Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 18 No 2 (2014): 434 - 443

 

 

 

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF STARCH FILLED POLYPROPYLENE UNDER EXPOSURE OF HYGROTHERMAL CONDITIONS

 

(Sifat-sifat Mekanikal Bagi Komposit Polipropilena Terisi Kanji di Bawah Pendedahan Higroterma)

 

Wan Zakaria Wan Nor*, Nor Azura Abdul Rahim, Hakimah Osman and Muthmirah Ibrahim

 

School of Materials Engineering,

Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Kompleks Pengajian Jejawi, Jejawi 2, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia.

 

*Corresponding author: wanzakariawannor@gmail.com

 

 

Abstract

The hygrothermal properties of starch filled polypropylene (PP) composites with different types of starches; sago, tapioca, and corn content at 20 wt% were studied. The PP composites were compounded using Brabender Plasticoder machine and the composites samples were prepared through by compression molding technique. The hygrothermal absorption test was conducted out to investigate the moisture absorption at different temperatures (i.e. room temperature, 40°C and 70°C). Thus, the flexural test was carried out to study the effect of hygrothermal conditions on mechanical properties and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) used to verify the obtained results through morphological study. The results revealed that the mechanical properties of PP composites deteriorate after a period of immersion time and the hygrothermal aging of composites was accelerated as the temperature increased.

 

Keywords: polypropylene composites, starch filled polypropylene, hygrothermal absorption, mechanical properties

 

Abstrak

Sifat-sifat higroterma bagi komposit polipropilena (PP) terisi kanji; sagu, ubi kayu, dan jagung yang terkandung 20% berat telah dikaji. Komposit-komposit PP telah disebatikan menggunakan mesin Brabender Plasticoder dan sampel-sampel komposit disediakan menggunakan teknik pengacuanan mampatan. Ujian penyerapan higroterma telah dijalankan untuk menyiasat kadar serapan lembapan pada beberapa suhu yang berbeza (suhu bilik, 40°C, dan 70°C). Seterusnya, ujian lenturan telah dijalankan untuk menkaji kesan keadaan higroterma ke atas sifat-sifat mekanikal dan mikroskopi pengimbasan electron (SEM) digunakan untuk mengesahkan keputusan yang diperolehi melalui kajian morfologi. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa sifat-sifat mekanikal bagi komposit-komposit PP merosot selepas direndam untuk suatu tempoh masa dan kadar penuaan higroterma bagi komposit-komposit telah dipercepatkan apabila suhu meningkat.

 

Kata kunci: komposit polipropilena, polipropilena terisi kanji, serapan higroterma, sifat-sifat mekanikal

 

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