To compare the suitable working conditions of polypropylene(PP)and polycaprolactam(PA6)materials in actual use in automobiles,the effects of different temperature aging and different reagents on the mechanical propert...To compare the suitable working conditions of polypropylene(PP)and polycaprolactam(PA6)materials in actual use in automobiles,the effects of different temperature aging and different reagents on the mechanical properties of the two materials,such as tensile,bending,compression,and impact were studied.The results indicate that the short⁃term low⁃temperature environment had no much effect on the mechanical properties of PP and PA6.After long⁃term thermal aging at 80℃,the strength of PP and PA6 increased while their toughness decreased.After short⁃term thermal aging at 120℃,PP strength decreases and toughness increases,while PA6 strength increases and toughness decreases.The soaking of glass water and car shampoo had no much effect on the mechanical properties of PP,but had a significant impact on the mechanical properties of PA6.With the increase of soaking time,the strength of PA6 significantly decreases and the toughness significantly increases.The soaking of 95#gasoline had no much effect on the mechanical properties of PA6,but has a significant impact on the mechanical properties of PP.After 720 h of soaking,the retention rates of the tensile strength,bending strength,and compressive strength of PP were all less than 80%,while the retention rate of the impact strength of the cantilever beam was 160.4%.展开更多
A novel eco-friendly charring agent(L-OH)was successfully synthesized by combining pentaerythritol(PER)with lignin through a simple two-step reaction.The structure of L-OH was characterized using Fourier transform inf...A novel eco-friendly charring agent(L-OH)was successfully synthesized by combining pentaerythritol(PER)with lignin through a simple two-step reaction.The structure of L-OH was characterized using Fourier transform infrared(FTIR),X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and EDS.In addition,L-OH was introduced into polypropylene(PP)together with melamine(MEL)and ammonium polyphosphate(APP)as an intumescent flame retardant(IFRR).The flame retardancy of PP/IFRR composites were investigated using limited oxygen index(LOI),UL-94,thermogravimetric analysis(TGA)and cone calorimeter(CC)test.The experimental results indicate that the PP/IFRR composites pass the V-0 grade of the UL-94 test when the addition amount of IFRR is no less than 20%,and the LOI value of the composite reaches 32.2%at 30%IFRR addition.The peak heat release rate(PHRR)and peak smoke production rate(PSPR)of the composite decrease by 72.8%and 70.4%compared with pure PP,respectively.The flame retardancy mechanism was investigated by TGA,TG-FTIR and residual carbon analysis.These analyses indicate that L-OH can form a more continuous and dense carbon layer during the combustion process,which is the main factor contributing to the improved flame retardancy of PP.展开更多
A comparative study of products of thermal and thermocatalytic cracking of polypropylene(PP) in the presence of potassium polytitanate(PPT) synthesized by treatment of TiO_(2)(rutile) powder with molten mixture of KOH...A comparative study of products of thermal and thermocatalytic cracking of polypropylene(PP) in the presence of potassium polytitanate(PPT) synthesized by treatment of TiO_(2)(rutile) powder with molten mixture of KOH and KNO_(3) taken in a weight ratio of 30∶30∶40 has been carried out.It was shown that the studied type of PPT powder exhibits catalytic properties in the reaction of thermal decomposition of PP,compared to the effect of commercial zeolite catalyst CBV-780 traditionally used for this purpose.Based on the analysis performed,the differences in the mechanism of catalytic action of PPT and the zeolite were considered.The reasons for the observed differences in the composition of PP cracking products and in the rate of coke formation on the surface of studied catalysts were analyzed.Considering the obtained results,it has been proposed that the CBV-780 catalyst promoted more intensive production of the gaseous hydrocarbons compared to PPT,due to higher specific surface area(internal surface) accessible for relatively light and small-sized hydrocarbon products of cracking.However,intensive coke formation on the outer surface of the microporous zeolite contributes to the blocking of transport channels and the rapid loss of catalytic action.At the same time,PPT,which initially has a smaller specific surface area,retains its catalytic activity significantly longer due to slit-shaped flat pores and higher transport accessibility of the inner surface.展开更多
The present study presents an assessment of the interrelations between long-chain branching,specific nucleation,and end-use properties of polypropylene blends:blends of linear polypropylene(L-PP)and long-chain branche...The present study presents an assessment of the interrelations between long-chain branching,specific nucleation,and end-use properties of polypropylene blends:blends of linear polypropylene(L-PP)and long-chain branched polypropylene(LCB-PP)modified by a specificβ-nucleating agent(NA).Specimens with various LCB-PP compositions with and without NA were prepared under complex flow fields by injection molding.Wide-angle X-ray scattering was employed to capture the X-ray patterns of both the skin and core of the specimens,determining the overall crystallinity and amounts of individual polymorphs.The increasing content of LCB-PP andγ-phase,at the same time,in the blends is reflected in both increasing crystallinity and improved mechanical properties,namely,yield stress and Young’s modulus.On the other hand,the composition of the blends had no significant effect on the impact strength,except for nucleated L-PP.It has been demonstrated that adding a relatively small amount of LCB-PP is sufficient to modify the mechanical properties of linear polypropylene.Even a very small amount of LCB-PP in the L-PP suppressed the effectiveness of NA.展开更多
Geological samples often contain significant amounts of iron,which,although not typically the target element,can substantially interfere with the analysis of other elements of interest.To mitigate these interferences,...Geological samples often contain significant amounts of iron,which,although not typically the target element,can substantially interfere with the analysis of other elements of interest.To mitigate these interferences,amidoximebased radiation grafted adsorbents have been identified as effective for iron removal.In this study,an amidoximefunctionalized,radiation-grafted adsorbent synthesized from polypropylene waste(PPw-g-AO-10)was employed to remove iron from leached geological samples.The adsorption process was systematically optimized by investigating the effects of pH,contact time,adsorbent dosage,and initial ferric ion concentration.Under optimal conditions-pH1.4,a contact time of 90 min,and an initial ferric ion concentration of 4500 mg/L-the adsorbent exhibited a maximum iron adsorption capacity of 269.02 mg/g.After optimizing the critical adsorption parameters,the adsorbent was applied to the leached geological samples,achieving a 91%removal of the iron content.The adsorbent was regenerated through two consecutive cycles using 0.2 N HNO_(3),achieving a regeneration efficiency of 65%.These findings confirm the efficacy of the synthesized PPw-g-AO-10 as a cost-effective and eco-friendly adsorbent for successfully removing iron from leached geological matrices while maintaining a reasonable degree of reusability.展开更多
