Composites microfibril reinforced

Taking into account some of the basic requirements for the scaffolds, for example, the high specific surface, which can be achieved using fibrillar and/or porous materials, it seemed challenging to apply for their manufacturing, the concept of microfibrils-reinforced composites (MFCs), [12-21]. 

The process can be divided into three distinct steps, each vital to the successful creation of a microfibril-reinforced composite ... 

The result of the described process is a microfibril-reinforced composite material with mechanical properties superior to those of the plain matrix polymer [17]. It should be noted that variations in the MFC manufacturing process do exist [ 17]. 

Shields, R.J. (2008) Characterisation of the mechanical and oxygen barrier properties of microfibril reinforced composites, ResearchSpace Auckland. 

Joseph et had also prepared the oil palm microfibril-reinforced NR composites by conventional mechanical blending. The used microfibrils were separated from the oil palm fibres by using the steam explosion method, and were subsequently subjected to treatments such as mercerization, benzoylation, and silane treatment. They found that the storage modulus value of untreated and treated microfibril-reinforced NR composites was higher than that of macrofibre-reinforced composites. The Tg values of microfibril-reinforced composites were slightly higher than that of macrofibre-reinforced composites. The treated microfibril-reinforced NR composites displayed better adhesion between fibre and NR matrix. 

Lin R J T, Bhattacharyya D and Fakirov S (2007) Morphology of rotationally molded microfibril reinforced composites and its effect on product performance, Key Eng Mater 334 349-352. 

Microfibrils Reinforced Composites Based on PP and PET Effect of Draw Ratio on Morphology, Static and Dynamic Mechanical Properties, Crystallization and Rheology... 

Shields R J, Bhattacharyya D and Fakirov S (2007) Microfibril-reinforced composites from PE/PET blends Effect of reinforcement size on oxygen permeability, Adv Compos Mater Eng 334-335 249-252. 

Application Opportunities of the Microfibril Reinforced Composite Concept... 

This relatively new type of composite material constitutes a novel breed of thermoplastic polymer composite. MFCs originated when the concept of attempting to reinforce one type of polymer with another was combined with that of strengthening a polymer through drawing. This work culminated in the creation of microfibril reinforced composites in the early 1990s, which was soon followed by the development of the continuous manufacturing process used today [2,3]. 

With the correct selection of constituent polymers, MFCs appear well suited to this last technique of barrier improvement due to their in situ microfibrils. However, beyond that applied to standard polymer blends, the literature to date reveals no work in the area of gas permeation through microfibril reinforced composites. 

The creation of a dispersion morphology through in situ fibril generation is central to the formation of a microfibril reinforced composite. What is more, this dispersion methodology is also one of the principal methods of barrier property enhancement in many polymer films and membranes. Therefore, it was anticipated that MFCs would be inherently suited to applications in which reduced gas permeability of the matrix polymer was required. 

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