Microwave assisted improvement in physico-mechanical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(ethylene imine)/gelatin blends

Blends of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly-N-acyl ethyleneimine (PEI) and gelatin (PVA/ PEI/Gel) in the weight ratios 100/0/2, 95/5/2, 90/10/2, 85/15/2, 80/20/2 and 70/30/2 were prepared by solution casting method. The effects of poly (ethylene imine) component in the blend and microwave irradiation on the mechanical and microstructural properties have been investigated using various techniques along with Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS). We observed tremendous improvement in mechanical properties after microwave irradiation for 60 s in 5 wt% of PEI component blend. These results are supported by the SEM data as well the optical data. The free volume data from positron results showed minimum free volume at 5 wt% of PEI after 60 s of irradiation due to cross linking through hydrogen bond formation and possible estrification among the blend components. These results correlate well the mechanical properties like tensile strength and modulus.     

Hybrid fiber fabric composites from poly ether ether ketone and glass fiber

Poly ether ether ketone (PEEK) polymer was extruded into filaments and cowoven into unidirectional hybrid fabric with glass as reinforcement fiber. The hybrid fabrics were then converted into laminates and their properties with special reference to crystallization behavior has been studied. The composite laminates have been evaluated for mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), and flexural strength. The thermal behavior of the composite laminates were analyzed using differential scanning calorimeter, thermogravimetric analyzer, dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), and thermomechanical analyzer (TMA). The exposure of the fabricated composite laminates to high temperature (400 and 500°C) using radiant heat source resulted in an improvement in the crystallanity. The morphological behavior and PEEK resin distribution in the composite laminates were confirmed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and nondestructive testing (NDT). Although DMA results showed a loss in modulus above glass transition temperature (T_g), a fair retention in properties was noticed up to 300°C. The ability of the composite laminates to undergo positive thermal expansion as confirmed through TMA suggests the potential application of glass–PEEK composites in aerospace sector. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 117:1446–1459, 2010     

The Influence of Crysnanoclay Addition on Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomeric with Polycarbonate Nanocomposites

A series of crysnanoclay-loaded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomer/polycarbonate (PC) nanocomposites have been prepared using twin screw extruders. The physicomechanical properties such as tensile behaviors, flexural properties and impact strength of the composites have been reported. Significant improvement in tensile modulus and flexural modulus were noticed for nanocomposites. The thermal characteristics of nanocomposites have been determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Thermal degradation kinetic parameters such as energy of activation (E_a) have been calculated from TGA thermograms for the nanocomposites using three mathematical models namely; Coats–Redfern, Horowitz – Metzger and Broido's methods and the results are compared. The effect of crysnanoclay on the storage modulus (E′), loss modulus (E″), and damping factor (tan δ) as a function of temperature have been measured by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The storage moduli of nanocomposites have been increased after incorporating crysnanoclay in polymer matrix.     

Poly(methyl methacrylate) toughened by ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer: Physico‐mechanical,thermal, and chemical properties

Blends of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with different composition viz., 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt % of ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer were prepared by extrusion in a corotating twin screw extruder. These prepared PMMA/EVA blends have been characterized for physicomechanical properties such as density, surface hardness, izod impact strength, tensile strength, tensile elongation, and tensile modulus. The chemical aging and heat aging tests were performed on the blends by exposing them to different chemical environments and to 80°C for 168 h respectively. The influence of chemical aging and heat ageing on the mechanical performance of PMMA/EVA blends has been studied. The PMMA/EVA blends were also characterized for thermal properties such as vicat softening point (VSP) and melt flow index (MFI). That means significant improvement in impact strength of PMMA was noticed after incorporation of EVA into PMMA matrix and it lies in the range 19.1–31.96 J/m. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Sorption and diffusion of aldehydes and ketones through castor oil-based interpenetrating polymer networks of PU–PS

Sorption and diffusion of some aldehydes and ketones into interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of polyurethane–polystyrene (PU–PS) have been investigated in the temperature interval of 25–60°C. Transport data were found to be affected by the nature of the interacting solvent molecule rather than its size. The diffusion coefficient of ketones range from 9.2 × 10⁻⁸ to 645 × 10⁻⁸ cm²/s and for aldehyde from 11.5 × 10⁻⁸ to 154.5 × 10⁻⁸ cm²/s. For all solvents, the polymer remained intact. From the temperature dependence of sorption data, the Arrhenius activation parameter and the thermodynamic parameter, such as entropy and enthalpy for the process of equilibrium sorption, have been estimated. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 67:2047–2055, 1998     

