Obinna Ezenkwa | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia - UTM (original) (raw)

Papers by Obinna Ezenkwa

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of mechanical properties and thermal stability of graphene‐based materials and halloysite nanotubes reinforced maleated polymer compatibilized polypropylene nanocomposites

Research paper thumbnail of Mechanical properties of rice husk and rice husk ash filled maleated polymers compatibilized polypropylene composites

Journal of Applied Polymer Science

Research paper thumbnail of Tensile and Impact Properties of Rice Husk Filled Ethylene-Acrylic Ester Maleic Anhydride Compatibilized Polypropylene Composites

Rice husk (RH) is an agricultural waste that is gaining importance as fillers for polymers due to... more Rice husk (RH) is an agricultural waste that is gaining importance as fillers for polymers due to its abundant advantages such as light weight, low cost and environmentally friendly. This study investigates the tensile and impact properties of rice husk waste (RH) filled polypropylene (PP) composites with ethylene-acrylic ester maleic anhydride (E-AE-MA) as compatibilizer. The compatibilizer agent is used to improve compatibility between the RH which is hydrophilic and non-polar PP. Tensile test and impact strength test were conducted according to ASTM D638 and ASTM D256 standards. The incorporation of 15 wt% of RH into PP increased the Young's modulus of PP by 28 % but decreased the tensile strength and impact strength by 10 % and 31 % compared to neat PP. The elongation at break was observed to decrease by approximately 4 %. The addition of E-AE-MA at 4 parts per hundred (phr) to the composite increased the impact strength and elongation at break of RH-PP composite by 18 % and 22 % , but decreased the Young's modulus and tensile strength by 18 % and 5 %. The overall results showed that the elongation at break and Young's modulus of the compatibilized RH-PP composite is higher than neat PP, including that E-AE-MA is an effective compatibilizer between RH filler and PP due to its ability to improve adhesion between the two phases.

Research paper thumbnail of MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF DOLOMITE FILLED POLYCARBONATE/ACRYLONITRILE BUTADIENE STYRENE COMPOSITES

Perintis E Journal, 2019

Polycarbonate (PC)/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) composites usefulness is majorly due to ... more Polycarbonate (PC)/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) composites usefulness is majorly due to its good mechanical properties and low cost to performance ratio. The purpose of adding fillers into polymers is to further lower the cost and improve the mechanical properties of the composites. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of dolomite content on the mechanical properties of PC/ABS blend and to determine the optimum formulation for the PC/ABS/dolomite composites. Dolomite content in the PC/ABS/dolomite composites was varied ranging from 0 to 15 wt.%. The composite samples were then tested for mechanical, thermal and flame retardancy properties. The study concluded that 5 wt.% dolomite content was the the optimum filler content for PC/ABS/dolomite composites.

Research paper thumbnail of Tensile and Impact Properties of Rice Husk Filled Ethylene-Acrylic Ester Maleic Anhydride Compatibilized Polypropylene Composites

Chemical Engineering Transactions, 2021

Rice husk (RH) is an agricultural waste that is gaining importance as fillers for polymers due to... more Rice husk (RH) is an agricultural waste that is gaining importance as fillers for polymers due to its abundant advantages such as light weight, low cost and environmentally friendly. This study investigates the tensile and impact properties of rice husk waste (RH) filled polypropylene (PP) composites with ethylene-acrylic ester maleic anhydride (E-AE-MA) as compatibilizer. The compatibilizer agent is used to improve compatibility between the RH which is hydrophilic and non-polar PP. Tensile test and impact strength test were conducted according to ASTM D638 and ASTM D256 standards. The incorporation of 15 wt% of RH into PP increased the Young's modulus of PP by 28 % but decreased the tensile strength and impact strength by 10 % and 31 % compared to neat PP. The elongation at break was observed to decrease by approximately 4 %. The addition of E-AE-MA at 4 parts per hundred (phr) to the composite increased the impact strength and elongation at break of RH-PP composite by 18 % and 22 % , but decreased the Young's modulus and tensile strength by 18 % and 5 %. The overall results showed that the elongation at break and Young's modulus of the compatibilized RH-PP composite is higher than neat PP, including that E-AE-MA is an effective compatibilizer between RH filler and PP due to its ability to improve adhesion between the two phases.

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of different surface treatment techniques on properties of rice husk incorporated polymer composites

Reviews in Chemical Engineering, 2020

Rice husk natural fiber remains a highly abundant, eco-friendly and low-cost reinforcement filler... more Rice husk natural fiber remains a highly abundant, eco-friendly and low-cost reinforcement filler for plastic composites fabrication. Hampered by its low aspect ratio and incompatibility with non-polar polymers, its utilization in reinforcing polymer composites often results in decreased composite properties such as decreased tensile strength, impact strength, percentage elongation, and flexural strength. However, stiffness increases. Various surface treatment techniques such as mercerization, compatibilization, acetylation, electron beam irradiation and plasma surface modification have been employed to improve its compatibility with non-polar matrix polymers. This article critically reviews the influence of these surface modification techniques on the resulting composite properties. Based on the analysis of reinforcing efficiencies of these techniques, their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, the authors, therefore, project plasma treatment as the most efficient and...

