Characteristics of polyvinylpyrrolidone-layered silicate nanocomposites prepared by attrition ball milling

Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/sodium montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites prepared via the solution intercalation method were investigated by UV/vis, SEM, X-ray diffraction, TEM, FT-IR and PLM (polarized light microscopy). PVP/MMT nanocomposites show exfoliation below 20 wt% MMT and intercalation above this concentration. Nanocomposites retain good optical clarity and increased thermal resistance with MMT content. The compatibility between PVP and MMT and their enhanced properties may be explained by hydrogen bonding interactions. In addition, the nanocomposites prepared under more rigorous mixing conditions show better transparency because the smaller particle sizes are induced. In addition, the study on optically clear PVP/MMT suspensions helps one to understand how optical anisotropy of MMT is affected by the existence of polymer in aqueous solution.     

Effect of reaction kinetics of polymer electrolyte on the ion‐conductive behavior for poly(oligo oxyethylene methacrylate)–LiTFSI mixtures

The effect of the reaction kinetics on the ionic conductivity for a comblike‐type polyether (MEO) electrolyte with lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) was characterized by DSC, complex impedance measurements, and ¹H pulse NMR spectroscopy. The ionic conductivity of these electrolytes was affected by the reaction condition of the methacrylate monomer and revealed by the glass transition temperature (T_g), spin–spin relaxation time (T₂), steric effects of the terminal groups, and the number of charge carriers indicated by the VTF kinetic parameter. In this system, the electrolytes prepared by the reaction heating rate of 10°C/min of MEO–H and 15°C/min of MEO–CH₃ showed maximum ionic conductivity, σ_i, two to three times higher in magnitude than that of the σ_i of the others at room temperature. As experimental results, the reaction kinetic rate affected the degree of conversion, the ionic conductivity, and the relaxation behaviors of polyether electrolytes. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2149–2156, 2003     

Effect of low molecular weight polybutadiene as processing aid on properties of silica‐filled styrene–butadiene rubber compounds

Because silica has strong filler–filler interactions, a silica‐filled rubber compound shows a poor filler dispersion compared to a carbon black‐filled one. Improvement of the filler dispersion in silica‐filled styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) compounds was studied using low molecular weight polybutadiene (liquid PBD) with the high content of 1,2‐unit. By adding the liquid PBD to the silica‐filled SBR compound, the filler dispersion and flow property are improved. The cure time and cure rate become faster as the 1,2‐unit content of the liquid PBD increases for the compounds containing the liquid PBD. The crosslink density increases linearly with increase in the 1,2‐unit content of the liquid PBD. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 3135–3140, 2003     

Synthesis and characterization of in situ polymerized segmented thermoplastic elastomeric polyurethane/layered silicate clay nanocomposites

Nanocomposites based on thermoplastic elastomeric polyurethane (TPU) and layered silicate clay were prepared by in situ synthesis. The properties of nanocomposites of TPU with unmodified clay were compared with that of organically modified clay. The nanocomposites of the TPU and organomodified clay showed better dispersion and exhibited superior properties. Exfoliation of the clay layers was observed at low organoclay contents, whereas an intercalated morphology was observed at higher clay contents. As one of major purposes of this study, the effect of the silicate layers in the nanocomposites on the order–disorder transition temperature (T_ODT) of the TPU was evaluated from the intensity change of the hydrogen‐bonded and free carbonyl stretching peaks and from the peak position change of the N? H bending peak. The presence of the organoclay increased T_ODT by approximately 10°C, which indicated improved stability in the phase‐separated domain structure. The layered silicate clay caused a tremendous improvement in the stiffness of the TPU; meanwhile, a reduction in the ultimate elongation was observed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 3048–3055, 2006     

Characterization and preparation of new multiwall carbon nanotube/conducting polymer composites by in situ polymerization

