Sains Malaysiana 45(8)(2016): 1235–1242

Effect of HNTs Addition in the Injection Moulded Thermoplastic Polyurethane Matrix on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties

(Kesan Penambahan HNTs dalam Pengacuan Suntikan Matriks Termoplastik Poliuretana ke atas Sifat Mekanik dan Terma)

TAYSER SUMER GAAZ^1,2*, ABU BAKAR SULONG¹ & ABDUL AMIR H. KADHUM²

¹Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Department of Chemical & Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

³Department of Equipment’s & Machines Engineering, Technical College Al-Musaib

Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Iraq

Received: 20 April 2015/Accepted: 20 November 2015

ABSTRACT

The additions of nanofillers are able to enhance the mechanical properties of neat polymer matrix. There were few researchers reported on the mechanical properties of halloysite nanotubes reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane (HNTs-TPU) nanocomposites formed through casting and compression moulding. However, fewer researchers also reported study on HNTs-TPU formed through injection molding. The main objective of this paper was to study the effect of HNTs addition of TPU matrix on mechanical and physical properties. HNTs were mixed in TPU matrix using a brabender mixer with concentration ranging from 0.5 to 7 wt. % HNT loading (at specific mixing speed, mixing time and mixing temperature). Injection moulding was carried out to form tensile bar shaped specimens with specific moulding parameters (injection temperature, injection time and injection pressure). Increment around 35% of tensile strength of the specimen was found at 1 wt. % HNT loading concentration which exhibited the value of 24.3 MPa, compared to neat TPU; the best mixing. The Young’s modulus was increased with increasing HNTs loading. The elongation decreased with increasing HNTs loading. The FESEM results showed that HNTs were dispersed in TPU matrix. The TGA results showed that the addition of 1 wt. % HNTs enhanced the thermal properties. It can be concluded that HNTs-TPU has improved tensile and physical properties compared with neat TPU due to the addition of nanofiller.

Keywords: Halloysite nanotubes; mechanical properties; nanocomposites; physical properties; thermoplastic polyurethane

ABSTRAK

Penambahan nano pengisi dapat meningkatkan sifat mekanik matriks polimer tulen. Terdapat beberapa penyelidik telah melaporkan mengenai sifat mekanik tiub nano haloisit diperkuat nanokomposit termoplastik poliuretana (HNTs-TPU) yang dibentuk melalui pengacuan tuangan dan mampatan. Walau bagaimanapun, hanya sedikit penyelidik yang mengkaji tentang HNTs-TPU yang dibentuk melalui pengacuan suntikan. Objektif utama penyelidikan ini ialah mengkaji kesan penambahan HNTs matriks TPU ke atas sifat mekanik dan fizikal. HNTs telah dicampurkan dalam matriks TPU menggunakan pembancuh brabender dengan kepekatan antara 0.5 hingga 7 % bt. Pembebanan HNT (pada kelajuan, masa dan suhu pencampuran yang telah ditetapkan). Pengacuan suntikan telah dijalankan untuk membentuk spesimen berbentuk bar tegangan dengan parameter pengacuan tertentu (suhu, masa dan suntikan pengacuan). Pertambahan nilai kekuatan tegangan spesimen sebanyak 35% diperoleh pada 1 % bt. kepekatan pembebanan HNT dengan mengeluarkan nilai 24.3 MPa berbanding TPU tulen; campuran terbaik. Nilai modulus Young meningkat apabila pembebanan HNTs meningkat. Pemanjangan menyusut dengan peningkatkan pembebanan HNTs. Keputusan FESEM menunjukkan bahawa HNTs meresap ke dalam matriks TPU. Keputusan analisis TGA menunjukkan bahawa penambahan 1 % bt. HNTs telah meningkatkan sifat terma. Oleh itu, dapat disimpulkan bahawa HNTs-TPU telah menambah baik sifat tegangan dan fizikal berbanding dengan TPU tulen berdasarkan kesan penambahan nano pengisi.

Kata kunci: Nano komposit; sifat fizikal; sifat mekanik; termoplastik poliuretana; tiub nano haloisit

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*Corresponding author; email: taysersumer@gmail.com