Influence of grafted polypropylene on the mechanical properties of mineral‐filled polypropylene composites

The purpose of this work was to study how mineral fillers would behave in a polypropylene (PP) matrix when PP modified with maleic anhydride (MA) and/or itaconic acid (IA) was used as a coupling agent in the preparation of mineral‐filled PP composites. The composites were characterized with tensile mechanical measurements and morphological analysis. The optimum amount of the coupling agent to be used to obtain composites with improved mechanical properties was established. The results indicated that these coupling agents enhanced the tensile strength of the composites significantly, and the extent of the coupling effect depended on the nature of the interface that formed. The incorporation of coupling agents enhanced the resistance to deformation of the composite. The behavior of IA‐modified PP as a coupling agent was similar to that of a commercial MA‐modified PP for the filled PP composites. Evidence of improved interfacial bonding was revealed by scanning electron microscopy studies, which examined the surfaces of fractured tensile test specimens; their microstructures confirmed the mechanical results with respect to the observed homogeneous or optimized dispersion of the mineral‐filler phase in these composites. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2343–2350, 2007     

An Algebraic Algorithm for Microcomputer-Based (Direct) Inverter Pulsewidth Modulation

A new method of direct inverter pulsewidth modulation (PWM) is described. In this technique the pulsewidths are determined by equating the incremental areas of the reference signal with the output pulse areas. This PWM method is compared to conventional methods, such as the natural PWM and the regular PWM, which are based on geometrical constructions. Harmonic analysis shows that the direct PWM method has less harmonic distortion that the other methods. Moreover, this technique is particularly suitable for microprocessor-based implementation since the pulsewidths are computable in real time from simple analytic expressions. It is shown that the output pulsewidths are directly proportional to the reference amplitude and inversely proportional to frequency. Therefore, constant volts/hertz operations and other modes of operation can be implemented very simply with a minimal storage requirement.     

Experimental and numerical investigation of sands and Geldart A biomass co-fluidization

This article investigated the fluidization of sands and small Geldart A biomass mixtures. The mixture fluidized like Geldart A type particles with a uniform bed expansion regime before bubbling. The video recorded color distance between pure sands and sands–biomass mixtures was used to estimate the sands–biomass mixing. The coarse-grained computational fluid dynamics–discrete element method with a hybrid drag model which couples the Syamlal–O'Brien drag and a filtered drag can capture the mixing while the simulation with Gidaspow drag predicted a segregated bed. The simulations were further validated with experimental measured pressure drops. The time averaged pressure drop equals the weight of the bed material, however, its fluctuation is about three times of the bed material fluctuation.     

Antioxidant Activities of Free and Liposome-Encapsulated Green tea extracts on canola oil oxidation stability

In the present study, green tea extract was encapsulated in liposomes based on the Mozafari method (with no organic solvents) and characterized for its physicochemical properties (encapsulation efficiency, particle size, and Z-potential). Encapsulation efficiency, particles size, and Z-potential were determined to be 51.34, 419 nm, and -57 mV, respectively. Total polyphenol content of the green tea by Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol reagent was measured as 164.2 mg gallic acid/g extract. Free radical scavenging activities of free and liposomal extracts were 90.6 and 93.4%, respectively, using the DPPH method. Antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extract of green tea in free and liposomal forms with concentrations of 200, 600, and 1000 mg L⁻¹ were assessed on oxidative stability of the canola oil at 60 °C for 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32 days. Results were compared to results of synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene at 200 mg L⁻¹. To assess antioxidant activity on canola oil stability, peroxide, thiobarbitoric acid, and anisidine values were assessed as well as the total oxidation value and rancimat test. Results showed that the liposomal green tea extract was more effective than the free extract. Furthermore, a 600 mg L⁻¹ concentration of the green tea extract showed a significant antioxidant activity, compared to other extract concentrations. Increasing storage time and various concentrations of the ethanolic green tea extracts included significant effects on canola oil stability (P ≤ 0.05). Results demonstrated that the green tea extract could be used as an effective antioxidant. Free and liposomal extract (at 600 mg L⁻¹) resulted in stronger functionality than the synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene.     

In situ emulsion polymerization and characterization of PVAc nanocomposites including colloidal silica nanoparticles for wood specimens bonding

Polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) nanocomposites for wood adhesives containing different amounts of colloidal silica nanoparticles (CSNs) were synthesized via in situ one-step emulsion polymerization. The adhesion strength of wood specimens bonded by PVAc nanocomposites was investigated by the tensile test. Thermal properties of PVAc nanocomposites were also characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Rheological and morphological properties of the PVAc nanocomposites were investigated using rheometric mechanical spectrometry and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), respectively. The obtaining results showed that the shear strength of PVAc nanocomposite including 1 wt. % CSNs has the highest shear and tensile strength about 4.7 and 3.2 MPa, respectively. A small increment of T_g (~3 °C) and considerable increment of the ash content proved the enhancement of PVAc thermal characterization in the presence of CSNs. FESEM results showed uniform dispersion of nanoparticles throughout the PVAc matrix due to using the in situ emulsion polymerization process. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48570.     

