ALIFF HISYAM BIN A RAZAK

I am a senior lecturer and researcher from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, which is located in Pagoh-Muar, Malaysia. Currently, I teach chemical engineering subjects which are thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. My research interests are particularly in elastomer, adhesive material, polymeric-based surfactant for pharma/cosme-ceutical products, composite polymer material, bio-based material, and safety and health I possess a professional certification as Professional Technologist (Ts) under Malaysia Board of Technology Malaysia (MBOT). In addition, I am certified in Safety and Health Officer (SHO) and Professional Halal Executive certifications.

Currently, I have two postgraduate students who are doing their master project in biodegradable material and safety.

EDUCATION

1) Degree in Chemical Engineering - University of Minnesota (U of M), Minneapolis, USA.
2) Master in Chemical Engineering - National University of Malaysia (UKM), Bangi, Malaysia
3) PhD in Chemical Engineering (Polymer) - Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Polymer material, composite material, elastomer, adhesive polymer, polymer-based surfactant and cosmeceutical product

Scopus Publications

Fluorine-free Superhydrophobic Stearic Acid Modified Kaolin Nanoparticles for Self-cleaning Silicone Rubber Surface
Khoirussolih Aminuddinan, Nor Aini Ijaman, Ahmad Faez Abdul Khalil, Mohd Haiqal Abd Aziz, Aliff Hisyam A Razak, Mohd Ridhwan Adam
Malaysian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, 2024
This study introduces fluorine-free nanoparticles to innovate superhydrophobic surfaces for self-cleaning applications, addressing environmental concerns linked to fluorine-based compounds. The method involves modifying kaolin nanoparticles with stearic acid and integrating them into silicone. The surface of stearic acid-kaolin nanoparticles exhibits a contact angle of 149.4° ± 3.3, while the resulting composite film exhibits a contact angle of 113.9° ± 5.8. The surface roughness of the silicone rubber surfaces increases proportionally with higher concentrations of stearic acid-modified kaolin nanoparticles. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) analysis demonstrates the successful coverage of kaolin nanoparticles-stearic acid on resulting film. Self-cleaning performance is evaluated by simulating the deposition of graphite powder onto the surfaces and subsequently observing the behaviour when water is dropped on them revealing their remarkable self-cleaning properties.
Confinement of the Permittivity Enhancing Fillers in Bacterial Cellulose for Dielectric Elastomer Applications
Nur Syafiqah Binti Ismail, Syed Muhammad Aiman Bin Syed Mohd Hakhiri, Siti Noor Hidayah Binti Mustapha, Aliff Hisyam Bin Bin A Razak, Mohd. Hairul Bin Ab. Rahim, Shamsul Bin Zakaria
Solid State Phenomena, 2024
The electromechanical performances of dielectric elastomers were investigated after the incorporation of the confined permittivity enhancing fillers in bacteria cellulose (BC) into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films. The purpose of this study is to investigate the capability of BC as a confinement matrix for the permittivity enhancing fillers to overcome the low relative permittivity and at the same time to increase the softness of the PDMS films. The metal oxide and silicone oil were confined in BC before being physically mixed with PDMS at different percentages. The results showed that the confined TiO2-BC increased the relative permittivity and at the same time maintained the softness of the PDMS films to some extent. In addition to that, by adding confined silicone oil-BC into the PDMS films, this PDMS based dielectric elastomer (DE) becomes even softer.
Evaluation of Natural Rubber Latex Film Consisting Cassava Peel as A Bio-Based Filler for Biodegradable Gloves
Nur Syafikah Mohd Anuar, Aliff Hisyam A. Razak, Wendy Yen Wee Ni, Mahiratul Husna Mustaffar, Azrin Hani Abdul Rashid, Sity Aishah Mansur, Nor Faizah Razali
Aip Conference Proceedings, 2022
Environmental pollution caused by the accumulation of natural and synthetic rubber gloves from various industries has led to searching for alternative method which is production of biodegradable glove. In order to achieve the desired biodegradable properties, incorporation of bio-based fillers into rubber latex can be a promising alternative. Organic starch extracted from cassava peel using filtration technique is investigated in this study as an alternative to biodegradable-based filler. Waste from cassava peel act as a sustainable ingredient for biodegradable glove due to abundant use in local crisp production. In this study, natural rubber latex containing cassava-peel starch were successfully prepared by varying starch loading at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%. The surface morphology, tensile stress and strain, elongation at break, chemical resistance analysis and weight loss percentage after soil burial for one month were investigated. This study verifies that 20% cassava starch loading in natural rubber latex indicates the optimum condition with tensile strength at 12.082 MPa, elongation at break at 325.37mm, 7.23% of weight loss after soil burial and weight change after chemical resistance test for strong acid and alkali at -0.85% and 3.20% respectively. Thus, 20% cassava starch loading is the optimum filler loadings with a good filler dispersion in rubber matrix.
Bacillus megaterium: a Potential and an Efficient Bio-Degrader of Polystyrene
Tan Kian Meng, Angzzas Sari Binti Mohd Kassim, Aliff Hisyam Bin A Razak, Noor Akhmazillah Binti Mohd Fauzi
Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 2021
HIGHLIGHTS Bacillus megaterium strain was first reported contributed in polystyrene biodegradation. Viability of Bacillus megaterium utilizing polystyrene was confirmed by TTC reduction test. FESEM showed localized degradation on PS-film surrounding the bacterial cells in the biofilm. FTIR showed changes in chemical structure of the PS-film.
Isolation and identification of polystyrene degrading bacteria from zophobas morio’s gut
Kian Meng TAN, Noor Akhmazillah MOHD FAUZI, Angzzas Sari MOHD KASSIM, Aliff Hisyam A RAZAK, Kamarul Rahim KAMARUDIN
Walailak Journal of Science and Technology, 2021
