Role of PET in improving wear properties of PP in dry sliding condition

The sliding wear of isotactic polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and their blends was evaluated as a function of applied pressure and composition against a stainless steel counter face in dry condition. Wear rate decreases with the addition of PET in the blend. The wear was observed in two stages, the moderate wear and high wear while increasing the applied pressure on test samples. The addition of PET in PP helps in increasing the limit of moderate wear towards the high-pressure side. Microstructure and worn surfaces of samples were observed by scanning electron microscope. The wear phenomenon has been discussed based on wear losses and worn surfaces.     

Microwave‐accelerated Synthesis and Characterization of Potato Starch‐g‐poly(acrylamide)

Using a very low concentration of potassium persulfate as initiator, acrylamide could be efficiently grafted onto potato starch under microwave irradiation and for the grafting O₂ removal from the reaction vessel was not required. Under optimal conditions, grafting and efficiency observed were 160% and 89%, respectively. Grafted starch was characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was observed that the microwave irradiation could significantly accelerate the synthesis of starch‐graft‐poly(acrylamide), because under identical conditions no grafting was observed in a conventional procedure. Viscosity, shear stability and water/saline solution retention of the microwave‐synthesized grafted starch were studied and compared with that of the parent starch.     

Mechanism of material removal during three-body abrasion of FRP composite

The low-stress abrasive wear behaviour of chopped-glass-fibre-reinforced polyester composites has been studied by using a rubber wheel abrasion test (RWAT) apparatus. Silica sand particles of two different size ranges were used in the current study as dry and loose abrasives. Weight loss of the composites during three-body abrasion has been examined as a function of the sliding distance. Abrasive wear of the composites shows dependence both on abrasive particle sizes and applied load, as well as the weight fraction of glass fibre reinforcement. It has also been observed that the wear rate becomes constant with the increasing sliding distance. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the worn surfaces and to understand the mechanism involved in material removal. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel saponified guar‐graft‐poly(acrylonitrile)/silica nanocomposite materials

The combination of carbohydrates with silicon‐based ceramic materials offers attractive means of production for high performance materials. Present article describes the synthesis of novel nanocomposites out of SiO₂ and saponified guar‐graft‐poly(acrylonitrile) (SG). Tetraethoxysilane was used as the precursor for silica and growth of SiO₂ phase was allowed concurrently in the presence of SG. The material so obtained was thermally treated at 80°C, 160°C, 500°C, and 900°C to study the effect of thermal curing on its properties. During the curing process, silanol surface groups of silica globules reacted to create the reinforced SiO₂‐SG substance. It was observed that at 900°C, the SiO₂ phase crystallized out in tetragonal shape (similar to Cristobalite form of silica) in presence of SG. The chemical, structural and textural characteristics of the composites were determined by FTIR, XRD, TGA‐DTA, SEM and BET studies. The materials were also evaluated as efficient Zn²⁺ metal binder. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 536–544, 2007