Structure and properties of CE/CTBN/EP blends: II. Effect of EP on the mechanical properties and thermostability of the CE/CTBN system

Carboxyl‐terminated butadiene‐acrylonitrile rubber (CTBN) has often been used to improve the toughness of cyanate ester (CE) resin while sacrificing modulus and thermostability. In this paper, the addition of the appropriate amount of epoxy resin (EP) to the CE/CTBN system is shown to not only increase the modulus and thermostability of the blend, but also improve the toughness. The values of impact strength showed a maximum for the CE/CTBN/EP 100/5/5 blend. The temperature of 10 % weight loss (T₁₀) improves from 376 °C for CE/CTBN 100/5 to 407 °C for the CE/CTBN/EP 100/5/2.5 blend. It is proposed that addition of the appropriate amount of EP can decrease the mobility and increase the stability of CTBN via the reaction between the terminal carboxyl group of CTBN and the hydroxyl group of EP. But a very high EP concentration will decrease the crosslinking density of CE, consequently reducing the mechanical properties and thermostability of the blends. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characterization of new thermally stable poly(ester‐imide)s derived from 2,2′‐bis(4‐trimellitimidophenoxy)biphenyl and 2,2′‐bis(4‐trimellitimidophenoxy)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl and various aromatic dihydroxy compounds

A series of new alternating aromatic poly(ester‐imide)s were prepared by the polycondensation of the preformed imide ring‐containing diacids, 2,2′‐bis(4‐trimellitimidophenoxy)biphenyl (2a) and 2,2′‐bis(4‐trimellitimidophenoxy)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl (2b) with various aromatic dihydroxy compounds in the presence of pyridine and lithium chloride. A model compound (3) was also prepared by the reaction of 2b with phenol, its synthesis permitting an optimization of polymerization conditions. Poly(ester‐imides) were fully characterized by FTIR, UV‐vis and NMR spectroscopy. Both biphenylene‐ and binaphthylene‐based poly(ester‐imide)s exhibited excellent solubility in common organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, m‐cresol, pyridine and dichloromethane. However, binaphthylene‐based poly(ester‐imide)s were more soluble than those of biphenylene‐based polymers in highly polar organic solvents, including N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, N,N‐dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide. From differential scanning calorimetry thermograms, the polymers showed glass‐transition temperatures between 261 and 315 °C. Thermal behaviour of the polymers obtained was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, and the 10 % weight loss temperatures of the poly(ester‐imide)s was in the range 449–491 °C in nitrogen. Furthermore, crystallinity of the polymers was estimated by means of wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. The resultant poly(ester‐imide)s exhibited nearly an amorphous nature, except poly(ester‐imide)s derived from hydroquinone and 4,4′‐dihydroxybiphenyl. In general, polymers containing binaphthyl units showed higher thermal stability but lower crystallinity than polymers containing biphenyl units. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

The Difference in Turbulent Diffusion between the Active and Passive Scalars in a Thermally Stably Stratified Medium

The difference in the turbulent diffusion between the active (heat) and passive (mass) scalars in a thermally stably stratified medium is investigated. The axisymmetric problem is treated on the formation of a turbulent circulation flow above a heated disk and on the turbulent diffusion of a passive scalar (impurity) from a continuous surface source in a stably stratified medium. The results indicate that the thermal stratification causes appreciable differences in the coefficients of turbulent transfer between the active (heat) and passive (mass) scalars. This means that the assumption of the identity of the coefficient of turbulent diffusion of heat and mass, employed in conventional models of turbulence, produces significant errors in estimating the heat and mass transfer in a thermally stably stratified medium.     

Advancing controlled release packaging through smart blending

Researchers from Rutgers University and Clemson University have collaborated to develop a concept of using smart blending to generate functional packaging films for the controlled release of active compounds such as antimicrobials, antioxidants and flavour compounds to extend the shelf‐life of food. In this paper, literature results are reviewed to justify the significance of controlled release packaging (CRP) and the research gaps for further development are identified. A major research gap is the lack of packaging materials that can provide the release of active compounds at rates suitable for a wide range of food packaging applications. Smart blending is a promising technology for bridging this research gap. To fully realize the potentials of smart blending, a systematic approach for developing CRP using smart blending is also presented. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and evaluation of antimicrobial natamycin‐incorporated film in gorgonzola cheese conservation

Conservation of food products depends on product quality and packaging suitability. The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate the antimicrobial efficiency of natamycin‐incorporated film in the production process of Gorgonzola cheese. It aims to optimize the production process and increase shelf‐life and food safety for the consumer. Films with different concentrations of natamycin were produced and tested in Gorgonzola cheeses to evaluate its efficiency against Penicillium roqueforti on the cheese surface. Films with 2 and 4% natamycin presented satisfactory results for fungus inhibition and the amount of natamycin released to the cheese was below that allowed by the legislation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Facile optical resolution of amino acid esters via hydrolysis by an industrial enzyme in organic solvents

