Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 18 No 2 (2014): 391 – 397

 

 

 

FLEXURAL PROPERTIES OF ACTIVATED CARBON FILLED EPOXY NANOCOMPOSITES

 

(Sifat Lenturan Nanokomposit Epoksi Berpengisi Karbon Teraktif)

 

H.P.S. Abdul Khalil^1,2, M. Jawaid^2,3*, P. Firoozian¹, Othman Y. Alothman³, M. T. Paridah², E.S. Zainudin²

 

¹School of Industrial Technology,

Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Penang, Malaysia

²Department of Biocomposite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP),

Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia

³Faculty of Chemical Engineering,

King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

 

*Corresponding author: jawaid_md@yahoo.co.in

 

 

Abstract

Activated carbon (AC) filled epoxy nanocomposites obtained by mixing the desired amount of nano AC  viz., bamboo stem, oil palm empty fruit bunch, and coconut shell from agricultural biomass with the epoxy resin. Flexural properties of activated carbons filled epoxy nanocomposites with 1%, and 5% filler loading were measured.  In terms of flexural strength and modulus, a significant increment was observed with addition of 1% vol and 5% vol nano-activated carbon as compared to neat epoxy. The effect of activated carbon treated by two chemical agents (potassium hydroxide and phosphoric acid) on the flexural properties of epoxy nanocomposites were also investigated. Flexural strength of activated carbon-bamboo stem, activated carbon-oil palm, and activated carbon-coconut shell reinforced epoxy nanocomposites showed almost same value in case of 5%  potassium hydroxide activated carbón. Flexural strength of potassium hydroxide activated carbon-based epoxy nanocomposites was higher than phosphoric acid activated carbon. The flexural toughness of both the potassium hydroxide and phosphoric acid activated carbon reinforced composites range between 0.79 – 0.92 J. It attributed that developed activated carbon filled epoxy nanocomposites can be used in different applications.

 

Keywords: epoxy matrix; activated carbon; nanocomposites; flexural properties

 

Abstrak

Nanokomposit epoksi berpengisi karbon teraktif diperoleh dengan mencampurkan sejumlah nano karbon teraktif iaitu buluh, kelapa sawit tandan buah kosong, dan tempurung kelapa yang dikehendaki daripada biomas pertanian dengan resin epoksi. Sifat lenturan nanokomposit epoksi berpengisi karbon teraktif dengan 1% dan 5% muatan pengisi telah diukur. Dari segi kekuatan lenturan dan modulus, peningkatan ketara diperhatikan dengan jumlah penambahan 1% dan 5% nano-karbon teraktif berbanding epoksi tanpa pengisi. Kesan karbon teraktif menggunakan dua bahan kimia (kalium hidroksida dan asid fosforik) terhadap sifat lenturan terawat juga dikaji. Kekuatan lenturan karbon teraktif-batang buluh, karbon teraktif-kelapa sawit, dan karbon teraktif-tempurung kelapa diperkukuh nanokomposit epoksi menunjukkan nilai yang hampir sama seperti 5% kalium hidroksida karbon teraktif. Kekuatan lenturan kalium hidroksida karbon teraktif berasaskan nanokomposit epoksi adalah lebih tinggi daripada asid fosforik karbon teraktif. Ketahanan lenturan bagi kedua-dua kalium hidroksida dan asid  fosforik karbon teraktif diperkukuh komposit epoksi adalah di antara 0.79 – 0.92 J. Ia menyifatkan bahawa pembangunan nanokomposit epoksi berpengisi karbon teraktif boleh digunakan  dalam aplikasi yang berbeza.

 

Kata kunci: matrik epoksi; karbon teraktif; nanokomposit; sifat lenturan

 

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