PVC-Wood Composite

IR-Analysis of PVC-Wood Composite

CHAPTER-3

Experimental Setup
Despite the rapidly growing use of WPCs, there are technical challenges to overcome for continued market growth. Wood fibers are polar (hydrophilic) whereas PVC is non-polar (hydrophobic). This incompatibility can result in poor adhesion between polymer and wood fiber in WPC. As a result, the mechanical properties, water resistance, and other properties are compromised. A good compatibilized system will be needed to thoroughly disperse wood fiber into the polymer during extrusion to avoid poor melt strength of the wood composite extrudates. Poor melt strength leads to melt fracture on the surface of the extrudates.

3.1 Objectives of research

  To develop a compatiblizer for PVC-Wood composites To study the effect of compatiblizer on mechanical properties of thermoplastic composite To study the rheological properties of wood thermoplastic composite To find the optimum concentration of each component in PVC-Wood composite that give better properties at reduced cost

 

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IR-Analysis of PVC-Wood Composite

3.2 Methodology
Brief description of how research was conducted

PVC-Wood Composite

IR-Analysis of PVC-Wood Composite

3.3 Experimental set up.

Experimental set up consists of: y y y y y y Plasticoder Universal testing machine Compression molding machine FTIR DSC Melt flow indexer

3.4 Experimentation.
The blends of PVC-Wood will be prepared by using Brabender plasticoder. The mixing time, rotation speed and temperature will be 5 min, 70 rpm and 195 OC respectively. Additives will be added during processing of blends. FTIR spectroscopy technique will be executed to ascertain the nature of cross linking among the compatiblizer and thermoplastic composites. DSC will be used for thermal analysis. The compression moulding technique will be used for preparation of testing bars. Tensile testing will be performed on TIRA test 2810 machine, according to ASTM D-638. Impact property will be determined using a falling weight impact tester, according to ASTM D-4224. Rheological properties will be accomplished by melt flow indexer.

PVC-Wood Composite

IR-Analysis of PVC-Wood Composite

3.5 Recipe Ingredients

y y y y PVC Wood Compatiblizer (Terpolymer of PMMA, PVA and MA) Benzyl peroxide

When PVC is variable

Sr .No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 PVC % 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Wood % 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10

PVC-Wood Composite

IR-Analysis of PVC-Wood Composite

Chapter-5 IR-Analysis of PVC-Wood Composite

4.1 Infrared spectroscopy
Infrared spectroscopy (IR spectroscopy) is the spectroscopy that deals with the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, that is light with a longer wavelength and lower frequency than visible light. It covers a range of techniques, mostly based on absorption spectroscopy. As with all spectroscopic techniques, it can be used to identify and study chemicals. A common laboratory instrument that uses this technique is a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is usually divided into three regions; the near-, mid- and far- infrared, named for their relation to the visible spectrum. The higher energy near-IR, approximately 140004000 cm1 (0.82.5 m wavelength) can excite overtone or harmonic vibrations. The mid-infrared, approximately 4000 400 cm1 (2.525 m) may be used to study the fundamental vibrations and associated rotational-vibrational structure. The far-infrared, approximately 40010 cm1 (25 1000 m), lying adjacent to the microwave region, has low energy and may be used for rotational spectroscopy. The names and classifications of these subregions are conventions, and are only loosely based on the relative molecular or electromagnetic properties.

4.2 Fourier transform

The Fourier transform is a mathematical operation that decomposes a signal into its constituent frequencies. Thus the Fourier transform of a musical chord is a mathematical representation of the amplitudes of the individual notes that make it up. The original signal depends on time, and therefore is called the time domain representation of the signal, whereas the Fourier transform depends on frequency and is called the frequency domain representation of the signal. The term Fourier transform refers both to the frequency domain representation of the signal and the process that transforms the signal to its frequency domain representation.

