Morphology and mechanical properties of polypropylene/high‐impact polystyrene blends from postconsumer plastic waste

The compatibilizing effect of the triblock copolymer poly(styrene‐b‐ethylene‐co‐butylene‐b‐styrene) (SEBS) on the morphological and mechanical properties of virgin and recycled polypropylene (PP)/high‐impact polystyrene (HIPS) blends was studied, with the properties optimized for rigid composite films. The components of the blend were obtained from municipal plastic waste, PP being acquired from mineral water bottles (PP_b) and HIPS from disposable cups. These materials were preground, washed only with water, dried with hot air, and ground again (PP_b) or agglutinated (HIPS). Blends with three different weight ratios of PP_b and HIPS (6:1, 6:2, and 6:3) were prepared, and three different concentrations of SEBS (5, 6, and 7 wt %) were used for investigations of its compatibilizing effect. Scanning electron microscopy showed that SEBS reduced the diameter of dispersed HIPS particles in the globular and fibril shapes and improved the adhesion between the disperse phase and the matrix. However, SEBS interactions with PP_b and HIPS influenced the mechanical properties of the compatibilized PP_b/HIPS/SEBS blends. An adequate composition of PP/HIPS, for both virgin and recycled blends, for applications in composite films with characteristics similar to those of synthetic paper was obtained with a minimal amount of SEBS and a maximal HIPS/PP ratio in the range of concentrations studied. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 2861–2867, 2003     

Nanofabrication of hybrid nanomaterials: Macroscopically aligned nanoparticles pattern via directed self-assembly of block copolymers

Periodic hybrid nanostructured materials based on aligned inorganic nanoparticles within self-assembled copolymer matrixes aimed to harness the collective properties of generated functional nanomaterials. The nanoparticles are desirable for their useful magnetic, optical, catalytic, and electronic properties owed to the quantum confinement effect. For instance, gold, palladium and platinum as nanoparticles, have shown significant change in the physiochemical properties in comparison to their bulk materials. If the nanoparticles are aligned into well-defined macroscopic periodic nanostructures in diverse of morphologies, the unique collective properties are significantly enhanced. These unique properties can be transformed to improve the performance of storage media, multi-contact tracks solar panels and optoelectronic devices. Within this review, the nanofabrication tools will be presented as an alternative route to conventional top-down methods for the fabrication of periodic nanostructured hybrid materials. A simple approach is reviewed to fabricate periodic nanostructured hybrid systems based on the directed assembly of inorganic nanoparticles into well-defined periodic three-dimensional nanostructures provided by the self-assembling ability of block copolymers. The fabrications of varieties morphologies and the formation mechanism at different dimensions will be discussed as well as the characterization techniques. Finally, several applications of the proposed hybrid nanostructures are highlighted for the next generation of miniaturized devices.     

Esters from castor oil functionalized with aromatic amines as a potential lubricant

Vegetable oils are very promising alternatives to fossil lubricants due to their abundance, low cost, excellent performance, and environmental friendliness. Due to its multifunctional structure, castor oil is an excellent precursor in the synthesis of new biolubricants. However, it showed poor thermal-oxidative stability and a higher pour point. This study used castor oil fatty acids prepared by transesterification (EHRO), epoxidation (TEPO), and oxirane ring opening with the aromatic amines aniline (ANIL) and p-anisidine (ANIS). The chemical structure of these oils was verified by ¹H and ¹³C NMR analysis, and mass spectrometry. Measurements show that the presence of an aromatic amine increases the viscosity resulting in 172 (ANIL) and 199 (ANIS) cSt at 40°C, but reduces viscosity index to 16 and 1, respectively. In addition, the amine groups can scavenge radicals increasing their thermal and oxidative stability. These products do not oxidize copper, and tribological analysis reveals that ANIS has the lowest torque with wear equivalent to commercial mineral lubricant NH-140.     

Influence of particle size and fluid fraction on rheological and extrusion properties of crosslinked hyaluronic acid hydrogel dispersions

Crosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels are widely used in gel/HA fluid formulations as a viscosupplement to treat joint diseases; thus, it is important to characterize these hydrogels in terms of their particle size and to investigate the effects of the gel/fluid mixtures on their rheological properties and extrusion force. Hydrogels previously crosslinked with divinyl sulfone were sheared in an Ultra‐Turrax unit to produce particles with mean diameters ranging from 20 to 200 μm. Hydrogels with 75–100 μm mean diameters were also evaluated in dispersions containing a 20–40% mass fraction of HA fluid. The mean diameters were measured by laser light scattering and the rheological behavior was determined by oscillatory and steady measurements in parallel plate geometry. The HA hydrogels exhibited the typical behavior of so‐called weak gels, as analyzed by the storage and loss moduli G′ and G″, respectively. The viscoelasticity, the viscosity, and the extrusion force increased with the hydrogel particle size. The fluid phase dispersions decreased both moduli. At 40% fluid fraction, the gel characteristics were lost and the dispersion behaved as a fluid. Based on these results, the particle size and HA fluid fraction in hydrogel dispersions may be optimized to develop more efficient viscosupplement formulations. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Benzodioxoles as alternative coinitiators for radical polymerization in a model‐dental adhesive resin

