt (Lashgari et al 2013). Previous studies (Pirayesh and Khazaeian 2012;Lashgari et al 2013;García et al 2014) reported that almond shell flour (ASF) could play an important role in the manufacture of filled thermoplastic composites and wood-based panels, thereby reducing the demand for wood material. For example, García et al (2014) reported a decrease in thermal stability and an increase in oxygen and water vapor barrier properties of the poly(ε-caprolactone)-based composites with ASF from 10 wt%, 20 wt%, and 30 wt% in comparison with the composites without ASF.…”

“…For example, García et al (2014) reported a decrease in thermal stability and an increase in oxygen and water vapor barrier properties of the poly(ε-caprolactone)-based composites with ASF from 10 wt%, 20 wt%, and 30 wt% in comparison with the composites without ASF. In another study, Lashgari et al (2013) investigated the effect of MMT (0, 2.5, and 5 wt%) and ASF (30, 35, and 40 wt%) on the flexural and tensile properties, and impact strength of injection-molded PP composites. They reported that the tensile and flexural modulus of PP composites containing 5 phr nanoclay increased marginally as compared with composites made up of 2.5 phr nanoclay.…”

Linear Low Density Polyethylene Filled with Almond Shells Particles: Mechanical and Thermal Properties

“…The Almond Shell (Prunus Dulcis) is one of the most abundant and low-cost product which is available as a waste compound [2]. The almond shell has no important industrial value and it is normally incinerated or dumped [3][4]. It was reported that almond shell flour could play an important role in the fabrication of filled thermoplastic composites and wood-based panels, thus reducing the requirement for wood material [3,5].…”