FTIR is a measurement technique that allows one to record infrared spectra. Infrared light is guided through an interferometer and then through the sample (or vice versa). A moving mirror inside the apparatus alters the distribution of infrared light that passes through the interferometer. The signal directly recorded, called an "interferogram", represents light output as a function of mirror position. A data-processing technique called Fourier transform turns this raw data into the

PVC-Wood Composite

IR-Analysis of PVC-Wood Composite

desired result (the sample's spectrum): Light output as a function of infrared wavelength (or equivalently, wavenumber). As described above, the sample's spectrum is always compared to a reference.

4.3 Principle of FTIR

In a Michelson interferometer adapted for FTIR, light from the polychromatic infrared source, approximately a black-body radiator, is collimated and directed to a beam splitter. Ideally 50% of the light is reflected towards the fixed mirror and 50% is transmitted towards the moving mirror. Light is reflected from the two mirrors back to the beam splitter and (ideally) 50% of the original light passes into the sample compartment. There, the light is focused on the sample. On leaving the sample compartment the light is refocused on to the detector. The difference in optical path length between the two arms to the interferometer is known as the retardation. An interferogram is obtained by varying the retardation and recording the signal from the detector for various values of the retardation (as shown in fig 4.1) The interference pattern is converted into an electrical signal by the detector, and after being amplified by the main amplifier, is converted into signal. The spectrum in which the horizontal axis represents the light path difference between the moving mirror and fixed mirror and vertical axis represent light intensity is called interferogram. The intensity distribution with respect to wave number can be obtained by subjecting the interferogram to Fourier transformation. Therefore, the digital signal is subjected to Fourier transformation and the resulting spectrum is displayed on the PC monitor screen (as shown in Fig 4.2)

Fig- 4.1 Optical System

PVC-Wood Composite

IR-Analysis of PVC-Wood Composite

Fig-4.2 Signal flow

4.4 Common Applications

y Identification of compounds by matching spectrum of unknown compound with reference spectrum (fingerprinting) Identification of functional groups in unknown substances Identification of reaction components and kinetic studies of reactions Identification of molecular orientation in polymer films Detection of molecular impurities or additives present in amounts of 1% and in some cases as low as 0.01% Identification of polymers, plastics, and resins Analysis of formulations such as insecticides and copolymers

y y y y

y y

PVC-Wood Composite

IR-Analysis of PVC-Wood Composite

4.5 (c) FTIR spectrum of PVC-wood Composites

PVC-Wood Composite

IR-Analysis of PVC-Wood Composite

Classification: Halogenated-Polymer IR (Group: Poly (vinyl chloride)

Bond CH CH2 CH2 CH2 CH CH CC CH2 CH2 C-Cl

Range 2975-2950 2945-2925 2920-2900 1435-1425 1340-1310 1260-1240 1100-1080 970-950 835-825 700-680

Mode STR ASYM_STR SYM_STR DEF DEF DEF STR DEF_ROCK DEF_ROCK STR

Poly (vinyl chloride), PVC, is relatively hard, and is often plasticized. Common plasticizers are ortho-dialkyl phthalates, for example, di-n-butyl phthalate, di-(2-ethhyl-hexyl) phthalate. The most readily identifiable mid-infrared absorption features of these phthalates in PVC are the C=O (C=O stretch) near 1725 cm-1 and the C-O bands near 1280 cm-1 and 1125 cm-1, which are accompanied by a weak sharp, doublet at 1605 and 1575 cm-1. In plasticized PVC the C=O and the C-O bands may be the most intense in the spectrum. The absorptions in the CH stretching region will also be much more intense than in unplasticized PVC. The C-Cl (C-Cl stretch) region of poly (vinyl chloride), PVC, is complex and involves the overlap of several absorption bands arising from differing conformational and configurational forms. VC units may be present in both isotactic and syndiotactic sequences. A Cl atom may exist in either a trans conformation to a H atom or to a C atom across the common C-C bond; both conformations are possible in both isotactic and syndiotactic PVC. Atactic sequences may also be present. Syndiotactic PVC may also be crystalline, and the amorphous to crystalline ratio will also affect the relative intensities of these overlapping C-Cl bands.