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Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) biocomposites different sisal, containing with the fiber length of 0.25 and 5 mm, and addition of clay particles were prepared by hot compression technique. Silane (Bis(triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide) treatment has been used to modify, and thus enhance, the properties of related hybrid composites. All composites were subject to water absorption test. The mechanical properties of hybrid composites, such as tensile stiffness and strength, toughness, and hardness, determined tensile, impact, and hardness tests, respectively. It was found that tensile strength, stiffness, and impact strength of long sisal fiber improved with increasing fiber content. Hardness of short sisal fiber improved with increasing fiber content. Treated Silane of long fibers at 20 wt.% loading was found to enhance the tensile strength fiber by 10% and impact strength by 750% as compared with the neat PHBV. Note that this feature was also confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, the hardness and water resistance of the PHBV/sisal composites increased with the addition of clay particles. The diffusion coefficient for the PHBV and hybrid composites systems studied was also calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Hybrid composites composed of polypropylene (PP) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), different flax fibers (unidirectional, biaxial, and twill2 × 2), and silicon dioxide (SiO2) were produced by hot-press technique. The ternary polymer composite was effectively fabricated by spraying SiO2 solvents onto the surface of flax fiber. The dispersion of SiO2 particles and flax in the composites was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The related PP- and HDPE-based composites were subjected to instrumented falling weight impact test. The thermal and mechanical properties of the composites were determined by thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, creep and stress relaxation tests, respectively. It was found that thermal decomposition temperature of the PP or HDPE/flax composites increased by the addition of SiO2 particles. The impact energy, stiffness, creep resistance, and relaxation modulus value of all flax composites increased markedly compared with the PP and HDPE matrix. Time–temperature superposition was applied to estimate the creep and relaxation modulus of the composites as a function of time in the form of a master curve. The activation energies for all the PP and HDPE composites systems studied were also calculated using the Arrhenius equation. The generalized Maxwell model was fairly applicable to the stress relaxation results. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the last several decades, there has been significant growth in research and development activities in nanomaterials. Nanotech has been used to improve the quality of several materials, including wood and polymer composites, for their application in various fields. Nanofillers, including metal particles, nano oxides, pyrogenic silica, and carbon black, have been employed as polymer additives. However, the value of natural, low-cost, and plentiful clay materials such as nanoclay becomes more apparent as environmental regulations and consumer awareness become more rigorous. This literature outlines the role of nanoclay on polymer composites, especially in the case of thermosetting resins, including epoxy, polyester, urea-formaldehyde, and phenol-formaldehyde resins. The current article is intended to provide a comprehensive source of recent studies and literature on nanoclay as filler, its classification, polymer modification processes using nanoclay, and comparing the performance of different thermosetting polymers based on their fabrication methods through physical and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to develop polymer composite masterbatches by using poly(lactic) acid as a carrier resin and bamboo charcoal particle as a natural pigment. Moreover, antioxidant and dispersing agent were added to the masterbatches where the antioxidant improves thermal and ultraviolent stability of pigment masterbatches while dispersing agent enhances the distribution and dispersion of bamboo charcoal particles in the polymer matrix. The natural pigment masterbatches were diluted in the poly(lactic) acid matrix. The morphology, thermal property, and rheological properties of bamboo charcoal particles/poly(lactic) acid composites comparing before and after weathering tests are studied. It was concluded that natural pigment charcoal masterbatches can make good bamboo charcoal particles/poly(lactic) acid composites for high‐temperature food packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]