Low Density Polyethylene-Activated Carbon Composite Foams: Preparation and Properties

Volume 3, Issue 2, April 2018     |     PP. 37-57      |     PDF (4454 K)    |     Pub. Date: April 23, 2018
DOI:    341 Downloads     7816 Views  

Author(s)

Darunee Aussawasathien, Plastics Technology Lab, Polymer Research Unit, National Metal and Materials Technology Center, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
Kotchaporn Jariyakun, Department of Industrial Chemistry, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Pracharat 1 Road, Wongsawang, Bangsue, Bangkok 10800, Thailand
Thongchai Pomrawan, Department of Industrial Chemistry, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Pracharat 1 Road, Wongsawang, Bangsue, Bangkok 10800, Thailand
Kittipong Hrimchum, Plastics Technology Lab, Polymer Research Unit, National Metal and Materials Technology Center, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
Rungsima Yeetsorn, Department of Industrial Chemistry, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Pracharat 1 Road, Wongsawang, Bangsue, Bangkok 10800, Thailand
Walaiporn Prissanaroon-Ouajai, Department of Industrial Chemistry, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Pracharat 1 Road, Wongsawang, Bangsue, Bangkok 10800, Thailand

Abstract
Low density polyethylene (LDPE) containing activated carbon (AC) was foamed with azodicarbonamide (ADC) through an extrusion process. The effects of ADC and AC contents on the cellular structure, void fraction, density, thermal and mechanical properties, and crystallinity of composite foams were investigated. The density of composite foams decreased but the void fraction increased when the ADC content increased. At low AC dosages, the density decreased with increasing void fraction compared to composite foams without AC. Cell formation and average cell density decreased with increasing AC concentration. The maximum reduction of density by 30% with void fraction of 30% was achieved when ADC and AC were applied at 7 wt% and 10 wt% respectively. Increasing ADC and AC contents resulted in composite foams with lower tensile and impact strengths. The crystalline temperature (Tc) and melting temperature (Tm) changes were insignificant as the ADC and AC loadings increased. The decomposition temperature (Td) tended lower as the ADC loading increased, whereas an increase in AC content resulted in increasing Td of the composite foams. The crystallinity percentage of the composite foams reduced slightly with increasing ADC content, but sharply decreased with the enhancement of AC loading.

Keywords
Low density polyethylene; Activated carbon; Azodicarbonamide; Composite foam

Cite this paper
Darunee Aussawasathien, Kotchaporn Jariyakun, Thongchai Pomrawan, Kittipong Hrimchum, Rungsima Yeetsorn, Walaiporn Prissanaroon-Ouajai, Low Density Polyethylene-Activated Carbon Composite Foams: Preparation and Properties , SCIREA Journal of Materials. Volume 3, Issue 2, April 2018 | PP. 37-57.

