Improved properties of high-density polyethylene by integrating high content of bio-fillers based on green nanolignin for applications in plastic industry

Polypropylene biocomposites reinforced with softwood, abaca, jute, and kenaf fibers

PurposeThis paper aims to present a review of the NPE 2006, Plastics Show held in Chicago, IL with emphasis on robots, their application in the plastics industry and end‐of‐arm‐tooling.Design/methodology/approachIn‐depth interviews with suppliers of robots, injection molding machines, system integration of robots into plastic processing applications, control suppliers and end‐of‐arm‐tooling.FindingsThe plastic injection molding industry is moving to production cells with heavy usage of robot machine tending. The need for very short cycle times drives the interest in very fast agile robots with the ability to integrate easily into the production cell approach. New technologies such as in mold labeling also drive the need for suitable robots and competent system integrators to supply successful systems.Practical implicationsRobot builders need to continue to develop specialized robots and tooling to match with advancements in applications in the plastic industry. Users will need to think of robots as a necessary adjunct to any injection molding application.Originality/valuePresents a review of the NPE 2006, Plastics Show, Chicago, IL, with emphasis on robots, their application in the plastics industry and end‐of‐arm‐tooling.

Starch applications in the plastics industry have been investigated intensively for many years. Unfortunately, native starch is unsuitable for most applications in polymers, because of its hydrophilic and brittle character. Modification of native starch can be a solution of this problem. In our research programme we developed an environmentally friendly process for the preparation of starch derivatives with long hydrophobic side chains based on natural products derived from vegetable fats and oils on the one hand and amylomaize starch on the other hand. In this process modification is carried out by the addition of longchain 1,2-epoxyalkanes (chain lengths varying between 6—18 C atoms) to starch in an alkaline aqueous medium. Reaction yields and molar degrees of substitution depended on chain length, reaction time, temperature and catalyst concentration. Under optimised reaction conditions molar degrees of substitution of hydroxyalkyl starch ethers for theoretical molar substitution (MS) = 3.0 decreased from MS=1.8 (C6 starch ether) to MS=0.2 (C18 starch ether), respectively. Hydrophobic properties of starch products were measured in order to reveal structural effects obtained at different reaction conditions. Water solubility and water absorption properties of hydroxyalkyl starch ethers decreased with increasing chain length and number of hydroxyalkyl substituents. Thermal and thermoplastic properties of starch ethers were investigated in order to determine their potential use as biodegradable polymers in the plastics industry. As expected, thermoplasticity of starch ethers increased with increasing MS and increasing chain length of the hydroxyalkyl side groups.

ABSTRACTFriction stir welding (FSW) is a green, pollution-free, low-energy technology with high manoeuvrability. Thermoplastic plastics have extensive applications in the present industry because they offer excellent physical and corrosion properties, high degree freedom of processing and design. In this paper, the current state of FSW/P in plastics industry, including tool improvement, welding methods, process parameters optimisation, metal and polymer joining as well as composites fabrication, has been addressed. Although it presents a major challenge, FSW/P has a great potential to produce defect-free joint and fabricate composites in polymer materials.

Highly efficient and recyclable catalysts SnCl 2 – x H 3 PW 12 O 40 /AC with Brønsted and Lewis acid sites for terephthalic acid esterification

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is drought resistant staple food in tropical and subtropical regions and containing starch in higher amount. Cassava starch, being cheap and abundantly available, is capable of providing food security of the world. In addition to direct food and feed consumption of cassava, cassava has great potential in industry applications. The high starch content of cassava root accounts for its suitability in wide range of pharmaceutical, textile, detergent, plastic industries, food industries and feed industries. Cassava starch is used as base ingredients in various starch based foods like soups, bakery and in manufacturing of edible plastic food packaging material. However, cyanogenic glycosides secreted in cassava for self-defense produce hydrogen cyanide on hydrolysis and are accounting for its toxicity and safety concerns. Different processing treatment like peeling, washing, drying, fermentation, grating, boiling, and chemical treatments are used for cassava detoxification.

Some comments on the development of radiation and radioisotope measurement applications in industry

Because of their inherent accuracy and dependability, direct digital controls now find a wide assortment of applications in industry. Their modular nature and simplicity of function make them adaptable in a variety of permutations to an extensive variety of problems. The fundamentals of these digital control systems and how they can be applied in general and specifically in the rubber and plastics industry are discussed.

