Nutritional value and functional properties of a hydrocolloidal soybean and oat blend for use in Asian foods

A rheological study was conducted to determine the functional properties of a hydrocolloidal blend of soybean flour and oat bran, called Soytrim. Soytrim was prepared by thermomechanically processing soybean and oat products. After finding that Soytrim had similar rheological characteristics to coconut and soybean milk products, two studies were conducted to investigate its use in improving the nutritional value of some Asian foods by reducing the saturated fat content and increasing the soluble fibre content. In the first study, four Thai foods were prepared using a 60 g kg^?1 Soytrim suspension to replace some of the coconut milk, with subsequent sensory, chemical and physical analysis. A 750 g kg^?1 substitution of Soytrim for coconut milk in green chicken curry gave a 74.7% reduction in saturated fat content and a 142.8% increase in soluble fibre content. Total substition of Soytrim for coconut milk in fermented soybean dip gave a 96.2% reduction in saturated fat and a 10.6% increase in soluble fibre. Total substitution in mungbean conserve gave a 97.0% reduction in saturated fat and a 19.0% increase in soluble fibre. A 500 g kg^?1 substitution of soytrim for coconut milk in sweetened condensed cassava paste gave a 48.7% reduction in saturated fat and 37.5% increase in soluble fibre. Sensory evaluation of these foods revealed no distinguishable changes in acceptability at the 500 g kg^?1 replacement level, but unacceptability with total substitution. In the second study, more widely consumed Asian foods, soymilk and tofu, were combined with Soytrim. These foods could also be made more nutritious when combined with Soytrim at rates of substitution up to 300 g kg^?1, with satisfactory acceptability at this replacement level. In all the Asian foods studied, the hydrocolloidal blend of soybean flour and oat bran could add nutritional value by reducing saturated fat and increasing soluble fibre. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Origin of phase shift in atomic force microscopic investigation of the surface morphology of NR/NBR blend film

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to study the morphology and surface properties of NR/NBR blend. Blends at 1/3, 1/1 and 3/1 weight ratios were prepared in benzene and formed film by casting. AFM phase images of these blends in tapping mode displayed islands in the sea morphology or matrix-dispersed structures. For blend 1/3, NR formed dispersed phase while in blends 1/1 and 3/1 phase inversion was observed. NR showed higher phase shift angle in AFM phase imaging for all blends. This circumstance was governed by adhesion energy hysteresis between the device tip and the rubber surface rather than surface stiffness of the materials, as proved by force distance measurements in the AFM contact mode.     

Physico‐mechanical properties of natural rubber sheets coated by polyethyleneimine‐functionalized poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles

The surface modification of sulfur‐prevulcanized natural rubber (SPNR) sheets by the polyethyleneimine‐functionalized‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA/PEI) nanoparticles was successfully performed via a simple dipping method. The percentage of surface coverage (C_s) of the nanoparticles on SPNR sheets was found to be affected by a variation of nanoparticle latex concentrations and immersion times. The adsorption isotherm of PMMA/PEI nanoparticles on SPNR sheets was analyzed and found to fit well to the Freundlich model. After coating, it can be observed that the presence of PMMA/PEI nanoparticles on SPNR surface had no effects over the SPNR mechanical properties e.g., tensile strength, elongation at break, and hardness. On the other hand, the coated SPNR sheets showed a reduction of surface friction coefficients and interfacial adhesion up to 45 and 59%, respectively. Furthermore, PMMA/PEI nanoparticles adsorbed on the SPNR surface was subjected to stretching and wearing conditions, and found to be stable for at least seven stretching and wearing cycles. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Comparative flexural performance of compacted cement-fiber-sand

This research investigates the influence of seven different fiber types on the flexural performance of compacted cement-fiber-sand (CCFS) with four fiber fractions (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% by volume). The seven types of fibers are 12?mm polypropylene, 19?mm polypropylene, 40?mm polypropylene, 55?mm polypropylene, 33?mm steel, 50?mm steel and 58?mm polyolefin fibers. The overall CCFS performance was divided into seven sub design performance indicators: (1) peak strength; (2) peak strength ratio; (3) residual strength ratio; (4) ductility index; (5) toughness; (6) equivalent flexural strength ratio; and (7) maximum crack width. The interaction mechanism of the fiber/cement-sand interface was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Finally, the effectiveness of each fiber type was compared and rated in terms of the overall performance. The results show that the 50?mm steel fiber provided the best overall sub performance, resulting in an excellent overall flexural performance; in comparison, the 12?mm polypropylene fiber exhibited very poor performance. However, the 19?mm polypropylene and 33?mm steel fiber specimens provided very good and good overall performances, respectively. The nature of the fiber surface and the fiber length affects the overall performance of CCFS. The surface of the steel fibers, compared to the other synthetic fiber types, is more hydrophilic and is more compacted in a cemented-sand matrix without separation of the interfacial zone, providing the best overall flexural performance.     

Preparation and characterizations of direct methanol fuel cell membrane from sulfonated polystyrene/poly(vinylidene fluoride) blend compatibilized with poly(styrene)‐b‐poly(methyl methacrytlate) block copolymer

This work concerned a development of sulfonated polystyrene (SPS)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) blend membrane for use as an electrolyte in a direct methanol fuel cell. The aim of this work was to investigate effects of the blend ratio on properties of the blend membranes. The partially SPS with various degrees of substitution were prepared by using propionyl sulfate as a sulfonating agent. After that, the optimum SPS was selected for further blending with PVDF, at various blend ratios. Poly(styrene)–poly(methyl methacrytlate) block copolymer (PS‐b‐PMMA), used as a compatibilizer, was synthesized via a controlled radical polymerization through the use of an iniferter. Thermal behaviors, water uptake, proton conductivity, and methanol permeability of various blend membranes were determine by using TGA, gravimetry, impedance analyzer, and gas chromatography, respectively. From the results, it was found that, water uptake and methanol permeability of the blend membranes tended to increase with the weight ratio of SPS. It was also found that the blend membranes were incompatible, especially those containing more than 40 wt % of the SPS. However, by adding 5 wt % of the block copolymer, the blend became more compatible. Mechanical strength, proton conductivity, and resistance to methanol crossover of the blend membrane remarkably increased after the compatibilization. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008