IRANIAN POLYMER JOURNAL
Year:2021 | Volume:30 | Issue:2|Papers Count:8

This study aims to obtain pebble and epoxy composites with low thermal conductivity, low water absorption and minimal porosity. The effects of filler size, weight percentage of pebble and epoxy, aggregate size and curing time of the composites were evaluated. The ANOVA of S/N ratio was also performed to determine the effect of thermal conductivity, water absorption and porosity of the composites. The experiments were designed as per the Taguchi L27 orthogonal array. The results indicated that the effect of thermal conductivity improved slightly with 35% (wt) of epoxy resin present in the composite and the higher thermal conductivity was observed in the composite with 15% (wt) of epoxy resin. Water absorption and porosity results were found which showed that this composite with 15% (wt) epoxy resin content yielded better results when compared to the composite with 35% (wt) epoxy resin content. The embedded composites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra to study the effect of chemical treatment of pebble/epoxy composite. The morphological studies of the fractured surfaces of the epoxy composites were performed by scanning electron microscopy.

A simple, cheap, and environmentally friendly bio-conducting interpenetrated polymer blend network was prepared and introduced as a highly efficient system with suitable physical and mechanical properties for industrial removal of toxic Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solution. Carboxymethyl cellulose/polyaniline (CMC/PANI) interpenetrated network (IPN) blend was prepared by simple simultaneous ion-cross-linking of CMC and PANI chains using Al3+ cations. The CMC/PANI bio-conducting nanocomposite was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy equipped with an "energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy" (SEM–, EDX) technique. The CMC/PANI blend, ion-cross-linked by Al3+ cations, showed good stability and high surface area, proper for the removal of toxic Cr(VI) ions of the aqueous solution. Batch removal experiments were accomplished and the impression of effective variables including solution pH, initial concentration of Cr(VI) ions, contact time, and adsorbent dosage were checked and optimized. The outcome of our findings revealed that the removal of Cr(VI) ions by CMC/PANI nanocomposite IPN strongly depends on solution pH. The removal information was matched with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model and the utmost monolayer adsorption capacity at pH 2 was 136. 98 mg/g at 25 °, C. The pseudo-second-order kinetics were operated and the thermodynamic parameters suggested spontaneous and exothermic nature of the adsorption process. Consequences indicated that CMC/PANI nanocomposite IPN could be an affective eco/environmentally friendly adsorbent for the removal of Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solutions.

A tricyclazole selective chitosan/Fe3O4 magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MMIP) was synthesized using non-covalent binding polymerization involving methacrylic acid (MAA) as functional monomer, divinylbenzene (DVB-80) as crosslinker, 2, 2'-azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator, acetonitrile/toluene (75: 25, v/v) as porogenic solvent and tricyclazole as template. Surface morphology and magnetic characterization of the prepared imprinted and non-imprinted polymers were done using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and vibrating sample magnetometry, respectively. The adsorption kinetic data fitted best in pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption equilibrium was achieved in 30 min and the maximum binding capacity was 4579. 9 µ, g/g. The Freundlich isotherm model was found suitable for explaining the binding isotherm data (R2 , > , 0. 99). Negative values of thermodynamic parameters ∆, G (Gibb’, s free energy), ∆, H (enthalpy), and ∆, S (entropy) revealed exothermic and spontaneous nature of adsorption processes. It also revealed decreased randomness at the solid–, liquid interface during sorption. The scatchard plot analysis suggested heterogeneity of binding sites on MMIPs. The molecular recognition selectivity of MMIPs towards tricyclazole was much higher, as compared to its structural analogues, tebuconazole (α,  , = , 28. 58) and hexaconazole (α,  , = , 37. 16). The MMIPs were successfully applied to separate and enrich tricyclazole from fortified samples of rice and water, with a recovery percentage of 89. 4% and 90. 9%, respectively. These reusable imprinted polymers possessing high selectivity and specificity can be utilized as an adsorbent for solid-phase extraction in sample preparation for tricyclazole residue analysis in complex environmental matrices.