This study focuses on the electrical properties and microstructure of polypropylene(PP)-based blends used for cable insulation in nuclear power plants(NPPs).The PP-based blend,comprising isotactic PP and propylene-bas...This study focuses on the electrical properties and microstructure of polypropylene(PP)-based blends used for cable insulation in nuclear power plants(NPPs).The PP-based blend,comprising isotactic PP and propylene-based elastomer(PBE)at concentrations ranging from 0 to 50 wt%,underwent a melt blending process and subsequent cobalt-60 gamma-ray irradiation with doses ranging from 0 to 250 kGy.Electrical conductivity,trap distribution,and alternating(AC)breakdown strength were chosen to assess the insulation performance.These results indicate that the addition of PBE significantly improves the electrical properties of PP under irradiation.For PP,the electrical conductivity increased with irradiation,whereas the trap depth and breakdown strength decreased sharply.Conversely,for the blend,these changes initially exhibit opposite trends.When the irradiation was increased to 250 kGy,the AC breakdown strength of the blend improved by more than 21%compared to that of PP.The physical and chemical structures of the samples were investigated to explore the improvement mechanisms.The results offer insights into the design of new cable-insulation materials suitable for NPPs.展开更多
Leachate sludge,a byproduct of municipal solid waste leachate treated through biochemical processes,is characterized by high water content(761.1%)and significant organic matter content(71.2%).Cement that is commonly u...Leachate sludge,a byproduct of municipal solid waste leachate treated through biochemical processes,is characterized by high water content(761.1%)and significant organic matter content(71.2%).Cement that is commonly used for solidifying leachate sludge has shown limited effectiveness.To address this issue,an alkali-activated ground-granulated blast-furnace slag(GGBS)geopolymer blended with polypropylene fibers was developed to solidify leachate sludge.Moreover,unconfined compressive strength(UCS),immersion,as well as X-ray diffraction(XRD),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),and scanning electron microscope(SEM)tests were conducted to investigate the solidification effect and mechanism of the GGBS-based geopolymer and fibers on leachate sludge.The results showed that:the 28-d UCS of the solidified sludge with 20%and 30%GGBS is 0.35 MPa and 1.85 MPa,and decreases to 0.18 MPa and 1.13 MPa,respectively,after soaked in water for 28 d.Notably,the UCS of the solidified sludge with 30%GGBS satisfied the strength requirement of roadbed materials.Polypropylene fibers significantly enhanced the strength,ductility and water stability of the solidified sludge,with an optimal fiber content of 0.3%.Alkali-activated GGBS geopolymer generated three-dimensional,cross-linked geopolymeric gels within the solidified sludge,cementing sludge particles and filling intergranular pores to form a stable cementitious structure,thereby achieving effective solidification.Furthermore,incorporating polypropylene fibers improved the bonding and anchoring effect between fiber and solidified sludge,constrained lateral deformation of the solidified sludge,restricted crack propagation,and enhanced engineering performance of the solidified leachate sludge.展开更多
Polypropylene(PP) accounts for approximately 28.0% of the global polyolefin market,valued at $243.4 billion in 2022.Known for its lightweight,chemical resistance,costeffectiveness,high strength and melting point,PP is...Polypropylene(PP) accounts for approximately 28.0% of the global polyolefin market,valued at $243.4 billion in 2022.Known for its lightweight,chemical resistance,costeffectiveness,high strength and melting point,PP is widely used in various applications.Its properties and applications are closely tied to its tacticity.One-dimensional(1D) conventional 13C NMR has been extensively utilized to analyze PP tacticity,but its low sensitivity and longer relaxation time remain drawbacks.Typically,analyzing a single PP sample requires around 9 h of NMR time.Using of a cryogenically cooled 10 mm NMR probe can significantly reduce this measurement time;however,its high cost makes it inaccessible for most NMR laboratories.While the refocused insensitive nuclei enhanced by polarization transfer(RINEPT) technique is well-known for enhancing NMR sensitivity,there are no published studies using 1D 13C RINEPT to quantify PP tacticity.Relaxation agents like chromium(Ⅲ) acetylacetonate(Cr(acac)_(3)) have also been used to reduce relaxation times in polyolefin NMR analyses.Here we introduce a straightforward and easily implementable 1D 13C NMR method for rapid PP tacticity quantification.This method combines Cr(acac)_(3),Bruker's existing RINEPT pulse sequence(ineptrd),and our recently published ~1H decoupling sequence(bi_waltz65_256 pl) to eliminate ~1H decoupling artifacts.It is worth noting that decoupling artifacts are always present.When the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) is low,these artifacts are obscured by noise.For example,in some two-dimensional(2D) or three-dimensional(3D) NMR spectra,decoupling artifacts are barely visible because of the low SNR.However,when attempting to observe weak signals in ~1D spectra,increasing the sample concentration or the number of scans enhances the SNR,revealing the decoupling artifacts.The decoupling artifacts appeared superimpose with some other weak signals,affecting the measurements of signal intensities.Therefore,improved ~1H-decoupling methods are crucial for such data acquisitio n.This synergy results in a 9.4-to 9.7-fold sensitivity enhancement,equating to an 88-to 94-fold reduction(9.4^(2)≈88,9.7^(2)≈94) in NMR acquisition time compared to conventional 1D 13C NMR experiment with Cr(acac)_3.The time savings are even more substantial compared to experiments without Cr(acac)_3.The faster and quantitative approach is accessible to researchers with or without cryoprobes.Beyond PP,this method can be applied to tacticity measurements of other polyolefins,such as polybutene,polyhexene and polyoctene.展开更多
To examine the influences of waste polypropylene fiber(PPF)on the strength and internal pore structure of recycled aggregate concrete incorporating iron ore tailings,both the cubic compressive strength and axial compr...To examine the influences of waste polypropylene fiber(PPF)on the strength and internal pore structure of recycled aggregate concrete incorporating iron ore tailings,both the cubic compressive strength and axial compressive strength of the concrete were measured.Additionally,the microstructure was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy.The evolution of pore structure parameters,including pore size distribution,pore type distribution,and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral area in the concrete,was investigated through nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)analysis.A model correlating the concrete's pore structure with its macroscopic performance was subsequently developed based on fractal theory.The results demonstrate that an appropriate amount of PPF created a bridging effect that decelerated the progression of macro cracks,enhanced the ductility of the concrete's failure mode,and increased both cubic compressive strength and axial compressive strength,with the most effective dosage being approximately 0.6%.An appropriate amount of PPF(ranging from 0.3%to 0.6%)facilitated the formation of harmless pores and shifted the pore size distribution towards medium and small sizes.Specifically,a fiber content of 0.6%resulted in the most significant reduction in the T2 spectral area.Furthermore,the pore structure of concrete exhibits distinct fractal characteristics.As the PPF content increased,the fractal dimension initially rose and then declined,demonstrating a strong correlation with the mechanical properties.展开更多