References

[ 1 ] Park C.P., Polyolefin Foam; in Klempner D. and Sendijarevic V., eds., Handbook of Polymeric Foams and Foam Technology, Hanser Publishers, Munich, 2004: 233-299.
[ 2 ] Ameli A., Nofar M., Jahani D., Rizvi G. and Park C.B., Development of high void fraction polylactide composite foams using injection molding: Crystallization and foaming behaviors, Chem. Eng. J., 2015; 262: 78-87.
[ 3 ] Zhai W., Park C.B. and Kontopoulou M., Nanosilica addition dramatically improves the cell morphology and expansion ratio of polypropylene heterophasic copolymer foams blown in continuous extrusion, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2011; 50: 7282-7289.
[ 4 ] Lee L.J., Zeng C., Cao X., Han X., Shen J. and Xu G., Polymer nanocomposite foams, Compos. Sci. Technol., 2005; 65: 2344-2636.
[ 5 ] Saiz-Arroyo C., Saja J.A.D., Velasco J.I. and Rodríguez-Pérez M.A., Moulded polypropylene foams produced using chemical or physical blowing agents: Structure-properties relationship, J. Mater. Sci., 2012; 47: 5680-5692.
[ 6 ] Bledzki A.K. and Faruk O., Injection moulded microcellular wood fibre-polypropylene composites, Compos. Part A-Appl. Sci. Manuf., 2006; 37: 1358-1367.
[ 7 ] Petchwattana N. and Covavisaruch S., Influences of particle sizes and contents of chemical blowing agents on foaming wood plastic composites prepared from poly (vinyl chloride) and rice hull, Mater. Design, 2011; 32: 2844-2850.
[ 8 ] Zhou J., Zhengjun Y., Zhou C., Wei D. and Li S., Mechanical properties of PLA/PBS foamed composites reinforced by organophilic montmorillonite, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014; doi:10.1002/APP.40773.
[ 9 ] Matuana L.M., Park C.B. and Balatinecz J.J., Cell morphology and property relationships of microcellular foamed PVC/wood-fiber composites, Polym. Eng. Sci., 1998; 37: 1862-1872.
[ 10 ] Matuana L.M., Park C.B. and Balatinecz J.J., Structures and mechanical properties of microcellular foamed polyvinyl chloride, Cell. Polym., 1998; 17: 1-16.
[ 11 ] Ibeh C.C. and Lee S.W., Current trends in nanocomposite foams, J. Cell. Plast., 2008; 44: 498-515.
[ 12 ] Shen J., Zeng C. and Lee L.J., Synthesis of polystyrene-carbon nanofibers nanocomposite foams, Polymer, 2005; 46: 5218-5224.
[ 13 ] Chen L., Schadler L.S. and Ozisik R., An experimental and theoretical investigation of the compressive properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube/poly (methyl methacrylate) nanocomposite foams, Polymer, 2011; 52: 2899-2909.
[ 14 ] Singh C.K., Sahu J.N., Mahalik K.K., Mohanty C.R., Mohan B.R. and Meikap B.C., Studies on the removal of Pb (II) from wastewater by activated carbon developed from Tamarind wood activated with sulphuric acid, J. Hazard. Mater., 2008; 153: 221-228.
[ 15 ] Hesas R.H., Arami-Niya, A., Daud W.M.A.W. and Sahu J.N., Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from apple waste by microwave-assisted phosphoric acid activation: Application in methylene blue adsorption, Bioresources, 2013; 8: 2950-2966.
[ 16 ] Crini G., Non-conventional low-cost adsorbents for dye removal: a review, Bioresour. Technol., 2006; 97: 1061-1085.
[ 17 ] Pinto J., Rodríguez-Pérez M.A. and Saja, J.A.D., XI Reunion del Grupo Especializado de Polímeros (GEP) 10-24 September 2009, Valladolid-Spain 2009.
[ 18 ] Zakaria Z., Ariff Z.M. and Sipaut C.S., Effects of parameter changes on the structure and properties of low-density polyethylene foam, J. Vinyl. Addit. Technol., 2009; 15: 120-128.
[ 19 ] Babaei I., Madanipour M., Farsi M. and Farajpoor A., Physical and mechanical properties of foamed HDPE/wheat straw flour/nanoclay hybrid composite, Compos. Part B-Eng., 2014; 56: 163-170.
[ 20 ] Lee Y., Sain M., Kuboki T. and Park C., Extrusion foaming of nano-clay-filled wood fiber composites for automotive applications, SAE Int. J. Mater. Manf., 2009; 1: 641-647.
[ 21 ] Faruk O., Bledzki A.K. and Matuana L.M., Microcellular foamed wood-plastic composites by different processes: a review, Macromol. Mater. Eng., 2007; 292: 113-127.
[ 22 ] Blair E.A., ASTM special publication, Resinography. Cell. Plast., 1967; 414: 84.
[ 23 ] Ashori A. and Nourbakhsh A., Effects of nanoclay as a reinforcement filler on the physical and mechanical properties of wood based composite, Compos. Mater., 2009; 43: 1869-1875.
[ 24 ] Kordkheili H.Y., Farsi M. and Rezazadeh Z., Physical, mechanical and morphological properties of polymer composites, Compos. Part B-Eng., 2013; 44: 750-755.
[ 25 ] Mengeloglu F. and Matuana L.M., Mechanical properties of extrusion-foamed rigid PVC/wood-flour composites, J. Vinyl. Addit. Technol., 2003; 9: 26-31.
[ 26 ] Liany Y., Tabei A., Farsi M. and Madanipour M., effect of nanoclay and magnesium hydroxide on some properties of HDPE/wheat straw composites, Fiber. Polym., 2013; 14: 304-310.
[ 27 ] Park S.H. and Bandaru P.R., Improved mechanical properties of carbon nanotube/polymer composites through the use of carboxyl-epoxide functional group linkages, Polymer, 2010; 51: 5071-5077.
[ 28 ] El Achaby M., Arrakhiz F.E., Vaudreuil S., El Kacem Q.A., Bousmina M. and Fassi-Fehri O., Mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties of graphene-based polypropylene nanocomposites prepared by melt mixing, Polym. Composite., 2012; 33: 733-744.