New types of complex salts of 7,7′,8,8′‐tetracyanoquinodimethane with aromatic ionenes and their model compounds were prepared. The electrical conductivity and the activation energy were measured and discussed in relation to their structure. The effects of the nature of the aromatic unit, and the flexibility and rigidity of the polymer backbone were compared with the corresponding model compounds. The effects of frequency and temperature are discussed in terms of the molecular strucuture of the complex. The electroconductivity at room temperature of the 1 : 1 polymer complex salts was found to be between 2 × 10−4 and 7 × 10−5S/cm, while that of the model complex salts was between 1.3 × 10−3 and 6.3 × 10−3S/cm. The activation energy was found to be 0.14 eV on average. The limitation of the concept of polycationic complex salts of TCNQ for electrically conductive plastics for commerical application in the plastics industry is discussed.

The comonomer bisphenol A (BPA) finds applications in the plastics industry, where it is used in the production of polycarbonates, plastics, PVC, thermal paper, epoxy and vinyl ester resins, and polyurethane. The water, with which many of these materials come into contact, is one of the main sources of human exposure to BPA. When ingested or touched, BPA can damage organs, disrupt the endocrine and immune systems, generate inflammatory responses, and be involved in genotoxic processes. Therefore, the need to develop effective techniques for removing BPA from aqueous environments is imperative. This paper provides a comprehensive review regarding the effective removal of BPA from water, focusing on the performance and adsorption mechanisms of various adsorbents based on chitosan and chitosan composites. The chemical and physical factors, adsorption kinetics and models governing the adsorption process of BPA in chitosan materials are also examined. This review outlines that, despite considerable progress in the absorption of bisphenol using chitosan gels, further research is necessary to assess the efficacy of these adsorbents in treating real wastewater and in large-scale manufacture.

In this study, the behavior of biocomposites reinforced with natural fibers from African palm and sugar cane in a recycled polyethylene matrix is investigated. The aim is to analyze the rheological and mechanical properties of these materials to optimize their processability by injection. Natural fibers treated through a steam explosion process and subsequent drying and grinding were used to obtain a size suitable for extrusion. Biocomposites with different percentages of fiber (30% and 40%) were prepared and evaluated by melt flow index (MFI) and capillary rheometry tests. The results indicated a significant reduction in material fluidity with increasing fiber content, which was mitigated by the addition of a lubricant additive, stearic acid. Simulation of the injection process made it possible to determine crucial parameters such as injection pressure and filling time. Subsequently, injection tests were carried out varying the temperature and fiber concentration, followed by tensile tests to evaluate the mechanical resistance of the injected specimens. The results showed that the addition of the additive significantly improved the fluidity of the material, facilitating its injection without damaging the machinery and maintaining good mechanical properties. This study provides a solid foundation for the development of biocomposites eco-friendly with potential applications in the plastics industry.

A simple one pot synthesis method for the silver catalyzed growth of pure hexagonal close packed cobalt by the reduction of cobalt salt using hydrazine hydrate in the presence of triethanolamine (TEA), diethanolamine (DEA) and ethylene glycol (EG) as capping agents at 90 degrees C within 10 min has been reported. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of the product prepared in the presence of capping agents show the formation of the well defined porous flowery architecture originating from the interlinked 2D wavy nanoflakes. When the same reaction is performed in the absence of any capping agent, the agglomeration of the flakes of cobalt with irregular spherical morphology is observed. The effect of the reaction conditions on the size and the shape of the products have also been studied. Vibration sample magnetometer (VSM) shows, that the products are ferromagnetic in nature irrespective of the capping agents used and possess high value of coercivity, when prepared in the absence of any capping agent. These cobalt microflowers have also been proved as an alternative to the other available expensive catalysts (Au, Ag, Pt) in the room temperature production of p-aminophenol for its applications in pharmaceutical, photographic and plastic industries.

Extractive separation of 4- hydroxybenzoic acid from aqueous solution using nontoxic and conventional solvents

Infrared thermography for condition monitoring – A review

Polyamides are semicrystalline polymers that are useful in a wide range of applications in the plastics industry. Some applications require higher flexibility and improved workability of polyamides; thus, a plasticization approach that eases compounding and processing procedures and produces better desired product properties can be utilized. Common plasticizers are high‐boiling liquid esters, but solid plasticizers also have been considered. The present research has focused on plasticization of nylon 66/6 (80/20) copolymer by using selected low molecular weight organic materials. Plasticization of the copolyamide was studied with glycerin mono stearate, benzene sulfonamide, and methyl 4‐hydroxybenzoate as the solid plasticizers and diethylhexyl phthalate as the liquid plasticizer. The materials were prepared and characterized by thermal, mechanical, dynamic, rheological, and morphological properties. The experimental results were supported by simulated polymer and plasticizer interactions using molecular dynamic simulations. Plasticization and antiplasticization phenomena were observed and discussed. The plasticizers were classified by their efficiency in reducing Tg and by modification of the other polyamide properties. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.