Development of Recycled PP Based Nano Graphene Reinforced Hybrid Composites and Determination of Mechanical Properties by Micromechanical Methods

Abstract

The use of protective masks has increased worldwide due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Since disposable masks and protective clothing are generally made of polypropylene (PP), PP waste has increased to significant levels due to increased use. Therefore, it is very important to collect and reuse them on a regular basis to prevent environmental pollution and avoid endangering the ecosystem. In this study, recycled polypropylene (rPP) from used disposable masks was selected as the matrix material of sustainable composites. To improve the elongation capacity and stiffness of the matrix, olefin block copolymer (OBC) and graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) were respectively used. After the pretreatment of the reinforcements, the composites were manufactured and characterized experimentally. Results showed that GnPs improved the tensile strength and Young’s moduli of the composites whereas OBC increased the strain capacity of the composites. Moreover, in this study, the mechanical properties of the manufactured composites were estimated using micromechanical homogenization models including Halpin-Tsai (HT), Mori-Tanaka (MT), and Self-Consistent Models (SC). It is seen that micromechanical methods were consistent with the experimental results for low content of GnP reinforcements.

Keywords

• Disposable masks
• Recycling
• Eco-composites
• Nano-Graphene
• Micromechanical models

Geri Dönüştürülmüş PP Bazlı Nano Grafen Takviyeli Hibrit Kompozitlerin Geliştirilmesi ve Mekanik Özelliklerinin Mikromekanik Yöntemler ile Belirlenmesi

Abstract

Koronavirüs (COVID-19) salgını tüm dünyada koruyucu ekipmanların, maskelerin ve tulumların kullanımı arttırmıştır. Koruyucu maske ve tulumların polipropilenden (PP) imal edildiğini düşündüğümüzde maske bazlı PP atık miktarı dikkat edilmesi gereken seviyelere çıkmıştır. Çevre kirliliğini önlemek ve ekosistemi tehlikeye atmaktan kaçınmak için atık maskelerin düzenli bir şekilde toplanması ve geri dönüştürülmesi çok önemlidir. Bu çalışmada, tek kullanımlık maskelerin geri dönüştürülmesiyle elde edilen polipropilen (rPP) matrisli kompozit malzemeler imal edilmiştir. Bu kompozit malzemelerin otomotiv sektöründeki tampon ve benzeri parçalarda kullanılması durumunda, geliştirilen kompozit malzemelerin kopma uzamasını ve rijitliğini arttırmak için sırasıyla Olefin Blok Kopolimer (OBC) ve Grafen Nanoplaka (GnP) takviyeleri kullanılmıştır. Takviye malzemelerine ön işlem uygulanmasından sonra kompozit malzemeler imal edilmiştir. Çekme deneyi sonuçlarına göre GnP takviyesi kompozitlerin dayanımını ve elastisite modülünü arttırırken, OBC ise kompozitlerin kopma uzaması değerlerini iyileştirmiştir. Ayrıca bu çalışmanın diğer önemli bir amacı, imal edilen kompozit malzemelerin mekanik özelliklerinin mikromekanik yaklaşımlar kullanılarak belirlenmesidir. Bunun için Halpin-Tsai (HT), Mori-Tanaka (MT) ve Öz-uyumlu Model (Self Consistent Model-SC) gibi analitik yöntemler kullanılıp elde edilen sonuçlar birbirleri ile karşılaştırılmıştır. Bu karşılaştırmalar neticesinde düşük grafen takviyelerinde mikromekanik modeller ile tutarlı sonuçlar elde edilmiştir.

Keywords

• Eko-kompozitler
• Geri dönüşüm
• Tek kullanımlık maskeler
• Grafen
• Mikromekanik model

References

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