This study focused on the production of polypropylene(PP)/silver(Ag)composites via additive manufacturing.This study aimed to enhance the quality of medical-grade PP in material extrusion(MEX)three-dimensional printin...This study focused on the production of polypropylene(PP)/silver(Ag)composites via additive manufacturing.This study aimed to enhance the quality of medical-grade PP in material extrusion(MEX)three-dimensional printing(3DP)by improving its mechanical properties while simultaneously adding antibacterial properties.The latter can find extremely important and versatile properties that are applicable in defense and security domains.PP/Ag nanocomposites were prepared using a novel method based on a reaction occurring while mixing appropriate quantities of the starting polymers and additives,namely polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP)as the matrix material and silver nitrate(AgNO_(3))as the filler.This process produced three-dimensional(3D)printed filaments,which were then used to create specimens for a series of standardized tests.It was found that the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were enhanced in relation to pristine PP,especially for the PP matrix with various loadings of AgNO_(3)and PVP,such as 5.0 wt%and 2.5 wt%,respectively.The voids,inclusions,and actual-to-nominal dimensions also showed improved results.The 3DP specimens exhibited a more effective biocidal performance against Staphylococcus aureus than Escherichia coli,which developed an inhibition zone only in the case of PP with filler loading percentages of AgNO_(3)and PVP at 10.0 wt%and 5.0 wt%,respectively Compounds possessing such properties can be beneficial for various applications requiring increased mechanical properties and biocidal capabilities,such as in the Defence or medical industries.展开更多
The melt memory effect is a widely observed phenomenon in semi-crystalline polymers. In practical applications, various additives are usually introduced into polymers, which may affect their melt memory behavior. In t...The melt memory effect is a widely observed phenomenon in semi-crystalline polymers. In practical applications, various additives are usually introduced into polymers, which may affect their melt memory behavior. In this work, the effect of talc on the melt memory effect of metallocene-made isotactic polypropylene(M-PP) was investigated in detail by using the differential scanning calorimetry. The results indicated that the introduction of talc significantly strengthened the melt memory effect of M-PP. Specifically, the upper limit temperature of Domain II increased from 161 ℃ to 174 ℃, resulting in a substantial widening of the temperature range of Domain IIa from 1 ℃ to 14 ℃. Analysis of the crystal orientation of the M-PP containing talc cooled from various Ts suggested that the remarkably enhanced melt memory effect could be ascribed to the stabilization of oriented nuclei facilitated by talc. This stabilizing effect was likely attributable to the prefreezing effect or the sorption interaction between talc and the M-PP chains.展开更多
For a polymer/polymer dismissible blend with two crystallizable components,the crystallization behavior of different components and the reciprocal influences between different crystals are interesting and important,bu...For a polymer/polymer dismissible blend with two crystallizable components,the crystallization behavior of different components and the reciprocal influences between different crystals are interesting and important,but did not investigate in detail.In this study,the L-poly(lactic acid)/polypropylene(PLLA/PP)blends with different weight ratios were prepared by melt mixing and the crystallization behavior of the blends were investigated.Results showed that the crystalline structures of PLLA and PP were not altered by the composition.For the crystallization of PLLA,both the diffusion of chain segments and crystallization rate were enhanced under the existence of PP crystals.For the crystallization of PP,its crystallization rate was depressed under the existence of amorphous PLLA molecular chains.When the PP crystallized from the existence of PLLA crystals,although the diffusion rate of PP was reduced by PLLA crystals,the nucleation positions were obviously enhanced,which accelerated the formation of PP crystals.This investigation would supply more basic data for the application of PLLA/PP blend.展开更多
Using aeolian sand(AS)for goaf backfilling allows coordination of green mining and AS control.Cemented AS backfill(CASB)exhibits brittle fracture.Polypropylene(PP)fibers are good toughening materials.When the tougheni...Using aeolian sand(AS)for goaf backfilling allows coordination of green mining and AS control.Cemented AS backfill(CASB)exhibits brittle fracture.Polypropylene(PP)fibers are good toughening materials.When the toughening effect of fibers is analyzed,their influence on the slurry conveying performance should also be considered.Additionally,cement affects the interactions among the hydration products,fibers,and aggregates.In this study,the effects of cement content(8wt%,9wt%,and 10wt%)and PP fiber length(6,9,and 12 mm)and dosage(0.05wt%,0.1wt%,0.15wt%,0.2wt%,and 0.25wt%)on fluidity and mechanical properties of the fibertoughened CASB(FCASB)were analyzed.The results indicated that with increases in the three aforementioned factors,the slump flow decreased,while the rheological parameters increased.Uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)increased with the increase of cement content and fiber length,and with an increase in fiber dosage,it first increased and then decreased.The strain increased with the increase of fiber dosage and length.The effect of PP fibers became more pronounced with the increase of cement content.Digital image correlation(DIC)test results showed that the addition of fibers can restrain the peeling of blocks and the expansion of fissure,and reduce the stress concentration of the FCASB.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)test indicated that the functional mechanisms of fibers mainly involved the interactions of fibers with the hydration products and matrix and the spatial distribution of fibers.On the basis of single-factor analysis,the response surface method(RSM)was used to analyze the effects of the three aforementioned factors and their interaction terms on the UCS.The influence surface of the two-factor interaction terms and the three-dimensional scatter plot of the three-factor coupling were established.In conclusion,the response law of the FCASB properties under the effects of cement and PP fibers were obtained,which provides theoretical and engineering guidance for FCASB filling.展开更多
This paper conducts a comparative analysis of the anti-wetting properties and degassing performance of both homemade and commercial membranes.Additionally,it introduces a unique approach to hydrophobic modification of...This paper conducts a comparative analysis of the anti-wetting properties and degassing performance of both homemade and commercial membranes.Additionally,it introduces a unique approach to hydrophobic modification of high-flux membranes.The study involved the utilization of Hyflon AD40L for multiple coatings on the surface of polypropylene(PP)hollow fiber membranes.Several variables,including modification solution concentration,temperature,coating duration,number of coating cycles,polymer type,and the choice and concentration of the pore-blocking agent,were systematically investigated to establish the optimal modification process.Characterization of the modified membrane and degassing experiments revealed significant improvements.Specifically,the contact angle increased from 95.5°to 113.1°,while the trans-membrane differential pressure surged from 10.7 kPa to 154.6 kPa,marking a remarkable 14.4-fold enhancement.This enhancement is attributed to the improved antiwetting capabilities of the modified membrane.In the degassing experiments,the modified membrane-based module demonstrated an impressive 95.0%dissolved oxygen removal rate,with a corresponding mass transfer coefficient reaching 18.01×10^(-3)m·h^(-1).These results underscore the substantial potential of the Hyflon AD40 L/PP membrane for applications in membrane degassing.展开更多