Study of the polymerization of 1-octadecene with different rnetallocene catalysts

Summary 1-Octadecene (C18) was polymerized by using different metallocene catalysts. The rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrC1₂/MAO (I) and rac-Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrC1₂/MAO (III) presented the highest activity as compared with ra-Et(2-Me-Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO (II) and Ph₂C(Flu)(Cp)ZrC1₂/MAO (IV) catalysts. Catalyst IV produced polymers with highest molecular weights. The microstructure of the polymers was determined by ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. Catalyst systems I, II and III produced isotactic polymers while catalyst IV produced polymers with mainly syndiotactic structures but with large amount of stereoregular error. Received: 21 June 2002/Revised version: 4 November 2002/ Accepted: 4 November 2002     

Thermal,mechanical, and barrier properties of polyethylene/surlyn/organoclay nanocomposites blown films prepared by different mixing methods

(Low‐density polyethylene) (LDPE)/clay nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending in a twin‐screw extruder by using different mixing methods. Zinc‐neutralized carboxylate ionomer was used as a compatibilizer. Blown films of the nanocomposites were then prepared. The effect of mixing method on the clay dispersion and properties of the nanocomposites was evaluated by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction analysis, mechanical properties, thermal properties, and barrier properties. The structure and properties of nanocomposites containing different amounts of nanoclay prepared by selected mixing techniques were also investigated. It was found that melt compounding of Surlyn/clay masterbatch with pure LDPE and Surlyn (two‐step‐a method) results in better dispersion and intercalation of the nanofillers than melt mixing of LDPE/Surlyn/clay masterbatch with pure LDPE and surlyn (two‐step‐b method) and direct mixing of LDPE with clay. The films containing ionomer have good barrier properties. A wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction pattern indicates that intercalation of polymer chains into the clay galleries decreases by increasing the clay content. Barrier properties and tensile modulus of the films were improved by increasing the clay content. In addition, tensile strength increased in the machine direction, but it decreased in the transverse direction by increasing the clay content. DSC results showed that increasing the clay content does not show significant change in the melting and crystallization temperatures. The results of thermogravimetric analysis showed that the thermal stability of the nanocomposites decreased by increasing the clay content more than 1 wt%. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 21:60–69, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Measurement and calculation of solubility of quinine in supercritical carbon dioxide

Solubility of quinine in supercritical carbon dioxide(SCCO_2) was experimentally measured in the pressure range of 8 to 24 MPa, at three constant temperatures: 308.15 K, 318.15 K and 328.15 K. Measurement was carried out in a semi-dynamic system. Experimental data were correlated by iso-fugacity model(based on cubic equations of state, CEOS), Modified Mendez–Santiago–Teja(MST) and Modified Bartle semi-empirical models. Two cubic equations of state: Peng–Robinson(PR) and Dashtizadeh–Pazuki–Ghotbi–Taghikhani(DPTG) were adopted for calculation of equilibrium parameters in CEOS modeling. Interaction coefficients(k_(ij) l_(ij)) of van der Waals(vdW) mixing rules were considered as the correlation parameters in CEOS-based modeling and their contribution to the accuracy of model was investigated. Average Absolute Relative Deviation(AARD) between correlated and experimental data was calculated and compared as the index of validity and accuracy for different modeling systems. In this basis it was realized that the semi-empirical equations especially Modified MST can accurately support the theoretical studies on phase equilibrium behavior of quinine–SCCO_2 media. Among the cubic equations of state DPGT within two-parametric vd W mixing rules provided the best data fitting and PR within one-parametric vd W mixing rules demonstrated the highest deviation respecting to the experimental data. Overall, in each individual modeling system the best fitting was observed on the data points attained at 318 K, which could be perhaps due to the moderate thermodynamic state of supercritical phase.     

One-step synthesized azo-dye modified Mg-Al LDH reinforced biobased semi-aromatic polyamide containing naphthalene ring; study on thermal stability and optical properties

A new series of polyamide Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites (PANC) were prepared using solution intercalation method. The biobased polyamide (PA) was synthesized using direct polycondensation reaction. Organo azo-dye modified Mg-Al LDH (OLDH) was prepared by one-step method and its effect on the thermal and optical properties of PA was investigated. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed the uniform distribution of LDH sheets in the PA matrix. The UV-Vis spectra of PANC showed a blue shift as well as reduction in absorbance intensities and the photoluminescence studies revealed the higher emission intensities for PANC as compared to the neat PA. The results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in both nitrogen and air atmospheres showed that the addition of OLDH up to 5 mass% was slightly improved thermal properties of PA.