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In the present study, empty fruit bunch derived nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) was prepared and employed as a reinforcing agent to improve the tensile properties of the chitosan composites. Adipic acid was added as a crosslinker. The incorporation of NCC has greatly improved the tensile properties of composites. The crosslinking reaction has further improved the tensile properties. 3 wt% NCC/chitosan composites displayed the highest tensile strength which is 48.7MPa and 65.3 MPa without and with the addition of crosslinker respectively. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that the crystalline peak of chitosan composites was significantly improved by the addition of NCC however the crystallinity peak was decreased by the incorporation of adipic acid.

Recycled high-density polyethylene and high-density polyethylene reinforced with bamboo filler were compounded with twin-screw extruder and injection molding process. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of different loading of bamboo filler reinforced with recycled high-density polyethylene composites via injection molding. The fillers loading were reinforced with plastic for different loading which is 0 wt.%, 5 wt.%, 10 wt.%, 15 wt.% and 20 wt.% for two different matrixes, which is recycled high-density polyethylene and high-density polyethylene. Mechanical measurements will show the presence of different loading filler will insignificantly effect in the composites tensile strength and also impact. The result of the mechanical analysis carried out showed that the presence of natural filler in composites will improve the properties of the material.

In this work, curing characteristics, tensile and physical properties of epoxidized natural rubber/rice husk (ENR-50/RH) compounds were investigated. Different RH loading (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 Phr) and size (fine size at 100-300 μm and coarse size at 5-10 mm) were prepared and used. Results indicated that the scorch time (t2) and cure time (t90) became shorter with increasing RH content. In contrast, minimum torque (ML) and maximum torque (MH) increased with increasing RH content in the rubber compounds. Hardness and crosslink density showed improvement with increasing RH content. Tensile strength (Ts) and elongation at break (Eb) decreased slightly as RH content increased. However, the fine size of RH recorded better overall properties compared to the RH coarse size at same loading the rubber compound.

In this study, the influence of Trans- Polyoctylene Rubber (TOR) as a compatibilizer on the cure characteristics, tensile and physical properties of ENR-25/rSC vulcanizate were determined. Five different loading of TOR (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 phr) were prepared and added into the vulcanizate. Results indicated that the scorch time (t2) and cure time (t90) bacame shorter as TOR increased, while minimum torque (ML) and maximum torque (MH) increased. The incorporation of TOR with the vulcanizates enhanced the tensile strength (Ts), modulus (M100) crosslinking density and hardness values. However, the elongation at break percentage of compatibilized vulcanizates became lower than uncompatibilized vulcanizates.

Packaging material such as plastic bags is one of the main factors that contribute to the environmental pollution due to slow degradation. The usage of metal oxide as pro-oxidant has been proven to accelerate the degradation of these materials, but the excessive usage of this pro-oxidant will be harmful to the human body. Therefore, in this research, spear grass is investigated to be used as natural based pro-oxidant that can increase the degradation rate of the polymers. In terms of that, spear grass is extracted by using pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) to obtain the metal element such as zinc (Zn) and ferum (Fe). PHWE is using water as a solvent which is highly favourable due to non-toxicity and non-flammable characteristics that make it easy to handle. Box-Behnken design is used to optimize the temperature, extraction time, and sample-to-solvent ratio to get the maximum amount of Zn and Fe concentration from the extracted spear grass. As a conclusion, the leaf of spear grass contributed the highest amount of Zn and Fe concentration. The highest amount of Zn and Fe concentration is achieved at 150 °C, 20 minutes, and 3 g of sample to 45 ml of water.

Most of the polymeric materials blending together with recycled waste rubber powder attributed to the economical and processing advantages for product specification. Therefore, the effect of curing characteristics, hardness and crosslink density of ethylene propylene diene monomer/recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (EPDM/NBRr) blends were studied. The EPDM/NBRr blends were prepared at four different compositions (95/5, 85/15, 75/25 and 65/35) with two different sizes (S1: 250-500μm and S2: 3-10cm) of NBRr. Results indicated that the scorch time t2, cure time t90, and maximum torque (MH) for both EPDM/NBRr (S1) and EPDM/NBRr (S2) decreased, but the minimum torque (ML) increased.The increase of NBRr content in EPDM/NBRr leads to the increase in hardness and consequently decreases the crosslinking density of the blends. The incorporation of 15phr of S1 recycled NBRr appeared to better overall properties.