This study evaluated the effectiveness of benzodioxole derivatives as coinitiators of radical polymerization in a model‐dental adhesive resin. To compose the adhesive resin, a monomer mixture based on 50 wt % of Bis‐GMA, 25 wt % of TEGDMA, and 25 wt % of HEMA was used. Camphorquinone (CQ) 1 mol % was used as a photoinitiator to initiate polymerization. 1,3‐Benzodioxole (BDO) and piperonyl alcohol (PA) were used as coinitiators at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 mol % level. In addition, tertiary amine, ethyl 4‐dimethylamino benzoate (EDAB) was used as coinitiator in the control group. Some physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the polymer formed in the experimental adhesives were evaluated using the kinetics of polymerization, sorption and solubility, flexural strength, and elastic modulus tests. The results indicated that BDO and PA were effective coinitiators in the photoinitiator system based on CQ. Comparisons between the benzodioxoles derivative coinitiators and EDAB showed similar performance in the kinetics of polymerization and flexural strength. For water sorption and solubility evaluation, BDO and PA demonstrated significantly more sorption of water and less solubility than the EDAB control group. The findings suggest that BDO and PA were feasible alternatives to conventional amine as coinitiator. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Effects of different surface treatments of zirconia on the bond strength of self-adhesive resinous cement

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different zirconia surface treatments on the bond strength of two self-adhesive resinous cements (SARC).

Methods: Two hundred and eight cylindrical specimens were obtained from Y-TZP zirconia (half with diameter 3.2 mm and half with 4.8 mm). After sintering and polishing, specimens were divided into four groups (n = 26), according to surface treatment: Control (no treatment); Sandblasting (Al₂O₃ particles); Rocatec (Al₂O₃ particles, tribochemical silica coating and silane application); Laser (Nd: YAG laser: 20 Hz, 100 mJ, 0.2 J/cm²). The surface roughness (Ra) was evaluated after the surface treatments, and the groups were divided into two subgroups (n = 13), according to the SARC tested: RelyX U200 and Bifix SE. The 2.2-mm cylinders were bonded to 4.8-mm cylinders and stressed until failure under shear using a universal testing machine. Bond strength and Ra were analyzed using ANOVA, and Tukey’s test (α = 0.05).

Results: Surface treatment was significant (p < 0.0001), but cement type (p = 0.73) was not. Related to roughness, significant differences were found for the treatment type (p < 0.0001), with laser being the treatment with higher Ra values.

Conclusions: Nd:YAG laser produced a rougher surface and a higher bond strength compared with sandblasting, silicatization, and control groups.     

Melatonin-Based Therapeutics for Neuroprotection in Stroke

The present review paper supports the approach to deliver melatonin and to target melatonin receptors for neuroprotection in stroke. We discuss laboratory evidence demonstrating neuroprotective effects of exogenous melatonin treatment and transplantation of melatonin-secreting cells in stroke. In addition, we describe a novel mechanism of action underlying the therapeutic benefits of stem cell therapy in stroke, implicating the role of melatonin receptors. As we envision the clinical entry of melatonin-based therapeutics, we discuss translational experiments that warrant consideration to reveal an optimal melatonin treatment strategy that is safe and effective for human application.     

Carbon nanofibres and activated carbon nanofibres as electrodes in supercapacitors

Carbon nanofibres have been prepared by a floating catalyst procedure at industrial scale in a metallic furnace. The nanofibres (50-500 nm diameter and 5-200 μm length) are grown from the Fe particles used as catalyst. Soot appears together with the carbon nanofibres. The sample has been chemically activated using KOH as activating agent. Scanning electron microscopy has shown a smooth surface for the as-prepared carbon nanofibres but a rough surface for the activated ones. The specific surface area increases from 13 to 212 m²/g due to the activation. The volume of the micropores (in the 1-2 nm range) and the mesopores (2-5 nm range), as deduced by density functional theory methods, also increases after the activation. Electrochemical behaviour of the as-prepared and activated carbon nanofibres has been tested in a supercapacitor at laboratory scale using 6 M KOH aqueous solution as electrolyte. The specific capacitance, which is less than 1 F/g for the as-prepared sample, increase up to ≈60 F/g for the activated sample. Only a slight decrease in capacitance has been observed as the current density increases. Specific power of ≈100 W/kg at specific energy of 1 Wh/kg has been found in some particular cases. We have compared the electrochemical parameters of our activated carbon nanofibres with those of activated carbon nanofibres coming from a commercial sample; the latter was activated by the same way as our sample.     

Polyurethane networks from formiated soy polyols: Synthesis and mechanical characterization

Polyurethanes can be prepared using polyols obtained from vegetable oils in natura, such as castor oil, or from functionalized vegetable oils, such as hydroxylated soybean oil. These polyurethanes have different valuable properties, determined by their chemical composition and cross-linking density. In this study, soy epoxy polyols with different OH contents were prepared through a one-step reaction using the method of in situ performic acid generation. Polyols with OH functionalities from 1.9 to 3.2 were reacted in bulk with different diisocyanates at a NCO/OH molar ratio of 0.8 and 60°C for 24 h. Mechanical properties of the polyurethanes were determined by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, hardness (Shore A), and swelling measurements. Polymer networks with glass-transition temperatures (T _g ) from −13 to 48°C were obtained. We observed that the higher the OH functionality of the polyols, the higher the T _g and cross-linking density of the polyurethane network. The influence of diisocyanate structure (rigid or flexible chain), curing temperature, and curing reaction time on mechanical properties was also investigated.