Synergistic effects by compatibilization and annealing treatment of metallocene polyethylene/PLA blends

The properties of metallocene polyethylene (mPE)/polylactic acid (PLA) bio‐based blends containing an ethylene‐glycidyl methacrylate‐vinyl acetate (EGMA‐VA) compatibilizer, with or without the annealing effect of PLA were investigated. The results from SEM (Scanning electron microscope) morphology observation revealed that the dispersed PLA particles sizes within the mPE matrix tended to decrease with the added compatibilizer due to the enhanced interfacial interaction. DSC (Differential scanning calorimetry) and XRD (X‐ray diffractometer) results indicated that the addition of the compatibilizer completely hindered the cold crystallization and rearrangement crystallization of PLA, even though the additional annealing effect tended to increase the crystallization of PLA. Tensile test results showed the synergistic effects by compatibilization and annealing treatment improved the tensile strength and Young's modulus, up to 38 % and 62 % increase, respectively. With the incorporation of the compatibilizer, the viscosity increased and reached the highest level among all neat resins and blends, which was attributed to the enhanced interfacial interaction between mPE and PLA. Hopefully, the incorporated bio‐based PLA materials could be helpful in reducing the use of petroleum‐based materials and are beneficial to the environment in terms of the sustainable development concern. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2399–2409, 2013     

Calcium phosphate bioceramics synthesized from eggshell powders through a solid state reaction

Everyday millions of tons of eggshells are produced as biowaste around the world. Most of this waste is disposed of in landfills without any pretreatment. Eggshells in landfills produce odors and promote microbial growth as they biodegrade. The present invention provides an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective method of producing calcium phosphate bioceramics (hydroxyapatite or tricalcium phosphate) from eggshell waste. In this investigation, heat treatment produced solid state reactions between eggshell powders and dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (CaHPO₄·2H₂O, DCPD) or calcium pyrophosphate (Ca₂P₂O₇). When eggshell powders (CaO) and DCPD were heat treated at 1150 °C for 3 h, only a single hydroxyapatite (HA) phase was found; no diffraction peaks of starting materials and no β-TCP were observed. The XRD patterns of the product fabricated from raw eggshell powders (CaCO₃) and Ca₂P₂O₇ heat treated at 1100 °C for 3 h showed that almost only pure β-TCP remained with a trace amount of HA. The calcium phosphate ceramic synthesized from eggshell powders contains several important trace elements such as Na, Mg and Sr.     

Rigid polyurethane foams made from high viscosity soy‐polyols

This study investigated the physical properties of water‐blown rigid polyurethane (PU) foams made from VORANOL®490 (petroleum‐based polyether polyol) mixed with 0–50% high viscosity (13,000–31,000 cP at 22°C) soy‐polyols. The density of these foams decreased as the soy‐polyol percentage increased. The compressive strength decreased, decreased and then increased, or remained unchanged and then increased with increasing soy‐polyol percentage depending on the viscosity of the soy‐polyol. Foams made from high viscosity (21,000–31,000 cP) soy‐polyols exhibited similar or superior density‐compressive strength properties to the control foam made from 100% VORNAOL® 490. The thermal conductivity of foams containing soy‐polyols was slightly higher than the control foam. The maximal foaming temperatures of foams slightly decreased with increasing soy‐polyol percentage. Micrographs of foams showed that they had many cells in the shape of sphere or polyhedra. With increasing soy‐polyol percentage, the cell size decreased, and the cell number increased. Based on the analysis of isocyanate content and compressive strength of foams, it was concluded that rigid PU foams could be made by replacing 50% petroleum‐based polyol with a high viscosity soy‐polyol resulting in a 30% reduction in the isocyanate content. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Synthesis of poly(lactic acid)‐based polyurethanes

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable aliphatic polyester, but its brittleness makes it unsuitable for many packaging and appliance applications. The goal of the work reported was to create novel poly(ester urethane)s that incorporate biodegradable poly(lactic acid) diols (PLA‐OHs) and good mechanical properties of increased molecular weight via crosslinked network formation for engineering plastics applications. Three kinds of polyols (PLA‐OHs, PLA‐OHs/poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol or PLA‐OHs/poly(butylene adipate) glycol (PBA)) and two kinds of diisocyanates (4,4‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) or toluene 2,4‐diisocyanate (TDI)) were chosen for the soft and hard segments to compare their mechanical properties. In addition, 1,4‐butanediol and trimethylolpropane were each used as chain extender agents. Results showed the PLA/PBA‐polyurethanes (PLA/PBA‐PUs) of the MDI series and the PLA/PBA‐PUs of the TDI series had improved thermal stability and enhanced mechanical properties. Degradation behavior showed the PLA‐based polyurethanes could be degraded in phosphate‐buffered saline solution and enzyme solution. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation and electro‐optical behaviors of polymer stabilized liquid crystal cells with chiral matrices derived from (−)‐camphor