Polypropylene is commonly used as a binder for ceramic injection molding,and rapid cooling is often encountered during processing.However,the crystallization behavior of polypropylene shows a strong dependence on cool...Polypropylene is commonly used as a binder for ceramic injection molding,and rapid cooling is often encountered during processing.However,the crystallization behavior of polypropylene shows a strong dependence on cooling rate due to its semi-crystalline characteristics.Therefore,the influence of cooling rate on the quality of final product cannot be ignored.In this study,the fast differential scanning calorimetry(FSC)test was performed to study the influence of cooling rate on the non-isothermal crystallization behavior and non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of a copolymer polypropylene(PP BC03B).The results show that the crystallization temperatures and crystallinity decrease as the cooling rate increases.In addition,two exothermic peaks occur when cooling rate ranges from 30 to 300 K·s^(-1),indicating the formation of another crystal phase.Avrami,Ozawa and Mo equations were used to explore the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics,and it can be concluded that the Mo method is suitable for this study.展开更多
Ethylene-propylene block copolymer(EbP) is a vital component in impact polypropylene copolymer(IPC), yet its distribution in the multiphase composite material and how it influences the phase structure and the mechanic...Ethylene-propylene block copolymer(EbP) is a vital component in impact polypropylene copolymer(IPC), yet its distribution in the multiphase composite material and how it influences the phase structure and the mechanical properties are not well understood. In this work,four IPCs were investigated by atomic force microscopy-infrared(AFM-IR) to assess the phase compositions in situ, based on which in conjunction with the chain microstructure information obtained ex situ the distributions of the copolymer components were derived for each alloy. For the IPCs whose EbP comprises long P and long E segments, the EbP fraction was found to phase separate from the rubber and the PP matrix to form the cores of the disperse particles with the E-P segmented copolymer(EsP). In contrast, in the IPC with EbP composed of long P and short E segments, the EbP fraction formed an outer shell for the rubber particles with the cores comprising the EsP alone, and this IPC, containing a lower E comonomer content than its counterpart, exhibited both better impact resistance and higher flexural modulus. These results clarify how the chain structure of EbP governs the phase morphology in IPC, which in turn impacts the properties of the composite material.展开更多
Polypropylene(PP) exhibits suboptimal creep resistance due to the presence of methyl groups on its main chain, leading to irregular chain segment distribution, diminished inter-chain interaction, and crystallinity. Th...Polypropylene(PP) exhibits suboptimal creep resistance due to the presence of methyl groups on its main chain, leading to irregular chain segment distribution, diminished inter-chain interaction, and crystallinity. This structural feature causes chain slippage in PP under stress,significantly constraining its service lifetime. In this study, thermally reduced graphene oxide(TrGO) nanosheets were incorporated into the PP matrix, yielding a nanocomposite with exceptional creep resistance performance. Results demonstrated that at a stress of 25 MPa, a 2.0 wt% TrGO content could enhance the creep failure lifetime of PP by 21.5 times compared to neat PP. Rheology, transmission electron microscopy(TEM),and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) characterization techniques were employed to analyze the mechanism of TrGO's influence on PP's creep behavior. It was observed that when TrGO content exceeded 1.0 wt%, an effective particle network structure formed within the PP matrix. This homogeneously dispersed TrGO-formed particle network structure restricted the migration and rearrangement of PP molecular chains, enabling prolonged stress resistance without structural failure. By combining the time-strain superposition method with the critical failure strain as a criterion, generalized creep compliance curves for PP and its composites were established, facilitating the prediction of material creep failure lifetimes, with a strong agreement between experimental and predicted lifetime values. This research proposes a novel strategy aimed at developing polypropylene materials and products with enhanced long-term stability and durability, thus extending service life, reducing failure risk, and broadening their potential across various application domains.展开更多
In the face of the increased global campaign to minimize the emission of greenhouse gases and the need for sustainability in manufacturing, there is a great deal of research focusing on environmentally benign and rene...In the face of the increased global campaign to minimize the emission of greenhouse gases and the need for sustainability in manufacturing, there is a great deal of research focusing on environmentally benign and renewable materials as a substitute for synthetic and petroleum-based products. Natural fiber-reinforced polymeric composites have recently been proposed as a viable alternative to synthetic materials. The current work investigates the suitability of coconut fiber-reinforced polypropylene as a structural material. The coconut fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites were developed. Samples of coconut fiber/polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). Tests were then conducted on the mechanical properties of the composites for different proportions of coconut fibers. The results obtained indicate that the composites loaded with 2 wt% exhibited the highest tensile and flexural strength, while the ones loaded with 3 wt% had the highest compression strength. The ultimate tensile and flexural strength at 2 wt% were determined to be 34.13 MPa and 70.47 MPa respectively. The compression strength at 3 wt% was found to be 37.88 MPa. Compared to pure polypropylene, the addition of coconut fibers increased the tensile, flexural, and compression strength of the composite. In the study, an artificial neural network model was proposed to predict the mechanical properties of polymeric composites based on the proportion of fibers. The model was found to predict data with high accuracy.展开更多
Polypropylene(PP) fibres have primarily used to control shrinkage cracks or mitigate explosive spalling in concrete structures exposed to fire or subjected to impact/blast loads, with limited investigations on capacit...Polypropylene(PP) fibres have primarily used to control shrinkage cracks or mitigate explosive spalling in concrete structures exposed to fire or subjected to impact/blast loads, with limited investigations on capacity improvement. This study unveils the possibility of using PP micro-fibres to improve the impact behaviour of fibre-reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete(FRUHPC) columns. Results show that the addition of fibres significantly improves the impact behaviour of FRUHPC columns by shifting the failure mechanism from brittle shear to favourable flexural failure. The addition of steel or PP fibres affected the impact responses differently. Steel fibres considerably increased the peak impact force(up to 18%) while PP micro-fibres slightly increased the peak(3%-4%). FRUHPC significantly reduced the maximum midheight displacement by up to 30%(under 20°impact) and substantially improved the displacement recovery by up to 100%(under 20° impact). FRUHPC with steel fibres significantly improved the energy absorption while those with PP micro-fibres reduced the energy absorption, which is different from the effect of PP-macro fibre reported in the literature. The optimal fibre content for micro-PP fibres is 1% due to its minimal fibre usage and low peak and residual displacement. This study highlights the potential of FRUHPC as a promising material for impact-resistant structures by creating a more favourable flexural failure mechanism, enhancing ductility and toughness under impact loading, and advancing the understanding of the role of fibres in structural performance.展开更多
