Sains Malaysiana 44(6)(2015): 787–792

The Effect of Epoxidized Natural Rubber (ENR 50) as a Compatibilizer on Spear Grass Filled Low Density Polyethylene/Soya Spent Powder

(Kesan Getah Asli Terepoksida (ENR 50) sebagai Penyerasi Terhadap Lalang Diisi dengan Polietilena Berketumpatan Rendah/Serbuk Soya)

S.T. SAM¹*, NURUL HANI¹ & H. ISMAIL²

¹School of Bioprocess, Kompleks Pusat Pengajian Jejawi 3, Universiti Malaysia Perlis

02600 Arau, Perlis Indera Kayangan, Malaysia

²School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia

14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Received: 15 January 2014/Accepted: 15 November 2014

ABSTRACT

Composite based on spear grass with low density polyethylene (LDPE)/soya spent powder (SSP) were prepared by using twin screw extruder at 150^oC. The spear grass (SG) loading was ranged from 0 to 15%. A compatibilizer, epoxidized natural rubber (ENR 50) with 50 mol % epoxidation was added. The effect of filler content and compatibilizer on the properties of LDPE/ SSP composite was studied. The results indicated that the increase of SG loading leads to the reduction of tensile strength and elongation at break (Eb), whereas the Young’s modulus has increased. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), indicated that the melting temperature and crystallinity of the composites decreased with the increase of SG loading. After the addition of ENR 50, the melting temperature increases from 98.33 to 98.63^oC for 95% LDPE, 5% SSP and 5% SG, whereas the crystallinity of the same ratio decreased from 31.92 to 28.13%.

Keywords: Differential scanning calorimeter; low density polyethylene; soya spent powder; spear grass; tensile properties

ABSTRAK

Komposit yang berasaskan lalang dan polietilena berketumpatan rendah (LDPE)/serbuk soya terpakai (SSP) telah disediakan menggunakan skru penyempritan berkembar pada suhu 150^oC. Pemuatan rumput serampang (SG) ialah pada kadar 0 dan 15%. Penyerasi iaitu getah asli terepoksida (ENR 50) telah ditambah dengan 50 mol % pengepoksidaan. Kesan kandungan pengisi dan penyerasi terhadap sifat LDPE/ SSP telah dikaji. Hasil kajian menunjukkan pertambahan pemuatan SG telah meningkatkan kekuatan tegangan dan pemanjangan takat putus (Eb) manakala nilai modulus telah menunjukkan pengurangan. Keputusan kolorimeter pengimbas pembezaan (DSC) telah menunjukkan suhu lebur dan suhu penghabluran komposit telah berkurang dengan pertambahan SG. Selepas pertambahan ENR 50, suhu lebur telah meningkat daripada 98.33 kepada 98.63^oC untuk 95% LDPE, 5% SSP dan 5% SG. Manakala suhu penghabluran bagi komposit yang sama telah berkurang daripada 31.92 kepada 28.13%.

Kata kunci: Kalorimeter pengimbas pembezaan; polietilena berketumpatan rendah; rumput serampang; serbuk soya terpakai; sifat keregangan

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*Corresponding author; email: stsam@unimap.edu.my