In this study, dynamic vulcanization process was used to improve the thermal properties of calcium carbonate filled composites. The composites were prepared using a Z-blade mixer at 180oC and rotor speed 50rpm. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques were used to analyze the thermal properties of the composites. The vulcanized and unvulcanized PP/EPDM composites were filled by CaCO3 at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 %wt. Meanwhile, thermogravimetric analysis indicates that the total weight loss of PP/EPDM/CaCO3 composites decreased with increasing filler loading. Dynamic vulcanized composites have higher thermal stability, while the crystallinity of PP/EPDM/CaCO3 composites were increased as compared to unvulcanized composites. Therefore, the thermal properties were improved by the presence of
dynamic vulcanization process.
A chemical modifier (acrylic acid) was used to improve the thermal properties of polypropylene/ ethylene propylene diene terpolymer/calcium carbonate (PP/EPDM/CaCO3) composites. Treated
and untreated PP/EPDM composites were filled by CaCO3 at 0, 20 and 40% wt. The composites
were prepared using Z-blade mixer machine at 180oC and 50 rpm of rotor speed. Thermogravimetric
analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods were used to analyze the thermal properties of the composites. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the total weight loss of PP/EPDM/CaCO3 composites decreased with the increasing filler loading for the treated and untreated composites. Meanwhile, the presence of acrylic acid was found to have increased the thermal stability and crystallinity of PP/EPDM/CaCO3
.
In this study, the corn stalk (CS) had been utilized as natural filler in low density polyethylene (LDPE). The effect of CS
loading and coconut oil coupling agent (COCA) on tensile, thermal and water absorption properties of LDPE/CS composites
were investigated. The increases of CS decreased the tensile strength and elongation at break of LDPE/CS composites, but
increased in Young’s modulus. The incorporation of CS also contributed to high water uptake of LDPE/CS composites.
However, the presence of CS has increased the crystallinity of composites and LDPE matrix due to nucleating effect. The
addition of COCA has significantly increased the tensile strength, elongation at break, water resistivity and crystallinity
of LDPE/CS composites, but slightly reduced in Young’s modulus. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) also evidence
the presence of COCA improved the adhesion between CS and LDPE matrix.