Publications by authors named "Juan P Correa Aguirre"
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) doped with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) at 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt% has been studied. The effect of MWCNTs on thermal, viscoelastic, and electric properties in the TPU matrix was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and by impedance spectroscopy. The results show that the thermal, electrical, and viscoelastic properties, such as the glass transition temperature, shifted towards high temperatures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe impacts on the morphological, electrical and hardness properties of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) plates using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as reinforcing fillers have been investigated, using MWCNT loadings between 1 and 7 wt%. Plates of the TPU/MWCNT nanocomposites were fabricated by compression molding from extruded pellets. An X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the incorporation of MWCNTs into the TPU polymer matrix increases the ordered range of the soft and hard segments.
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- This study explores the characteristics of biocomposites made from epoxy resin and fique, a plant native to South America.
- The research shows that adding fique materials to the epoxy resin enhances thermal stability and modifies the structure, while oriented fiber arrangements significantly improve mechanical properties like tensile and flexural strength.
- The findings suggest potential applications for these biocomposites in the automotive industry and highlight opportunities to reduce waste from fique processing.
One of the critical processing parameters-the speed of the extrusion process for plasticized poly (lactic acid) (PLA)-was investigated in the presence of acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) as plasticizer. The mixtures were obtained by varying the content of plasticizer (ATBC, 10-30% by weight), using a twin screw extruder as a processing medium for which a temperature profile with peak was established that ended at 160 °C, two mixing zones and different screw rotation speeds (60 and 150 rpm). To evaluate the thermo-mechanical properties of the blend and hydrophilicity, the miscibility of the plasticizing and PLA matrix, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), oscillatory rheological analysis, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), mechanical analysis, as well as the contact angle were tested.
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- The study examines how adding raw coir coconut fibers (CCF) to a polyolefin blend matrix of PP-HDPE enhances its mechanical properties, leading to increases in tensile and flexural modulus by up to 78% and 99%, respectively.
- The incorporation of CCF also boosts the thermal stability of the biocomposite by 63 °C while improving its ability to handle external stresses without losing elasticity at higher temperatures.
- Overall, these findings suggest that PP-HDPE-CCF biocomposites could be viable alternatives for creating sustainable products through injection molding techniques.
This study explores the reprocessing behavior of polypropylene-sugarcane bagasse biocomposites using neat and chemically treated bagasse fibers (20 wt.%). Biocomposites were reprocessed 5 times using the extrusion process followed by injection molding.
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