• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.171-183
• /
• 2020

The main objective of this study is the assessment of the ability of limestone mortars to resist to different chemical attacks. The ability of polypropylene (PP) fibres waste used as reinforcement of these concrete materials to enhance their durability is also studied. Crushed sand 0/2 mm which is a fine limestone residue obtained by the crushing of natural rocks in aggregates industry is used for the fabrication of the mortar. The fibres used, which are obtained from the waste of domestic plastic sweeps' fabrication, have a length of 20 mm and a diameter ranging between 0.38 and 0.51 mm. Two weight fibres contents are used, 0.5 and 1%. The durability tests carried out in this investigation included the water absorption by capillarity, the mass variation, the flexural and the compressive strengths of the mortar specimens immersed for 366 days in 5% sodium chloride, 5% magnesium sulphate and 5% sulphuric acid solutions. A mineralogical analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and a visual inspection are used for a better examination of the quality of tested mortars and for better interpretation of their behaviour in different solutions. The results indicate that the reinforcement of limestone mortar by PP fibres waste is an excellent solution to improve its chemical resistance and durability. Moreover, the presence of PP fibres waste does not affect significantly the water absorption by capillarity of mortar nether its mass variation, when exposed to chloride and sulphate solutions. While in sulphuric acid, the mass loss is higher with the presence of PP fibres waste, especially after an exposure of 180 days. The results reveal that these fibres have a considerable effect of the flexural and the compressive behaviour of mortar especially in acid solution, where a reduction of strength loss is observed. The mineralogical analysis confirms the good behaviour of mortar immersed in sulphate and chloride solutions; and shows that more gypsum is formed in mortar exposed to acid environment causing its rapid degradation. The visual observation reveals that only samples exposed to acid attack during 366 days have showed a surface damage extending over a depth of approximately 300 ㎛.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.411-417
• /
• 2008

The surfaces of henequen fibers, which can be obtained from the leaves of agave plants, were treated with two different media, tap water and sodium hydroxide, that underwent both soaking and ultrasonic methods for the fiber surface treatment. Various biocomposites were fabricated with untreated and treated, chopped henequen fibers and polypropylene using a compression molding method. The result is discussed in terms of interfacial shear strength, flexural properties, dynamic mechanical properties, and fracture surface observations of the biocomposites. The soaking (static method) and ultrasonic (dynamic method) treatments with tap water and sodium hydroxide at different concentrations and treatment times significantly influenced the interfacial, flexural and dynamic mechanical properties of henequen/polypropylene biocomposites. The alkali treatment was more effective than the water treatment in improving the interfacial and mechanical properties of randomly oriented, chopped henequen/PP bio-composites. In addition, the application of the ultrasonic method to each treatment was relatively more effective in increasing the properties than the soaking method, depending on the treatment medium and condition. The greatest improvement in the properties studied was achieved by ultrasonic alkalization of natural fibers, which was in agreement with the other results of interfacial shear strength, flexural strength and modulus, storage modulus, and fracture surfaces.

• Advances in materials Research
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.119-131
• /
• 2023

The development of sustainable composites materials, from recycled polymeric materials and waste from the wood industry and stone processing, allows reducing the volume of these by-products, minimizing impacts on health and the environment. Nowadays, Polypropylene (PP) is the most recycled polymer in industry, while the furniture industry has increasingly used timber felled from sustainable forest plantations as a eucalypt. The powder tailing from the ornamental stone extraction and processing industry is commonly disposed of in the environment without previous treatment. Thus, the technological option for the development of composite materials presents itself as a sustainable alternative for processing and manufacturing industries, enabling the development of new materials with special technical features. The results showed that powder granite particles may be incorporated into the polypropylene matrix associated with short eucalyptus fibres forming green hybrid composites with potential application in structural engineering, such as transport and civil construction industries.

• Fire Science and Engineering
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.16-22
• /
• 2001

Thermal properties of PP and LLDPE dusts from chemical plant and their risks of coexisting with oxidizer were investigated by a pressure vessel. The thermal decomposition of PP and LLDPE dusts with temperature using DSC and the weight loss with temperature using TGA were also investigated to find the thermal hazard of PP and LLDPE dusts. Using the pressure vessel which can estimate ignition and explosion of PP and LLDPE dusts coexisting with oxidizer, a series of bursting of a rupture disc, experiments has been conducted by varying the orifice diameters the weight ratio of the sample coexisting with oxidizers and the species of oxidizer. And fire gases was measured by gas analyser ($ECOM-A^+$). According to the results of the thermal analysis of PP and LLDPE dusts, the decomposition temperature range of PP and LLDPE dusts was 200 to 350 and 300 to $500^{\circ}c$, respectively. The risk of PP and LLDPE dusts coexisting with oxidizer was increased as the orifice diameter was decreased. On the other hand, it was increased as the weight ratio of the sample to the oxidizer were increased. In addition, the risk of PP and LLDPE dusts coexisting with oxidizer was affected by the decomposition temperature of the sample and oxidizer. It is found that the risk of fire becomes high when the decomposition temperature of the sample is about same as that of oxidizer. Also, the fire gases was occurred carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The amount of carbon monoxide generated was found to be much higher in PP decomposition than in LLDPE due to incomplete combustion of PP which has high content of carbon in chemical compound.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.247-251
• /
• 2007

