Enhancement of the Oleophilicity of recycled polypropylene by UVA irradiation and mechanical abrasion

Date

4-2008

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Lou Serafin M. Lozada

Abstract

The effect of surface modification on the oleophilic property of recycled polypropylene (PP) was investigated. Surface modification was done through UVA irradiation, mechanical abrasion, and combined mechanical abrasion--UVA irradiation. The surface morphology of the treated polymer was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Sliding Box Lacunarity Analysis and Horizontal Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (HATR-FTIR) Spectroscopy. The change in adhesion property of the polymer surface was determined through Water Sessile Drop Contact Angle Measurement. Mechanical abrasion increased the contact angle and roughness of the surface. UVA irradiation increased the contact angle and the surface roughness only up to a critical time of irradiation. Beyond this time, the contact angle and roughness diminished. The contact angle, as well as roughness of the PP films peaked at six minutes of irradiation time for both the non-abraded and abraded samples. The increase in the contact angle of the surfaces was primarily attributed to the increase in the physical roughness and not on the chemical species or radicals formed during surface modification.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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