Piezoelectric properties of PVDF-conjugated polymer nanofibers

This study presents the development and characterization of PVDF-conjugated polymer nanofiber-based systems. Five different conducting polymers (CPs) were synthesized successfully and used to create the nanofiber systems. The CPs used are polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole (PPY), polyindole (PIN), polyanthranilic acid (PANA), and polycarbazole (PCZ). Nanofiber systems were produced utilizing the Forcespinning® technique. The nanofiber systems were developed by mechanical stretching. No electrical field or post-process poling was used in the nanofiber systems. The morphology, structure, electrochemical and piezoelectric performance was characterized. All of the nanofiber PVDF/CP systems displayed higher piezoelectric performance than the fine fiber PVDF systems. The PVDF/PPY nanofiber system displays the highest piezoelectric performance of 15.56 V. The piezoelectric performance of the PVDF/CP nanofiber systems favors potential for an attractive source of energy where highly flexible membranes could be used in power actuators, sensors and portable, and wireless devices to mention some.     

Development of a new ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) with Cd2+ ions based on divinylbenzene copolymers containing amidoxime groups

Polymer Bulletin - In this study, we synthesized a new ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) based on introduction of amidoxime groups in acrylonitrile, complexation with Cd2+ ions and polymerization with...     

Influence of the dispersion of Nanoclays on the cellular structure of foams based on polystyrene

In the present work blends of polystyrene (PS) with sepiolites have been produced using a melt extrusion process. The dispersion degree of the sepiolites in the PS has been analyzed by dynamic shear rheology and X-ray micro-computed tomography. Sepiolites treated with quaternary ammonium salts (O-QASEP) are better dispersed in the PS matrix than natural sepiolites (N-SEP) or sepiolites organo-modified with silane groups (O-SGSEP). A percolated network is obtained when using 6.0 wt% of O-QASEP, 8.0 wt% of N-SEP and 10.0 wt% of O-SGSEP. It has been shown that multiple extrusion processes have a negative effect on the polymer architecture. They produce a reduction in the length of the polymeric chains, and they do not lead to a better dispersion of the particles in the polymer matrix. Foams have been produced using a gas dissolution foaming process, where a strong effect of the dispersion degree on the cellular structure of the different foams was found. The effects on the cellular structure obtained by using different types of sepiolites, different contents of sepiolites and different extrusion conditions have been analyzed. The foams produced with the formulations containing O-QASEP present the lowest cell size and the most homogeneous cellular structures.     

Evaluation of mathematical equations to predict the theoretical yield of Chilean Gouda cheese

This study was performed to obtain an adequate tool for predicting the yield of Chilean Gouda cheese. The theoretical yields were calculated by applying equations derived from technical references to industrial cheese production and were compared with their own actual yields, thus selecting those equations showing the best correlation with the actual yield.
The manufacturing and ripening of the cheese were controlled through the chemical composition of milk, whey and cheese, and the weight of the product before and after ripening was recorded.
The actual and theoretical yield values derived from each formula were compared using the mean yield graphs. Furthermore, the global concordance coefficient ( W ) of Kendall and Smith was also applied, showing the lack of significant discrepancy between actual and theoretical yield values [ P  > 0.01 ( W  = 27; W ≥  18.48)] for either 3- or 30-day cheeses. Out of the 11 formulae used to measure the yield of cheese, six showing a good correlation between the yields were selected through the comparison of error sums and Pearson correlation analysis. However, two formulae showed the best yield results for practical use.     

Effect-Size Indices for Dichotomized Outcomes in Meta-Analysis.

It is very common to find meta-analyses in which some of the studies compare 2 groups on continuous dependent variables and others compare groups on dichotomized variables. Integrating all of them in a meta-analysis requires an effect-size index in the same metric that can be applied to both types of outcomes. In this article, the performance in terms of bias and sampling variance of 7 different effect-size indices for estimating the population standardized mean difference from a 2 × 2 table is examined by Monte Carlo simulation, assuming normal and nonnormal distributions. The results show good performance for 2 indices, one based on the probit transformation and the other based on the logistic distribution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Application of Romero García method to the degradation process of DGEBA/ETDA filled with ultra fine metallic copper

Summary The thermal properties of an epoxy resin (diglycidyl ether Bisphenol A, DGEBA) cured with a primary amine (ethylenediamine, ETDA) and filled with 10, 20 and 30 wt. % of ultra fine copper particles were analyzed. The thermal results were evaluated by means of the Romero-Garcia method, which allowed to obtain the resin degradation kinetic parameters, as well as the possible decomposition mechanism. From the obtained results is possible to infer that higger copper content strongly affects the degradation process of the epoxy resin, which causes a drop off on the composites thermal stability. This behavior could be attributed to water presence, being this effect less pronounced for the resin with 10 wt. % copper and unfilled resin. Regarding to decomposition mechanism, three way transport showed the best correlation for all samples.