Copolymer analysis by UV spectroscopy

An extensive and detailed analysis of copolymers was made by developing a rapid spectrophotometric method. Successful analysis of composition in styrene-p-methoxystyrene, styrene-p-chlorostyrene, and styrene-p-fluorostyrene copolymers were performed by UV spectrometry. Their absorption bands were investigated either with respect to pure polystyrene or with respect to the homopolymer of the other constituent at the same wavelength. Attempts to analyze copolymers of styrene-4-vinylpyridine and styrene-N-vinylcarbazole by similar methods were unsuccessful.     

EXTRUSION AND LUBRICATION FLOWS OF VISCOPLASTIC FLUIDS WITH WALL SLIP

The simplest model flow which approximates the extrusion (shallow screw channels) and lubrication flow is the steady, laminar flow occurring between two infinitely long parallel plates i.e., the generalized plane Couette flow. Here we develop an analytical model of the generalized plane Couette flow of viscoplastic fluids. The deformation and flow behavior of viscoplastic fluids can be realistically represented with the Herschel-Bulkley constitutive equation, which we have utilized as the basis for the development of our analytical model. Furthermore, as also demonstrated here, the deformation behavior of viscoplastic fluids is generally complicated by the presence of wall slip at solid walls, which occurs as a function of the wall shear stress. The wall slip versus the wall shear stress behavior of viscoplastic fluids can be experimentally characterized using viscomelric flows, including steady torsional and capillary flows. Thus determined Navier's wall slip coefficient can then be utilized in modeling of processing flows. In our analytical model of the generalized plane Couette flow of viscoplastic fluids the Navier's wall slip boundary condition was included. This model should be an important engineering tool, which provides design expressions for the extrusion and lubrication flows of viscoplastic fluids, with or without wall slip occurring at the walls. @KEYWORDS:Extrusion, lubrication, flow, viscoplastic, slip.     

Synthesis and mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester based nanocomposites

Two classes of nanocomposites were synthesized using an unsaturated polyester resin as the matrix and sodium montmorillonite as well as an organically modified montmorillonite as the reinforcing agents. X‐ray diffraction pattern of the composites showed that the interlayer spacing of the modified montmorillonite expanded from 1.25 nm to 4.5 nm, indicating intercalation. Glass transition values of these composites increased from 72°C, in the unfilled unsaturated polyester, to 86°C in the composite with 10% organically modified montmorillonite. From Scanning Electron Microscopy, it is seen that the degree of intercalation/exfoliation of the modified montmorillonite is higher than in the unmodified one. The mechanical properties also supported these findings, since in general, the tensile modulus, tensile strength, flexural modulus, flexural strength and impact strength of the composites with modified montmorillonite were higher than the corresponding properties of the composites with unmodified montmorillonite. The tensile modulus, tensile strength, flexural modulus and flexural strength values showed a maximum, whereas the impact strength exhibited a minimum at approximately 3–5 wt% modified montmorillonite content. These results imply that the level of exfoliation may also exhibit a maximum with respect to the modified montmorillonite content. The level of improvement in the mechanical properties was substantial. Adding only 3 wt% organically modified clay improved the flexural modulus of unsaturated polyester by 35%. The tensile modulus of unsaturated polyester was also improved by 17% at 5 wt% of organically modified clay loading.     

Glycation of soy protein isolate with two ketoses: d-Allulose and fructose

Modification of food proteins to have improved functional properties is of great importance. In this study, modification of soy protein isolate (SPI) was achieved through glycation. SPI was glycated in a spray dryer (SD) and an incubator followed by freeze drying (FD). d -Allulose, an important rare sugar, was used in SPI glycation as the carbohydrate source, and results were compared with fructose. In addition to the sugar type, two different SPI powder: sugar ratios (1:1 and 5:1) were investigated. For the glycated samples, emulsification activity, free amino groups, protein solubility, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, antioxidant activity experiments and time-domain NMR relaxometry measurements for hydration were conducted. According to the results, the solubility of SPI that is limited in native form has shown a significant improvement after glycation through both FD and SD methods. Besides, glycation through the FD method was found to be more favourable due to its milder conditions than the SD method. Considering the physicochemical properties, the best combination for the highest glycation degree was found to be the samples prepared at the 1:1 ratio with d -Allulose in the FD method. Overall, it was concluded that glycation of SPI enhanced its functional properties such as antioxidant and emulsification activities.     