文摘To compare the suitable working conditions of polypropylene(PP)and polycaprolactam(PA6)materials in actual use in automobiles,the effects of different temperature aging and different reagents on the mechanical properties of the two materials,such as tensile,bending,compression,and impact were studied.The results indicate that the short⁃term low⁃temperature environment had no much effect on the mechanical properties of PP and PA6.After long⁃term thermal aging at 80℃,the strength of PP and PA6 increased while their toughness decreased.After short⁃term thermal aging at 120℃,PP strength decreases and toughness increases,while PA6 strength increases and toughness decreases.The soaking of glass water and car shampoo had no much effect on the mechanical properties of PP,but had a significant impact on the mechanical properties of PA6.With the increase of soaking time,the strength of PA6 significantly decreases and the toughness significantly increases.The soaking of 95#gasoline had no much effect on the mechanical properties of PA6,but has a significant impact on the mechanical properties of PP.After 720 h of soaking,the retention rates of the tensile strength,bending strength,and compressive strength of PP were all less than 80%,while the retention rate of the impact strength of the cantilever beam was 160.4%.
基金the equipment support of Sharing Platform of Scientific Equipments,Ministry of Education's Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization and Clean Process Engineering of Phosphrous Resources,Sichuan University。
文摘A novel eco-friendly charring agent(L-OH)was successfully synthesized by combining pentaerythritol(PER)with lignin through a simple two-step reaction.The structure of L-OH was characterized using Fourier transform infrared(FTIR),X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and EDS.In addition,L-OH was introduced into polypropylene(PP)together with melamine(MEL)and ammonium polyphosphate(APP)as an intumescent flame retardant(IFRR).The flame retardancy of PP/IFRR composites were investigated using limited oxygen index(LOI),UL-94,thermogravimetric analysis(TGA)and cone calorimeter(CC)test.The experimental results indicate that the PP/IFRR composites pass the V-0 grade of the UL-94 test when the addition amount of IFRR is no less than 20%,and the LOI value of the composite reaches 32.2%at 30%IFRR addition.The peak heat release rate(PHRR)and peak smoke production rate(PSPR)of the composite decrease by 72.8%and 70.4%compared with pure PP,respectively.The flame retardancy mechanism was investigated by TGA,TG-FTIR and residual carbon analysis.These analyses indicate that L-OH can form a more continuous and dense carbon layer during the combustion process,which is the main factor contributing to the improved flame retardancy of PP.
文摘A comparative study of products of thermal and thermocatalytic cracking of polypropylene(PP) in the presence of potassium polytitanate(PPT) synthesized by treatment of TiO_(2)(rutile) powder with molten mixture of KOH and KNO_(3) taken in a weight ratio of 30∶30∶40 has been carried out.It was shown that the studied type of PPT powder exhibits catalytic properties in the reaction of thermal decomposition of PP,compared to the effect of commercial zeolite catalyst CBV-780 traditionally used for this purpose.Based on the analysis performed,the differences in the mechanism of catalytic action of PPT and the zeolite were considered.The reasons for the observed differences in the composition of PP cracking products and in the rate of coke formation on the surface of studied catalysts were analyzed.Considering the obtained results,it has been proposed that the CBV-780 catalyst promoted more intensive production of the gaseous hydrocarbons compared to PPT,due to higher specific surface area(internal surface) accessible for relatively light and small-sized hydrocarbon products of cracking.However,intensive coke formation on the outer surface of the microporous zeolite contributes to the blocking of transport channels and the rapid loss of catalytic action.At the same time,PPT,which initially has a smaller specific surface area,retains its catalytic activity significantly longer due to slit-shaped flat pores and higher transport accessibility of the inner surface.
文摘The present study presents an assessment of the interrelations between long-chain branching,specific nucleation,and end-use properties of polypropylene blends:blends of linear polypropylene(L-PP)and long-chain branched polypropylene(LCB-PP)modified by a specificβ-nucleating agent(NA).Specimens with various LCB-PP compositions with and without NA were prepared under complex flow fields by injection molding.Wide-angle X-ray scattering was employed to capture the X-ray patterns of both the skin and core of the specimens,determining the overall crystallinity and amounts of individual polymorphs.The increasing content of LCB-PP andγ-phase,at the same time,in the blends is reflected in both increasing crystallinity and improved mechanical properties,namely,yield stress and Young’s modulus.On the other hand,the composition of the blends had no significant effect on the impact strength,except for nucleated L-PP.It has been demonstrated that adding a relatively small amount of LCB-PP is sufficient to modify the mechanical properties of linear polypropylene.Even a very small amount of LCB-PP in the L-PP suppressed the effectiveness of NA.
文摘Geological samples often contain significant amounts of iron,which,although not typically the target element,can substantially interfere with the analysis of other elements of interest.To mitigate these interferences,amidoximebased radiation grafted adsorbents have been identified as effective for iron removal.In this study,an amidoximefunctionalized,radiation-grafted adsorbent synthesized from polypropylene waste(PPw-g-AO-10)was employed to remove iron from leached geological samples.The adsorption process was systematically optimized by investigating the effects of pH,contact time,adsorbent dosage,and initial ferric ion concentration.Under optimal conditions-pH1.4,a contact time of 90 min,and an initial ferric ion concentration of 4500 mg/L-the adsorbent exhibited a maximum iron adsorption capacity of 269.02 mg/g.After optimizing the critical adsorption parameters,the adsorbent was applied to the leached geological samples,achieving a 91%removal of the iron content.The adsorbent was regenerated through two consecutive cycles using 0.2 N HNO_(3),achieving a regeneration efficiency of 65%.These findings confirm the efficacy of the synthesized PPw-g-AO-10 as a cost-effective and eco-friendly adsorbent for successfully removing iron from leached geological matrices while maintaining a reasonable degree of reusability.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52077151)the State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment(No.EIPE23208)the Key Laboratory of Engineering Dielectrics and Its Application,Ministry of Education(No.KFM202203).
