(177aj) Studying Effect of Asphaltene Filler on the Mechanical and Physicochemical Properties of Poly(vinyl) Chloride (PVC) Polymers

In this study, the novel composite materials of Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymer with asphaltene were prepared and characterized. Asphaltenes are concentrated in heavy petroleum residues and are the most troublesome fractions in petroleum cracking and refining processes. The PVC composites were prepared using the melt-mixing technique with varying amounts of asphaltenes and functionalized with PVC polymer. The physicochemical structures, crystallinity and morphology of these materials were investigated using FTIR spectroscopy, XRD diffraction and SEM measurements. Their thermal properties were measured with DSC, their thermal degradation characteristics with TGA. Better dispersion is achieved at relatively low percentages of asphaltenes. It was found that the optimum amount of asphaltenes to result in composites with good dispersion, enhanced thermal stability, and tensile strength was around 1 wt% for functionalized asphaltene and 2 wt% for asphaltene. Therefore, a new use of a by-product of the petroleum refinery industry is being proposed resulting in improved properties of a commodity polymer.

The author would like to acknowledge the support provided by the Chemistry department at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, for carrying out this work.