Characterization of castor oil–based interpenetrating polymer networks of PU/PS

A series of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of polyurethane/polystyrene (PU/PS; 90/10, 75/25, 60/40, and 50/50) have been synthesized by condensation reaction of castor oil with methylene diisocyanate and styrene, employing benzoyl peroxide as initiator. Polystyrene is extracted from IPNs by the Soxhlet extraction method. The IPNs of PU/PS before and after PS extraction were characterized for physical, optical, and X-ray diffraction properties. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 68: 1739–1743, 1998     

Effect of recycling on the properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) films

Different proportions of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films were blended with virgin PET and evaluated for physicomechanical, chemical, thermal, optical and barrier properties. The safety evaluation of the films for food contact applications has also been carried out. The variations in properties, such as tensile behaviour, impact strength, tear resistance, burst strength, gloss, haze, barrier properties, crystallization temperature and melting temperature, are reported. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of natural polymer coating on novel colon targeting drug delivery system

A novel colon targeted tablet formulation was developed using natural polysaccharides such as chitosan and guar gum as carriers and diltiazem hydrochloride as model drug. The prepared blend of polymer-drug tablets were coated with two layers, inulin as an inner coat followed by shellac as outer coat and were evaluated for properties such as average weight, hardness and coat thickness. In vitro release studies of prepared tablets were carried out for 2 h in pH 1.2 HCl buffer, 3 h in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer and 6 h in simulated colonic fluid (SCF) in order to mimic the conditions from mouth to colon. It was observed that 4% w/v of rat cecal contents in saline phosphate buffer (SCF) incubated for 24 h provides suitable conditions for in vitro evaluation of the formulations prepared. The drug release from the coated system was monitored using UV/ Visible spectroscopy. In vitro studies revealed that the tablets coated with inulin and shellac have controlled the drug release in stomach and small intestinal environment and released maximum amount of drug in the colonic environment. Among the polymers used, chitosan was found to be the suitable polymer for colon targeting. The study revealed that polysaccharides as carriers and inulin and shellac as coating materials can be used effectively for colon targeting of drugs for treating local as well as systemic disorders.     

Investigation on microstructural behavior of styroflex/polyaniline blends by WAXS

Styroflex/polyaniline (STF/PAni) blends were prepared by two routes namely by in situ and thermo mechanical processing method with various PAni compositions, namely, 0, 15, 30, and 45 wt %. The influence of volume fraction of PAni in the blends and synthetic routes of the STF/PAni blends on the volume resistivity and microcrystalline parameters have been investigated. The microcrystalline parameters such as the nanocrystal size (<N>), lattice disorder (g), interplanar distance (d_hkl), width of the crystallite size distribution, surface weighted crystal size (D_s), and crystallite area were evaluated from the wide angle X‐ray scattering profiles. The different asymmetric column length distribution functions namely, exponential, reinhold, and lognormal distribution methods were employed to probe the microcrystalline behavior of the STF/PAni blends and the results are compared. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Poly(acrylamide/laponite) nanocomposite hydrogels: Swelling and cationic dye adsorption properties

Super adsorbent polyacrylamide (PAAm)/nanoclay (laponite, Lap) hydrogels were prepared by in situ free radical polymerization of AAm in an aqueous solution with clay as a crosslinker. The swelling properties and water‐soluble cationic dye adsorption behaviors of the PAAm/laponite (PAAm/Lap) nanocomposite (NC) hydrogels were investigated. The parameters of swelling and diffusion of water in dye solutions were evaluated for the PAAm/Lap NC hydrogels. The adsorption behavior of the monovalent cationic dyes such as Basic Blue 12 (BB 12), Basic Blue 9 (BB 9), and Basic Violet 1 (BV 1), were studied on the NC hydrogels. The effects of the clay content of the hydrogel on its cationic dye uptake behavior were studied. The adsorption studies indicated that the rates of dye uptake by the NC hydrogels increased in the following order: BB 9 > BB 12 > BV 1. This order is similar to the swelling results of the PAAm/Lap NC hydrogel in the dye solutions. The equilibrium uptakes of the different dyes by the PAAm/Lap NC hydrogel were nearly the same. In the dye absorption studies, S‐type adsorption in the Giles classification system was found for the BB 12 and BV 1 dyes, whereas L ‐type was observed for the BB 9 dye. After the heat treatment of PAAm/Lap, the rate of dye uptake and equilibrium dye uptake were increased. The NC hydrogels may be considered as a good candidate for environmental applications to retain more water and to remove dyes. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009