Casein Composites as Alternative Biodegradable Polymers

 

Ashok Kumar Popuri*

VFSTR University, Vadlamudi, Guntur (Dist), Andhra Pradesh, India.

*Corresponding Author E-mail:  akpopuri@gmail.com

 

ABSTRACT:

In the past few decades, research has been shifted from monolithic materials to fibre-reinforced polymeric materials. These composite materials now dominate the aerospace, leisure, automotive, construction and sporting industries. The natural fibres are biodegradable and they don’t cause any type of environmental pollution when compared with glass fibres. Fibre reinforced composites are prepared using Ecmalon 4411 resin, cobalt octate as an accelerator, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) as catalyst, sisal and tadi fibres. Different samples are prepared with varying number of fibres, % of casein, soaking time, % of alkali. Form hardness and tensile strengths, sisal fibres and tadi fibres reinforced composites are having high hardness compared with simple reinforced composites. The treated fibres reinforced composites with and without casein are having high hardness compared with untreated fibre reinforced composites. With an increase in the number of fibres, hardness of the composites also increased for treated and untreated fibres reinforced composites. With an increase in amount of casein, the hardness also increased for both treated and untreated fibre reinforced composites.

 

KEYWORDS: Biodegradable, Casein, Composites, Sisal, Tadi

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Over the last few years there has been an increasing interest in using natural fibres as reinforcing agents in composite materials1-5. A combination of properties such as low cost, low density, non-toxicity, high specific properties, no abrasion during processing and recyclability contribute to a rising interest of manufacturing industry 6-10. The industrial use of casein can be observed mostly in preparation of plastics, paper, coatings, water dispersed paints, adhesives, textile sizing, textile fibres and deistic preparations11-15.

 

The fibres were washed with distilled water and detergent and dried in oven at 800c. The fibres were placed in 1 to 20% NaOH solution for alkali treatment at for four different periods. Fibres were washed with distilled water and oven dried at 800c until constant weight is achieved. Casein is prepared from soured milk. Composited were prepared by hand layup method. Various mechanical properties using tensile test, flexural test, compressive test, impact test, hardness test were determined for different samples. The biodegradation studies of polymers were conducted by measuring growth of microorganisms 16-20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Hardness Test for Sisal Fibres Reinforced Composites:

Effect of Number of Fibres on Hardness:

Thickness of sample: 4mm; Number of layers: 4

 

 

Fig. 1: No. of Fibres vs. Hardness

 

It is observed that the sisal fibres reinforced composites are having high hardness compared with simple unreinforced composites. With an increase in the number of fibres, hardness of the composites also increased for both treated and untreated reinforced fibre composites. Compared to untreated fibre reinforced composites, the treated fibre reinforced composites are having higher hardness.

 

Effect of Casein Concentration on Hardness:

Thickness of sample: 4mm; Number of layers: 4; Fibres per layer: 100

 

 

Fig. 2: Casein Concentration vs. Hardness

 

It is observed that with an increase in the amount of casein, the hardness also increased for both treated and untreated fibre reinforced composites. Compared to untreated fibre reinforced composites, the treated fibre reinforced composites are having higher hardness.

 

Effect of Concentration of Alkali on Hardness:

Thickness of sample: 4mm; Number of layers: 4; Fibres per layer: 100

 

 

Fig. 3: Concentration of Alkali vs. Hardness

 

It is observed that with an increase in concentration of alkali is used, the hardness also increased and then decreased. Therefore the optimum alkali concentration is 5%.

 

3.1.4 Effect of Soaking Time on Hardness:

Thickness of sample: 4mm; Number of layers: 4; Fibres per layer: 100; % of NaOH: 5

 

 

Fig. 4: Soaking Time vs. Hardness

 

It is observed that with an increase in soaking time, the hardness increased to a certain level and then decreased. Therefore the optimum soaking time is 24 hours.

 

Hardness Test for Tadi Fibres Reinforced Composites:

Effect of Number of Fibres on Hardness:

Thickness of sample: 4mm; Number of layers: 4

 

 

Fig. 5: No. of Fibres vs. Hardness

 

It is observed that the tadi fibres reinforced composites are having high hardness compared with simple unreinforced composites. With an increase in the number of fibres, hardness of the composites also increased for both treated and untreated reinforced fibre composites. Compared to untreated fibre reinforced composites, the treated fibre reinforced composites are having higher hardness.

