Bio-oils as compatibilizers for nanoclays in linear low density polyethylene
Author
Høgsaa, Bjarke Hangstrup
Term
4. semester
Education
Publication year
2016
Submitted on
2016-08-12
Pages
70
Abstract
This thesis examines whether bio-oils can serve as compatibilizers/intercalants for unmodified montmorillonite (MMT) and halloysite nanotubes (HNT) used as fillers in linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). Two chemically distinct bio-oils were studied: a bio-residue derived from swine manure (North Carolina A&T) and a wood-based bio-oil (aspen/glycerol) produced at Aalborg University. The clays were organically modified with the oils and then incorporated into LLDPE; structure, dispersion, and properties were assessed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), ATR-FTIR, oscillatory rheometry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), optical microscopy, and uniaxial tensile testing. The bio-oils increased the basal spacing of both clays and yielded intercalated/exfoliated structures. However, when compounded with LLDPE the modified clays tended to aggregate, resulting in poor dispersion and only slight improvements in thermal and mechanical performance at a 2 wt% clay loading compared with neat LLDPE; overall gains were lower than those typically reported with conventional compatibilizers. The findings suggest that while bio-oils can interact with and modify nanoclays, their complex mixtures may limit polymer–clay compatibility. Further work on formulation (e.g., oil ratio), processing conditions (e.g., mixing time), and potentially more compatible polymer matrices is recommended.
Dette kandidatspeciale undersøger, om bio-olier kan fungere som kompatibilisatorer/interkalanter for uændret montmorillonit (MMT) og halloysite-nanorør (HNT) som fyldstoffer i linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). To kemisk forskellige bio-olier blev studeret: en bio-rest fra svinegylle (North Carolina A&T) og en træbaseret bio-olie (aspe/glycerol) produceret på Aalborg Universitet. Lerene blev organisk modificeret med olierne og derefter indarbejdet i LLDPE; struktur, dispersion og egenskaber blev vurderet med røntgendiffraktion (XRD), ATR-FTIR, oscillatorisk reometri, termogravimetrisk analyse (TGA), gaskromatografi–massespektrometri (GC-MS), optisk mikroskopi og uniaxial trækprøvning. Bio-olierne øgede basalafstanden i begge ler og gav interkalerede/eksfolierede strukturer. Ved sammensmeltning med LLDPE aggregerede de modificerede ler dog, hvilket gav dårlig dispersion og kun små forbedringer i termiske og mekaniske egenskaber ved 2 vægt% ler sammenlignet med ren LLDPE; de samlede forbedringer var lavere end i studier med konventionelle kompatibilisatorer. Resultaterne tyder på, at bio-olier kan interagere med og modificere nanoler, men at deres komplekse blandinger kan begrænse polymer–ler-kompatibiliteten. Yderligere arbejde med formulering (fx oliemængde), procesbetingelser (fx blandingstid) og eventuelt mere kompatible polymermatricer anbefales.
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