Melt- vs. non-melt blending of complexly processable ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/ cellulose nanofiber bionanocomposite
The major hurdle in melt-processing of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposite lies on the high melt viscosity of the UHMWPE, which may contribute to poor dispersion and distribution of the nanofiller. In this study, UHMWPE/cellulose nanofiber (UHMWPE/CNF) bionanocomposites w...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI
2021
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/94142/ |
| _version_ | 1848861918285004800 |
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| author | Sharip, Nur Sharmila Ariffin, Hidayah Tengku Yasim-Anuar, Tengku Arisyah Andou, Yoshito Shirosaki, Yuki Jawaid, Mohammad Md Tahir, Paridah Ibrahim, Nor Azowa |
| author_facet | Sharip, Nur Sharmila Ariffin, Hidayah Tengku Yasim-Anuar, Tengku Arisyah Andou, Yoshito Shirosaki, Yuki Jawaid, Mohammad Md Tahir, Paridah Ibrahim, Nor Azowa |
| author_sort | Sharip, Nur Sharmila |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The major hurdle in melt-processing of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposite lies on the high melt viscosity of the UHMWPE, which may contribute to poor dispersion and distribution of the nanofiller. In this study, UHMWPE/cellulose nanofiber (UHMWPE/CNF) bionanocomposites were prepared by two different blending methods: (i) melt blending at 150 °C in a triple screw kneading extruder, and (ii) non-melt blending by ethanol mixing at room temperature. Results showed that melt-processing of UHMWPE without CNF (MB-UHMWPE/0) exhibited an increment in yield strength and Young’s modulus by 15% and 25%, respectively, compared to the Neat-UHMWPE. Tensile strength was however reduced by almost half. Ethanol mixed sample without CNF (EM-UHMWPE/0) on the other hand showed slight decrement in all mechanical properties tested. At 0.5% CNF inclusion, the mechanical properties of melt-blended bionanocomposites (MB-UHMWPE/0.5) were improved as compared to Neat-UHMWPE. It was also found that the yield strength, elongation at break, Young’s modulus, toughness and crystallinity of MB-UHMWPE/0.5 were higher by 28%, 61%, 47%, 45% and 11%, respectively, as compared to the ethanol mixing sample (EM-UHMWPE/0.5). Despite the reduction in tensile strength of MB-UHMWPE/0.5, the value i.e., 28.4 ± 1.0 MPa surpassed the minimum requirement of standard specification for fabricated UHMWPE in surgical implant application. Overall, melt-blending processing is more suitable for the preparation of UHMWPE/CNF bionanocomposites as exhibited by their characteristics presented herein. A better mechanical interlocking between UHMWPE and CNF at high temperature mixing with kneading was evident through FE-SEM observation, explains the higher mechanical properties of MB-UHMWPE/0.5 as compared to EM-UHMWPE/0.5. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T13:08:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-94142 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T13:08:46Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | MDPI |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-941422023-05-18T08:43:52Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/94142/ Melt- vs. non-melt blending of complexly processable ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/ cellulose nanofiber bionanocomposite Sharip, Nur Sharmila Ariffin, Hidayah Tengku Yasim-Anuar, Tengku Arisyah Andou, Yoshito Shirosaki, Yuki Jawaid, Mohammad Md Tahir, Paridah Ibrahim, Nor Azowa The major hurdle in melt-processing of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposite lies on the high melt viscosity of the UHMWPE, which may contribute to poor dispersion and distribution of the nanofiller. In this study, UHMWPE/cellulose nanofiber (UHMWPE/CNF) bionanocomposites were prepared by two different blending methods: (i) melt blending at 150 °C in a triple screw kneading extruder, and (ii) non-melt blending by ethanol mixing at room temperature. Results showed that melt-processing of UHMWPE without CNF (MB-UHMWPE/0) exhibited an increment in yield strength and Young’s modulus by 15% and 25%, respectively, compared to the Neat-UHMWPE. Tensile strength was however reduced by almost half. Ethanol mixed sample without CNF (EM-UHMWPE/0) on the other hand showed slight decrement in all mechanical properties tested. At 0.5% CNF inclusion, the mechanical properties of melt-blended bionanocomposites (MB-UHMWPE/0.5) were improved as compared to Neat-UHMWPE. It was also found that the yield strength, elongation at break, Young’s modulus, toughness and crystallinity of MB-UHMWPE/0.5 were higher by 28%, 61%, 47%, 45% and 11%, respectively, as compared to the ethanol mixing sample (EM-UHMWPE/0.5). Despite the reduction in tensile strength of MB-UHMWPE/0.5, the value i.e., 28.4 ± 1.0 MPa surpassed the minimum requirement of standard specification for fabricated UHMWPE in surgical implant application. Overall, melt-blending processing is more suitable for the preparation of UHMWPE/CNF bionanocomposites as exhibited by their characteristics presented herein. A better mechanical interlocking between UHMWPE and CNF at high temperature mixing with kneading was evident through FE-SEM observation, explains the higher mechanical properties of MB-UHMWPE/0.5 as compared to EM-UHMWPE/0.5. MDPI 2021-01-27 Article PeerReviewed Sharip, Nur Sharmila and Ariffin, Hidayah and Tengku Yasim-Anuar, Tengku Arisyah and Andou, Yoshito and Shirosaki, Yuki and Jawaid, Mohammad and Md Tahir, Paridah and Ibrahim, Nor Azowa (2021) Melt- vs. non-melt blending of complexly processable ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/ cellulose nanofiber bionanocomposite. Polymers, 13 (3). art. no. 404. pp. 1-15. ISSN 2073-4360 https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/3/404 10.3390/polym13030404 |
| spellingShingle | Sharip, Nur Sharmila Ariffin, Hidayah Tengku Yasim-Anuar, Tengku Arisyah Andou, Yoshito Shirosaki, Yuki Jawaid, Mohammad Md Tahir, Paridah Ibrahim, Nor Azowa Melt- vs. non-melt blending of complexly processable ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/ cellulose nanofiber bionanocomposite |
| title | Melt- vs. non-melt blending of complexly processable ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/ cellulose nanofiber bionanocomposite |
| title_full | Melt- vs. non-melt blending of complexly processable ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/ cellulose nanofiber bionanocomposite |
| title_fullStr | Melt- vs. non-melt blending of complexly processable ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/ cellulose nanofiber bionanocomposite |
| title_full_unstemmed | Melt- vs. non-melt blending of complexly processable ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/ cellulose nanofiber bionanocomposite |
| title_short | Melt- vs. non-melt blending of complexly processable ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/ cellulose nanofiber bionanocomposite |
| title_sort | melt- vs. non-melt blending of complexly processable ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/ cellulose nanofiber bionanocomposite |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/94142/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/94142/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/94142/ |