Effects of mixing sequence on peroxide cured polypropylene (PP)/ethylene octene copolymer (EOC) thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs). Part. II. Viscoelastic characteristics

The effects of mixing sequence on the dynamic viscoelastic characteristics of peroxide cured polypropylene (PP)/ethylene octene copolymer (EOC) based TPVs were studied both in solid and melt states. When a peroxide is added to PP-EOC blends, two major competing reactions take place simultaneously: crosslinking in the EOC phase and degradation in the PP phase by ß-chain scission. Three different mixing sequences were employed. They are as follows: (a) preblending method—melt mixing of PP and EOC followed by dynamic vulcanization (b) phase mixing method—curative master batch of EOC added in molten PP and (c) split addition method—preblending procedure followed by addition of half part of PP. Solid state viscoelastic properties were studied by using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). Melt state viscoelastic properties were studied by dynamic strain sweep at 180 °C in Rubber Process Analyser (RPA 2000). The results indicate that both solid and melt state viscoelastic characteristics are strongly influenced by sequence of mixing. A good correlation is observed between the particle size of crosslinked EOC and the dynamic storage modulus obtained from the melt rheological experiments. Furthermore, the shortcomings of dynamic mechanical analyses in evaluating the properties of the TPVs are also critically discussed.     

Scalable synthesis of aligned carbon nanotubes bundles using green natural precursor: neem oil

Practical application of aligned carbon nanotubes (ACNTs) would have to be determined by a matter of its economical and large-scale preparation. In this study, neem oil (also named Margoaa oil, extracted from the seeds of the neem--Azadirachta indica) was used as carbon source to fabricate the bundles of ACNTs. ACNTs have been synthesized by spray pyrolysis of neem oil and ferrocene mixture at 825°C. The major components of neem oil are hydrocarbon with less amount of oxygen, which provided the precursor species in spray pyrolysis growth of CNTs. The bundles of ACNTs have been grown directly inside the quartz tube. The as-grown ACNTs have been characterized through Raman spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopic (SEM/TEM) techniques. SEM images reveal that the bundles of ACNTs are densely packed and are of several microns in length. High-resolution TEM analysis reveals these nanotubes to be multi-walled CNTs. These multi-walled CNTs were found to have inner diameter between 15 and 30 nm. It was found that present technique gives high yield with high density of bundles of ACNTs.     

A review of the antioxidant potential of medicinal plant species

Some researchers suggest that two-thirds of the world's plant species have medicinal value; in particular, many medicinal plants have great antioxidant potential. Antioxidants reduce the oxidative stress in cells and are therefore useful in the treatment of many human diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and inflammatory diseases. This paper reviews the antioxidant potential of extracts from the stems, roots, bark, leaves, fruits and seeds of several important medicinal species. Synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxylanisole (BHA) are currently used as food additives, and many plant species have similar antioxidant potentials as these synthetics. These species include Diospyros abyssinica, Pistacia lentiscus, Geranium sanguineum L., Sargentodoxa cuneata Rehd. Et Wils, Polyalthia cerasoides (Roxb.) Bedd, Crataeva nurvala Buch-Ham., Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn, Teucrium polium L., Dracocephalum moldavica L., Urtica dioica L., Ficus microcarpa L. fil., Bidens pilosa Linn. Radiata, Leea indica, the Lamiaceae species, Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC, Salvia officinalis L., Momordica Charantia L., Rheum ribes L., and Pelargonium endlicherianum. The literature reveals that these natural antioxidants represent a potentially side effect-free alternative to synthetic antioxidants in the food processing industry and for use in preventive medicine.     

Theory of quasi-reversible charge transfer admittance on finite self-affine fractal electrode

Response of an electrode under finite charge transfer rate is strongly influenced by morphological and electrochemical heterogeneity of the surface. Here, we developed a theoretical model for quasi-reversible charge transfer admittance of a random finite fractal electrode. These random heterogeneities are characterized by their roughness power spectrum. The power spectrum of the finite fractal roughness is approximated in terms of a power-law function for the intermediate wave numbers (spatial frequency components in roughness). The mathematical expression for the admittance response of a finite fractal electrode depends on diffusion length , charge transfer resistance (R_CT) and its fractal morphological characteristics. Fractals are characterized by the fractal dimension (D_H) and the surface roughness amplitude (μ), but finite fractals includes two lateral cutoff lengths. These lengths are the smallest length of roughness (?) and the lateral correlation length (L). The impedance of the electrode shows three frequency regimes, viz., (i) low frequency region, which has a classical Warburg impedance, (ii) anomalous Warburg behavior for intermediate frequency and their phase angle, ?(ω) > 45°, and (iii) high frequency impedance is controlled by charge transfer kinetics, and its phase angle follows the constraint: 0 ≤ ?(ω) < 45°. Finally, we can say that finite fractal model accounts for fractal as well as nonfractal roughnesses of the electrode, and it strongly influences the admittance response.     

