Synergistic mechanical behaviour in new polyamide 6/poly(amino-ether) blends

New polyamide 6 (PA)/poly(amino-ether) (Blox) blends were obtained by direct injection moulding covering the full composition range. The blends comprised an almost pure PA phase and a Blox-rich phase in which significant amounts of PA were miscibilized. A very positive mechanical response was obtained, as synergisms were observed both in Young's modulus/yield stress and in elongation at break. The combined effects of the observed partial miscibility, and the very small dispersed phase size, are stated as the main factors responsible for the mechanical behaviour.     

Influence of interchange reactions on the nature and properties of miscible 50/50 poly(butylene terephthalate)/phenoxy blends

The combined influence of miscibility and interchange reactions on the thermal and mechanical properties of 50/50 blends of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and phenoxy, and the nature of the reactions, have been studied. It has been proved by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and solubility tests that the reaction occurs through the hydroxyl of the phenoxy. Evidence is presented for the additivity of the beneficial effects of miscibility and interchange reactions on the mechanical properties of the quenched, not-fully-crystalline material.     

Oxidative stress and interleukins in seminal plasma during leukocytospermia

Various roles for the viral receptor, CD4, have been proposed in facilitating human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) entry, including virion binding to the target cell and the induction of conformational changes in the viral envelope glycoproteins required for the membrane fusion reaction. Here, we compare the structural requirements in the CDR2-like loop of CD4 domain 1, the major contact site of the gp120 envelope glycoprotein, for gp120 binding and virus entry. For every CD4 mutant examined, the level of cell surface expression and the gp120 binding affinity were sufficient to explain the relative ability to function as a viral receptor. The decrease in relative infectibility associated with decreased gp120 binding affinity was more pronounced at lower cell surface CD4 concentrations. These results imply that both receptor density and affinity determine the efficiency of HIV-1 entry and that specific structures in the CD4 residues examined are probably not required for HIV-1 entry functions other than gp120 binding.     

Surface Morphology and Dissolution Rate of Slow Discharge Urea Coated with Starch-Urea-Borax Matrix

Pure starches do not exhibit fast tacking and high viscosity to meet the standards set by many industrial processes. Therefore, the objective of this work was to obtain high- viscosity coating solutions after modifying tapioca starch with urea as a cross-linker and borax as a thickener. Study of the physical properties confirmed that the prepared solutions were exhibiting more pronounced non-Newtonian behavior. A shear-thinning behavior followed by shear-thickening was observed for all solution compositions. At room temperature, the critical shear rate at which the transition from shear-thinning to shear-thickening occurred was ranging from 45.8 to 78 s^?1. However, the shear-thickening response to the applied shear rate was less prominent at higher temperatures. The surface tension and density of the solutions were found to decrease monotonically with an increase in temperature. Once the physical properties were fully understood, 1, 1.5 and 2 mL of each solution were used to coat 30 g of urea fluidized above its minimum level of fluidization. The phenomenological analyses of the coated and uncoated urea samples were carried out by understating their surface morphology, coating thickness, percent coating, dissolution rate, percent release and crushing strength. It was concluded that the coating thickness, percent coating, dissolution rate and percent release increase over time with an increase in solution volume and borax mass; however, some random results were obtained while investigating the effects of the solution volume on the crushing strength. The highest crushing strength was noticed for urea samples coated with 1.5 mL of solution followed by 1 mL, 2 mL and without coating.     

3D-QSPR method of computational technique applied on red reactive dyes by using CoMFA strategy

Cellulose fiber is a tremendous natural resource that has broad application in various productions including the textile industry. The dyes, which are commonly used for cellulose printing, are "reactive dyes" because of their high wet fastness and brilliant colors. The interaction of various dyes with the cellulose fiber depends upon the physiochemical properties that are governed by specific features of the dye molecule. The binding pattern of the reactive dye with cellulose fiber is called the ligand-receptor concept. In the current study, the three dimensional quantitative structure property relationship (3D-QSPR) technique was applied to understand the red reactive dyes interactions with the cellulose by the Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) method. This method was successfully utilized to predict a reliable model. The predicted model gives satisfactory statistical results and in the light of these, it was further analyzed. Additionally, the graphical outcomes (contour maps) help us to understand the modification pattern and to correlate the structural changes with respect to the absorptivity. Furthermore, the final selected model has potential to assist in understanding the characteristics of the external test set. The study could be helpful to design new reactive dyes with better affinity and selectivity for the cellulose fiber.     

