Abstract

Polymer Layered Silicates (PLS) are currently attracting researchers to seek a solution to the challenge of delaminating the clay layers. In this study, investigation of the morphology of 5 wt% of different organically-modified (15A, 20A and 30B) and non-modified (Na+) Cloisite Montmorillonite clays blended with Polyethylene co Vinyl Acetate (EVA) was conducted. Synthesis of the composites was made by one or more of the following techniques: solution compounding, sonication, and extrusion to overcome stacking of the clay layers. Composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) to reveal information about their morphologies. Composites were subjected to tensile testing to relate changes in mechanical behavior to the clay type and the obtained morphologies. Results show varieties of polymer layered silicate structures from immiscible to intercalated and/or exfoliated structures. Eva-Na+ composites showed the least uniform dispersion and exfoliation, which is attributed to the modifier. Both EVA-15A and EVA-20A composites showed good dispersion and delamination of the clay layers, which was motivated by sonication and enhanced by extrusion. The type of organic modifier appeared to play a more dominant role than the amount of organic modifier, as confirmed by the results of the XRD analysis of EVA-15A and EVA-20A which have the same type of organic modifier. Good dispersion and delamination was also observed for EVA-30B, which is attributed to the nature of the organic modifier, which favors interaction with the acetate group in EVA and contributed to improvements in mechanical properties.

Department

Mechanical Engineering Department

Degree Name

MS in Mechanical Engineering

Graduation Date

2-1-2012

Submission Date

January 2013

First Advisor

Esawi, Amal

Committee Member 1

Ramadan, Adham

Extent

116 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Library of Congress Subject Heading 1

Polymeric composites.

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

Comments

First, I can't adequately express my never-ending indebtedness to my parents and my family for the encouragement, support and sacrifices they made for me throughout my life. I am deeply grateful to my advisor Dr. Amal Esawi and co-advisor Dr. Adham Ramadan for the wonderful professiol atmosphere they created during this study and beyond. Many thanks for their guidance, support and efforts, which were essential for the completion of this study. Their aptitude for leadership and magement did not only maintain discipline in every aspect of this work, but also taught me how to be a good team player and, meanwhile, how to work independently. Special thanks go to Mr. Yousef Jameel the founder of the Yousef Jameel Science and Technology Research Center (YJ-STRC) for awarding me a research fellowship, which was a great milestone in my career and my whole life. I want to thank my academic instructors who taught me a lot and gave me the fundamental knowledge and scientific sense at AUC and Ain Shams University. Particularly, I want to express my deep gratitude to Dr. geh Allam and Dr. Hadi Salem from AUC; Dr. Mohamed Taha and Dr. Alaa El-hakim from Ain Shams University. I want to acknowledge the collaborative efforts lead by the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Chemistry at AUC which created an interdiscipliry culture that was mandatory for the completion of this study. Additiolly, the availability of several facilities from both departments was very useful for conducting the experimental work within a reasoble time. In this regard, I want to acknowledge Mr. Essam Aziz and Mohamed from the polymers lab; Mr. Saeed and Mr. Magdy from the mechanical workshop; Mr. Zakarya and Mr. Hussein from the Mechanical testing labs; Mr. Emad Farag, Mr. Victor, Mr. Ahmed Omaya, and Mr. Mahmoud from the characterization labs at the Chemistry Department; Mrs. Mar Zaky, Ms. Ami Sedeek, Mrs. Janet Ibrahim, Ms. Yathrib Hassan and Mrs. Hoda Saad. I want to thank my colleagues at YJ-STRC for the encouragement and support they provided to me. Thanks go to Eng. Mohamed Atwa, Eng. Islam El-helaly, Ahmed Waleed, Mr. Mohamed Sallam, Ms. Sarah Refaat, Ms. Nouran Ashraf, Eng. Ihab Salama, Eng. Rami Wasfi and Eng. Ahmed Ghazali. Thanks and prays go to the soul of Jan 25th martyrs, my fellow rebels in Tahrir Square, Muslim Brotherhood, and the Help club. Filly, no words can express my thankful feelings towards my brothers Ahmed Abdel Gawad and Amr Seleem for their collaboration, passion and support they showed to me all over the past three years.

Download

Share

COinS