Determination of Binder Decomposition Kinetics for Specifying Heating Parameters in Binder Burnout Cycles

The decomposition kinetics of poly(vinyl butyral) binder from barium titanate multilayer ceramic capacitors with platinum metal electrodes were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis as a function of the heating rate. The activation energy and pre-exponential factor for the decomposition kinetics were determined from two types of integral equations, from the Redhead method, and from the variation in heating rate method. The accuracy of the kinetic parameters determined from these methods was then evaluated for describing the observed rate of binder decomposition. Although the individual models yielded very different kinetic parameters, all were capable of describing the experimental data within ±15% accuracy. The kinetic parameters were then used in a coupled transport and kinetic model for describing the buildup of pressure within the ceramic green body as a function of the heating cycle. A methodology based on calculus of variations was also developed to predict the minimum duration for the binder burnout cycle.     

Coumarin‐based polymer and its silver nanocomposite as advanced antibacterial agents: Synthetic path,kinetics of polymerization,and applications

A novel polymer bearing coumarin pendants of 4‐allyloxy‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one (ACO) was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in toluene at 110°C using 2‐Bromoisobutyryl bromide (BIBB), Cu (I) Br, and 2,2′‐bipyridyl (bpy) as initiator, catalyst, and ligand, respectively. The most appropriate molar concentration ratio of [ACO] : [BIBB] : [Cu (I) Br] : [bpy] was found to be 40 : 1 : 1 : 2 for controlled polymerization. Successful chain extension polymerization of poly (4‐allyloxy‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one) (PACO) confirms the livingness of the process. The activation energy (E_a) (76.26 kJ mol^?1) and enthalpy of activation (ΔH^?) (73.07 kJ mol^?1) were in good agreement to each other proving the feasibility of the reaction and negative value of entropy of activation (ΔS^?) (?320 J mol^?1 K^?1) supported the highly restricted movement of reacting species in transition state during polymerization. Initial polymer decomposition temperature of PACO was found to be 130°C. SEM analysis revealed that polymer surface is not smooth with pointed rod like shapes. The polymer/Ag nanocomposite was synthesized and examined in view of antibacterial effect against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumonae. PACO and its Ag nanocomposite (PACON) have been found to be active selectively against bacterial pathogen E. fecalis with minimum inhibitory concentration of 50 and 32 μg mL^?1, respectively. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Strontium Zirconate and Strontium Titanate Ceramics for High-Voltage Applications: Synthesis, Processing, and Dielectric Properties

The synthesis, processing, and electrical properties of SrZrO₃ and SrTiO₃ materials have been examined. Phase-pure powders of SrZrO₃ and SrTiO₃ materials were synthesized using the Pechini method. Powder processing routes that used water and 2-propanol as carrier fluids were developed to achieve high green densities, which resulted in sintered densities of >99% of the theoretical density. The relative permittivity and average breakdown strength for carefully processed SrZrO₃ were 60 and 40 V/μm; the corresponding values for SrTiO₃ were 400 and 35 V/μm. The higher breakdown strengths suggest that these materials can be used in high-voltage capacitor applications.     

Impact of Mole Fractions due to Work Function Variability (WFV) of Metal Gate on Electrical Parameters in Strained SOI-FinFET

In the recent sub-20 nm technology node, the process variability issues have become a major problem for scaling of MOS devices. We present a design for a strained Si/SiGe FinFET on an insulator using a 3D TCAD simulator. The impact of metal gate work function variability (WFV) on electrical parameters is studied. Such impact of WFV for different mole fractions (x) of the SiGe layer in a strained SOI-FinFET with varying grain size is presented. The results show that as the mole fraction is increased, the variability in threshold voltage (σVT) and off current (σIoff) is decreased; while, the variability of on-current (σIon) is increased. A notable observation is the distribution of electrical parameters approaches a normal distribution for smaller grain sizes.     

Comparative evaluation of extraction of tetra- and hexa-valent neptunium ions by CMPO in a room temperature ionic liquid

ABSTRACT

Solvent extraction studies were performed to understand the extraction behavior of Np⁴⁺ and NpO₂ ²⁺ from acidic feeds with CMPO (octyl (phenyl)-N,N-diisobutyl carbamoyl methyl phosphine oxide) dissolved in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide, a water immiscible ionic liquid. Slope analyses on the distribution data revealed the extraction of ML₂ type species, where M = Np⁴⁺ or NpO₂ ²⁺, and L = CMPO. Studies were also carried out with Pu⁴⁺ and UO₂ ²⁺ under identical conditions. The nature of the extracted species was found to vary with the nature of the ionic species.     

Development of advanced fiber-reinforced polymer composites by polymer hybridization technique: Emphasis on cure kinetics,mechanical, and thermomechanical performance

Polymer hybridization technique, consisting of an interlayer arrangement of different polymers, acts as the most economical and promising technique in augmenting the glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite's mechanical properties. This investigation focuses on the effect of cure kinetics on the flexural behavior of glass-polymer hybrid (GPH) composite, and also elucidates the comparative analysis on the mechanical behavior of glass-epoxy (GE) composite, glass-vinyl ester (GVE) composite, and GPH composite. The optimal postcuring temperature has been found to be 200°C for GPH composite among the other postcuring temperatures conducted at 140, 170, and 230°C. Among all these abovementioned composites, highest flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength properties have been recorded by the 200°C postcured GPH composite leading to 10.87 and 18.76% increment, respectively, compared with GE composite. Furthermore, thermomechanical characterization has been done to know the viscoelastic behavior of the GPH composite postcured at different temperatures using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The fracture morphology of flexural tested composite samples demonstrated a combination of failure modes. Relevant information on the chemical restructuring and fracture morphology of experimented composite material using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has also been studied.