38
N. Gupta and PL. Ramkumar
development associated with each process [5–7]. For example, undercut is a limitation when subjected to injection molding, whereas an appropriate melting of plastic
material becomes mandate when users switch to thermoforming process. Various
other such drawbacks are associated with distinguished techniques [8–10]. Rotational
molding process has proved its capability in overcoming all such limitations. Therefore, it has been augmented among researchers in the last few decades. Rotational
molding is a method that typically fabricates thermoplastics and is majorly utilized in
preparing large overhead tanks. A rotomolded product may have undercuts, inserts,
and flat surfaces that become strenuous to achieve in other forms of plastic manufacturing process [11]. Even the steps involved while dealing rotational molding process
is equitably easy. Disparate materials can be employed for this purpose, still a classic
material variation is needed in this technique in order to increase the strength of
the end product [12–15]. Consequent to this, an appropriate selection of material
becomes essential when one deals with rotational molding process.
Thermoplastics, from the different range of plastics are typically preferred for
rotational molding process, and most of them are polyethylene. Linear low-density
polyethylene (LLDPE) is largely utilized for this technique as it provides different
favorable properties like low shear sensitivity and required fluidity [16–18]. But the
mechanical properties of these polymers are fairly low, and rotomolded goods, on
the other hand, find large-scale applications in the areas where strength is given full
consideration like battle tanks, kayaks, etc. [19–21]. In the past decades, an ample
amount of noteworthy work has been reported in the field of rotational molding, in
order to address the limitations associated with it. Various experiments have been
outlined based on adding fillers or additives with the base resin aiming the enhancement of mechanical properties in the rotomolded product. The numerous methods
that researchers have developed in recent years till date include the blend or composite
preparation utilizing particle reinforcement, nano fillers or short fibers [22–27]. For
every research linked with utilizing fiber addition to prepare composites, there are
various constraints that make the blend unsuitable to some extent for rotomoldability.
These restraints can be either in terms of material processibility or mechanical characterization of the end product. For instance, particle reinforcing with the base resin
increases brittleness in the fabricated part. Moreover, the concentration of additives
beyond a particular percentage even increases the viscosity of the blend, making it
unsuitable in terms of fluidity [21]. Further, the resin and additives usually have differences in the density, which agglomerates the heavier particle on the outer surface of
the product deteriorating its mechanical property. Work related to the incorporation
of fillers has therefore been largely on the research mode since ages to satisfy the
required strength requirement in the end product.
For the particular study, an endeavor has been made to investigate an appropriate mixing of glass fiber being concentrated with linear low-density polyethylene
(LLDPE) so as to achieve necessary strength of rotomolded product for further analysis. For proper mixing and to get an optimum blend, characterization of glass fiber
(GF) mixed with LLDPE is carried out using Fourier transform infrared technique
(FTIR). From the analysis, perfect mixing between both the materials is acquired.
N. Gupta and PL. Ramkumar
development associated with each process [5–7]. For example, undercut is a limitation when subjected to injection molding, whereas an appropriate melting of plastic
material becomes mandate when users switch to thermoforming process. Various
other such drawbacks are associated with distinguished techniques [8–10]. Rotational
molding process has proved its capability in overcoming all such limitations. Therefore, it has been augmented among researchers in the last few decades. Rotational
molding is a method that typically fabricates thermoplastics and is majorly utilized in
preparing large overhead tanks. A rotomolded product may have undercuts, inserts,
and flat surfaces that become strenuous to achieve in other forms of plastic manufacturing process [11]. Even the steps involved while dealing rotational molding process
is equitably easy. Disparate materials can be employed for this purpose, still a classic
material variation is needed in this technique in order to increase the strength of
the end product [12–15]. Consequent to this, an appropriate selection of material
becomes essential when one deals with rotational molding process.
Thermoplastics, from the different range of plastics are typically preferred for
rotational molding process, and most of them are polyethylene. Linear low-density
polyethylene (LLDPE) is largely utilized for this technique as it provides different
favorable properties like low shear sensitivity and required fluidity [16–18]. But the
mechanical properties of these polymers are fairly low, and rotomolded goods, on
the other hand, find large-scale applications in the areas where strength is given full
consideration like battle tanks, kayaks, etc. [19–21]. In the past decades, an ample
amount of noteworthy work has been reported in the field of rotational molding, in
order to address the limitations associated with it. Various experiments have been
outlined based on adding fillers or additives with the base resin aiming the enhancement of mechanical properties in the rotomolded product. The numerous methods
that researchers have developed in recent years till date include the blend or composite
preparation utilizing particle reinforcement, nano fillers or short fibers [22–27]. For
every research linked with utilizing fiber addition to prepare composites, there are
various constraints that make the blend unsuitable to some extent for rotomoldability.
These restraints can be either in terms of material processibility or mechanical characterization of the end product. For instance, particle reinforcing with the base resin
increases brittleness in the fabricated part. Moreover, the concentration of additives
beyond a particular percentage even increases the viscosity of the blend, making it
unsuitable in terms of fluidity [21]. Further, the resin and additives usually have differences in the density, which agglomerates the heavier particle on the outer surface of
the product deteriorating its mechanical property. Work related to the incorporation
of fillers has therefore been largely on the research mode since ages to satisfy the
required strength requirement in the end product.
For the particular study, an endeavor has been made to investigate an appropriate mixing of glass fiber being concentrated with linear low-density polyethylene
(LLDPE) so as to achieve necessary strength of rotomolded product for further analysis. For proper mixing and to get an optimum blend, characterization of glass fiber
(GF) mixed with LLDPE is carried out using Fourier transform infrared technique
(FTIR). From the analysis, perfect mixing between both the materials is acquired.