| S/N | Author's Name & year of publication | Title of work | Abstract | Journal Name | Journal Vol./Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Onuegbu G. C. & Onuoha C. (2017). | Transport Behaviour of Xylene through Compatibilized Low Density Polyethylene Composite | The transport behaviour of xylene through compatibilized low density polyethylene (LDPE) composite was investigated at different temperatures 40 0C, 60 0C and 80 0C. the cola nut used was ground to 25 µm particle size. In preparation of the composite, 0 - 5 wt% cola nut powder 0 – 2.5 wt% of the compatibilizer were thoroughly mixed 200 g of low density polyethylene in an injection moulding machine. The injected LDPE/Kola nut composites were taken for sorption test. The sorption data obtained for the composites at different temperatures investigated were expressed as the mole percentage uptake, Qt (mole %). Results showed that the mole percent uptake of xylene at the five filler contents (0 – 5 wt%) generally increased with increase in sorption temperature but decreased with increase in compatibilizer and filler content. This can be seen at 80 0C and 0, 1, 1.5and 2.5 wt% of the compatibilizer respectively. The molar percentage uptake of xylene at 1 wt% of the filler yielded the following values: 8.7876, 8.5962, 8.4056 and 8.3111 respectively. At 2 wt%, it yielded 7.9812, 7.9104, 7.7423 and 7.7199 respectively; at 3 wt%, it gave 7.8232, 7.6351, 7.5663 and 7.4652; at 4 wt%, it yielded 8.4120, 8.3315, 8.2132 and 7.9667 respectively and at 5 wt%, it gave 7.9635, 7.8630, 7.6256 and 7.5013 respectively. Key words: sorption, kola nut, polyethylene, composite, xylene. | European Journal of Engineering and Technology (EJET) | Vol. 5, N0. 3 |
| 2 | Onuoha C., Onyemaobi O., Anyakwo C. and Onuegbu G. (2017). | Morphology and Physical Properties of Recycled Polypropylene-Corn Cob Powder Composites | This study investigates the morphological and physical/end-use properties of corn cob powder-filled recycled polypropylene composites. The composites were prepared by incorporating corn cob powder of particle sizes 150 μm, 300 μm and 425 μm respectively at filler loadings of 5 to 25 wt%. The properties were determined according to standard test procedures. Results showed that the incorporation of corn cob powder as filler resulted to enhancement of water absorption and solvent sorption, which were found to increase with both increase in filler loading and increase in filler particle size, probably due to the hydrophilic nature of corn cob powder. It was also discovered that solvent sorption was most pronounced with benzene, followed by toluene and lastly xylene, in accordance with the relative proximity of their solubility parameters to that of polypropylene. Flame propagation rate was also found to improve by the incorporation of corn cob powder due to its high content of cellulose, a combustible organic matter. However, specific gravities of the composites were found to be lower than for the unfilled polypropylene, an implication that the composites produced are lighter in weight than the unfilled. Specific gravity increased with increase in filler loading but decreased with increase in particle size. The Morphological studies showed increase in the number of spherulites with increase in filler loading and increase in the size of the spherulites with increase in particle size. Further observation showed that the particle sizes and pores sizes detected increased with increase in filler particle size probably due to poor interaction and distribution of coarse particles. It is hoped that this present study will to help place the usefulness of corn cob as filler in the development of thermoplastic composites in future and develop its niche in the scientific record. Keywords: Recycled Polypropylene, Morphology, Physical Properties, Composites, Corn Cob, Spherulites | International Journal of Engineering and Technologies (IJET) | Vol. 11. |
| 3 | Onuoha C., Onyemaobi O. O., Anyakwo C. N. and Onuegbu G. C. (2017). | Physical and Morphological Properties of Periwinkle Shell-Filled Recycled Polypropylene Composites | Physical and morphological properties of periwinkle shell-filled recycled polypropylene composites were studied. Periwinkle shells used in this study were processed and sieved to three particle sizes of 150, 300 and 425 µm respectively. Filler loadings of 0 to 25 wt% were used in compounding the composites in an injection moulding machine and the resulting composites were extruded as sheets. Some physical and morphological properties were determined. Results showed that the incorporation of periwinkle shell powder into the recycled polypropylene matrix increased the specific gravity of the composites. Increase in filler loading resulted to increase in specific gravity probably due to enhanced dispersion of fillers. However, increase in filler particle size led to decreased specific gravity due to poor filler dispersion and consequent filler agglomeration. Water sorption was found to increase with increase in both filler loading and filler particle size due to the hydrophilic nature of the filler and enhanced porosity created by large particles. Flame propagation was found to decrease with increase in both filler loading and filler particle size due to the evolution of CO2 in the combustion process, which suppresses the burning rate. There was increase in solvent sorption with increase in both filler loading and filler particle size. It was also noticed that solvent sorption was most pronounced in benzene, followed by toluene and lastly xylene. This is in accordance with the order of closeness of their solubility parameters with that of polypropylene. Morphological analysis revealed enhanced spherulization and dispersion with smaller particle sizes but enlarged spherulization and consequent agglomeration at larger particles sizes. Based on these results, periwinkle shell can be considered suitable for the production of recycled polypropylene composites. Key Words: Physical Properties, Recycled Polypropylene, Morphology, Periwinkle Shell, Specific Gravity, Flame Propagation, Solvent Sorption. | International Journal of Innovative Science, Engineering and Technology (IJISET) | Vol. 4, Issue 5 |
| 4 | Onuoha C., Onyemaobi O. O, Anyakwo C. N. and Onuegbu G. C. (2017). | Effect of Filler Loading and Particle Size on the Mechanical Properties of Periwinkle Shell-Filled Recycled Polypropylene Composites | Mechanical properties of composites of recycled polypropylene filled with periwinkle shell powder were investigated. Periwinkle shells used in this study were thoroughly cleaned, ground and sieved to three particle sizes of 150, 300 and 425 µm respectively. Filler loadings of 0 to 25 wt% were used in compounding the composites in an injection moulding machine and the resulting composites were extruded as sheets. Some mechanical properties were determined. Results showed that periwinkle shell powder improved the tensile strength, flexural strength, tensile modulus and hardness of polypropylene composites. These properties were found to increase with filler loading up to 15 wt% or 20 wt% loading (optimal filler loading) but decrease with filler particle size. However, elongation at break was found to decrease with increasing filler loading. Highest tensile and flexural strengths were obtained at 15 and 20 wt% respectively at 150 µm particle size. It is therefore concluded that periwinkle shell powder is suitable for the production of polypropylene composites.Key words: Polypropylene, periwinkle shell powder, filler, composite, particle size. | American Journal of Engineering Research (AJER) | Vol. 6, Issue 4 |
