Search

The recognized selection of a product processing method is significant in improving the efficiency and suitability of polymer product applications. In this study, the compressive properties of polyethylene (PE) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam mixture (PE/EVA) using compression and rotational molding method were investigated. The sample was prepared in two steps. Firstly, PE and EVA resins, zinc oxide (ZnO) as an accelerated agent, azodicarbonamide (ADC) as a blowing agent, and other additives were mixed using single screw extrusion to form pelletized products. Furthermore, pellets was processed by compression and rotational molding into a PE/EVA foam mixture sample. The results showed that the compressive strength and the density of the sample with rotational molding method were higher than compression molding method, with a value of 0.24 MPa and 0.258 g/cm3, respectively. However, the hardness value of both methods were not significantly different. To find the affected hardness value, morphology spectroscopy of the foam was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to measure the size and homogeneity of the foam cells. The results showed that the distribution of foam cells from both methods was not uniform with a random structure. Therefore, the properties of hardness, density, and compressive strength could be determined by the uniformity of the foam cell size. Based on the results of this research investigation, comparing the three parameters of compressive strength, density, and morphology, it can be concluded that the rotational method was better used in the PE/EVA foam manufacturing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible multilayer packaging (MLP) is a type of packaging that consists of several layers of different polymers and aluminum. MLP recycling is difficult due to the incompatibility of some of its components, resulting in poor recycling product performance and a low market value. Using a compatibilizer in MLP recycling may solve the problem, and thus recycled MLP may find suitable applications. This research blended shredded MLP and HDPE bottle caps with PE-g-GMA as a compatibilizer using a single screw extruder. The barrel temperatures were set at 180 to 260°C for different zones, and the rotation speed was at 100 rpm. The weight ratio of HDPE caps to MLP varied from 0.16 to 1.14, and the weight % of PE-g-GMA varied from 0.3 to 11%. Central composite design (CCD) generates 11 runs with different material formulations. The flexural test specimen was manufactured using injection molding and tested according to ASTM D790. FTIR and DSC were measured to support the investigation. The optimum flexural strength of 16.3 MPa with a 0.65 weight ratio of HDPE caps to MLP and 0.4 wt.% PE-g-GMA was obtained through response surface statistical analysis using Rstudio software. According to optimum flexural strength results, a panel pallet with SNI 8944:2021 dimensions have a 724 kg load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilayered packaging (MLP) waste is one of Indonesia's most plastic waste types. MLP have various composition, ranges from paper to plastics to metals, and short lifespan making their waste management became harder. Here we present an innovative method to recycle multilayered packaging waste as a paving block. This can assist in providing a recycling process options on reducing the negative impact of MLP waste to the environment. Shredded MLP waste is mixed with shredded polyethylene (PE) bag waste then the mixture is processed by the hot press at 240°C. Six formulas were used to mold the paving block, and the weight ratio of PE to MLP were varied from 0.33 to 3. Paving blocks were tested for their compression strength, according to ASTM D695, to investigate the effect of MLP addition on compressive properties and its compliance to the compressive requirement from SNI 03-0691-1996. According to ASTM D792 and SNI 03-0691-1996, the density and water absorption tests were conducted to support the investigation. MLP Increment increases the compression strength and influences the density. MLP can act as binder and filler, thus filling the void inside the paving block and increasing compression strength. From the obtained results it can be concluded that LDPE_MLP (75) paving block can follow the SNI minimum requirement, in term of compression strength (50.4 MPa) and water absorption (9.95%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorinated rubber (CR) has been widely used in coating industry due to its good chemical, mechanical, fungicidal and adhesive properties. In this study, the effect of adding CR on the mechanical properties of glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite was investigated. The GFRP composite was prepared by the hand lay-up method. CRB10 and S20 types, were incorporated into GFRP via two methods, direct mixing and coating. First, 1 per hundred resins (phr) of CR was added into unsaturated polyester (UP) resin and used as a matrix GFRP composite (GFRP/CR). Second, 1 phr of CR was added into the UP resin and used as coating (GFRP/CRc). The results show that direct mixing samples have better tensile and flexural properties than the counterpart. Effect of CR, mixing and seawater immersion after 30 and 90 days were analyzed. It also showed that CR B10 resulted in better tensile (11%) and flexural strength (12%) than that of S20. Effect of seawater immersion for 90 days increased tensile strength ∼18%, but decreased flexural strength ∼21%. The addition of CR increased the water absorption for both GFRP/CR and GFRP/CRc. The results showed that coating method was effective to inhibit seawater absorption after 30 days, but less effective after 90 days than that of direct mixing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Packaging waste has become a major environmental issue as the world's population grows, increasing the demand for multi-layer packaging (MLP). As a result, there is a push to develop alternative methods for recycling such materials. Composite material production has become a significant concern for mechanical recycling of plastic waste. Fly ash (FA) could be used as a filler in polymer composites to improve their properties while lowering manufacturing costs. This study describes the creation of a novel value-added composite made of FA and flexible MLP. FA is added to MLP in varying amounts up to 40% by weight. The composite was created using a single screw extrusion technique at maximum temperatures of 260°C and screw rotation speeds of 100 rpm. An injection molding machine was used to make test specimens for mechanical property evaluations. Mechanical properties such as flexural and impact were measured using ASTM D790 and ISO 179. The density of the composite material was determined using the ASTM D792 standard. The result shows that adding FA will improve mechanical properties such as flexural and impact strength in specific compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilayer packaging (MLP) is widely used in food packaging. Due to the high consumption of MLP, the amount of MLP packaging waste is also increasing. However, this MLP waste is difficult to be recycled and polluting the environment. This study reports the effect of Fly ash addition on the thermal conductivity properties of multilayer packaging (MLP) composite. MLPs with different fly ash content (0, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 wt.