 

Effect of Casein Concentration on Hardness:

Thickness of sample: 4mm; Number of layers: 4; Fibres per layer: 100.

 

 

Fig. 6: Casein Concentration vs. Hardness

 

It is observed that with an increase in the amount of casein, the hardness also increased for both treated and untreated fibre reinforced composites. Compared to untreated fibre reinforced composites, the treated fibre reinforced composites are having higher hardness.

 

Effect of Concentration of Alkali on Hardness:

Thickness of sample: 4mm; Number of layers: 4; Fibres per layer: 100

 

 

Fig. 7: Concentration of Alkali vs. Hardness

 

It is observed that with an increase in concentration of alkali is used, the hardness also increased.

 

Effect of Soaking Time on Hardness:

Thickness of sample: 4mm; Number of layers: 4; Fibres per layer: 100; % of NaOH: 5

 

 

Fig. 8: Soaking Time vs. Hardness

 

 

It is observed that with an increase in soaking time, the hardness increased to a certain level and then decreased. Therefore the optimum soaking time is 24 hours.

 

 

 

 

Tensile Test for Sisal Fibres Reinforced Composites:

Effect of Number of Fibres on Tensile Strength:

 

 

Fig. 9: Load vs. Percentage Elongation

 

As load increases the % elongation increases for both treated and untreated fibers reinforced composites. In case of treated fibres reinforced composites, the elongation is more than that of untreated fibres.

 

 

 

Fig. 10: Number of Fibres vs. UTS

 

As number of fibres increases the UTS also increases for both treated and untreated fibers reinforced composites. In case of treated fibres reinforced composites, the UTS is more than that of untreated fibres.

 

 

 

 

Effect of Concentration of Casein on Tensile Strength:

 

 

Fig. 11: Load vs. Percentage Elongation

 

 

As load increases the % elongation increases for both treated and untreated fibers reinforced composites. In case of treated fibres reinforced composites, the elongation is more than that of untreated fibres.

 

 

 

Fig. 12: Percentage of Casein vs. UTS

 

 

As number of fibres increases the UTS also increases for both treated and untreated fibers reinforced composites. In case of treated fibres reinforced composites, the UTS are more than that of untreated fibres.

 

 

 

 

 

Tensile Test for Tadi Fibres Reinforced Composites:

Effect of Number of Fibres on Tensile Strength:

 

 

Fig. 13: Load vs. Percentage Elongation

 

As load increases the % elongation increases for both treated and untreated fibers reinforced composites. In case of treated fibres reinforced composites, the elongation is more than that of untreated fibres.

 

 

Fig. 14: Number of Fibres vs. UTS

 

 

 

As number of fibres increases the UTS also increases for both treated and untreated fibers reinforced composites. In case of treated fibres reinforced composites, the UTS is more than that of untreated fibres.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of Concentration of Casein on Tensile Strength:

 

 

Fig. 15: Load vs. Percentage Elongation

 

As load increases the % elongation increases for both treated and untreated fibers reinforced composites. In case of treated fibres reinforced composites, the elongation is more than that of untreated fibres.

 

 

Fig. 16: Percentage of Casein vs. UTS

 

 

As % of casein increases the UTS also increases for both treated and untreated fibers reinforced composites. In case of treated fibres reinforced composites, the UTS are more than that of untreated fibres.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION:

Sisal and tadi reinforced fibre composites are having high hardness compared with simple unreinforced composites. The treated fibres reinforced composites with and without casein are having high hardness than untreated fibre reinforced composites. With an increase in number of fibres, hardness of the composites also increases for both treated and untreated fibre reinforced composites. With an increase in amount of casein, the hardness also increases for both treated and untreated fibre reinforced composites. For both sisal and tadi reinforced fibre composites, % elongation increases as load increases and ultimate strength increases as number of fibres increases. In case of treated fibres, the elongation and UTS are more than that of untreated fibres.

 

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Received on 04.08.2017          Modified on 24.09.2017

Accepted on 29.11.2017        © RJPT All right reserved

Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 2018; 11(1): 17-22.

DOI: 10.5958/0974-360X.2018.00003.3