文摘This study focuses on the electrical properties and microstructure of polypropylene(PP)-based blends used for cable insulation in nuclear power plants(NPPs).The PP-based blend,comprising isotactic PP and propylene-based elastomer(PBE)at concentrations ranging from 0 to 50 wt%,underwent a melt blending process and subsequent cobalt-60 gamma-ray irradiation with doses ranging from 0 to 250 kGy.Electrical conductivity,trap distribution,and alternating(AC)breakdown strength were chosen to assess the insulation performance.These results indicate that the addition of PBE significantly improves the electrical properties of PP under irradiation.For PP,the electrical conductivity increased with irradiation,whereas the trap depth and breakdown strength decreased sharply.Conversely,for the blend,these changes initially exhibit opposite trends.When the irradiation was increased to 250 kGy,the AC breakdown strength of the blend improved by more than 21%compared to that of PP.The physical and chemical structures of the samples were investigated to explore the improvement mechanisms.The results offer insights into the design of new cable-insulation materials suitable for NPPs.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52078142).
文摘Leachate sludge,a byproduct of municipal solid waste leachate treated through biochemical processes,is characterized by high water content(761.1%)and significant organic matter content(71.2%).Cement that is commonly used for solidifying leachate sludge has shown limited effectiveness.To address this issue,an alkali-activated ground-granulated blast-furnace slag(GGBS)geopolymer blended with polypropylene fibers was developed to solidify leachate sludge.Moreover,unconfined compressive strength(UCS),immersion,as well as X-ray diffraction(XRD),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),and scanning electron microscope(SEM)tests were conducted to investigate the solidification effect and mechanism of the GGBS-based geopolymer and fibers on leachate sludge.The results showed that:the 28-d UCS of the solidified sludge with 20%and 30%GGBS is 0.35 MPa and 1.85 MPa,and decreases to 0.18 MPa and 1.13 MPa,respectively,after soaked in water for 28 d.Notably,the UCS of the solidified sludge with 30%GGBS satisfied the strength requirement of roadbed materials.Polypropylene fibers significantly enhanced the strength,ductility and water stability of the solidified sludge,with an optimal fiber content of 0.3%.Alkali-activated GGBS geopolymer generated three-dimensional,cross-linked geopolymeric gels within the solidified sludge,cementing sludge particles and filling intergranular pores to form a stable cementitious structure,thereby achieving effective solidification.Furthermore,incorporating polypropylene fibers improved the bonding and anchoring effect between fiber and solidified sludge,constrained lateral deformation of the solidified sludge,restricted crack propagation,and enhanced engineering performance of the solidified leachate sludge.
文摘Polypropylene(PP) accounts for approximately 28.0% of the global polyolefin market,valued at $243.4 billion in 2022.Known for its lightweight,chemical resistance,costeffectiveness,high strength and melting point,PP is widely used in various applications.Its properties and applications are closely tied to its tacticity.One-dimensional(1D) conventional 13C NMR has been extensively utilized to analyze PP tacticity,but its low sensitivity and longer relaxation time remain drawbacks.Typically,analyzing a single PP sample requires around 9 h of NMR time.Using of a cryogenically cooled 10 mm NMR probe can significantly reduce this measurement time;however,its high cost makes it inaccessible for most NMR laboratories.While the refocused insensitive nuclei enhanced by polarization transfer(RINEPT) technique is well-known for enhancing NMR sensitivity,there are no published studies using 1D 13C RINEPT to quantify PP tacticity.Relaxation agents like chromium(Ⅲ) acetylacetonate(Cr(acac)_(3)) have also been used to reduce relaxation times in polyolefin NMR analyses.Here we introduce a straightforward and easily implementable 1D 13C NMR method for rapid PP tacticity quantification.This method combines Cr(acac)_(3),Bruker's existing RINEPT pulse sequence(ineptrd),and our recently published ~1H decoupling sequence(bi_waltz65_256 pl) to eliminate ~1H decoupling artifacts.It is worth noting that decoupling artifacts are always present.When the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) is low,these artifacts are obscured by noise.For example,in some two-dimensional(2D) or three-dimensional(3D) NMR spectra,decoupling artifacts are barely visible because of the low SNR.However,when attempting to observe weak signals in ~1D spectra,increasing the sample concentration or the number of scans enhances the SNR,revealing the decoupling artifacts.The decoupling artifacts appeared superimpose with some other weak signals,affecting the measurements of signal intensities.Therefore,improved ~1H-decoupling methods are crucial for such data acquisitio n.This synergy results in a 9.4-to 9.7-fold sensitivity enhancement,equating to an 88-to 94-fold reduction(9.4^(2)≈88,9.7^(2)≈94) in NMR acquisition time compared to conventional 1D 13C NMR experiment with Cr(acac)_3.The time savings are even more substantial compared to experiments without Cr(acac)_3.The faster and quantitative approach is accessible to researchers with or without cryoprobes.Beyond PP,this method can be applied to tacticity measurements of other polyolefins,such as polybutene,polyhexene and polyoctene.
基金Funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province(No.2023-JC-QN-0553)。
文摘To examine the influences of waste polypropylene fiber(PPF)on the strength and internal pore structure of recycled aggregate concrete incorporating iron ore tailings,both the cubic compressive strength and axial compressive strength of the concrete were measured.Additionally,the microstructure was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy.The evolution of pore structure parameters,including pore size distribution,pore type distribution,and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral area in the concrete,was investigated through nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)analysis.A model correlating the concrete's pore structure with its macroscopic performance was subsequently developed based on fractal theory.The results demonstrate that an appropriate amount of PPF created a bridging effect that decelerated the progression of macro cracks,enhanced the ductility of the concrete's failure mode,and increased both cubic compressive strength and axial compressive strength,with the most effective dosage being approximately 0.6%.An appropriate amount of PPF(ranging from 0.3%to 0.6%)facilitated the formation of harmless pores and shifted the pore size distribution towards medium and small sizes.Specifically,a fiber content of 0.6%resulted in the most significant reduction in the T2 spectral area.Furthermore,the pore structure of concrete exhibits distinct fractal characteristics.As the PPF content increased,the fractal dimension initially rose and then declined,demonstrating a strong correlation with the mechanical properties.
