Patil, A.G.Mahendran, A.SelvaKumar, M.Anandhan, S.2026-02-052019Silicon, 2019, 11, 5, pp. 2241-22511876990Xhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-016-9415-yhttps://idr.nitk.ac.in/handle/123456789/24381Fly ash (FA) obtained from a coal-fired local thermal power station was converted into a nanostructured material by mechano-chemical activation using a high energy planetary ball mill. Contact angle measurements and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the surface modification of mechano-chemically activated FA (MCA-FA). Subsequently, a solution casting method was used to prepare poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix composites with varying amounts of fresh FA and MCA-FA. Mechanical testing results of the composites revealed that incorporation of fresh FA in PVC resulted in a higher tensile strength with brittle failure; addition of MCA-FA to PVC resulted in higher elongation at break values while retaining the ductility of the PVC. We have proposed a plausible mechanism explaining the influence of fresh FA and MCA-FA on the mechanical behavior of these composites. As fresh FA and MCA-FA contain basic oxide materials, they tend to improve the fire retardancy of PVC even at a very small loading. Overall, the nanostructured MCA-FA could find application as a filler in PVC-based products. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.Chemical activationChlorine compoundsContact angleDuctilityFlammabilityFly ashFourier transform infrared spectroscopyNanostructuresPolyvinyl chloridesTensile strengthTensile testingThermoelectric power plantsElongation at breakFTIR spectroscopyMechanical behaviorMechano-chemical activationPlanetary ball millPlausible mechanismsSolution-casting methodThermal power stationsCoal ash