%) were mixed using single screw extrusion to form pelletized products. Furthermore, the pellet was processed by compression molding at 260℃ and 20 MPa for 15 minutes. The thermal conductivity properties were measured according to ASTM C1113. Moisture content and porosity were measured to support thermal conductivity analysis. The result shows that adding fly ash into MLP decreases the thermal conductivity of the composite. The porosity and moisture content influence the thermal conductivity of MLP fly ash composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decomposition temperature of the material is one of the important factors in industrial processes. In this study, the effect of zinc oxide (ZnO) addition with various contents of 0, 2, 4 and 6 per hundred resin (phr) on onset temperature of a ethylene vinyl acetate and polyethylene (EVA/PE) foam mixture were investigated using a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) at heating rate of 10 °C/min. Furthermore, the onset temperature and kinetic characteristics at various heating rate of 5 and 20 °C/min were also studied. Samples were prepared by two processes. Firstly, formulation was mixed by a single screw extruder which produced pellets. The pellets were then processed by a compression molding machine into foam. The results showed that the onset temperature increased with increasing ZnO content and heating rate. In general, the decomposition of samples with ZnO addition occurred in two stages. Meanwhile, the sample with 0 phr of ZnO content had three stages of decomposition. It began with the loss of additives and an-organic content and the second and third stage were the decomposition of ethylene vinyl acetate and Polyethylene, respectively. In addition, the kinetics characteristics of thermal decomposition of EVA/PE foam mixture were calculated by the Coast Redfern equation. Interestingly, the activation energy decreased with increasing ZnO content. Finally, the activation energy on sample with 0 phr of ZnO decreased with increasing heating rate until 10 °C/min and then increased again at a heating rate of 20 °C/min for each stage. Meanwhile, the activation energy of samples with the addition of ZnO generally increased with increasing heating rate at each stage of decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the effect of adding fly ash on the electrical properties of the composite multi-layer plastic packaging (MLP) and the moisture content in this composite material as additional parameters to support this study. In particular, post-consumer MLP with various fly ash contents with the composition of 0, 5, 10, and 20 wt% were processed using a single screw extruder at a temperature of 180 - 260 °C and 100 rpm. Test specimens for electrical properties evaluations were prepared using a compression molding machine. The elemental analysis was examined using EDS. Moisture content was measured according to ISO 16979. Electrical properties in the form of surface resistivity, capacitance/dielectric constant/tangent delta, and dielectric breakdown strength were measured according to ASTM D257, ASTM D150, and ASTM D149 respectively. The ultimate analysis result shows that fly ash was composed mostly of SiO2 and Al2O3. The moisture content was significantly increased at 20 wt% of fly ash with a value of 2.54%. Furthermore, the addition of fly ash content in MLP plastic composites affects the increased surface resistivity from 9 to 100 TΩ, capacitance values from 9.2 to 12.8 pF, the dielectric constant value from 2.9 to 3.3, tangent delta value from 0.010 to 0.024 and dielectric breakdown voltage from 50.2 kV/cm to 94.5 kV/cm. Generally, the results of the electrical properties investigation suggest that the MLP plastic and fly ash composite have the potential as a material for electronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic is one of the most common materials in modern society. However, improper plastic management and disposal practices cause serious environmental pollution. Microplastics that pollute the environment, particularly the marine environment, are currently issues of global concern related to plastic waste. Microplastics can come from a variety of sources due to degradation. This study examined into how plastic degrades in river and sea water, specifically polyethylene plastic bags, which are commonly found in the environment as plastic packaging. The effects of two different water environments (river water and sea water) were examined for three months using immersion simulations without light, using three types of plastic bags (degradable and two types of recycled). In this study, characterization was carried out using FTIR analysis, material decomposition analysis, tensile strength measurement, and morphology analysis. After 3 months of immersion, the FTIR spectra of recycled plastic bag brand A and degradable plastic bag show changes in the intensity of amorphous regions, but peaks of amorphous regions in FTIR spectra of recycled plastic bag brand B could not be seen. Generally, tensile strength decreased for all three plastics, with recycled plastic bag brand A showing the greatest decrease when compared to other types of plastic bags. Furthermore, the surface morphology of all plastic bags shows degradation in the form of crazing and the addition of roughness to the surface. Among the two types of immersion water, seawater had a greater impact on the degradation of three types of plastic bags. This study found that water, particularly sea water, has an impact on the chemical, morphology and mechanical performance of polyethylene plastic bags, particularly recycled types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]