Sains Malaysiana 45(12)(2016): 1913–1921

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2016-4512-16

 

Pengoptimuman Proses Penyemperitan Gentian Karbon Terkisar dan Polipropilena Bagi Komposit Polimer Pengalir

(Optimization of Milled Carbon Fibre Extrusion and Polypropylene Process for Conductive Polymer Composite)

 

NABILAH AFIQAH MOHD RADZUAN¹*, ABU BAKAR SULONG^1,2 & MAHENDRA

RAO SOMALU¹

 

¹Institut Sel Fuel, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan

Malaysia

 

²Jabatan Kejuruteraan Mekanik dan Bahan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

Received: 14 April 2016/Accepted: 12 October 2016

 

ABSTRAK

Proses penyemperitan merupakan salah satu proses pra-pencampuran yang dapat membantu meningkatkan tahap serakan bahan pengalir dalam komposit polimer pengalir (CPC). Tahap keberaliran elektrik dilihat tidak begitu memuaskan walaupun telah melalui proses serakan melalui pengacuan mekanik. Kajian ini dijalankan bagi mengoptimumkan proses penyemperitan bahan gentian karbon terkisar (MCF) dan polipropilena (PP) iaitu suhu penyemperitan dan halaju putaran melalui kaedah reka bentuk eksperimen (Taguchi). Susunan orthogonal Taguchi L9 digunakan bagi menentukan aras yang paling optimum serta menjalankan analisis varian bagi memperoleh nilai keberaliran elektrik yang paling baik. Pengoptimuman parameter pada suhu penyemperitan 210ºC hingga 250ºC dan halaju putaran 50 hingga 90 rpm menggunakan komposisi bahan sebanyak 80 % bt. MCF dan 20 % bt. PP dengan tahap keberaliran elektrik meningkat pada tahap maksimum 3.67 S/cm. Pengoptimuman parameter ini menunjukkan bahawa reka bentuk eksperimen yang terhasil mampu menghasilkan nilai keberaliran elektrik yang tinggi serta mempunyai sifat mekanik yang baik.

 

Kata kunci: Gentian karbon terkisar; kaedah reka bentuk eksperimen; keberaliran elektrik; penyemperitan; ujian mekanik

 

ABSTRACT

The extrusion process is one of the pre-mixing processes that aid in improving the filler dispersion in conductive polymer composite (CPC). Electrical conductivity level still needs much improvement in mixing process through mechanical mixer. This study was conducted to optimise the extrusion process parameters (temperature and rotational speed) of milled carbon fibre (MCF) and polypropylene (PP) using experimental design (Taguchi method). Orthogonal array design of L9 is adapted in this study to determine the optimum level and measuring performance via variance analysis to obtain the maximum electrical conductivity. The optimum working conditions for 80 wt. % of MCF and 20 wt. % of PP composition were determined at the extrusion temperature of 230ºC to 250ºC and a rotational speed of 50 to 90 rpm in which the electrical conductivity increases to the maximum value of 3.67 S/cm. Optimisation of these parameters is expected to produce a robust design with improved electrical conductivity and mechanical properties.

 

Keywords: Design experiment; electrical conductivity; extrusion; mechanical testing; milled carbon fibre

 

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*Corresponding author; email: afiqahmradzuan@gmail.com