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of mechanical properties and thermal stability of graphene‐based materials and halloysite nanotubes reinforced maleated polymer compatibilized polypropylene nanocomposites

Research paper thumbnail of Mechanical properties of rice husk and rice husk ash filled maleated polymers compatibilized polypropylene composites

Journal of Applied Polymer Science

Research paper thumbnail of Tensile and Impact Properties of Rice Husk Filled Ethylene-Acrylic Ester Maleic Anhydride Compatibilized Polypropylene Composites

Rice husk (RH) is an agricultural waste that is gaining importance as fillers for polymers due to... more Rice husk (RH) is an agricultural waste that is gaining importance as fillers for polymers due to its abundant advantages such as light weight, low cost and environmentally friendly. This study investigates the tensile and impact properties of rice husk waste (RH) filled polypropylene (PP) composites with ethylene-acrylic ester maleic anhydride (E-AE-MA) as compatibilizer. The compatibilizer agent is used to improve compatibility between the RH which is hydrophilic and non-polar PP. Tensile test and impact strength test were conducted according to ASTM D638 and ASTM D256 standards. The incorporation of 15 wt% of RH into PP increased the Young's modulus of PP by 28 % but decreased the tensile strength and impact strength by 10 % and 31 % compared to neat PP. The elongation at break was observed to decrease by approximately 4 %. The addition of E-AE-MA at 4 parts per hundred (phr) to the composite increased the impact strength and elongation at break of RH-PP composite by 18 % and 22 % , but decreased the Young's modulus and tensile strength by 18 % and 5 %. The overall results showed that the elongation at break and Young's modulus of the compatibilized RH-PP composite is higher than neat PP, including that E-AE-MA is an effective compatibilizer between RH filler and PP due to its ability to improve adhesion between the two phases.

Research paper thumbnail of MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF DOLOMITE FILLED POLYCARBONATE/ACRYLONITRILE BUTADIENE STYRENE COMPOSITES

Perintis E Journal, 2019

Polycarbonate (PC)/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) composites usefulness is majorly due to ... more Polycarbonate (PC)/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) composites usefulness is majorly due to its good mechanical properties and low cost to performance ratio. The purpose of adding fillers into polymers is to further lower the cost and improve the mechanical properties of the composites. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of dolomite content on the mechanical properties of PC/ABS blend and to determine the optimum formulation for the PC/ABS/dolomite composites. Dolomite content in the PC/ABS/dolomite composites was varied ranging from 0 to 15 wt.%. The composite samples were then tested for mechanical, thermal and flame retardancy properties. The study concluded that 5 wt.% dolomite content was the the optimum filler content for PC/ABS/dolomite composites.

Research paper thumbnail of Tensile and Impact Properties of Rice Husk Filled Ethylene-Acrylic Ester Maleic Anhydride Compatibilized Polypropylene Composites

Chemical Engineering Transactions, 2021

Rice husk (RH) is an agricultural waste that is gaining importance as fillers for polymers due to... more Rice husk (RH) is an agricultural waste that is gaining importance as fillers for polymers due to its abundant advantages such as light weight, low cost and environmentally friendly. This study investigates the tensile and impact properties of rice husk waste (RH) filled polypropylene (PP) composites with ethylene-acrylic ester maleic anhydride (E-AE-MA) as compatibilizer. The compatibilizer agent is used to improve compatibility between the RH which is hydrophilic and non-polar PP. Tensile test and impact strength test were conducted according to ASTM D638 and ASTM D256 standards. The incorporation of 15 wt% of RH into PP increased the Young's modulus of PP by 28 % but decreased the tensile strength and impact strength by 10 % and 31 % compared to neat PP. The elongation at break was observed to decrease by approximately 4 %. The addition of E-AE-MA at 4 parts per hundred (phr) to the composite increased the impact strength and elongation at break of RH-PP composite by 18 % and 22 % , but decreased the Young's modulus and tensile strength by 18 % and 5 %. The overall results showed that the elongation at break and Young's modulus of the compatibilized RH-PP composite is higher than neat PP, including that E-AE-MA is an effective compatibilizer between RH filler and PP due to its ability to improve adhesion between the two phases.

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of different surface treatment techniques on properties of rice husk incorporated polymer composites

Reviews in Chemical Engineering, 2020

Rice husk natural fiber remains a highly abundant, eco-friendly and low-cost reinforcement filler... more Rice husk natural fiber remains a highly abundant, eco-friendly and low-cost reinforcement filler for plastic composites fabrication. Hampered by its low aspect ratio and incompatibility with non-polar polymers, its utilization in reinforcing polymer composites often results in decreased composite properties such as decreased tensile strength, impact strength, percentage elongation, and flexural strength. However, stiffness increases. Various surface treatment techniques such as mercerization, compatibilization, acetylation, electron beam irradiation and plasma surface modification have been employed to improve its compatibility with non-polar matrix polymers. This article critically reviews the influence of these surface modification techniques on the resulting composite properties. Based on the analysis of reinforcing efficiencies of these techniques, their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, the authors, therefore, project plasma treatment as the most efficient and...