Morphological, thermal and mechanical properties of polypropylene foams via rotational molding

Abstract

In this work, polypropylene (PP) was foamed via rotational molding using a chemical blowing agent (CBA) based on azodicarbonamide over a range of concentration (0 to 0.5% wt.). The samples were then analyzed in terms of morphological, thermal and mechanical properties. The morphological analysis showed a continuous increase in the average cell size and cell density with increasing CBA content. Increasing the CBA content also led to lower foam density and thermal conductivity. Similarly, all the mechanical properties (tension, flexion and impact) were found to decrease with increasing CBA content. Finally, the efficiency of the rotomolding process was assessed by producing neat PP samples via compression molding. The results showed negligible differences between the rotomolded and compression molded properties at low deformation and rate of deformation indicating that optimal rotomolding conditions were selected.

Ethiopian Bamboo Fiber Aging Process and Reinforcement: Advancing Mechanical Properties of Bamboo Fiber-Epoxy Composites for Automobile Applications

“…Mekane-selam has a 6% and 5% higher tensile modulus than Kom-bolcha in Feb. and Nov., respectively. As indicated in Table 2, the tensile modulus of the BFEPCs of Inji-bara, Kom-bolcha, and Mekane-selam have higher measured values compared to GFEP, Jute felt PU, CFPU, GFMPU, BFPP, BFEP, GFEP, pp foam, GFPU, Glass laminated [3,7,12,15,35], and are comparable with GFPU840871, and GF laminated PE [32,34]. However, they have lower measured values compared to GFPU 90IK01 and TPU [30,36].…”

“…However, they have lower measured values compared to GFPU840871, GFPU90IK01, glass laminated, and TPU [30,32,34]. As indicated in Table 2, the tensile modulus of BFPPCs of Inji-bara, Kom-bolcha, and Mekane-selam have higher measured values compared to GFEP, Jute felt PU, CFPU, GFMPU, BFPP, BFEP, PP foam, and GFPU [3,7,15,16,25,27,29], and are comparable with BFEP, Glass laminated with PE, and GFEP [28,35,40]. However, they have lower measured values compared to GFPU840871, GFPU90IK01, glass laminated, and TPU [30,32,34].…”

“…Inji-bara, Mekane-selam, and Kombolcha have the highest to the lowest tensile strengths, respectively. As indicated in Table 2, BFEPCs of Inji-bara, Kom-bolcha, and Mekane-selam have higher tensile strength compared to Jute felt PU (polyurethane), CFPU (carbon fibres polyurethane), GFPU (glass fibres polyurethane), BFPP, BFEP, PP foam, and TPU (thermoplastics polyurethane) [7,15,[25][26][27][28][29][30][31], and are comparable with BFEP, GFPU, and GF laminated with PE (polyester) [3,28,32]. However, they have lower measured values compared to GFEP, GFPU840871, GFPU 90IK01, and Glass laminated.…”

“…Foams can be used economically in a wider range of applications due to their cellular structure, including automotive parts, protective equipment, building and construction, the packaging industry, and electromagnetic wave insulators. Because of their greatest weight reduction, foamed plastics have excellent cost performance and strength-to-weight ratios when compared to their unfoamed counterparts [14,15]. However, in the case of PP-based foamed parts, the impact resistance is even lower than in solid PP.…”

“…Since PP is a semi-crystalline polymer, it has good flexibility and toughness while also having higher moduli and strengths. Secondly, since PP is in a room-temperature rubbery condition, it has a greater impact resistance than PS [15,17]. The purpose of the current research was to investigate and characterise bamboo fibre epoxy composites (BFEPCs) and bamboo fibre polypropylene composites (BFPPCs) based on the effects of age, harvesting season, and bamboo species, then compare and contrast the current researched materials with the traditional headliner's materials.…”