Sains Malaysiana 42(6)(2013): 801–810

Mechanical Properties of Alumina Trihydrate Filled Polypropylene/Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Composites for Cable Applications

(Sifat Mekanik Alumina Trihidrat Diisi Komposit Polipropilena/Monomer Etilena

Propilena Diena untuk Aplikasi Kabel)

Reza Hashemi Farzad & Azman Hassan*

Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering,

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

M. Jawaid

Department of Biocomposite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43600 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

M.A.M. Piah

Insititute of High Voltage and High Current, Faculty of Electrical Engineering

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

Received: 13 June 2012/Accepted: 20 October 2012

ABSTRACT

Polymeric materials such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) are widely used as insulators for cable applications. We investigated the effect of alumina trihydrate (ATH) loading on the mechanical properties of PP/EPDM blend. Preliminary study showed that PP/EPDM (60:40) was the optimum composition. ATH filled PP/EPDM composites was prepared by using twin screw extruder. In this study, the tensile properties and hardness of the composites were evaluated. The tensile modulus and hardness increased while elongation at break and tensile strength decreased with increasing ATH content. Scanning electron microscope was used to study the morphology of ATH in PP/EPDM blend.

Keywords: Alumina trihydrate; composites; mechanical properties; PP/EPDM blend

ABSTRAK

Bahan polimer seperti polipropilena (PP), polietilena (PE) dan monomer etilena propilena diena (EPDM) digunakan secara meluas sebagai penebat untuk aplikasi kabel. Kajian ini mengkaji kesan penambahan alumina trihidrat (ATH) ke atas sifat mekanik adunan PP/EPDM. Kajian awal menunjukkan bahawa PP/EPDM (60:40) adalah komposisi yang optima. Komposit PP/EPDM terisi ATH telah disediakan dengan menggunakan penyemperit skru berkembar. Dalam kajian ini, sifat tegangan dan kekerasan komposit telah dikaji. Modulus tegangan dan kekerasan telah meningkat dengan peningkatan kandungan ATH. Sementara itu, pemanjangan pada takat patah dan kekuatan tegangan telah didapati menurun dengan peningkatan kandungan ATH. Mikroskop elektron imbasan telah digunakan untuk mengkaji sifat morfologi ATH dalam adunan PP/EPDM.

Kata kunci: Adunan PP/EPDM; alumina trihidrat; rencam; sifat mekanikREFERENCES

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*Corresponding author; email: azmanh@cheme.utm.my