Tesis ini menerangkan penghasilan, pengujianan dan sifat-sifat zeolite sebagai pengisi
dalam komposit ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). Salah satu objektif utama dalam kajian ini ialah
untuk menentukan kesan pembebanan zeolite terhadap sifat-sifat matriks EVA komposit.
Komposit EVA yang terdiri daripada berlainan pembebanan zeolite (5-25 vol. %) disediakan
menggunakan pencampur dalaman Thermo Haake Polydrive dan kemudian diacu mampatan
mengikut piawaian. Ujian tegangan dan dinamik mekanikal analisis telah dijalankan bagi
menguji sifat mekanikal komposit EVA/zeolite. Penurunan kekuatan tegangan dan pemanjangan
boleh diterangkan melalui mikrograf permukaan patah disebabkan tegangan menggunakan
analisis pengimbas elektron mikroskopi. Disamping itu, kesan pengubahsuaian permukaan ke
atas sifat-sifat komposit EVA/zeolite telah disiasat. Interaksi antaramuka di antara EVA dan
zeolite diubahsuai melalui silang-hubung EVA dengan dicumyl peroxide (DCP); kaedah kation
pertukaran dengan surfaktan organic (octadecylamine) dan juga rawatan silane menggunakan 3-
aminopropyltriethoxysilane (AMPTES). Tambahan pula, analisis spektra Fourier Transform
Infra Merah (FTIR) telah dijalankan untuk mengkaji interaksi di antara komposit dan kumpulan
berfungsi pengubah permukaan. Aplikasi pengubahsuaian permukaan telah dibuktikan dapat
meningkatkan sifat-sifat mekanikal dan morfologikal komposit EVA/zeolite. Sifat haba komposit
juga diuji dengan analisis thermogravimetric (TGA) dan kebezaan pengimbasan kalorimeter
(DSC). Sistem perencat api intumescent yang mengandungi ammonium polyphosphate (APP)/
pentaerythritol (PER) telah digunakan bagi meningkatkan sifat haba dan perencatan kebakaran
komposit EVA/zeolite. Sifat mekanikal yang diuji melalui ujian regangan menunjukkan
penambahan kedua-dua perencat api menyebabkan penurunan sifat regangan dan pemanjangan
komposit EVA/zeolite. Walaubagaimanapun, modulus regangan komposit meningkat dengan
ketara kerana ketegaran partikel APP. Keputusan DSC dan TGA menunjukkan kedua-dua
perencat api telah meningkatkan kestabilan haba komposit. Keputusan ujian pembakaran
menegak (UL-94-V) dan indeks oksigen had (LOI) menunjukkan perencat api dapat menurunkan
kebolehbakaran komposit dengan mencapai tahap V-0 UL94-v dan meningkatkan nilai LOI.
This thesis describes the fabrication, characterization and properties of natural zeolite as
filler in ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) composites. One of the main objectives of this research is
to determine the effect of zeolite loading on properties of EVA matrix composites. EVA
composites at different loading of zeolite (5-25 vol. %) were prepared using Thermo Haake
Polydrive internal mixer and were then compression molded according to standard test specimen.
Tensile test and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were performed to characterize the
mechanical properties of EVA/zeolite composites. The tensile test can also be explained from the
analysis of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrograph of the tensile fractured surfaces.
Besides, the influences of surface modifications on the properties of EVA/zeolite composites
were also investigated. The interfacial interactions between EVA and zeolite were modified by
crosslinking of EVA with dicumyl peroxide (DCP); cation exchange method using organic
surfactant (octadecylamine) and also silane treatment using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane
(AMPTES). In addition, Fourier Transform Infra red (FTIR) spectra analyses were performed in
order to study the interaction between the composites and functional group of the surface
modifiers. The application of surface modifications was proved to enhance the mechanical and
morphological properties of EVA/zeolite composites. Thermal properties of the composites were
also characterized by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning
calorimetry (DSC). Intumescent flame retardant system consisting of ammonium polyphosphate
(APP)/ pentaerythritol (PER) was used to enhance the thermal properties and fire retardancy of
EVA/zeolite composites. The mechanical properties examined by tensile test indicated that the
introduction of both flame retardants lead to deterioration of tensile strength and elongation at
break of EVA/zeolite composites. However, the tensile modulus of the composites was
significantly enhanced attributed to the rigidity of APP particles. The results of DSC and TGA
showed that both types of flame retardants have the ability to enhance the thermal stability of
EVA/zeolite composites. Meanwhile the results of vertical burning testing (UL-94-V) and
limiting oxygen index (LOI) measurement revealed that the flame retardants could also reduce
the flammability of the composites by achieving V-0 UL94-v rating and increased LOI value,
respectively.
Characterization and flammability of ethylene vinyl acetate / Nur Diyana Mohd Zaharri