Influence of Inner Gas Curing Technique on the Development of Thermoplastic Nanocomposite Reinforcement
In this work, a comprehensive shrinkage and tensile strength characterization of unsaturated polyester (UPE-8340) and vinyl ester (VE-922) epoxy matrices and composites reinforced with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was conducted. The aspect ratio of UPE and VE with methyl ethyl ketone peroxide...
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/22/7179 |
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| author | Husam Saber Totah Iqbal Ahmed Moujdin Hani Abdulelah Abulkhair Muhammad Albeirutty |
| author_facet | Husam Saber Totah Iqbal Ahmed Moujdin Hani Abdulelah Abulkhair Muhammad Albeirutty |
| author_sort | Husam Saber Totah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this work, a comprehensive shrinkage and tensile strength characterization of unsaturated polyester (UPE-8340) and vinyl ester (VE-922) epoxy matrices and composites reinforced with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was conducted. The aspect ratio of UPE and VE with methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) was kept at 1:16.6; however, the weight of the MWCNTs was varied from 0.03 to 0.3 gm for the doping of the reinforced nanocomposites. Using a dumbbell-shaped mold, samples of the epoxy matrix without MWCNTs and with reinforced UPE/MWCNT and VE/MWCNT nanocomposites were made. The samples were then cured in a typical ambient chamber with air and an inner gas (carbon dioxide). The effect of the MWCNTs on UPE- and VE-reinforced composites was studied by observing the curing kinetics, shrinkage, and tensile properties, as well as the surface free energy of each reinforced sample in confined saline water. The CO<sub>2</sub> curing results reveal that the absence of O<sub>2</sub> shows a significantly lower shrinkage rate and higher tensile strength and flexural modulus of UPE- and VE-reinforced nanocomposite samples compared with air-cured reinforced nanocomposites. The construction that was air- and CO<sub>2</sub>-cured produced results in the shape of a dumbbell, and a flawless surface was seen. The results also show that smaller quantities of MWCNTs made the UPET- and VE-reinforced nanocomposites more stable when they were absorbed and adsorbed in concentrated salt water. Perhaps, compared to air-cured nanocomposites, CO<sub>2</sub>-cured UPE and VE nanocomposites were better at reducing shrinkage, having important mechanical properties, absorbing water, and being resistant to seawater. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:39:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7b8fc8df98674b5199f958e78aa58416 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:39:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-7b8fc8df98674b5199f958e78aa584162023-11-24T14:53:41ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442023-11-011622717910.3390/ma16227179Influence of Inner Gas Curing Technique on the Development of Thermoplastic Nanocomposite ReinforcementHusam Saber Totah0Iqbal Ahmed Moujdin1Hani Abdulelah Abulkhair2Muhammad Albeirutty3Department of Mechanical Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaIn this work, a comprehensive shrinkage and tensile strength characterization of unsaturated polyester (UPE-8340) and vinyl ester (VE-922) epoxy matrices and composites reinforced with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was conducted. The aspect ratio of UPE and VE with methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) was kept at 1:16.6; however, the weight of the MWCNTs was varied from 0.03 to 0.3 gm for the doping of the reinforced nanocomposites. Using a dumbbell-shaped mold, samples of the epoxy matrix without MWCNTs and with reinforced UPE/MWCNT and VE/MWCNT nanocomposites were made. The samples were then cured in a typical ambient chamber with air and an inner gas (carbon dioxide). The effect of the MWCNTs on UPE- and VE-reinforced composites was studied by observing the curing kinetics, shrinkage, and tensile properties, as well as the surface free energy of each reinforced sample in confined saline water. The CO<sub>2</sub> curing results reveal that the absence of O<sub>2</sub> shows a significantly lower shrinkage rate and higher tensile strength and flexural modulus of UPE- and VE-reinforced nanocomposite samples compared with air-cured reinforced nanocomposites. The construction that was air- and CO<sub>2</sub>-cured produced results in the shape of a dumbbell, and a flawless surface was seen. The results also show that smaller quantities of MWCNTs made the UPET- and VE-reinforced nanocomposites more stable when they were absorbed and adsorbed in concentrated salt water. Perhaps, compared to air-cured nanocomposites, CO<sub>2</sub>-cured UPE and VE nanocomposites were better at reducing shrinkage, having important mechanical properties, absorbing water, and being resistant to seawater.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/22/7179curingreinforced compositeshrinkagetensile strength |
| spellingShingle | Husam Saber Totah Iqbal Ahmed Moujdin Hani Abdulelah Abulkhair Muhammad Albeirutty Influence of Inner Gas Curing Technique on the Development of Thermoplastic Nanocomposite Reinforcement Materials curing reinforced composite shrinkage tensile strength |
| title | Influence of Inner Gas Curing Technique on the Development of Thermoplastic Nanocomposite Reinforcement |
| title_full | Influence of Inner Gas Curing Technique on the Development of Thermoplastic Nanocomposite Reinforcement |
| title_fullStr | Influence of Inner Gas Curing Technique on the Development of Thermoplastic Nanocomposite Reinforcement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of Inner Gas Curing Technique on the Development of Thermoplastic Nanocomposite Reinforcement |
| title_short | Influence of Inner Gas Curing Technique on the Development of Thermoplastic Nanocomposite Reinforcement |
| title_sort | influence of inner gas curing technique on the development of thermoplastic nanocomposite reinforcement |
| topic | curing reinforced composite shrinkage tensile strength |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/22/7179 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT husamsabertotah influenceofinnergascuringtechniqueonthedevelopmentofthermoplasticnanocompositereinforcement AT iqbalahmedmoujdin influenceofinnergascuringtechniqueonthedevelopmentofthermoplasticnanocompositereinforcement AT haniabdulelahabulkhair influenceofinnergascuringtechniqueonthedevelopmentofthermoplasticnanocompositereinforcement AT muhammadalbeirutty influenceofinnergascuringtechniqueonthedevelopmentofthermoplasticnanocompositereinforcement |