Novel chiral monomers derived from (?)‐camphor and difunctional monomers with biphenyl segments were synthesized. The molecular structures were identified using FTIR, NMR, and elemental analyses. Surface pretreated polymer stabilized cholesteric texture (PSCT) cells with various chiral nematic components were prepared. According to theory, they are kind of reversed mode PSCT cells. The helical twisting power (HTP) and pitches of the PSCT cells were evaluated. The polarized optical microscopic (POM) textures and the dependence of the optical properties on the applied voltage of the PSCT cells were investigated. The reflection band of the PSCT cells before and after UV irradiation were estimated. A blue shift of selective reflection of the PSCT cells was obtained after UV irradiation. PSCT cells with various reflecting colors and the dependence of the transmittance of the cells on applied voltage were investigated. Real image recording through a mask as well as the transmittance of PSCT cells controlled by applied voltage were also confirmed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 88–96, 2005     

Corrosion-resistant lightweight metallic bipolar plates for PEM fuel cells

Corrosion resistant treated metal bipolar plates with higher rigidity and electrical conductivity than graphite were developed and tested for PEM fuel cell applications. Six replicas of single cells were used three of which were made of graphite composites bipolar plates and the other three of the treated metallic plates. A Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) with 5.55 cm² active electrode areas, 0.3 mg cm^–2 Pt loading and Nafion membrane 115 was fitted to each cell and operated under identical conditions. The experimental testing was conducted at room temperature (20 °C). The average value of the data obtained for the three graphite cells was plotted. Similarly, the average value of the data obtained for the three treated metal cells was plotted on the same graph for comparison. Generally, the treated metal bipolar plate provided at least 12% saving in hydrogen consumption in comparison to graphite. This is attributed to the lower bulk and surface contact resistance of the metal used in this study in relation to graphite. The results of lifetime testing, conducted at room temperature under variable loading showed no indication of power degradation due to metal corrosion for at least 1500 hours.     

Highly sensitive electrochemical sensor based on zirconium oxide-decorated gold nanoflakes nanocomposite 2,4-dichlorophenol detection

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - In this study, a sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor based on a zirconia oxide-decorated gold nanoflake nanocomposite-modified glassy carbon...     

A continuous ultrasound‐assisted packed‐bed bioreactor for the lipase‐catalyzed synthesis of caffeic acid phenethyl ester

BACKGROUND: The focus of this paper is the ultrasound‐assisted synthesis of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) from caffeic acid and phenyl ethanol in a continuous packed‐bed bioreactor. Immobilized Novozym^® 435 (from Candida antarctica) is used as the catalyst. A three‐level–three‐factor Box–Behnken design and a response surface methodology (RSM) are employed to evaluate the effects of temperature, flow rate, and ultrasonic power on the percentage molar conversion of CAPE. RESULTS: Based on ridge max analysis, it is concluded that the optimum condition for synthesis is reaction temperature 72.66 °C, flow rate 0.046 mL min^?1, and ultrasonic power 1.64 W cm^?2. The expected molar conversion value is 97.84%. An experiment performed under these optimal conditions resulted in a molar conversion of 92.11 ± 0.75%. The enzyme in the bioreactor was found to be stable for at least 6 days. CONCLUSIONS: The lipase‐catalyzed synthesis of CAPE by an ultrasound‐assisted packed‐bed bioreactor uses mild reaction conditions. Enzymatic synthesis of CAPE is suitable for use in the nutraceutical and food production industries. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Coating films prepared by photoreactions of the surface‐modified diamond powder and PET film with a binder agent

The surface‐modified diamond and PET film underwent photopolymerization rapidly with a binder agent to afford coating films of interpenetrating network (IPN) structure. The coating films thus formed exhibit higher tensile strength, thermal stability, and adhesion strength to the PET film. The inert surfaces of pristine diamond (PD) and PET film were modified by different chemicals and procedures to introduce epoxide and methacryloyl groups, respectively, on their surfaces. A coating agent consisting of an epoxide group containing modified diamond (called ED), a binder agent, and photoinitiators was prepared. After applying the coating agent to the substrate (a glass plate or a methacryloyl group containing PET film, MMA‐PET) and degassing under reduced pressure, the thin film of the coating agent was exposed to UV light (λ_max; 365 nm) at room temperature to yield a coating film of IPN‐structure. The tensile strength and thermal properties of the ED‐containing free coating film (called free film) increased with the amount of ED embedded, whereas the strength of the PD‐containing free film decreased with the amount of PD embedded. The adhesion strength of the coating film on the MMA‐PET improved significantly by the free radical polymerization of the methacryloyl groups on the MMA‐PET and the acrylate resin in the binder agent. The surface photoreactions of ED and MMA‐PET with the binder agent were confirmed by modeling. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011