Assessment of changes in plasticity and mechanical properties of polystyrene fatty acid-based neem seed oil blends

Abstract

Communication In Physical Sciences 2019, 4(1): 17-22

Authors: Salihu, Takuma. Mamza, Paul .A.P and  Siaka, Abdulfatai. A.

In order to assess changes in plasticity and mechanical properties of polystyrene fatty acidbased neem seed oil blends, the value added product was developed. The effect of loading on the mechanical and thermal properties of polystyrene and the nature of interaction in the blend were investigated. Neem seed oil was epoxidised at 60^oC and at a pressure of 1 atm for 5 hours. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to identify the unsaturation and epoxy group in the neem oil and in the epoxidised neem oil. The infrared spectrum indicated that the absorption band at 3012 cm^-1 was absent in the blend and that a new band was formed at 943 cm^-1, which supported epoxidation. The mechanical performance of the various composites (95/5, 85/15, 75/25, 65/35, 45/55, and 35/65) were tested using tensiometer. Comparison of mechanical properties such as elongation at break, tensile strength and tensile modulus revealed apparent compatibility domain for 95/5 polystyrene/epoxidized neem seed oil (8.70±0.08, 24.40±0.02 and 37.0±1.0. Viscosity measurements revealed that miscibility occurs between the compositions 95/5, 85/15, 45/55 and 35/65 while phase inversion and phase separation occur in the 65/35 and 75/25 blends, indicating immiscibility and incompatibility.