Scientific basis for establishing country greenhouse gas estimates for rice-based agriculture: An Indian case study

A comprehensive scientific assessment of CH₄ budget estimation for Indian rice paddies, based on a decade of measurements in India, is presented. Indian paddy cultivation areas contain soils that have low to medium levels of soil organic carbon. The average seasonally integrated CH₄ flux (E _sif) values calculated from these measurements were 15.3 ± 2.6 g m^–2 for continuously flooded (CF), 6.9 ± 4.3 g m^–2 for intermittently flooded (IF) single aeration (SA) and 2.2 ± 1.5 g m^–2 for IF multiple aeration (MA) rice ecosystems. For CF and IF (MA) rice ecosystems having high soil organic carbon, without organic amendments, the CH₄ flux (E _sif) may be increased by 1.7 times relative to low soil organic carbon, whereas it may enhance by 5.3 for CF if amended organically. Organic amendment and high soil organic carbon paddy areas do not alter the methane budget estimates for India (3.6±1.4 TgY^–1) much, due to their small paddy harvested area. Methane estimated using average emission factors (E _sif) for all paddy water regimes, which include harvested areas having soils with high organic carbon and organic amendments, may give a budget of 5 TgY^–1 for India.     

Enzymatic preparation of ricinoleic acid esters of long-chain monohydric alcohols and properties of the esters

Apart from the conventional chemical esterification process, long-chain alkyl ricinoleates also can be prepared by enzymatic esterification or by enzymatic alcoholysis with high yield and without undesirable side reactions. On sulfonation to the hydroxyl group, the alkyl ricinoleates produce surface-active compounds. The tetradecyl ricinoleate shows the best surface-active behavior and seems to be much better than that of sulfonated castor oil commonly known as “Turkey Red Oil”.     

Study of polyaniline polyacrylamide composites by positron annihilation technique

Polyaniline doped with nonoxidizing Bronsted acids is recognized as a conducting material, as its electrical conductivity changes with percentage of doping. In the present work, different percentages of doped polyaniline were blended with polyacrylamide and their electrical conductivities as well as the positron annihilation lifetimes were measured. Analysis of data yielded three lifetime components. It was observed that the value of the short lifetime component remained constant for doping concentration, whereas that of the intermediate component τ₂ decreased. The relative intensity pertaining to τ₂, however, increased with the increase in doped PANI concentration. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 930–933, 2003     

Viscoelastic changes and cell opening of reacting polyurethane foams from soy oil

The modulus development of reacting polyurethane foams from modified soy oil (soy polyol) was studied. The reaction and buildup of rheological properties were monitored using vane geometry in a strain‐controlled rheometer. Normal force exerted on the vanes by the expanding foam was measured as a function of time to study the phenomenon of cell opening. The effect of foam ingredients and process parameters on the modulus development was investigated. The morphology of the cured foam was studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Experiments were carried out to elucidate the effect of water and addition of petroleum‐based polyol on the modulus development of the reacting foam and the morphology of the cured product. The effect of frequency and thermal history on the modulus development of the reacting foam was also studied. Ozonolysis of soybean oil was carried out to study the effect of adding OH groups on the modulus development during the foaming reaction. Four stages of modulus development, similar to those observed for synthetic polyol (voranol, Aldrich Chemicals) foams, were observed. Increase in water content led to an earlier stiffening of the polymer and a higher modulus. Addition of voranol in soy polyol reduced the liquid foam plateau and significantly reduced the reaction time. Ozonolysis of soy oil led to an earlier phase separation as compared with foams from soy polyol. The temperature at which the foaming reaction takes place dominated the rate of modulus buildup. Higher texture (urea aggregates) and an increase in the cell size were observed with an increase in water content for soy polyol foams. Addition of voranol increased the number of open cells. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:1977–1986, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Reversible,repeatable and low phase transition behaviour of spin coated nanostructured vanadium oxide thin films with superior mechanical properties

Smooth, uniform and crystalline vanadium oxide thin films were deposited on quartz by spin coating technique with four different rpm i.e., 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 and subsequently post annealed at 350, 450 and 550?°C in vacuum. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were utilized for microstructural characterizations and phase analysis, respectively, for vanadium oxide powder and deposited film. Nanorods were observed to be grown after vacuum annealing. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) technique was utilized to study the elemental oxidation state of deposited vanadium oxide films. Thermo-optical and electrical properties such as solar transmittance (τ_s), reflectance (ρ_s), absorptance (α_s), infrared (IR) emittance (ε_ir) and sheet resistance (R_s) of different thin films were evaluated. Based on the optical characteristics the optimized condition of the film processing was identified to be spin coated at 3000?rpm. Subsequently, the nanoindentation technique was utilized to measure hardness and Young's modulus of the optimized film. The measured nanomechanical properties were found to be superior to those reported for sputtered vanadium oxide films. Finally, temperature dependent phase transition characteristics of optimized vanadium oxide films were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique. Reversible and repeatable phase transition was found to occur in the range of 44–48?°C which was significantly lower than the phase transition temperature (i.e., 68?°C) of bulk VO₂.     

