Preparation and properties of banana fiber-reinforced composites based on high density polyethylene (HDPE)/Nylon-6 blends.
Banana fiber (BaF)-filled composites based on high density polyethylene (HDPE)/Nylon-6 blends were prepared via a two-step extrusion method. Maleic anhydride grafted styrene/ethylene-butylene/styrene triblock polymer (SEBS-g-MA) and maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE-g-MA) were used to enhance impact performance and interfacial bonding between BaF and the resins. Mechanical, crystallization/melting, thermal stability, water absorption, and morphological properties of the composites were investigated. In the presence of SEBS-g-MA, better strengths and moduli were found for HDPE/Nylon-6 based composites compared with corresponding HDPE based composites. At a fixed weight ratio of PE-g-MA to BaF, an increase of BaF loading up to 48.2 wt.% led to a continuous improvement in moduli and flexural strength of final composites, while impact toughness was lowered gradually. Predicted tensile modulus by the Hones-Paul model for three-dimensional random fiber orientation agreed well with experimental data at the BaF loading of 29.3 wt.%. However, the randomly-oriented fiber models underestimated experimental data at higher fiber levels. It was found that the presence of SEBS-g-MA had a positive influence on reinforcing effect of the Nylon-6 component in the composites. Thermal analysis results showed that fractionated crystallization of the Nylon-6 component in the composites was induced by the addition of both SEBS-g-MA and PE-g-MA. Thermal stability of both composite systems differed slightly, except an additional decomposition peak related to the minor Nylon-6 for the composites from the HDPE/Nylon-6 blends. In the presence of SEBS-g-MA, the addition of Nylon-6 and increased BaF loading level led to an increase in the water absorption value of the composites.
Liu
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School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Wu
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Zhang
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D000042:Absorption; D002209:Caprolactam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D004548:Elasticity; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008299:Maleic Anhydrides / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D028521:Musa / Q000378:metabolism*; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength
D003188:Composite Resins; D005030:Ethylenes; D008299:Maleic Anhydrides; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011108:Polymers; C009916:nylon 6; D002209:Caprolactam; D020959:Polyethylene; C036216:ethylene