Composites based on poly(diphenyl amine) (PDPA) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization through two different approaches: in situ polymerization and intimate mixing. In in situ polymerization, DPA was polymerized in the presence of dispersed MWNTs in sulfuric acid medium for different molar composition ratios of MWNT and DPA. Intimate mixing of synthesized PDPA with MWNT was also used for the preparation of PDPA/MWNT composites. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the diameter of the tubular structure for the composite was 10–20 nm higher than the diameter of pure MWNT. Scanning electron microscopy provided evidence for the differences in the morphology between the MWNTs and the composites. Raman and Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray diffraction, and UV–visible spectroscopy were used to characterize the composites and reveal the differences in the molecular level interactions between the components in the composites. The Raman and FTIR spectral results revealed doping‐type molecular interactions and coordinate covalent‐type interactions between MWNT and PDPA in the composite prepared by in situ polymerization and intimate mixing, respectively. The backbone structure of PDPA in the composite decomposed at a higher temperature (>340°C) than the pristine PDPA (～300°C). This behavior also favored the molecular level interactions between MWNT and PDPA in the composite. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3721–3729, 2006     

Oxidative coupling of methane over Na+-ZrO2-C1-/Al2O3 catalysts

Oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) was carried out over Na⁺-ZrO₂-Cl /A1[₂O₃ catalysts in a temperature range from 1023 to 1123 K. The catalysts were prepared by impregnating the α- or γ-Al₂O₃ supports with sodium carbonate and/or zirconyl chloride. The OCM activity was examined using the catalysts prepared by three different preparation procedures. The best catalyst was the one prepared by subsequent impregnation of sodium carbonate-preimpregnated γ-Al₂O₃ with a mixed solution of sodium carbonate and zirconyl chloride. It was found that preimpregnated sodium played an important role in reducing the combustion activity of the γ-Al₂O₃. The catalyst with an optimal composition showed the highest C₂ selectivity and yield of 40.8% and 15.1%, respectively. From the X-ray diffraction analysis it was found that tetragonal ZrO₂ was formed and that NaCl existed in the catalysts with relatively high sodium contents.     

Experimental analysis of bubble mode in a plate-type absorber

An experimental analysis of ammonia-water absorption was performed in a plate-type absorber. The flow of water and ammonia gas was performed in the bubble mode. The experiments were made to examine the effects of solution flow rate and gas flow rate on the performance of the absorber. It was found that the increase of solution flow rate rarely affected the mass transfer, but improved the heat transfer. As the gas flow rate increased, slugging occurred in the bubble mode and influenced the thermal boundary layer. Finally, the results were converted into dimensionless numbers to elucidate physical phenomena and plotted as Sherwood number versus Reynolds number for mass transfer performance and Nusselt number versus Reynolds number for heat transfer performance.     

Durable antimicrobial treatment of cotton fabrics using N‐(2‐hydroxy)propyl‐3‐trimethylammonium chitosan chloride and polycarboxylic acids

N‐(2‐hydroxy)propyl‐3‐trimethylammonium chitosan chloride (HTCC), a water‐soluble chitosan quaternary ammonium derivative, was used as an antimicrobial agent for cotton fabrics. HTCC has a lower minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli compared to that of chitosan; however, the imparted antimicrobial activity is lost on laundering. Thus crosslinking agents were utilized to obtain a durable antimicrobial treatment by immobilizing HTCC. Several crosslinkers such as dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU), butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA), and citric acid (CA) were used with HTCC to improve the laundering durability of HTCC treatment by covalent bond formation between the crosslinker, HTCC and cellulose. The polycarboxylic acid treatment was superior to the DMDHEU treatment in terms of prolonged antimicrobial activity of the treated cotton after successive laundering. Also, the cotton treated with HTCC and BTCA showed improved durable press properties without excessive deterioration in mechanical strength or whiteness when compared to the citric acid treatment. With the addition of only 0.1% HTCC to BTCA solutions, the treated fabrics showed durable antimicrobial activity up to 20 laundering cycles. The wrinkle recovery angle and strength retention of the treated fabrics were not adversely affected with the addition of HTCC. Therefore, BTCA can be used with HTCC in one bath to impart durability of antimicrobial activity along with durable press properties to cotton fabric. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1567–1572, 2003     

Effects of rosemary extracts and major constituents on lipid oxidation and soybean lipoxygenase activity

Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis L.) leaves were extracted with three different solvents, namely hexane, acetone and methanol. A reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography system in combination with a mass detector was used to quantitate the content of carnosol, carnosic acid and ursolic acid in the rosemary extracts. All rosemary extracts showed strong inhibitory effects on lipid oxidation and soybean lipoxygenase activity.