Blending of two or more polymer together can reduce the cost and better processing advantages of product. Waste rubber powders blending with polymeric materials provide an improvement to the rubber quality. In this work, the effects on tensile and morphology of ethylene propylene diene monomer blended with recycled nitrile gloves (EPDM/NBRr) were studied. Four different compositions of ethylene diene monomer (EPDM) and recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr) with two different size of NBRr (S1: 250-500μm and S2: 3-10cm) were used. The compositions of EPDM/NBRr prepared were at 95/5, 15/85, 25/75 and 35/65 respectively. The properties of tensile and resilience of EPDM/NBRr blends were determined. Results indicated that the tensile strength and elongation at break (Eb) of EPDM/NBRr blends decrease as increase in NBRr for both S1 and S2. However, the tensile modulus (M100) shows an increment with increase NBRr. Results of resilience decreases and scanning electron microscopy study indicates that when more than 35 phr of NBRr content were used, NBRr exhibited a weak EPDM/NBRr matrix interaction, thus decreasing the mechanical properties of EPDM/NBRr blends. For overall results, 15 phr ratio of NBRr in EPDM/NBRr (S1) blend showed an optimum result respectively.

The effect of carbonization temperature and heating rate on the characteristics of carbonized bamboo were investigated. Bamboo was carbonized at different temperature (250, 450 and 650°C) and heating rate (5 and 15°C/min). The results obtained shows that the char yield decreased with increasing temperature as well as heating rate. The carbon content is higher at higher temperature and heating rate. It also was observed from X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis that potassium and silica were the most predominant elements in carbonized bamboo. From Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra, it can be seen that most of the functional groups were diminished as the raw bamboo was carbonized and the intensity decreased with increasing carbonization temperature. Carbonization at 650°C with heating rate of 15°C/min was the best parameter for producing carbonized bamboo which content higher carbon.

The effects on curing characteristics and physical propertiesof recycled nitrile glove (NBRr) filled epoxidized natural rubbers (ENR25) were examined. Two different size ranges of NBRr particles, i.e., S1 (250μm-500μm) and S2 (2cm-5cm) were used in this study. The NBRr/ENR25 compounds with five different compositions of NBRr (5, 15, 25, 35 and 50 phr) were prepared using a two roll-mill at room temperature. The result of cure characterization show that scorch time, t2 and cure time t90 of the NBRr/ENR25decreased with the increased of NBRr content due to the existence of crosslinked precursors and unreacted curativein the recycled rubber.NBRr/ENR25 compounds with fine size, S1 of NBRr particles exhibit lower minimum torque (ML) compared with the coarse size, S2 which resulted in more efficient processing. The maximum torque (MH) of all NBRr/ENR25 compounds show the increasing trend with increased NBRr content probably due to the good interactions in NBRr/ENR25 compounds. For physical properties, NBRr/ENR25 compounds with fine size, S1 of NBRr particles exhibited the higher hardness and crosslinking density at all compound ratios. The results overall indicated that the NBRr/ENR25 with fine size, S1 of NBRr particles show better cure characteristics and physical properties (crosslink density and hardness test) compared to coarse size, S2 of NBRr particles.

Tensile test and morphology studies were performed to determine the influences of Trans-polyoctylene Rubber (TOR) as compatibilizer of NBRr filled ENR 50 with composition of 15 phr. Fine size (300μm-700μm) of NBRr was used as fillers. Both uncompatibilized and compatibilized NBRr/ENR 50 were prepared using two roll mill at room temperature with different php of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0. It can be observed that tensile strength and modulus of elasticity were decreased as increased in TOR loading before started to increased at 1.5 up to 3.0. Meanwhile, the increment in the value of elongation at break when increased in the addition of TOR. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the tensile surface fracture of increased TOR loading illustrated a better adhesion and dispersion in comparison of low amount of TOR loading.