Racemic amino acid esters were optically resolved via hydrolysis in organic solvents by the catalysis of an industrial alkaline protease, “Alcalase”. The products which were composed mainly of L-amino acids were insoluble and easily separated by filtration. The activity of the enzyme and enantiomeric excess of the products were significantly dependent on the nature of solvent and the water content in the reaction media. Generally, high values of enantiomeric excess were obtained at low water contents. Many natural and unnatural amino acids were resolved by this method.     

A novel robust current control approach using adaptive line enhancer for three‐phase current‐source active power filter

An effective system control method is presented for applying a three‐phase current‐source PWM converter with a deadbeat controller to active power filters (APFs). In the shunt‐type configuration, the APF is controlled such that the current drawn by the APF from the utility is equal to the current harmonics and reactive current required for the load. To attain the time‐optimal response of the APF supply current, a two‐dimensional deadbeat control scheme is applied to APF current control. Furthermore, in order to cancel both the delay in the two‐dimensional deadbeat control scheme and the delay in DSP control strategy, an Adaptive Line Enhancer (ALE) is introduced in order to predict the desired value three sampling periods ahead. ALE has another function of bringing robustness to the deadbeat control system. Due to the ALE, settling time is made short in a transient state. On the other hand, total harmonic distortion (THD) of source currents can be minimized compared to the case where ideal identification of the controlled system can be made. The experimental results obtained from the DSP‐based APF are also reported. The compensating ability of this APF is very high in accuracy and responsiveness although the modulation frequency is rather low. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 150(1): 50–61, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20014     

Influence of process variables on the drying of potato slices

Investigation of the effects of varying air velocity, slice thickness, and pre-treatment with sodium chloride solutions and surface active agents on drying potato slices indicated that the drying occurred entirely in the falling rate period and was controlled by the mechanism of liquid diffusion. The rate of drying, and therefore the diffusion coefficients, increased with the addition of sodium chloride and surface active agents. Diffusion coefficients were also influenced by air velocity and slice thickness, suggesting that the rate of drying of potato slices is controlled by a combination of internal and external resistances.     

A novel direct aerodynamically assisted threading methodology for generating biologically viable microthreads encapsulating living primary cells

In a recent discovery, coaxial electrospinning was explored to encapsulate living organisms within a continuous bio‐polymeric microthread from which active biological scaffolds were fabricated (Townsend‐Nicholson and Jayasinghe, Biomacromolecules 2006, 7, 3364). The cells were demonstrated to have gone through all expected cellular activity without their viability being compromised. These biologically active threads and scaffolds have direct and tremendous applicability from regenerative to therapeutic medicine. Currently these post‐processed cells as composite threads and scaffolds are being investigated in‐depth at a cellular level to establish if the processing methodology has any affect on the cellular make‐up. We now demonstrate a competing non‐electric field driven approach for fabricating composite threads and scaffolds influenced only by a differential pressure. We refer to this novel composite thread to scaffold fabrication methodology as coaxial aerodynamically assisted bio‐threading (CAABT). Our investigations firstly, demonstrate that this technique can process handle living organisms without biologically perturbing them in anyway. Secondly the process is elucidated as possessing the ability to form composite active threads from which biologically viable scaffolds are formed. Finally our study employs florescent activated cell sorting (FACScan), a method by which the cellular dynamics and viability are quantified on control and threaded cellular samples at two prescribed time points. In parallel with FACScan, optical comparison of cellular morphology at three time points within a period of three weeks is carried out to photographically observe any changes in the post‐processed cellular phenotype. Our developmental investigations into this novel aerodynamically assisted threading methodology has unearthed a unique biomicrofabrication approach, which joins cell electrospinning in the cell threading to scaffold fabrication endeavor. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Water and salt permeability of reinforcement polymer‐gel composite membrane

The charged mosaic polymer membrane (CMM) without reinforcement and the composite charged mosaic polymer membrane (CCMM) with reinforcement were investigated in terms of salt and water transport (permeability). The composite charged mosaic polymer membrane (CCMM) with reinforcement showed a unique transport behavior such as preferential material transport L_p and ω. Water permeability coefficient, L_p and salt permeability coefficient, ω were estimated by taking account of active layer thickness of composite polymer gel. The L_p and ω values of CCMM with reinforcement were larger than those of CMM without reinforcement. On the other hand, the reflection coefficient of CCMM, σ, showed negative value, which suggested preferential material transport to solvent transport. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008