Formation of chlorination by-products in waters with low SUVA--correlations with SUVA and differential UV spectroscopy

The formation of THMs and HAAs after chlorination of bulk water fractions of low-SUVA (specific UV absorbance) surface waters was investigated, and the applicability of SUVA and differential UV spectroscopy for monitoring THMs and HAAs in such waters was evaluated. Samples from two reservoirs were fractionated employing XAD-8, XAD-4, MIEX resin and granular activated carbon adsorption. A total of 83 bulk water NOM fractions (i.e., the remaining solutions after contact with the adsorbent or resin at various doses) were obtained and chlorinated. The majority of NOM in both waters was found to have average molecular weights <2000 Da and SUVA values <2L/mg Cm, indicating that NOM in the tested waters contained dominantly lower molecular weight fractions and low aromaticity. SUVA did not correlate well with the formation and speciation of THMs and HAAs, suggesting that SUVA does not capture the reactive sites on NOM moieties responsible for DBP formation in low-SUVA waters. Similarly, no correlations were found among THMs/HAAs formations and differential UV spectroscopy, indicating the formation of DBPs independent of destruction in UV-absorbing sites. In all fractions, concentrations of THMs were higher than those of HAAs. Chlorinated DBP species were dominant over brominated ones due to low bromide concentrations. The results overall suggested that low- or non-UV-absorbing NOM moieties play important roles in the formation of DBPs in waters with low SUVA, low DOC and low bromide levels.     

Development of a PVC Waterproofing Sheet

Stabilizer and plasticizer systems were studied for a PVC waterproofing sheet formulation to be processed by calendering. Combinations of stabilizer-lubricant systems that contained (Ba, Cd, Zn), dibasic lead phosphite, epoxidized soybean oil, barium stearate, calcium stearate, and stearic acid were evaluated. Oven aging tests showed that the system that contained 2 phr (Ba, Cd, Zn) stabilizer, 0.5 phr barium stearate, 5 phr epoxidized soybean oil, and 0.25 phr stearic acid was satisfactory. Combinations of diisodecylphthalate (DIIP), tricresyl phosphate (TCP), polybutylene adipate (PBA), and NBR were evaluated as the plasticizer system. Tensile properties in the machine and the transverse directions, cold flex temperature, loss of volatile matter content, and aging properties were studied as functions of the DIIP and PBA contents. A plasticizer system of 35 phr DIIP and 18 phr PBA was found to be satisfactory. The final formulation was processed at industrial scale and the product was characterized for its tensile properties, cold flex temperature, tear resistance, weldability, permeability to water, shrinkage, and its resistance to heat, light, acid, and water.     

Pb(II) biosorption using anaerobically digested sludge

Removal of Pb(II) by using resting cells of anaerobically digested sludge (ADS) obtained from a nearby wastewater treatment plant was examined. Firstly, sorption kinetic and equilibrium experiments were conducted using agitated, thermostated (25 degrees C) batch reactors. The maximum Pb(II) sorption capacity was found to be very high (1,750 mg/g dry ADS or 8.45 mmol/g dry ADS). At all initial Pb(II) concentrations tested, sorption resulted in neutralization with an increase in the solution pH from an initial value of 4.0-5.5 to an equilibrium value of 7.0-8.0, at which Pb(II) can precipitate as hydroxide. The removal of Pb(II) by ADS was found to involve bioprecipitation as well as biosorption. FTIR spectrometry highlighted carboxyl groups present on the surface of ADS as the major functional groups responsible for biosorption. Secondly, a three-stage semi-continuous pseudo-counter current reactor system was tested to reduce ADS requirement in comparison to a conventional single-stage batch reactor. At an initial Pb(II) concentration of about 200 mg/L, an effluent Pb(II) concentration of 1.3 mg/L was achieved in the three stage reactor, corresponding to a metal removal capacity of 682.7 mg/g dry ADS (3.30 mmol/g), in comparison to 1.9 mg/L and 644.0 mg/g dry ADS (3.10 mmol/g) for the single-stage batch reactor.     

