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
Diserahkan:
13 Jun 2012/Diterima: 20 Oktober 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 mekanik
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*Pengarang
untuk surat-menyurat; email: azmanh@cheme.utm.my
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