To extend the shelf-life of spinach after harvest, we investigated the effect of various packaging methods and storage temperature. In case of polypropylene film package, there was no weight loss, but in non-package, remarkably weight loss occurred as storage period extended and storage temperature risen. Content of vitamin C was decreased rapidly at early stage of storage, and decrease of vitamin C in low temperature storage was lower than that of room temperature storage, but its large difference according to packaging method was not observed. In hunter's value on spinach, b value in room temperature storage was higher than that of low temperature storage. In terms of freshness, shelf-life of spinach by low temperature storage $(1{\sim}3^{\circ}C)$ after PP film packaging lasted 34 days, and that by room temperature storage $(10{\sim}15^{\circ}C)$ after PP film packaging lasted 8 days, but that by room temperature storage after non-packaging lasted 3 days.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 2015.07a
• /
• pp.1202-1203
• /
• 2015

This paper describes the development of HVDC ${\pm}500kV$ polypropylene laminated paper (PPLP) mass-impregnated (MI) type cable system for HVDC transmission lines. As you know, mass-impregnated type cable generally has only insulating layer with the Kraft paper impregnated with a high-viscosity insulating compound. But polypropylene laminated paper is made of a layer of extruded polypropylene (PP) film sandwiched between two layers of Kraft paper. Thanks to PP film and its combination with Kraft paper, PPLP has higher AC, Impulse (Imp.) and DC breakdown (BD) strengths as well as lower dielectric loss than conventional Kraft paper insulation. In addition, Kraft MI cable has a limitation for the maximum conductor temperature as $55^{\circ}C$ But this PPLP MI cable has higher maximum conductor temperature than that of Kraft MI cable due to advantage of oil drainage characteristics. It is the most economic type of cable for HVDC transmission. Also HVDC ${\pm}500kV$ PPLP MI cable system was developed including land joints and outdoor-terminations. In order to prove the mechanical and electrical performances, the type test was carried out according to CIGRE recommendations. A full scale cable system has been tested successfully. And additional load cycle and polarity reversal tests on the cable system showed a higher performance compared with a similar mass impregnated paper cable.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.415-423
• /
• 2012

For hybrid water treatment of carbon fiber ultrafiltration and photocatalyst, we used the hybrid module that was composed of photocatalyst packing between tubular membrane outside and module inside. Photocatalyst was PP (polypropylene) bead coated with $TiO_2$ powder by CVD (chemical vapor deposition) process. Water back-flushing of 10 sec was performed per every period of 10 min to minimize membrane fouling for modified solution, which was prepared with humic acid and kaolin. Resistance of membrane fouling ($R_f$) decreased as humic acid concentration changed from 10 mg/L to 2 mg/L, and finally the highest total permeate volume ($V_T$) could be obtained at 2 mg/L, which was the same with the previous results. Then, treatment efficiencies of turbidity and humic acid were above 98.9% and 88.7%, respectively, those did not depend on the humic acid concentration. However, the treatment efficiency of humic acid increased a little as the humic acid concentration increased in the previous results.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.407-414
• /
• 2007

Using the MPI (Moldflow Plastics Insight) software from Moldflow Co., the optimum conditions for producing the upper part of the automobile air cleaner were obtained for 20% talc filled polypropylene (PP). The analysis was carried out to solve the cracking problem between upper and lower parts and the improved process was proposed using the flow balance. The comparative results between the conventional process, CASE-1, with one-pin gate and the new process (CASE-2) comprising two-pin gate system are the followings. In the case of CASE-2, the shorter filling time and reduced cycle time induced an improved production and processibility. In addition, the orientation and volumetric shrinkage are similar to those observed in the lower part, but the assembly, deformation, and physical characteristics are enhanced. The problem induced by the CASE-1 did not originate from the residual stress, but from the difference in the size of the upper part air cleaner after shrinkage. Thus, the orientation problem was expected to improve by optimizing the gate structure.

• Elastomers and Composites
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.204-210
• /
• 2011

In this study, Jute fibers reinforced polypropylene (JFRP) composites were manufactured by injection molding technique. In order to improve the affinity and adhesion between fibers and thermoplastic matrices during manufacturing, Maleic anhydride (MA) as a coupling agent have been employed. Untreated and treated surfaces of jute fibers were characterized using SEM and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Physical properties like water absorption rate were studied. Tensile and flexural tests were carried out to evaluate the composite mechanical properties. Tensile test and bending test indicated that JFRP composites show higher strength and modulus than pure PP. In addition, strength and modulus were found to be influenced by the variation of MAPP content (1%, 2%, and 3%). Tensile fracture surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscope. It ensures better interfacial adhesion between fibers and matrix by increasing the percentage of MAPP.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.17-25
• /
• 2013

The mechanical properties appeared at the concrete mixed with Polypropylene fiber($1kg/m^3$, $3kg/m^3$, $5kg/m^3$) are compared with normal concrete and wire mesh one and evaluated. Achieved slump test to search effect that PP fiber gets to workability, even if the mixing amount of fiber increases, confirmed that slump value is no change almost. The no difference can be caused by hard mixture, but because of the big softness of fiber there is no effect greatly up to PP fiber mixing amount $5kg/m^3$ even with soft mixture. Compressive strengths and flexural strengths of the concretes with PP fiber and without the fiber are appeared almost alike. If examine load resistance ability by PP fiber mixing amount increase, it could know that the increase of fiber mixing amount improves load resistance ability and the toughness index is increased. While normal concrete is broken at the same time with crack, fiber mixed concrete stand in flexure load continuously after crack occurrence. In compare with wire mesh embeded concrete, wire mesh mixed concrete stands in some degree in flexure load by wire mesh crack occurrence and the test piece was broken at the same time. But, it could know that the PP fiber mixed concrete resist continuously to flexure load in bigger displacement.