Synthesis and characterization of epoxy based nanocomposites

Epoxy‐clay nanocomposites were synthesized to examine the effects of the content and type of different clays on the structure and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol‐A (epoxy) was reinforced by 0.5–11 wt % natural (Cloisite Na⁺) and organically modified (Cloisite 30B) types of montmorillonite. SEM results showed that as the clay content increased, larger agglomerates of clay were present. Nanocomposites with Cloisite 30B exhibited better dispersion and a lower degree of agglomeration than nanocomposites with Cloisite Na⁺. X‐ray results indicated that in nanocomposites with 3 wt % Cloisite 30B, d‐spacing expanded from 18.4 Å (the initial value of the pure clay) to 38.2 Å. The glass transition temperature increased from 73°C, in the unfilled epoxy resin, to 83.5°C in the nanocomposite with 9 wt % Cloisite 30B. The tensile strength exhibited a maximum at 1 wt % modified clay loading. Addition of 0.5 wt % organically modified clay improved the impact strength of the epoxy resin by 137%; in contrast, addition of 0.5 wt % unmodified clay improved the impact strength by 72%. Tensile modulus increased with increasing clay loading in both types of nanocomposites. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 1081–1086, 2005     

Effect of Columnar Defects on Magnetization of Mesoscopic Superconductors

In this work we investigated magnetization and vortex configurations in mesoscopic superconducting samples in the presence of square columnar defects (CDs). We solved numerically the nonlinear TDGL equations for different samples to study magnetization as a function of the applied magnetic field. In calculations, we focused mainly on four samples with different numbers of CDs which have the same total surface area. In this way, the total superconducting area remained the same with increasing the number of CDs for a fixed sample size. We found that the superconducting regions still exist inside the sample at high applied magnetic fields with increasing the number of CDs but irreversible effects became increasingly prominent, when the field is returned to zero. The results are discussed in frame of surface and pinning effects in mesoscopic systems.     

Processing and properties of modified polyamide 66-organoclay nanocomposites

Binary polyamide 66 nanocomposites containing 2 wt % organoclay, polyamide 66 blend containing 5 wt % impact modifier, and ternary polyamide 66 nanocomposites containing 2 wt % organoclay and 5 wt % impact modifier were prepared by melt compounding method. The effects of E-GMA and the types of the organoclays on the interaction between the organoclay and the polymer, dispersion of the organoclay, morphology, mechanical, flow, and thermal properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. Partial exfoliation and improved mechanical properties are observed for Cloisite® 15A and Cloisite® 25A nanocomposites. On the other hand, the organoclay was intercalated or in the form of tactoids in Cloisite® 30B nanocomposites. Components of the nanocomposites containing Cloisite® 15A and Cloisite® 25A were compounded in different addition orders. Mixing sequence of the components affected both the dispersion of the organoclay and the mechanical properties drastically. SEM analyses revealed that homogeneous dispersion of the organoclay results in a decrease in the domain sizes and promotes the improvements in the toughness of the materials. Melt viscosity was also found to have a profound effect on the dispersion of the organoclay according to MFI and XRD results. Crystallinity of the nanocomposites did not change significantly. It is only the type of the constituents and their addition order what dramatically influence the nanocomposite properties. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008