Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Publication
    Effect of Microwave Power and Clamping Pressure on the Microwave Welding of Polypropylene Using Silicon Carbide Nanowhiskers as Microwave Susceptor
    ( 2022-01-01)
    Foong P.Y.
    ;
    ;
    Lim B.Y.
    ;
    Teh P.L.
    ;
    ; ; ; ;
    Low F.W.
    ;
    Mahalingam S.
    ;
    Manap A.
    ;
    Rahim R.A.
    ;
    Due to their excellent dielectric properties and the rapid response to microwave irradiation, silicon carbide nanowhiskers (SiCNWs) were employed as microwave susceptor in this study to absorb microwave and locally melt the surrounding polypropylene (PP) substrates for the joining of PP substrates. Complete welded joint is formed after the melted PP was cooled and resolidified. Other than microwave susceptor, SiCNWs also acted as the nanofillers in strengthening the welded joint through the formation of SiCNWs reinforced PP nanocomposite at the interface of PP substrates. Besides, the effect of microwave power on the microwave welding of PP substrates using SiCNWs as susceptor was studied and reported. It was found that the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of the welded joint improved as microwave power increased. However, it deteriorates the flexibility of the welded joint as high stiffness SiCNWs were incorporated deeper into the PP matrix which restricted the PP chain mobility. Aside from microwave power, clamping pressure is also critical in determining the mechanical properties of a welded joint. When compared to unclamped welded joint, the tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and flexibility of welded joint subjected to clamping pressure improved drastically. Moreover, the tensile strength of welded joint increased when the clamping pressure was increased from P1 to P3, but decreased when the clamping pressure was further increased to P4 due to the occurrence of flashing at welded joint. The formation mechanism of SiCNWs reinforced PP welded joint was also proposed in this study. Compared to conventional welding, this welding process is easy, straightforward and is able to produce welded joint with outstanding mechanical properties via precise controlling of the processing parameters. Thus, microwave welding is thought to offer an option for the joining of thermoplastics and other applications.
  • Publication
    Feasibility study on microwave welding of thermoplastic using multiwalled carbon nanotubes as susceptor
    Despite manufacturers’ goal of molding single component products from plastics, the structures of some of the products are far too complex to be molded as a single piece. Therefore, assembly of subcomponents into the final products is important for the manufacturing of many plastic-based products. To date, welding is the most efficient joining method for plastics. In this study, multiwalled carbon nanotubes were proposed as the susceptor for the microwave welding of high-density polyethylene considering multiwalled carbon nanotube is a good microwave absorber. multiwalled carbon nanotubes were first dispersed in ethanol in an ultrasonic bath to obtain a homogeneous dispersion. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes dispersion was dropped on the targeted area of the prepared dumbbell-shaped sample and dried in an oven at 45°C for 30 min. The sample was then subjected to 800 W microwave irradiation in the domestic microwave oven. The strength of the weld was tested by using tensile testing. Besides, the cross section of the welded joint was characterized by using scanning electron microscopy. The effect of microwave heating duration and the multiwalled carbon nanotube concentration in the dispersion were studied. It was found that the joint strength increased as the heating duration increase from 2 s to 8 s but decreased when the heating duration was further extended to 10 s. Scanning electron microscopic images showed that voids were formed at the joint interface when 10 s was used and resulted in the lowering of joint strength. In the study of the effect of the multiwalled carbon nanotube concentration in the dispersion, joint strength increased when the multiwalled carbon nanotubes concentration increased from 0.25 wt% to 0.75 wt%. However, the joint strength of sample with 1.00 wt% multiwalled carbon nanotube concentration decreased. The presence of a thick unwelded multiwalled carbon nanotubes layer at the joint interface for sample with 1.00 wt% multiwalled carbon nanotubes concentration as shown in scanning electron microscopic image was believed to cause the lowering of joint strength.
  • Publication
    Feasibility study on microwave welding of thermoplastic using multiwalled carbon nanotubes as susceptor
    Despite manufacturers’ goal of molding single component products from plastics, the structures of some of the products are far too complex to be molded as a single piece. Therefore, assembly of subcomponents into the final products is important for the manufacturing of many plastic-based products. To date, welding is the most efficient joining method for plastics. In this study, multiwalled carbon nanotubes were proposed as the susceptor for the microwave welding of high-density polyethylene considering multiwalled carbon nanotube is a good microwave absorber. multiwalled carbon nanotubes were first dispersed in ethanol in an ultrasonic bath to obtain a homogeneous dispersion. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes dispersion was dropped on the targeted area of the prepared dumbbell-shaped sample and dried in an oven at 45°C for 30 min. The sample was then subjected to 800 W microwave irradiation in the domestic microwave oven. The strength of the weld was tested by using tensile testing. Besides, the cross section of the welded joint was characterized by using scanning electron microscopy. The effect of microwave heating duration and the multiwalled carbon nanotube concentration in the dispersion were studied. It was found that the joint strength increased as the heating duration increase from 2 s to 8 s but decreased when the heating duration was further extended to 10 s. Scanning electron microscopic images showed that voids were formed at the joint interface when 10 s was used and resulted in the lowering of joint strength. In the study of the effect of the multiwalled carbon nanotube concentration in the dispersion, joint strength increased when the multiwalled carbon nanotubes concentration increased from 0.25 wt% to 0.75 wt%. However, the joint strength of sample with 1.00 wt% multiwalled carbon nanotube concentration decreased. The presence of a thick unwelded multiwalled carbon nanotubes layer at the joint interface for sample with 1.00 wt% multiwalled carbon nanotubes concentration as shown in scanning electron microscopic image was believed to cause the lowering of joint strength.