THE CONCEPT OF THE STUDY

1. Silica-alumina + polymer alloy ¡ú no reaction

( polar ) ( non-polar )
Si O4-AlO4 + CH2 = CH2 ¡ú no reaction

2. Surface treatment ( addition of coupling agents )

O3Si-O- AlO3 + H3C-( CH2 )3 ¨CN- ( CH2 )3-Si ( OCH3)3 + CH2 = CH2 ¡ú
O3Si-O-AlO3 ¡ú
©¦
Si ( OCH3 )3 + H3- ( CH3 )3 ¨C N-( CH3 )3 CH2CH3

3 Matrix modification ( grafting polymers )

CH3= CHCH3 + C4H3O2 + SiO4-AlO4 ¡ú CH2CHCH3-O-C4H3O2SiO3-AlO4

( PP ) + maleic anhydride composites

The available unpaired electrons of oxygen reacts with tri-methoxy ssilicon,

therefore, chemical bonding occurs. The organophilic nitrogen will bond with polymer.

Under alloying of polymers, the properties of many plastics can be greatly modified

by alloying two or more polymers. The term is often used interchangeably and

technically : blend is a mixture that are not fully compatible and alloys are mixture that

are fully compatible such as polyethylene oxide and polystyrene. The blend appears as a

separate phase when viewed under the microscope. These combinations are taking over

on an increasing share of the market because it is easier to develop desirable properties

by mixing known plastics than creating new ones ( Hydrocarbon Process, Modern

Plastics, pp, 1981/82 )

One of the problems associated with blends and alloys is how to make the

components bond together. The technique is to introduce compatibilizer which creates

interpenetrating polymer network by providing a physical bond between semi-compatible

material. Most compatibilizers are block polymers and they produce an interwoven

matrix of physically inseparable by chemically distinct polymers.

Conceptual Process

The concept stems from the idea of surface treatment and modification ¨C that is ¨C

composites or polyblends are produced by alloying two or more chemically distinct and

insoluble phase whose properties and structural performance are better than those

components acting independently.

The process starts from surface treatment of additives and polymers that are to be

used by introducing a coupling agents, an interfacial agent, than by grafting the polymer

with compatibilizers by reactive-reaction of matrix using kneading process and finally

molding the composites into its desired shape.

Proposed Equipment and Machines

Production Equipment: Super-mixer, cooling blender, kneader, crusher, twin-screw

extruder, water trough, pelletizer, mold, vacuum sizing, hand-off machine, and cutting

machines.
 Laboratory equipment: Two-roll mill, hydraulic press, moisture tester, weighing

scale, Brabender, spatula, beaker, molding plates, melt flow index tester, HDT/Vicat

tester

Proposed Evaluation Strategy: Characterization of polymer and plastics additives ,

blank tests, modification of process design, set-up methodology within specified

parameters, conduct physical and mechanical tests of blend and finished products,

conduct biodegradation test of lineals. Compare results of experiments with those of of

conventional products. Study the effects of biodegradable additives on physical and

mechanical properties of plastic lumber.