Research Publications (Engineering and Built Environment)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/215
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Item Barrier and biodegradable properties of corn starch-derived biopolymer film filled with nanoclay fillers(SAGE Publications, 2016-12-18) Mohan, T. P.; Devchand, Kay; Kanny, KrishnanThe objective of this work is to study the effect of nanoclay fillers on the biodegradation and barrier properties of corn starch polymer-based biofilm. Starch derived from corn plant source was used to prepare a biofilm by plasticization method. The barrier properties, namely, water absorption, moisture permeation, oxygen permeation and swelling of unfilled and nanoclay-filled corn starch biofilms were examined. The results indicate: ∼22% reduced water absorption, 40% reduced moisture uptake, 30% reduced oxygen permeation and 31% reduced swelling for 2–3 wt.% nanoclay-filled biofilm, when compared with unfilled biopolymer. The biodegradation result of unfilled and nanoclay-filled film series indicates that the nanoclay addition delays the biodegradation and is a function of nanoclay content in the film. The tensile, dynamic mechanical analysis and biodegradable studies were conducted on the biopolymers before and after water absorption, and the result shows that the nanoclay-filled biopolymer increased these properties when compared with unfilled biopolymer even after water absorption and is dependent on the nanocomposite structure and morphology as examined by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis.Item Resin infusion analysis of nanoclay filled glass fiber laminates(Elsevier, 2013-11-13) Kanny, Krishnan; Mohan, T. P.This paper focuses on the resin flow characteristics of nanoclay filled glass fiber laminates processed by Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion Molding (VARIM). Laminates with varying quantities of nanoclays (0–5 wt.%) were prepared and the effect of these nanoclays on the epoxy resin flow characteristics was studied. It was found that the flow rate of resin continuously decreased as nanoclay content continuously increased. The reduction in the flow rate was attributed to the rate of change of curing and the subse-quent change in viscosity of the nanoclay filled resin. Analysis of infusion process by Darcy’s law show that the permeability of the fiber decreased in the nanoclay filled resin system. Nanoclay filled laminates show improved static and dynamic mechanical properties than that of unfilled resin composites.Item Effect of nanoclay in HDPE–glass fiber composites on processing, structure, and properties(Taylor and Francis, 2012-10-23) Mohan, T. P.; Kanny, KrishnanNatural Na+ montmorillonite (MMT) microclay and organo-treated MMT nanoclay were independently filled in a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) polymer and HDPE–glass fiber (GF) composite and the rheological and mechanical properties were examined. The addition of nanoclay in the HDPE polymer and HDPE–GF composite increased the melt viscosity, rate of crystallization, and crystalline fraction. Addition of Na+ MMT clay on the other hand did not affect the crystalline properties, but increased the melt viscosity marginally. The composite was also examined after the addition of a polyethylene-grafted maleic anhydride-based compatibilizer. It was found that the compatibilizer improved the dispersion of clay particles in the polymer matrix which in turn affected the rheological and mechanical properties of the composite. Improved tensile and wear properties were observed in nanoclay-filled composites when compared to microclay-filled composites.