Work

Evaluation of the Flexural Strength, Sorption, Rheological and Thermal Properties of Corncob Plastic Composites

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Plastic composites were made from corncobs and high density polyethylene (HDPE) by extrusion and evaluated.The composites were manufactured using two different screened corncob particle size fractions (<2 mm and <0.5 mm) and tested for flexural properties, water sorption, melt flow and thermal properties.The melt viscosities at 190 o C were 18.0 ± 0.8 kPa•s (<2 mm) and 24.0 ± 0.6 kPa•s (<0.5 mm).The results obtained indicated that the composites made with the smaller particle size fraction had higher flexural strength (31.7 ± 1.7 MPa) and modulus of elasticity (1.4 ± 0.1 GPa) than those made with the larger particle size fraction (21.2 ± 1.4 MPa and 1.1 ± 0.1 GPa).Also, the composites made with the smaller particles and were more dimensionally stable.Corncob composites had thermal stability range of 259 -274 o C (onset degradation temperature).The corncob composites made with smaller sized particles possessed better properties in comparison with those made from the <2 mm.Particle size and density significantly affected the mechanical, physical and thermal properties of the composites evaluated.

Source: International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science

DOI: 10.22161/ijaers.5.12.4

Authors: Olufemi O. Adefisan, Armando G. McDonald

Institutions: University of Ibadan, University of Idaho

Language: English

Topic: Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites

Subfield: Polymers and Plastics

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: U.S. Department of Agriculture, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

Award: G3935599694