A Review: Metal Filled Thermoplastic Composites

ABSTRACT

In current years, metal-filled thermoplastic composites have gained increasing consideration due to their superior properties such as high fatigue and fire resistance, high impact damage, high corrosion resistance as well as low environmental degradation. The combination of the favorable characteristics of metal and thermoplastic making them an ideal candidate in the various advanced application including automotive, aerospace, and electronic equipment. The final properties of metal-filled thermoplastic composites are influenced by few factors such as porosity, distribution, shape, and morphology of metal particles. This review article provides some important information. First, this article covers the information on structure and types of thermoplastic. There are three types of thermoplastics: standard thermoplastic, engineering thermoplastic, and high standard thermoplastics. Second, the periodic table of metals and nonmetals elements as well as their properties are covered. Third, properties of metal-filled thermoplastic composites as well as packing arrangement distribution of metal-filler particles in polymer matrix were discussed. Moreover, preparation, mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties as well as the application of metal-filled thermoplastic composites in various industries are covered in this article.

KEYWORDS:

• Metal-filled thermoplastic composites
• mechanical properties
• thermal properties
• electrical properties

Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to the Malaysian Ministry of Education for awarding us a Research University Grant (grant no. 1001.PBAHAN.8014150) and Universiti Sains Malaysia for making this study possible.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no competing conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Research University Grant (grant no. 1001.PBAHAN.8014150).

Notes on contributors

Nor Fasihah Zaaba

Nor Fasihah Zaaba is currently a research assistant at Universiti Sains Malaysia. The author has received his Bachelor’s Degree in Polymer Engineering from Universiti Sains Malaysia on October, 2010 and pursued his PhD in Polymer Engineering from Universiti Sains Malaysia on June 2013. The author had gained experiences as part time lecturer and post doctoral fellow for almost 3 years and has published about 20 ISI journals.

Hanafi Ismail

Hanafi Ismail is currently a Professor in the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and is appointed as Director of Research and Innovation at USM. The author has received his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Process Technology from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on August, 1985 and pursued his PhD in Polymer Engineering from Lougborough University of Technology, UK on Dec 1994. His area of interest are polymer science and engineering specifically on rubber, plastic, rubber-plastic blends, thermoplastic elastomer, polymer recycling and polymer composite. Prof Hanafi has published of more than 800 of research articles in preferred journals, chapter in books, involved in substantial exhibitions and has received prestige awards, for instance Excellent Research Award and Gold Award by Croation Inventors Network (2019), Gold Medal at the 3rd International Invention Innovation Competition (2018), Scientific Recognition Award by the European Exhibition of Creativity and Innovation (2018), and World Golden Scientist and Outstanding Leaders of Global Inventors (2017). His current h-index is 54 (Scopus) and 64 (Google Scholar) with total citation of 19492 as updated by Jan 2021.

Alaa Muhsin Saeed

Alaa Muhsin Saeed is currently post doctoral fellow at Universiti Sains Malaysia.