文摘This study focused on the production of polypropylene(PP)/silver(Ag)composites via additive manufacturing.This study aimed to enhance the quality of medical-grade PP in material extrusion(MEX)three-dimensional printing(3DP)by improving its mechanical properties while simultaneously adding antibacterial properties.The latter can find extremely important and versatile properties that are applicable in defense and security domains.PP/Ag nanocomposites were prepared using a novel method based on a reaction occurring while mixing appropriate quantities of the starting polymers and additives,namely polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP)as the matrix material and silver nitrate(AgNO_(3))as the filler.This process produced three-dimensional(3D)printed filaments,which were then used to create specimens for a series of standardized tests.It was found that the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were enhanced in relation to pristine PP,especially for the PP matrix with various loadings of AgNO_(3)and PVP,such as 5.0 wt%and 2.5 wt%,respectively.The voids,inclusions,and actual-to-nominal dimensions also showed improved results.The 3DP specimens exhibited a more effective biocidal performance against Staphylococcus aureus than Escherichia coli,which developed an inhibition zone only in the case of PP with filler loading percentages of AgNO_(3)and PVP at 10.0 wt%and 5.0 wt%,respectively Compounds possessing such properties can be beneficial for various applications requiring increased mechanical properties and biocidal capabilities,such as in the Defence or medical industries.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51973037 and 52173056)PetroChina Company Limited,China。
文摘The melt memory effect is a widely observed phenomenon in semi-crystalline polymers. In practical applications, various additives are usually introduced into polymers, which may affect their melt memory behavior. In this work, the effect of talc on the melt memory effect of metallocene-made isotactic polypropylene(M-PP) was investigated in detail by using the differential scanning calorimetry. The results indicated that the introduction of talc significantly strengthened the melt memory effect of M-PP. Specifically, the upper limit temperature of Domain II increased from 161 ℃ to 174 ℃, resulting in a substantial widening of the temperature range of Domain IIa from 1 ℃ to 14 ℃. Analysis of the crystal orientation of the M-PP containing talc cooled from various Ts suggested that the remarkably enhanced melt memory effect could be ascribed to the stabilization of oriented nuclei facilitated by talc. This stabilizing effect was likely attributable to the prefreezing effect or the sorption interaction between talc and the M-PP chains.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51403089 and 21574060)the Major Special Projects of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology(No.20114ABF05100)+3 种基金the Project of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education(No.GJJ170229)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2019M652282)the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province(No.2018KY37)the Technology Plan Landing Project of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education(No.GCJ2011-243).
文摘For a polymer/polymer dismissible blend with two crystallizable components,the crystallization behavior of different components and the reciprocal influences between different crystals are interesting and important,but did not investigate in detail.In this study,the L-poly(lactic acid)/polypropylene(PLLA/PP)blends with different weight ratios were prepared by melt mixing and the crystallization behavior of the blends were investigated.Results showed that the crystalline structures of PLLA and PP were not altered by the composition.For the crystallization of PLLA,both the diffusion of chain segments and crystallization rate were enhanced under the existence of PP crystals.For the crystallization of PP,its crystallization rate was depressed under the existence of amorphous PLLA molecular chains.When the PP crystallized from the existence of PLLA crystals,although the diffusion rate of PP was reduced by PLLA crystals,the nucleation positions were obviously enhanced,which accelerated the formation of PP crystals.This investigation would supply more basic data for the application of PLLA/PP blend.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52174095)the Top Innovative Talents Cultivation Fund for Doctoral Postgraduates(No.BBJ2023054).
文摘Using aeolian sand(AS)for goaf backfilling allows coordination of green mining and AS control.Cemented AS backfill(CASB)exhibits brittle fracture.Polypropylene(PP)fibers are good toughening materials.When the toughening effect of fibers is analyzed,their influence on the slurry conveying performance should also be considered.Additionally,cement affects the interactions among the hydration products,fibers,and aggregates.In this study,the effects of cement content(8wt%,9wt%,and 10wt%)and PP fiber length(6,9,and 12 mm)and dosage(0.05wt%,0.1wt%,0.15wt%,0.2wt%,and 0.25wt%)on fluidity and mechanical properties of the fibertoughened CASB(FCASB)were analyzed.The results indicated that with increases in the three aforementioned factors,the slump flow decreased,while the rheological parameters increased.Uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)increased with the increase of cement content and fiber length,and with an increase in fiber dosage,it first increased and then decreased.The strain increased with the increase of fiber dosage and length.The effect of PP fibers became more pronounced with the increase of cement content.Digital image correlation(DIC)test results showed that the addition of fibers can restrain the peeling of blocks and the expansion of fissure,and reduce the stress concentration of the FCASB.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)test indicated that the functional mechanisms of fibers mainly involved the interactions of fibers with the hydration products and matrix and the spatial distribution of fibers.On the basis of single-factor analysis,the response surface method(RSM)was used to analyze the effects of the three aforementioned factors and their interaction terms on the UCS.The influence surface of the two-factor interaction terms and the three-dimensional scatter plot of the three-factor coupling were established.In conclusion,the response law of the FCASB properties under the effects of cement and PP fibers were obtained,which provides theoretical and engineering guidance for FCASB filling.
基金financial support of the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2020YFC0862903)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22078146)+2 种基金the Key Research and Development program of Jiangsu Province(BE2021022)the Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering State Key Laboratory Program(KL19-04)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK20200091).
文摘This paper conducts a comparative analysis of the anti-wetting properties and degassing performance of both homemade and commercial membranes.Additionally,it introduces a unique approach to hydrophobic modification of high-flux membranes.The study involved the utilization of Hyflon AD40L for multiple coatings on the surface of polypropylene(PP)hollow fiber membranes.Several variables,including modification solution concentration,temperature,coating duration,number of coating cycles,polymer type,and the choice and concentration of the pore-blocking agent,were systematically investigated to establish the optimal modification process.Characterization of the modified membrane and degassing experiments revealed significant improvements.Specifically,the contact angle increased from 95.5°to 113.1°,while the trans-membrane differential pressure surged from 10.7 kPa to 154.6 kPa,marking a remarkable 14.4-fold enhancement.This enhancement is attributed to the improved antiwetting capabilities of the modified membrane.In the degassing experiments,the modified membrane-based module demonstrated an impressive 95.0%dissolved oxygen removal rate,with a corresponding mass transfer coefficient reaching 18.01×10^(-3)m·h^(-1).These results underscore the substantial potential of the Hyflon AD40 L/PP membrane for applications in membrane degassing.
