Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Vol.13, No.6, 992-996, November, 2007
Optical Transmission of Greenhouse Film Prepared from Composite of Polyethylene and Microsilica
E-mail:
In this work optical and mechanical properties involving transparency, IR absorption and tensile strength of greenhouse films prepared from the composite of polyethylene and micron-sized silica was investigated experimentally. Content of microsilica fillers exhibits significant effects on the IR absorption of the composite greenhouse film while the transparency and tensile strength of the composite films are insignificantly affected by the microsilica. Green bean plantation has been carried out to investigate the performance of the prepared composite film applied for actual plantation. It was found that the composite film with a microsilica content of 6 weight % exhibited the best performance to enhance the green bean growth of almost 2 times higher than the blank sample grown under the ambient condition. In addition, the photooxidation with exposure to the ambient for about 2 months could lead to a significant degradation in the composite film mechanical strength.
- Thomas DK, Developments in polymer stabilization, p.137, Scott G, editor. App. Sci., London (1979)
- Kittas C, Tchamitchian M, Katsoulas N, Karaiskou P, Papaioannou C, Scientia Horticulturae, 30, 110 (2006)
- Briassoulis D, Aristopoulou A, Bonora M, Verlodt I, Biosys. Eng., 131, 88 (2004)
- Dintcheva NT, La Mantia FP, Acierno D, Di Maio L, Camino G, Trotta F, Luda MP, Paci M, Polym. Degrad. Stabil., 141, 72 (2001)
- Garzoli KV, Blackwell J, J. Agri. Eng. Res., 203, 26 (1981)
- Esp E, Salmeron A, Fontecha A, Garcia-Alonso Y, Real AI, J. Plast. Film Sheet., 59, 22 (2006)
- Adam A, Kouider SA, Youssef B, Hamou A, Siater JM, Polym. Test, 834, 24 (2005)
- Hwang YJ, Lee YH, Oh C, Jun YD, Oh SG, J. Ind. Eng. Chem., 12(3), 380 (2006)
- Cemek B, Demir Y, Polym. Test, 284, 24 (2005)
- Papadopoulos AP, Hao XM, Scientia Horticulturae, 165, 70 (1997)