Investigation of fire behavior of rigid polyurethane foams containing fly ash and intumescent flame retardant by using a cone calorimeter

Cone calorimeter is one of the most useful bench‐scale equipment which can simulate real‐world fire conditions. Therefore, cone calorimeter tests have been the most important and widely used tests for research and development of fire behavior of polymeric materials. In this study, fire behavior of rigid polyurethane foams containing fly ash (up to 5 wt %) and intumescent flame retardant (up to 5 wt %) composed of ammonium polyphosphate/pentaerythritol was investigated by using a cone calorimeter. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis of the additives and the foams were also carried out to explain the effects of fly ash and intumescent flame retardant on fire behavior of the foams. Experimental results indicated that rigid polyurethane foam containing fly ash and the intumescent flame retardant in comparison with pure rigid polyurethane foam shows significantly enhanced fire resistance and thermal stability. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Evaluation of sorption behavior of polymethylene-bis(2-hydroxybenzaldehyde) for Cu(II), Ni(II), Fe(III), Co(II) and Cd(II) ions

Poly[5,5??-methylene-bis(2-hydroxybenzaldehyde)1,2-phenylenediimine] resin was prepared and characterized by employing elemental, thermal analysis, FTIR, and UV?Cvisible spectroscopy. The metal uptake behavior of synthesized polymer towards Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Fe(III) and Cd(II) ions was investigated and optimized with respect to pH, shaking speed, and equilibration time. The sorption data of all these metal ions followed Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin?CRadushkevich isotherms. The Freundlich parameters were computed 1/n?=?0.31?±?0.02, 0.3091?±?0.02, 0.3201?±?0.05, 0.368?±?0.04, and 0.23?±?0.01, A?=?3.4?±?0.03, 4.31?±?0.02, 4.683?±?0.01, 5.43?±?0.03, and 2.8?±?0.05?mmol?g^?1 for Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Fe(III), and Cd(II) ions, respectively. The variation of sorption with temperature gives thermodynamic quantity (??H) in the range of 36.72?C53.21?kJ/mol. Using kinetic equations (Morris?CWeber and Lagergren equations), values of intraparticle transport and the first-order rate constant was computed for all the five metals ions. The sorption procedure is utilized to preconcentrate these ions prior to their determination by atomic absorption spectrometer. It was found that the adsorption capacity values for metal-ion intake followed the following order: Cd(II)?>?Co(II)?>?Fe(III)?>?Ni(II)?>?Cu(II).     

Solid state structure and mechanical properties of melt mixed poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/polycarbonate blends

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT)/poly (carbonate of bisphenol A) (PC) blends were obtained in the melt state by direct injection molding and also by extrusion followed by injection molding. The blends rich in PTT were monophasic, while the blends rich in PC were biphasic with the two components of the blends present in both phases. Both the monophasic and biphasic blends were partially miscibilized, and also partially reacted, as observed by FTIR. The extent of the reaction was greater in previously mixed blends. The observed synergism in the modulus of elasticity was attributed to the increased orientation of the blend components upon blending. Although decreases in elongation at break were observed and attributed to degradation of PTT, the blends were clearly ductile and compatible. This was a consequence of either their monophasic structure, or of the presence of the two components in the two phases of the blends. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Numerical sensitivity analysis of temperature-dependent reaction rate constants for optimized thermal conversion of high-density plastic waste into combustible fuels

The use of experimental rate constants for producing a high yield of liquid fuels from the pyrolysis of plastic waste is not widely accepted owing to a lack of compatibility between the different kinetic rate constants responsible for successful conversion reactions. In R software, the Arrhenius law can forecast the ideal combination of reaction rate constants and frequency factors and then perform sensitivity analysis on individual rate constants to estimate the selectivity and quantity of primary pyrolysis products. Sensitivity analysis is a way of determining the effectiveness of individual rate constants in the reaction. This research element is currently lacking in the literature for the cost-effective valorization of plastics into combustible fuels. We are the first to use R software to perform sensitivity analysis on specific rate constants by reducing or raising their initial values to a point where maximum oil yield is attainable in the temperature range of 340–370°C. The primary focus was to save time and cost of extracting empirical rate constants from experiments to produce commercial-scale pyrolytic oil. The H-abstraction, chain fission, polymerization, and scission reactions were chosen due to the high availability of free radicals for maximum oil production. The oil recovery rate improved drastically to 90% at the end of processing time, while the number of by-products gradually decreased. The k8 rate constant driven reaction is the best-suited condition for industrial-scale pyrolysis of high-density plastics into liquid fuels, with 74% improvement in oil production and 14% improvement in light wax during sensitivity analysis.