基金financially supported by a grant provided by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries。
文摘Polypropylene is commonly used as a binder for ceramic injection molding,and rapid cooling is often encountered during processing.However,the crystallization behavior of polypropylene shows a strong dependence on cooling rate due to its semi-crystalline characteristics.Therefore,the influence of cooling rate on the quality of final product cannot be ignored.In this study,the fast differential scanning calorimetry(FSC)test was performed to study the influence of cooling rate on the non-isothermal crystallization behavior and non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of a copolymer polypropylene(PP BC03B).The results show that the crystallization temperatures and crystallinity decrease as the cooling rate increases.In addition,two exothermic peaks occur when cooling rate ranges from 30 to 300 K·s^(-1),indicating the formation of another crystal phase.Avrami,Ozawa and Mo equations were used to explore the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics,and it can be concluded that the Mo method is suitable for this study.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.52073277)the Science and Technology Department of Fujian Province (No.2020HZ06019)。
文摘Ethylene-propylene block copolymer(EbP) is a vital component in impact polypropylene copolymer(IPC), yet its distribution in the multiphase composite material and how it influences the phase structure and the mechanical properties are not well understood. In this work,four IPCs were investigated by atomic force microscopy-infrared(AFM-IR) to assess the phase compositions in situ, based on which in conjunction with the chain microstructure information obtained ex situ the distributions of the copolymer components were derived for each alloy. For the IPCs whose EbP comprises long P and long E segments, the EbP fraction was found to phase separate from the rubber and the PP matrix to form the cores of the disperse particles with the E-P segmented copolymer(EsP). In contrast, in the IPC with EbP composed of long P and short E segments, the EbP fraction formed an outer shell for the rubber particles with the cores comprising the EsP alone, and this IPC, containing a lower E comonomer content than its counterpart, exhibited both better impact resistance and higher flexural modulus. These results clarify how the chain structure of EbP governs the phase morphology in IPC, which in turn impacts the properties of the composite material.
基金financially supported by Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province (No. 2022NSFSC0296)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51903118and U19A2096)State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering (No. sklpme2020-1-07, Sichuan University)。
文摘Polypropylene(PP) exhibits suboptimal creep resistance due to the presence of methyl groups on its main chain, leading to irregular chain segment distribution, diminished inter-chain interaction, and crystallinity. This structural feature causes chain slippage in PP under stress,significantly constraining its service lifetime. In this study, thermally reduced graphene oxide(TrGO) nanosheets were incorporated into the PP matrix, yielding a nanocomposite with exceptional creep resistance performance. Results demonstrated that at a stress of 25 MPa, a 2.0 wt% TrGO content could enhance the creep failure lifetime of PP by 21.5 times compared to neat PP. Rheology, transmission electron microscopy(TEM),and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) characterization techniques were employed to analyze the mechanism of TrGO's influence on PP's creep behavior. It was observed that when TrGO content exceeded 1.0 wt%, an effective particle network structure formed within the PP matrix. This homogeneously dispersed TrGO-formed particle network structure restricted the migration and rearrangement of PP molecular chains, enabling prolonged stress resistance without structural failure. By combining the time-strain superposition method with the critical failure strain as a criterion, generalized creep compliance curves for PP and its composites were established, facilitating the prediction of material creep failure lifetimes, with a strong agreement between experimental and predicted lifetime values. This research proposes a novel strategy aimed at developing polypropylene materials and products with enhanced long-term stability and durability, thus extending service life, reducing failure risk, and broadening their potential across various application domains.
文摘In the face of the increased global campaign to minimize the emission of greenhouse gases and the need for sustainability in manufacturing, there is a great deal of research focusing on environmentally benign and renewable materials as a substitute for synthetic and petroleum-based products. Natural fiber-reinforced polymeric composites have recently been proposed as a viable alternative to synthetic materials. The current work investigates the suitability of coconut fiber-reinforced polypropylene as a structural material. The coconut fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites were developed. Samples of coconut fiber/polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). Tests were then conducted on the mechanical properties of the composites for different proportions of coconut fibers. The results obtained indicate that the composites loaded with 2 wt% exhibited the highest tensile and flexural strength, while the ones loaded with 3 wt% had the highest compression strength. The ultimate tensile and flexural strength at 2 wt% were determined to be 34.13 MPa and 70.47 MPa respectively. The compression strength at 3 wt% was found to be 37.88 MPa. Compared to pure polypropylene, the addition of coconut fibers increased the tensile, flexural, and compression strength of the composite. In the study, an artificial neural network model was proposed to predict the mechanical properties of polymeric composites based on the proportion of fibers. The model was found to predict data with high accuracy.
基金the financial support from Australian Research Council(ARC)(Grant No.DP220100307).
文摘Polypropylene(PP) fibres have primarily used to control shrinkage cracks or mitigate explosive spalling in concrete structures exposed to fire or subjected to impact/blast loads, with limited investigations on capacity improvement. This study unveils the possibility of using PP micro-fibres to improve the impact behaviour of fibre-reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete(FRUHPC) columns. Results show that the addition of fibres significantly improves the impact behaviour of FRUHPC columns by shifting the failure mechanism from brittle shear to favourable flexural failure. The addition of steel or PP fibres affected the impact responses differently. Steel fibres considerably increased the peak impact force(up to 18%) while PP micro-fibres slightly increased the peak(3%-4%). FRUHPC significantly reduced the maximum midheight displacement by up to 30%(under 20°impact) and substantially improved the displacement recovery by up to 100%(under 20° impact). FRUHPC with steel fibres significantly improved the energy absorption while those with PP micro-fibres reduced the energy absorption, which is different from the effect of PP-macro fibre reported in the literature. The optimal fibre content for micro-PP fibres is 1% due to its minimal fibre usage and low peak and residual displacement. This study highlights the potential of FRUHPC as a promising material for impact-resistant structures by creating a more favourable flexural failure mechanism, enhancing ductility and toughness under impact loading, and advancing the understanding of the role of fibres in structural performance.
