Dynamic Mechanical And Water Absorption Properties Of Microcrystalline Cellulose Reinforced Polypropylene Composites: The Effect Of Unconventional Irradiation Route - Samat, Noorasikin; Mohd Lazim, Nurul Hakimah; Halim, Zahurin (IIUM Engineering Journal, 2019)
The unconventional electron beam (EB) irradiation route in preparing microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) fiber reinforced recycled polypropylene (rPP) composites was studied. In this route, the rPP was first subjected to EB irradiation at various doses (10-50kGy) and was then used as a compatibilizer. Unirradiated and irradiated rPPs were blended at two different ratios (90:10; 50:50) and added with MCC at contents of 5, 20 and 40wt%. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and water absorption tests were carried out. The DMA spectra exhibited high stiffness and damping behaviour. As the content of MCC increased, the water resistance of composites dropped slightly as compared to the controlled rPP. However, some compositions (50:50/40MCC-10kGy and 50:50/5MCC-50kGy) had shown opposite results. The improvement in the studied properties proved the existence of the compatibility effect that occurred at low irradiation doses, and also depended on the ratio (unirradiated and irradiated rPP) and MCC contents. ABSTRAK: Kaedah sinaran gelombang elektron secara bukan konvensional dalam penyediaan komposit polipropilena kitar semula (rPP) bersama serat selulosa mikrohablur (MCC) telah dikaji. Dalam kaedah ini, rPP telah didedahkan kepada sinaran gelombang elektron dengan dos yang berbeza (10-50kGy) dan kemudiannya digunakan sebagai penserasi. rPP tidak tersinar dan tersinar telah dicampur dengan nisbah (90:10; 50:50) dan ditambah dengan MCC pada kandungan 5, 20 and 40wt%. Analisis dinamik mekanikal (DMA) dan ujian penyerapan air telah dijalankan. Spektrum DMA menunjukkan sifat kekakuan dan pengenduran yang tinggi. Apabila kandungan MCC bertambah, kerintangan komposit terhadap air berkurang sedikit berbanding rPP terkawal. Bagaimanapun sebahagian komposisi (50:50/40MCC-10kGy and 50:50/5MCC-50kGy) telah menunjukkan keputusan sebaliknya. Penambahbaikan sifat bahan dalam kajian ini membuktikan kewujudan kesan keserasian yang berlaku pada dos sinaran rendah, dan juga bergantung kepada nisbah (rPP tidak tersinar dan tersinar) dan kandungan MCC.