Polystyrene (PS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) are commodity plastics widely used in many industries. The increase of PS in the environment causes ecological threats. It has been observed that the beetle larvae feed on plastic packages, and this has drawn the researcher’s attention towards the complex system within the larvae’s gut where relationships between fungi, bacteria, and the insect host have been established. The objective of this study is to isolate and identify PS-degrading microbe from super worms. The study used polystyrene as a sole carbon source to isolate the positive PS-degrading bacteria. Five bacterial colonies which showed positive growth on the modified PS-agar plate were isolated. All five colonies of the PS-degrading bacterial isolates were identified using partial 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed a close relationship between Bacillus aryabhattai and Bacillus megaterium strains. An examination via biochemical studies for distinction was implemented further. Based on the morphological characterization and taxonomic method, the isolates were identified as Bacillus megaterium. The isolates' viability was tested using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), and positive results were obtained with red-colored insoluble triphenylformazan (TPF) formed within 5 to 7 days. The isolation and identification of these bacteria from Zophobas morio’s gut may provide a promising source of a plastic degrading enzyme that can be further studied and manipulated in developing enzymatic biodegradation in plastic waste management.
Silicone dielectric elastomers with incorporation of different types of filler as smart materials for wave energy harvester
Aliff Hisyam, Aliff Hisyam A Razak, Mohd Khairul Nizam, Muhammad Abidi, Ridzuan Haziq, et al.
International Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering Research, 2020
The combustion of fossil fuel is one of major human activities which produces greenhouse gases i.e. CO 2 and CO that leads to a climate change. As solution to fossil fuel energy, renewable energy e.g. wave energy, solar power, wind energy and hydropower are seek as alternative resources. Among of these renewable energies, wave energy is extensively studied due to the abundance of energy and easy access to countries surrounded by ocean. When utilising wave energy harvester, silicone dielectric elastomer (DE) with high tensile strength, high strain, enhanced permittivity and high electrical breakdown is sought. In this study, silicone DE films were prepared by incorporating different fillers e.g. chemical synthesized silica, chitosan and cellulose to utilise for wave energy harvester. These fillers are incorporated to enhance the network of silicone DE and hence these fillers act as reinforcing agents. Reinforcing agent fillers may cause high tensile strength without compromising inherent softness of elastomer. Utilising sustainable fillers i.e. chitosan and cellulose, which are obtained from seafood animal shells and plants, respectively, may minimises waste generated from food industries and restaurants. Herein, silicone DE films containing fillers i.e. chemical synthesized silica, cellulose, chitosan were successfully prepared by varying filler loadings at 1wt %, 3wt% and 5wt %. Heptane was used as solvent in silicone mixture for the desired viscosity at concentration of 55%, 60% and 65%. Surface morphology, stress at break (), strain at break (%) and Young's Modulus (Y) of prepared silicone DE films were investigated. Tensile testing verifies that film with 1wt % cellulose and 65% solvent is the optimum, which possesses strain at break of 693 % and stress at break of 3.26 MPa. High stress and strain at break are desired for silicone DE generator due to elastic but at the same time maintaining the strength of elastomer.
Silicone elastomers with covalently incorporated aromatic voltage stabilisers
A. H. A. Razak, A. L. Skov
Rsc Advances, 2017
When optimising dielectric elastomers (DEs) a conflict exists, namely that for large achievable actuation strains softness is required, but with increased softness electrical breakdown strength decreases.
Voltage-stabilised elastomers with increased relative permittivity and high electrical breakdown strength by means of phase separating binary copolymer blends of silicone elastomers
Aliff Hisyam A Razak, Liyun Yu, Anne Ladegaard Skov
Rsc Advances, 2017
Increased electro-mechanical properties of silicone-based dielectric elastomers are achieved by means of the addition of so-called voltage-stabilisers prepared from PDMS–PPMS copolymers.
Mechanically Compliant Electrodes and Dielectric Elastomers from PEG-PDMS Copolymers
Aliff Hisyam A. Razak, Frederikke Bahrt Madsen, Anne Ladegaard Skov
MRS Advances, 2016
Soft conducting elastomers have been prepared from polydimethylsiloxane-polyethyleneglycol (PDMS-PEG) copolymer and surfactant-stabilized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The copolymer was chain-extended with PDMS of molecular weight 17.2 kg mol -1 in order to obtain a crosslinkable PDMS with molecular weight around 20 – 30 kg mol -1 . MWCNTs were treated with surfactant and sonicated for better dispersion in the polymer matrix. The conductivity and mechanical properties of conducting elastomers were thoroughly investigated including stress and strain at break. The developed conducting elastomers showed high conductivity combined with inherent softness. The high conductivity and softness, PDMS-PEG copolymers with incorporated MWCNTs hold great promises as compliant and highly stretchable electrodes for stretchable devices such as electro-mechanical transducers.
Enhancement of dielectric permittivity by incorporating PDMS-PEG multiblock copolymers in silicone elastomers
Aliff Hisyam A. Razak, Peter Szabo, Anne Ladegaard Skov
Rsc Advances, 2015
A silicone elastomer from PDMS-PEG multiblock copolymer has been prepared by use of silylation reactions for both copolymer preparation and crosslinking.

RESEARCH OUTPUTS (PATENTS, SOFTWARE, PUBLICATIONS, PRODUCTS)

Cosmeceutical product, adhesive polymer, bioactive-compound patch, hydrogel patch, biodegradable rubber, and safety qualitative study and material.

Industry, Institute, or Organisation Collaboration

Nasuha Herbs (Pagoh, Muar, Malaysia), N&E Innovations Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

Waste water treatment