Replacement of virgin rubbers by waste ground vulcanizates in blends of silicone rubber and fluororubber based on tetrafluoroethylene/propylene/vinylidene fluoride terpolymer

This study reports the results of investigations on blends of silicone rubber and fluororubber based on tetrafluoroethylene/propylene/vinylidene fluoride terpolymer and the effects of replacement of silicone rubber and/or fluororubber in their 50/50 blend by the respective vulcanizate powders of known compositions. To simulate the aging condition of factory wastes, the silicone rubber or fluororubber vulcanizates were aged for 72 h at 200°C and then converted into powder by mechanical grinding. The fluororubber vulcanizate powder (FVP), mostly spherical in shape with average diameter varying between 2 and 10 μm, exists in a highly aggregated state displaying chainlike structures that, however, break down during blending with virgin rubbers. The silicone rubber vulcanizate powder (SVP) is irregular in shape, with larger particles in the range of 30–100 μm, and the smaller particles exist in highly aggregated chainlike structures, as in the case of FVP, which break down during milling to mostly spherical particles of 2–10 μm in diameter. Measurements of physical properties reveal that the blends of silicone rubber and fluororubber are technologically compatible. SEM photomicrographs of THF‐etched samples show the biphasic structure of the blends, in which the fluororubber forms the dispersed phase in a continuous silicone rubber matrix of lower viscosity. Replacement of silicone rubber in the 50/50 silicone rubber/fluororubber blend by its vulcanizate powder (SVP) increases the Mooney viscosity, but replacement of fluororubber in the blend by its vulcanizate powder (FVP) has little effect on the Mooney viscosity. Monsanto rheometric studies reveal that replacement of silicone rubber by SVP or fluororubber by FVP in the 50/50 silicone rubber/fluororubber blend increases the minimum rheometric torque but decreases the maximum torque, and the effect is more pronounced in the case of SVP. Furthermore, the replacement of silicone rubber in the blend by SVP causes a decline in the physical properties (25% replacement causing about 10% decline in properties, for example), whereas even 75% replacement of fluororubber by FVP has little effect on the physical properties. When both silicone rubber and fluororubber are partially replaced by SVP and FVP in the same blend, properties of the resulting blend composition are controlled more by SVP incorporation, whereas fluororubber replacement has only a marginal effect on blend properties. It is evident from dynamic mechanical spectra that the blends are immiscible in all compositions and addition of SVP or FVP does not affect the glass–rubber transitions of the constituent polymers. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 2326–2341, 2001     

Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(acrylic acid)/Poly(vinyl alcohol)-xanthan Gum Interpenetrating Network (IPN) Superabsorbent Polymeric Composites

Initially interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel was prepared by dispersing xanthan gum (XG) into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) backbone in an aqueous medium. Polyacrylic acid (PAA)/Poly (vinyl alcohol)-Xanthan gum IPN superabsorbent composite were fabricated well by dispersing the prepared IPN hydrogel in acrylic acid and polymerized in a complete aqueous environment through chemical cross-linking method. These superabsorbent polymeric composites were analytically evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra (FTIR), Thermal analysis (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Simultaneously water absorbency, swelling kinetics and water retention abilities of this prepared superabsorbent polymeric composites were also investigated systematically.     

Aluminium-Aluminium Bonding by Rubber Blend Based on Epichlorohydrin Rubber and Carboxylated Nitrile Rubber

Rubber blends based on epichlorohydrin rubber and carboxylated nitrile rubber can be used as adhesives for aluminium-aluminium bonding. The bond strength depends on blend composition and moulding conditions, such as time, temperature and pressure. Lewis acid/base type interaction is responsible for this type of adhesion. The failure mechanism of the composites was studied by SEM.     

Skin permeation of buflomedil form adhesive matrix patches

The main objective of this research work was to fabricate and evaluate adhesive matrix-type transdermal patches of buflomedil hydrochloride, employing different ratios of pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) by solvent casting technique. The adhesive matrix-type transdermal patches were evaluated by their in vitro physicochemical properties such as thickness, moisture content, weight variation, drug content uniformity, etc. The effects of PSAs ratio, drug loading, and concentration of permeation enhancer were evaluated thoroughly. Ex vivo skin permeation studies with kinetic modeling of adhesive matrix patches were systematically evaluated. Based on the above observations, the best optimized buflomedil hydrochloride-loaded adhesive matrix-type transdermal patch was further characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction study, and differential scanning calorimetry analyses. Drug containing adhesive matrix patches showed sustained release property without showing any incompatibility in adhesive matrix system. Hence, adhesive matrix-type transdermal patches of buflomedil hydrochloride can be used as a potential carrier for sustained transdermal delivery of hydrophilic drugs like buflomedil hydrochloride.     

Recycling of silicone rubber waste: Effect of ground silicone rubber vulcanizate powder on the properties of silicone rubber

The silicone rubber vulcanizate powder (SVP) obtained from silicone rubber by mechanical grinding exists in a highly aggregated state. The particle size distribution of SVP is broad, ranging from 2 µm to 110 µm with an average particle size of 33 µm. X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy studies show that there is no chemical change on the rubber surface following mechanical grinding of the heat‐aged (200°C/10 days) silicone rubber vulcanizate. Addition of SVP in silicone rubber increases the Mooney viscosity, Mooney scorch time, shear viscosity and activation energy for viscous flow. Measurement of curing characteristics reveals that incorporation of SVP into the virgin silicone rubber causes an increase in minimum torque, but marginal decrease in maximum torque and rate constant of curing. However, the activation energy of curing shows an increasing trend with increasing loading of SVP. Expectedly, incorporation of SVP does not alter the glass‐rubber transition and cold crystallization temperatures of silicone rubber, as observed in the dynamic mechanical spectra. It is further observed that on incorporation of even a high loading of SVP (i.e., 60 phr), the tensile and tear strength of the silicone rubber are decreased by only about 20%, and modulus dropped by 15%, while the hardness, tension set and hysteresis loss undergo marginal changes and compression stress‐relaxation is not significantly changed. Atomic Force Microscopy studies reveal that incorporation of SVP into silicone rubber does not cause significant changes in the surface morphology.