Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research (MAScIR), Institute of Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology (NANOTECH), Laboratory of Polymer Processing, Rabat, Morocco.
Mohammed V-Rabat University, Faculty of Science, Laboratory of Mechanic and Materials (LMM), Rabat, Morocco.
Carbohydr Polym. 2016 Jun 5;143:70-83. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.02.002. Epub 2016 Feb 3.
This study aimed at developing a biocomposite using polypropylene (PP) as the matrix and Argan nut shell (ANS) as reinforcement. Also, styrene-(ethylene-butene)-styrene triblock copolymer grafted with maleic anhydride (SEBS-g-MA) was used as a coupling agent. The samples were prepared by using extrusion compounding followed by injection molding to determine the effect of filler and coupling agent content on the morphological, thermal, mechanical, and hygroscopic properties of the biocomposites. SEM micrographs revealed that good ANS dispersion/distribution into PP was achieved with an important reduction of fiber pull-out, micro-spaces, and voids with coupling agent addition. This led to substantial improvement intension, torsion, and water absorption reduction due to improved interfacial adhesion. Although ANS particles did not significantly modify the thermal stability of PP, the use of a coupling agent increased it. The experimental data were compared with several theoretical models such Voigt, Reuss, Hirsch, and Tsai-Pagano to characterize the interfacial adhesion quality and to determine the elastic modulus of a single ANS particle. Finally, all the results show that Argan waste to produce PP biocomposites is an interesting avenue to effectively deal with agricultural wastes and develop valuable industrial and practical applications.
本研究旨在开发一种以聚丙烯（PP）为基体，阿甘油果壳（ANS）为增强材料的生物复合材料。此外，还使用马来酸酐接枝苯乙烯-乙烯-丁烯-苯乙烯嵌段共聚物（SEBS-g-MA）作为偶联剂。通过挤出共混，然后注塑成型来制备样品，以确定填充剂和偶联剂含量对生物复合材料的形态、热学、力学和吸湿性能的影响。SEM 显微照片显示，加入偶联剂后，阿甘油果壳在 PP 中得到了很好的分散/分布，纤维拔出、微空间和空隙显著减少。这导致界面附着力的提高，从而使拉伸、扭转和吸水率得到了实质性的改善。尽管 ANS 颗粒对 PP 的热稳定性没有显著影响，但偶联剂的使用提高了它的热稳定性。实验数据与 Voigt、Reuss、Hirsch 和 Tsai-Pagano 等几种理论模型进行了比较，以表征界面粘附质量，并确定单个 ANS 颗粒的弹性模量。最后，所有结果表明，用阿甘油果壳来生产 PP 生物复合材料是一种有效处理农业废弃物和开发有价值的工业和实际应用的有趣途径。
