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Determination of filler content for natural filler polymer composite by thermogravimetric analysis

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Abstract

Determination of filler content by thermogravimetric (TG) analysis is commonly utilized to investigate the effectiveness of processing methods for composite materials and to quantify the dispersion of filler within the matrix. However, the existing analysis method is not capable of accurately predicting the filler content for natural fiber composites for the case where thermal degradation of the filler and matrix occurs within similar temperature ranges. In the present study, the authors have proposed a generic equation for the determination of filler content which can be utilized for any given range of thermal degradation temperatures in natural filler polymer composites. Oil palm shell unsaturated polyester composites were selected to verify the proposed equation using the TG test with the results indicating good agreement between the estimated and experimental filler contents with a maximum error on the order of 10 %. The suggested technique provides a simple, yet generic, approach to determining the filler content of green or lignocellulose-based polymer composites by TG analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Sarawak, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

    Omid Nabinejad, D. Sujan & M. E. Rahman

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia

    Ian J. Davies

Authors
  1. Omid Nabinejad
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  2. D. Sujan
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  3. M. E. Rahman
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  4. Ian J. Davies
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Correspondence to M. E. Rahman.

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Nabinejad, O., Sujan, D., Rahman, M.E. et al. Determination of filler content for natural filler polymer composite by thermogravimetric analysis. J Therm Anal Calorim 122, 227–233 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-015-4681-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-015-4681-2

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