In this study, biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA)/chitosan (Cs) composites were produced via melt compounding and compression molding techniques. Various chitosan loadings of 2. 5, 5, 7. 5 and 10 parts per hundred parts of polymer (php) were incorporated into PLA and its effects on thermal, water absorption kinetics, tensile and morphological characteristics were investigated systematically. Thermal analysis indicated that an increase in chitosan loading of up to 10 php enhanced the crystallinity percentage (χ, c) of neat PLA to an extent of 51%, yet reduced the thermal stability of the resulting biocomposites. The kinetic study results revealed that water absorption of PLA/Cs biocomposites approached the Fickian diffusion behavior. The maximum water uptake (Msat) increased with chitosan addition, which can be attributed to stronger water–, filler interaction. This was correlated to higher diffusion (D), solubility (S) and permeability (P) coefficients, which suggested the acceleration in diffusion rate and better water permeation through the biocomposites. In addition, the tensile results of dry samples showed enhancement in tensile strength and tensile modulus by 2% and 14%, respectively, relative to neat PLA through the incorporation of 2. 5 php of chitosan loading. However, the water-immersed biocomposites demonstrated deterioration in all tensile properties (tensile strength, tensile modulus, and elongation-at-break values) which signified hydrolytic polymer degradation. This was confirmed by the FESEM micrographs of the fractured surfaces which exhibited filler pulled-out phenomenon and cavity formation after 50 days of water immersion.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of application of copper(I) oxide (Cu2O) as an unconventional crosslinking agent of chloroprene (CR) and styrene-butadiene (SBR) rubber compositions. The use of Cu2O arises from the need to limit the application of ZnO as a CR crosslinking agent. The obtained results indicate that CR/SBR blends crosslinked with Cu2O are characterized by good mechanical properties and a high degree of crosslinking The results show that the proportion of both processing rubbers, as well as the amount of copper(I) oxide, influence the crosslinking of CR/SBR blends and the properties of the vulcanizates. Performing FTIR analysis has allowed the development of a crosslinking mechanism. Crosslinking presumably takes place according to the mechanism of Friedel–, Crafts alkylation reaction. Silica, chalk, china clay and nanofiller (montmorillonite modified with quaternary ammonium salt containing hydroxyl groups) were applied as fillers. Among the fillers, silica had the greatest impact on improving the properties. It is arisen from silica activity, unlike other used fillers. The AFM analysis allowed us to determine the miscibility of the rubbers and dispersion of fillers. Thermal analysis was performed to determine the changes occurring as a result of material heating. The low intensity of the peaks corresponding to the crosslinking of the CR/SBR blends may indicate a small amount of bonds formed during heating, or possibility is the formation of connections between chains with a low binding energy. The use of chalk, china clay or silica increases the thermal stability of the vulcanizates. Obtained vulcanizates were characterized by increased incombustibility. The study of combustion time in the air showed that the prepared vulcanizates did not support the burning.

Electrospun polymeric nanofibers as carriers for anticancer drugs have received a great deal of attention to treat tumor cells. This work was aimed to prepare an optimized nanofibrous sample based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/chitosan (CS) blend, and then evaluate it containing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in terms of morphology, drug release, and cell culture. The electrospinning conditions to produce PVA/CS (50/50) blend nanofibers with an average diameter of approximately 150. 8 nm were adjusted as follows: applied voltage 17 kV, needle tip to collector distance 60 cm, and flow rate 0. 1 mL/h. The obtained results from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that there were no chemical interactions between the polymers and drug during the electrospinning process and the uniform morphology without beads. Moreover, to prolong 5-FU release from the blend nanofibers, three layered samples consisting of PVA/CS blend and poly (ε,-caprolactone) (PCL) [PVA/CS-PCL 3-layers] were electrospun. On the other hand, by adding PCL in the PVA/CS blend nanofibers, the samples showed more hydrophobic property. Eventually, thiazolyl blue (MTT) assay along with NIH 3T3 cells culture proved that the sample could kill more than 80% of the cells. This formulation could be a promising candidate for cancer therapy potentially.

The current research work presents an attempt to develop an antimicrobial agent from the bioresource cardanol which can be embedded in the polymer matrix to develop a UV curable coating. The brominated cardanol (BC) was synthesized from liquid bromine (Br2) and cardanol followed by the reaction with triethylamine (TEA) to synthesize quaternary ammonium cardanol (AC). Further, the reaction with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) gives a UV curable antimicrobial agent (AA). This AA was incorporated in the epoxy acrylate UV curable system in various proportions along with the photoinitiator and coated onto a wooden substrate. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies and elemental analysis results revealed that the desired product has been formed. An antimicrobial test was performed with three types of microorganisms viz., bacteria, yeast, and fungi. The test results showed that the antimicrobial performance of the coatings was increased with the significant inhibition percentage values of 81. 59% for gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), 77. 12% for gram-negative bacteria (E. coli), and 73. 82% for yeast (Candida albicans). Also, there was a decrease in the growth% value of the fungi (Aspergillus niger) as the concentration of AA in the system was increased. The mechanical properties of all the coatings were similar. There was a decrease in the Tg as well as in the degradation temperature of the coating films as the concentration of AA was increased, but the char yield got increased, as well. The sample with 20 wt% of AA showed the maximum amount of char yield (11. 49%).

The mechanical and fracture behavior of polymer composites are the subject of great interest from many years and still interesting among the researchers. Composites are extremely used for their superior mechanical, thermal and fracture toughness properties in various sectors such as automobile, aerospace and defense applications. In this article, unidirectional and woven high strength glass, carbon and Kevlar fiber reinforced polymer textile composites are taken into consideration for the comprehensive review of mechanical behavior and fracture toughness characterization. Current review work began with the introduction to polymer textile composites with its manufacturing stages, processing techniques and factors affecting the performance under mechanical loading. The mechanical behavior of high strength fiber reinforced polymer (HSFRP) textile composites was discussed in tension, compression, flexural, low velocity and high velocity impact loading with the recent numerical and experimental characterization studies. Textile geometrical modeling and CAE tools are also described for numerical characterization. Under the influence of mechanical loading on composites, failure occurs actually due to the crack initiation and propagation, so it is also required to characterize. Significant elements of fracture mechanics are well described for the better understanding of fracture toughness characterization. Mode-I, Mode-II, Mode-III interlaminar and Mode-I intralaminar fracture toughness characterization are widely explained by considering the effect of filler content, fiber orientation and fiber volume fraction. Fracture toughness characterization techniques and research summery are uniquely presented by considering various factors under one umbrella for better understanding of fracture behavior. Statistical Weibull distribution is also presented for the failure prediction of composites.