Study of polypropylene/polybutene blends modified by gamma irradiation and (high melt strength polypropylene)/polybutene blends

It is well-known that polypropylene (PP) is difficult to process as a consequence of its linear structure. It is also known that grafting of long-chain branches on PP backbone using ionizing radiation is an effective approach to achieve high melt strength polypropylene (HMS PP). Chain-scission and, in minor extend, crosslinking and grafting are the predominant reaction in order to branch PP backbone. However, if multifunctional monomers are used to promote the grafting reaction, crosslinking can surpass chain scission and grafting, reducing drawability. Therefore, in an effort to enhance the processability and so the drawability, it has been found helpful to add a small amount of polybutene-1. Gamma irradiation technique was used to induce chemical changes in blends of PP and polybutene in acetylene atmosphere (crosslinker promoter) and in HMSPP/polybutene blends. The samples were irradiated with a ⁶⁰Co source with doses of 12.5 and 20 kGy in the presence of acetylene. In this work, two different methods of blends processing were compared regarding rheological and mechanical properties. Effects on the strength and elongation at the yield point and at rupture were observed by mechanical tests and showed decrease of tensile strength and increase of elongation at rupture for samples obtained by irradiation of blends. The results from rheology demonstrated an increase in melt strength and drawability of blends.     

Parametric study for tensile properties of molded high-density polyethylene for applications in additive manufacturing and sustainable designs

Test specimens following ASTM D638 standards are frequently used to measure the tensile properties of reinforced and unreinforced polymers machined with traditional machining and emerging manufacturing methods (additive manufacturing/3D printing). However, designs of large engineering structures may rely on mechanical properties based on ASTM D3039 for fiber-reinforced polymer composites. This parametric study examines the scaling effects present in uniaxial tensile test specimens of molded high-density polyethylene (HDPE), with geometries ranging from Types I to IV of ASTM D638 to ASTM D3039. HDPE is a thermoplastic polymer that is recyclable, can be 3D-printed, and has a wide range of engineering applications, from bottles to pipes to radiation protection shielding. The mechanical properties test results for the molded HDPE samples are validated using a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate uncertainties for the probability distribution of maximum stress at the yield point. A Finite Element study based on the empirical model shows how the proposed approach can be adopted for design purposes. The results of this work are a useful tool to enhance confidence in the tensile mechanical properties of ASTM D638 Types II and IV geometries as statistically similar to those of ASTM D3039 samples, impacting engineering designs with traditional and emerging manufacturing methods.     

Effect of ball milling on the thermal conductivity and viscosity of Indian coal fly ash nanofluid

The present study investigates the effect of ball milling on thermal conductivity and viscosity of stable nanofluid of fly ash from Indian coal. The particle size of fly ash decreased from micron size to 89, 55.5, and 11.5 nm with reduction by 55, 90, and 434 times, respectively, due to ball milling for 30, 40, and 60 hours. The surfactant Triton X-100 was used to attain stability of 0.1% and 0.5% volume concentration of fly ash nanofluid. The samples were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential analysis. The outcome reveals that the thermal conductivity of fly ash nanofluid increases with temperature, volume concentration, and reduction in particle size. A maximum enhancement in thermal conductivity of 11.9% with 11.5-nm nanofluid sample and 5.4% with 89-nm nanofluid sample for 0.5% concentration at 60°C is observed. The viscosity of fly ash nanofluid increases with concentration and varies inversely with particle size and temperature. A difference of 1.6% in viscosity is observed between the values obtained with 11.5 and 89 nm nanofluid samples for 0.5% concentration at 30°C.     

Amaranth functional cookies exert potential antithrombotic and antihypertensive activities

In this study, amaranth flour was used as an ingredient to prepare gluten-free cookies. The production process and attributes of amaranth cookies were characterised, and the potential use of amaranth flour as a functional ingredient was analysed. Cookies exhibited a non-uniform reddish brown colour and a cookie factor ratio of 4.5 ± 0.6. Storage studies indicated that after 3 weeks at room temperature cookies presented slight variations in the texture. Simulated gastrointestinal digestion of this product was able to release peptides capable of exerting potential antithrombotic and antihypertensive activities, IC₅₀ values of 0.22 ± 0.04 and 0.23 ± 0.03 mg mL⁻¹ protein, respectively. This work demonstrates for the first time that food made with amaranth flour exerts potential antithrombotic and antihypertensive activity. In conclusion, these amaranth cookies could be an alternative way of incorporating potentially health beneficial products for people who choose a conscious diet, including coeliac or vegan consumers.     

Coded transmissions for space links affected by solar scintillation: Baseband analysis

A thorough analysis of the behavior of error‐correcting codes over space links affected by solar scintillation is presented. The relevant channel parameters are fixed through the development of a model based on real missions' data. Both telecommand and telemetry links are considered in fast and slow fading conditions. Besides classical coherent modulation schemes, the possibility to use noncoherent modulation schemes is considered, to eliminate the problem of phase tracking. For the case of channels with very slow fading, the use of external interleavers or erasure coding is proposed to cope with error bursts.     

Biocomposite Films Based on κ-Carrageenan/Locust Bean Gum Blends and Clays: Physical and Antimicrobial Properties

The aims of this work were to evaluate the physical and antimicrobial properties of biodegradable films composed of mixtures of κ-carrageenan (κ-car) and locust bean gum (LBG) when organically modified clay Cloisite 30B (C30B) was dispersed in the biopolymer matrix. Film-forming solutions were prepared by adding C30B (ranging from 0 to 16 wt.%) into the κ-car/LBG solution (40/60 wt.%) with 0.3 % (w/v) of glycerol. Barrier properties (water vapour permeability, P _vapour; CO₂ and O₂ permeabilities), mechanical properties (tensile strength, TS, and elongation-at-break, EB) and thermal stability of the resulting films were determined and related with the incorporation of C30B. Also, X-ray diffraction (XRD) was done in order to investigate the effect of C30B in film structure. Antimicrobial effects of these films against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica were also evaluated. The increase of clay concentration causes a decrease of P _vapour (from 5.34?×?10^?11 to 3.19?×?10^?11 g (m s?Pa)^?1) and an increase of the CO₂ permeability (from 2.26?×?10^?14 to 2.91?×?10^?14 g (m s?Pa)^?1) and did not changed significantly the O₂ permeability for films with 0 and 16 wt.% C30B, respectively. Films with 16 wt.% clay exhibited the highest values of TS (33.82 MPa) and EB (29.82 %). XRD patterns of the films indicated that a degree of exfoliation is attained depending on clay concentration. κ-car/LBG–C30B films exhibited an inhibitory effect only against L. monocytogenes. κ-car/LBG–C30B composite films are a promising alternative to synthetic films in order to improve the shelf life and safety of food products.