Processed Low NOx Fly Ash as a Filler in Plastics
Affiliation(s)
Institute of Materials Processing Michigan Technological University 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, Michigan 49931-1295.
Institute of Materials Processing Michigan Technological University 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, Michigan 49931-1295.
ABSTRACT
Fly ash generated from low NOx burners at American Electric Power's Glen Lyn facility was beneficiated to remove residual carbon, magnetic particles, and cenospheres. The clean fly ash had a mean particle size of about 30 microns, which is coarser than typical commercial fillers used in plastics. To obtain a finer sized fly ash, air classification was used to separate the clean fly ash into its coarse and fine fractions. The resulting fine fraction had a mean particle size of 4.13 microns and accounted for 16.7 wt% of the total clean ash. The brightness of the clean ash was also less than that of typical commercial fillers and efforts to improve the brightness proved unsuccessful. The resulting fine ash was then coated with a silane coupling agent and then added to polypropylene, low density polyethylene, and high density polyethylene at various levels. These mixtures were in turn used to make tensile test specimens by injection molding. For comparison, a commercial CaCO3 filler was also tested under the same conditions. The mechanical properties of these specimens were determined and the results show that the polymers containing fly ash as a filler have equivalent properties to those same polymers when commercial fillers are used in most cases.
Fly ash generated from low NOx burners at American Electric Power's Glen Lyn facility was beneficiated to remove residual carbon, magnetic particles, and cenospheres. The clean fly ash had a mean particle size of about 30 microns, which is coarser than typical commercial fillers used in plastics. To obtain a finer sized fly ash, air classification was used to separate the clean fly ash into its coarse and fine fractions. The resulting fine fraction had a mean particle size of 4.13 microns and accounted for 16.7 wt% of the total clean ash. The brightness of the clean ash was also less than that of typical commercial fillers and efforts to improve the brightness proved unsuccessful. The resulting fine ash was then coated with a silane coupling agent and then added to polypropylene, low density polyethylene, and high density polyethylene at various levels. These mixtures were in turn used to make tensile test specimens by injection molding. For comparison, a commercial CaCO3 filler was also tested under the same conditions. The mechanical properties of these specimens were determined and the results show that the polymers containing fly ash as a filler have equivalent properties to those same polymers when commercial fillers are used in most cases.
Cite this paper
X. Huang, J. Hwang and J. Gillis, "Processed Low NOx Fly Ash as a Filler in Plastics," Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering, Vol. 2 No. 1, 2003, pp. 11-31. doi: 10.4236/jmmce.2003.21002.
X. Huang, J. Hwang and J. Gillis, "Processed Low NOx Fly Ash as a Filler in Plastics," Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering, Vol. 2 No. 1, 2003, pp. 11-31. doi: 10.4236/jmmce.2003.21002.
References
[1] C. Plowman and N.B. Shaw, "Use of Pulverized Fuel Ash as a Filler in Plastics," AshTech'84 - Conference Proceedings, London, England: Central Electricity Generating Board, 1984, pp.663-670; Conference: 2. International Conference on Ash Technology and Marketing, London, UK, 17 Sept. 1984. [2] G. J. Jablonshi, "Fly Ash Utilization as an Extender in Plastics and Paints," Proceedings: Eighth International Ash Utilization Symposium: Volume 2; Oct. 1987, pp. 38.1-38.15; Availability: NTIS, PC A20-Research Reports Center, Box 50490, Palo Alto, CA. [3] X. Huang, J.Y. Hwang and R. Tieder, "Clean Fly Ash as Fillers in Plastics," Proceedings: 11th International Symposium on Use and Management of Coal Combustion By-Products (CCBs), Volume 1, January 1995, pp33-1. [4] Final Report - Utilization of Low NOx Coal Combustion By-Products. Houghton, Mich.: Institute of Materials Processing at Michigan Technological University, funded by U.S. Department of Energy, PRDA No. DE-RA21-93MC30056, 1996.
[1] C. Plowman and N.B. Shaw, "Use of Pulverized Fuel Ash as a Filler in Plastics," AshTech'84 - Conference Proceedings, London, England: Central Electricity Generating Board, 1984, pp.663-670; Conference: 2. International Conference on Ash Technology and Marketing, London, UK, 17 Sept. 1984. [2] G. J. Jablonshi, "Fly Ash Utilization as an Extender in Plastics and Paints," Proceedings: Eighth International Ash Utilization Symposium: Volume 2; Oct. 1987, pp. 38.1-38.15; Availability: NTIS, PC A20-Research Reports Center, Box 50490, Palo Alto, CA. [3] X. Huang, J.Y. Hwang and R. Tieder, "Clean Fly Ash as Fillers in Plastics," Proceedings: 11th International Symposium on Use and Management of Coal Combustion By-Products (CCBs), Volume 1, January 1995, pp33-1. [4] Final Report - Utilization of Low NOx Coal Combustion By-Products. Houghton, Mich.: Institute of Materials Processing at Michigan Technological University, funded by U.S. Department of Energy, PRDA No. DE-RA21-93MC30056, 1996.