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Thermal characteristics of ethylene‐ co ‐vinyl acetate/cellulose microfibers composites
Author(s) -
Sonia A.,
Dasan K. Priya,
Jayachandran Jeenet
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.22437
Subject(s) - materials science , thermogravimetric analysis , composite material , differential scanning calorimetry , microfiber , thermal stability , crystallinity , fiber , cellulose , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , composite number , dynamic mechanical analysis , thermal analysis , polymer , thermal , chemical engineering , physics , meteorology , engineering , thermodynamics
Cellulose microfibers were obtained from Hibiscus sabadariffa by steam explosion technique. Structural and surface analysis of the microfibers showed a reduction in diameter and changes in surface morphology from that of raw fibers. The chemical composition of fibers showed increase in α‐cellulose content and decrease in lignin and hemicelluloses for the microfibers. These factors were further confirmed by XRD, SEM, and FTIR results. The CMF were introduced to EVA at different loading by melt extrusion. The composites were analyzed for their thermal stability and phase transition using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). TGA analysis of the composites showed increased onset temperatures for composites compared with pure EVA indicating the superior thermal stability of the composites with fiber loading. DSC analysis shows increase in melting enthalpy and percentage crystallinity with fiber loading increases. Kinetic parameter for the degradation of the composites was obtained using Broido, Coats–Redfern, and Horowitz‐Metzger methods. POLYM. COMPOS., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers