Addition Of Oil Research Articles

Study of Rheological Properties of High-Fat Hard Margarine with the Addition of Palm Oil

Study of Rheological Properties of High-Fat Hard Margarine with the Addition of Palm Oil

PLA/PCL POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITE WITH SILVER AND COPPER NANOPARTICLES AND LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL: SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND APPLICATION IN TISSUE ENGINEERING

The present work aims to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate the cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of PLA/PCL polymeric nanocomposite with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and copper (CuNPs) and the addition of lavender essential oil (LEO) for application in tissue engineering. For the synthesis of the nanocomposite films, the central composite rotational design (CCRD 2²) was used, where the ideal condition was 0.5%wt. of AgNPs and CuNPs (3:1D) with a higher cell viability (196.1%) after 24 hours. After defining the ideal condition, the effect of incorporating LEO into the polymer blend and nanoparticles in the proportions of 0.5 (3:1D0.5), 0.75 (3:1D0.75) and 1 v v-1 (3:1D1) was evaluated. All nanocomposite films were characterized structurally, morphologically, thermally, and mechanically by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Gun–Scanning Electron Microscopy (FEG-SEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), contact angle and mechanical Properties (displacement and maximum tension). To evaluate cytotoxicity, an in vitro safety profile was performed in HFF-1 (fibroblasts) and HaCat (keratinocytes) cell lines, where PLA/PCL polymer blend with 0.5 %wt. of AgNPs and CuNPs (3:1D) and PLA/PCL polymer blend with 0.5 %wt. of AgNPs and CuNPs and LEO (0.5 v v-1) (3:1D0.5) nanocomposite film showed the best cell viability without the nitric oxide (NO) generation, total levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or dsDNA release for the HFF-1 and HaCat cell lines, as well as genoprotective characteristic and without genotoxic profile. Moreover, the tests were carried out on the pH of injured skin at different immersion times (3, 6, 12 and 24 hours) and didn´t show cell death or inflammatory reaction. For the antimicrobial activity, the 3:1D, 3:1D0.5, and PLA/PCL polymer blend with 0.5 %wt. of AgNPs and CuNPs and LEO (0.75 v v-1) (3:1D0.75) nanocomposite films showed the formation of biofilm for S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae. Therefore, the PLA/PCL polymer nanocomposite with AgNPs and CuNPs showed potential application as a healing dressing for skin regeneration.

Effects of Different Levels of Antarctic Krill Oil on the Ovarian Development of Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Antarctic krill oil has been proven to be able to promote the ovarian development of crustaceans, but its optimal application dose and potential regulatory mechanism in Macrobrachium rosenbergii are still unclear. In this study, five isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets with gradient additions of Antarctic krill oil (0%, 1.5%, 3%, 4.5%, and 6%) were served exposed to 8 weeks of feeding. The results show that 3–4.5% Antarctic krill oil supplementation significantly increases the weight gain rate and specific growth rate of M. rosenbergii (p < 0.05). In addition, 3–4.5% Antarctic krill oil supplementation significantly increased the content of hemolymph vitellogenin (VTG) and the levels of reproductive hormones, including methyl farnesoate (MF), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P4) (p < 0.05). The differences in ovarian index, oocyte volume, yolk granule deposition in oocytes, and the transcription levels of VTG genes in hepatopancreas and ovarian tissues demonstrated that the addition of Antarctic krill oil significantly promoted ovarian development and vitellogenesis, especially at the 4.5% addition level. In terms of molecular signaling, this study confirms that the retinol metabolic signaling pathway, MF signaling pathway, steroid hormone signaling pathway, and ecdysone signaling pathway, along with their specific molecules, such as Farnesoic acid-O-methyltransferase (FAMeT), retinoid x receptor (RXR), ecdysone receptor (EcR), and estrogen-related receptor (ERR), are involved in the regulation of the ovarian development of M. rosenbergii by adding Antarctic krill oil at appropriate doses. The findings indicate that the supplementation of 4.5% Antarctic krill oil in the diet is optimal for stimulating the secretion of reproductive hormones in female M. rosenbergii, thereby promoting vitellogenesis and ovarian development.

A Preliminary Study on the Modifying Effect of Strawberry Seed Oil and Sex on Rabbit Meat Quality

The aim of this research was to determine the effect of strawberry seed oil addition to rabbit feed on slaughter performance traits, meat quality traits and plasma cholesterol and triglycerides of purebred Termond White rabbits (n = 24). The experiment used young rabbits born to 6 does. From each litter, two rabbits were randomly assigned into one of the two groups. In each group (2 × n = 12; 6♂, 6♀), the animals were fed a complete pelleted feed. Rabbits from the experimental group received feed enriched with a 1% addition of strawberry seed oil. Animals were slaughtered on day 84. Rabbits fed with pellets with the addition of strawberry oil were characterized by a higher hind part and head and liver weight compared to the rabbits from the control group (p ≤ 0.05). The addition of strawberry seed oil significantly increased the pH of matured meat and affected the colour coordinates of the meat by increasing their values (p ≤ 0.05). The tested oil reduced the values of meat texture parameters such as springiness, cohesiveness and chewiness (p ≤ 0.05). The tested oil impacted the level of HDL, which was higher in the experimental group, as well as lowered the triglyceride level. The addition of strawberry seed oil was proven to significantly increase the linoleic acid content in rabbit meat (p ≤ 0.05).

Surfactant-Nanoparticle Formulations for Enhanced Oil Recovery in Calcite-Rich Rocks.

Aqueous surfactant-nanoparticle mixtures have received great attention recently for promoting a more sustainable and efficient enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process. However, colloidal stability under reservoir conditions is considered a great challenge. In addition, the way synergy operates in EOR is not clearly understood. This study aims to formulate a cost-effective surfactant-nanoparticle mixture in a formation brine for efficient EOR in calcite-rich oil reservoirs. For this, bare silica nanoparticles were covalently grafted using an epoxysilane and blended with two commercial surfactants, namely a zwitterionic alkyl hydroxysultaine (AHS) and a binary zwitterionic-nonionic (ZN) surfactant, for both additional steric stabilization and EOR. The effects of additives alone or their mixtures were examined at solid-fluid and fluid-fluid interfaces to explore their impact on EOR. The surfactant-nanoparticle blend often showed a pH-responsive behavior at solid-fluid and fluid-fluid interfaces with particles serving as carriers or surface activity improvers for surfactant resulting in different extents of rock wettability alteration and emulsification. In oil recovery tests, optimum surfactant concentrations were found to significantly increase crude oil recovery of formation brine by 36 ± 1% original oil in place (OOIP) in secondary spontaneous imbibition which was further enhanced by 14 ± 0.5% OOIP upon adding a low particle concentration (0.01 wt %). The surfactant-nanoparticle formulation was also efficient in producing residual crude oil in tertiary mode (6% OOIP additional oil recovery after formation brine). The oil recovery results disclosed a high dependence on the emulsification ability of the blends with AHS-particle dispersions producing more stable emulsions and thus more crude oil compared to that of ZN.

Effects of the Dietary Fat Concentration and Fatty Acid Pattern on the Urine Composition, Apparent Nutrient Digestibility, and Selected Blood Values of Healthy Adult Cats

Background/Objectives: The dietary fat concentration and fatty acid profile can influence various aspects of the feline organism. This study examined their effects on the urine composition, apparent nutrient digestibility, and selected blood variables. Methods: Ten healthy adult cats (46.6 ± 14.1 months old, initial body weight 4.99 ± 0.91 kg) received a low-fat basic diet with or without the addition of sunflower oil, fish oil, or lard in a randomized crossover design. The oil and lard were added to the daily amount of food at 0.5 or 1 g/kg body weight of the cats. At the end of each 3-week feeding period, urine, feces, and fasting blood samples were collected. Results: The results demonstrated only small effects of the dietary fat concentration and source on the urine composition of the cats. In addition, the apparent nutrient digestibility was unaffected by the dietary treatments. The supplementation with fish oil, but not sunflower oil or lard, lowered the triglycerides and increased the total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in the plasma of the cats (p < 0.05). However, these blood values were within the physiological reference ranges among all groups. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the dietary fat content and fatty acid profile did not adversely affect the urine composition or nutrient digestibility in healthy adult cats. The lipid metabolism of the animals was modulated by the supplementation with fish oil, a relevant source of n-3 fatty acids. The observed triglyceride-lowering effect should be further investigated in clinical studies.

Pengaruh Penambahan Minyak Nabati pada Media Tumbuh terhadap Pertumbuhan Cendawan Entomopatogen Lecanicillium lecanii

Pest attacks are one of the challenges frequently encountered in rice cultivation. Effective and environmentally friendly control can be achieved with the entomopathogenic fungus Lecanicillium lecanii. The addition of vegetable oils such as peanut oil and castor oil can enhance the growth and development of the entomopathogenic fungus. This study aims to find the corn growth medium with the addition of vegetable oils that provides the best effect for the growth of the entomopathogenic fungus L. lecanii. The method used is a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with a single factor consisting of 7 treatments with 4 replications: Control (Corn Medium); T1 (Corn + Peanut Oil 2 ml); T2 (Corn + Peanut Oil 5 ml); T3 (Corn + Peanut Oil 10 ml); J1 (Corn + Castor Oil 2 ml); J2 (Corn + Castor Oil 5 ml); J3 (Corn + Castor Oil 10 ml). The results of this study indicate that the addition of vegetable oils to the corn growth medium has a significant effect on the growth of the entomopathogenic fungus L. lecanii. The most effective growth medium for L. lecanii is corn medium + 10 ml peanut oil, providing an incubation period of 1 days and a colony diameter of 8.00 cm.

Structure changes and carotenoids release of tomato during in vitro dynamic digestion: Effect of heating and oil addition

There is still a gap between the food processing and carotenoids release and structure degradation during digestion. This study investigated the effect of heating and coconut oil addition on the digestion behavior of tomatoes during in vitro dynamic digestion. Coconut oil and heating increased gastric retention, and the value of heat-treated tomatoes with coconut oil maintained at a highest level throughout the gastric digestion. The contents of lycopene and β-carotene increased after heating and coconut oil addition. After stimulated intestinal digestion, coconut oil and heating increased the particle size of tomato slurry. Besides, heat-treated tomatoes released more particles under the light microscopy and SEM observation, while the oil-treated tomatoes showed rougher cell surfaces. Heating and coconut oil also significantly increased the bioaccessibility of lycopene to 70 % ± 5 % and 81 % ± 4 %, respectively. These findings would provide theoretical guidance to develop tomato-derived foods with high bioaccessibility.

Strategic Addition of Rosemary Essential Oil in Natural Rubber-Toughened Poly(lactic acid)/Cinnamon Oil Blends for Antimicrobial Packaging

Strategic Addition of Rosemary Essential Oil in Natural Rubber-Toughened Poly(lactic acid)/Cinnamon Oil Blends for Antimicrobial Packaging

Thermophysical and Corrosion Inhibitor Evaluation of Graphene, Aluminum Nitride and Barium Titanate Nanolubricants

A newly developed kind of fluid known as nanolubricant is produced by dispersing nanometer-sized materials in base oil. The main issue with nanolubricant is particle stability, which occurs when nanoparticles aggregate due to van der Waals forces. The aim of the study is to evaluate the performance of graphene (GR), aluminium nitride (AlN), and barium titanate (BTO) nanolubricants at 0.05 and 0.1 vol. % concentrations. The stability was identified by using sedimentation photograph capturing method and zeta potential analysis, while KD2 Pro Analyzer was used to measure the thermal conductivity, and the effect of corrosion inhibitor evaluation was measured according to ASTM D130-19. The nanolubricants are prepared by two-step method and undergo ultrasonication process to ensure the nanoparticles are well dispersed in base oil. The results showed that nanolubricants containing 0.05 vol. % nanoparticles are more stable than 0.1 vol. % nanolubricants. Nanolubricants with 0.1 vol. % showed signs of instability based on low zeta potential values. This is due to the fact that the higher the concentration of nanoparticles, the closer the nanoparticles are to one another. This increased van der Waals attraction and potentially causing nanoparticle agglomeration. Improvement in thermal conductivity was obtained with high volume concentration of GR, AlN and BTO nanoparticles. All nanolubricants achieved an ASTM Standard D130 classification of 1a based on the Copper Strip Corrosion Test Standard (slight tarnish, slight colour change). As a result, it was discovered that all prepared samples are effective anticorrosion lubricating oil additives.

Development and characterization of “Greek Salad” edible films

“Greek salad” edible films, made from tomato puree, juices of cucumber, bell pepper and onion, oregano oil and apple pectin with and without olive oil and guar gum were successfully prepared and characterized for water vapor permeability, oxygen permeability, tensile properties, moisture sorption isotherm, heat sealing ability and color. It was found that the addition of olive oil to the basic film increased its water vapor permeability, while the incorporation of guar gum had no impact on it. The addition of olive oil and guar gum affected the tensile properties, the isotherms for moisture sorption and the color of the films. All films demonstrated good heat-sealing properties. The FTIR spectra of the films displayed several interesting characteristics, confirming the films’ composition. The sensory evaluation of the four edible films revealed that all samples scored close to or above 3 (on a scale of 0–5) in most sensory attributes, indicating general acceptability among panelists. Notably, films containing guar gum exhibited higher homogeneity and transparency, while films containing olive oil showed the highest odor, flavor, and taste intensities, but also more pronounced defects and undesirable aftertastes. The basic film appeared more balanced in most sensory attributes.It was concluded that overall the advantages of adding olive oil and guar gum to the basic film were not significant. Future experiments will concentrate on optimizing the production of the basic film and exploring the possibility of using it for packaging oily foods.

Water Droplet Equilibration on Silicone Elastomer Substrates Containing Mobile Silicones.

Understanding interfacial behavior at the water/silicone elastomer interface is vital in many applications, including microfluidics, antibiofouling, and self-cleaning surfaces. Silicone elastomers are not always static systems, however. Unreacted silicone molecules within a substrate may change the water-wetting behavior compared to fully reacted substrates. To investigate the impact of free silicone species at the interface, we systematically studied water wettability as a function of contact time with various silicone elastomer substrates. One set of Sylgard 184 substrates was prepared from curing at optimal stoichiometry and included doses of silicone molecules of varying molecular weights. Another set of substrates was made by mixing Sylgard 184 in imbalanced ratios to provide incomplete cross-linking. In the absence of added silicone oils, we observe a linear decrease in contact angle with time due to the evaporation of water. However, within certain molecular weight and loading levels of additional inert oils, nonlinear wetting behavior occurs as oils migrate to the interface and the system stabilizes. Similar nonlinear wetting behavior occurs without including silicone oils by mixing pure Sylgard 184 in very imbalanced mixing ratios, resulting in incomplete cross-linking. Such substrates contain unbound mobile silicone species that diffuse to the water-substrate interface. We show how the water contact angle technique can elucidate the presence of unbound silicone oils in the substrate.

Impact of Buriti Oil from Mauritia flexuosa Palm Tree on the Rheological, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties of Linear Low-Density Polyethylene for Improved Sustainability.

Recent advancements highlight the utilization of vegetable oils as additives in polymeric materials, particularly for replacing conventional plasticizers. Buriti oil (BO), extracted from the Amazon's Mauritia flexuosa palm tree fruit, boasts an impressive profile of vitamins, minerals, proteins, carotenoids, and tocopherol. This study investigates the impact of incorporating buriti oil as a plasticizer in linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrices. The aim of this research was to evaluate how buriti oil, a bioactive compound, influences the thermal and rheological properties of LLDPE. Buriti oil/LLDPE compositions were prepared via melt intercalation techniques, and the resulting materials were characterized through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical property testing, and contact angle measurement. The addition of buriti oil was found to act as a processing aid and plasticizer, enhancing the fluidity of LLDPE polymer chains. TGA revealed distinct thermal stabilities for buriti oil/LLDPE under different degradation conditions. Notably, buriti oil exhibited an initial weight loss temperature of 402 °C, whereas that of LLDPE was 466.4 °C. This indicated a minor reduction in the thermal stability of buriti oil/LLDPE compositions. The thermal stability, as observed through DSC, displayed a nuanced response to the oil's incorporation, suggesting a complex interaction between the oil and polymer matrix. Detailed mechanical testing indicated a marked increase in tensile strength and elongation at break, especially at optimal concentrations of buriti oil. SEM analysis showcased a more uniform and less brittle microstructure, correlating with the enhanced mechanical properties. Contact angle measurements revealed a notable shift in surface hydrophobicity, indicating a change in the surface chemistry. This study demonstrates that buriti oil can positively influence the processability and thermal properties of LLDPE, thus expanding its potential applications as an effective plasticizer.

Visualization of Structural Deformation of Polymer Additives in Oil Under High Shear Flow

Visualization of Structural Deformation of Polymer Additives in Oil Under High Shear Flow

Synthesis and Application of Dendritic Waterborne Polyurethane with Long Alkyl Chains and Silicone Chains as a Fluorine-Free Water Repellent

With environmental and health issues being raised, researchers have shifted their study from fluorinated to fluorine-free waterproof agents. However, most of the reported fluorine-free water repellents exhibit a significant drawback in their poor stability and durability of water repellency. In addition, the use of higher concentrations in these repellents results in the fabric becoming stiff, which negatively impacts the hand of the treated fabrics. To address these issues, dendrimer-like waterborne polyurethane prepolymers were initially synthesized using isophorone diisocyanate, polytetrahydrofuran, N-methyldiethanolamine, and trimethylolpropane as the primary materials. In this synthesis, sorbitan tristearate served as the dendrimer-like blocking agent, while single-ended bis-hydroxypropyl silicone oil was employed as functional monomers to enhance the hand and water repellency of the prepolymers. Then, dendrimer-like waterborne polyurethane was finished on the cotton fabric using a pad–dry–cure procedure. The test results showed that the water contact angle of dendrimer-like waterborne polyurethane film increased from 104.28° to 107.00° with the content of single-ended bis-hydroxypropyl silicone oil increasing, and the water contact angle of dendrimer-like waterborne polyurethane-finished fabrics reached 148.6° alone with a standard spray test rating of 90–95. In addition, the water contact angle of dendrimer-like waterborne polyurethane-finished fabrics was still greater than 140° even after five standard washes. The single-ended bis-hydroxypropyl silicone oil addition facilitated similar hand to the original fabric in dendrimer-like waterborne polyurethane-finished fabrics with high concentrations, surpassing market water repellents. This work is of great significance for improving the stability and durability of water repellency, and the hand of waterborne polyurethane fluorine-free water repellents in the textile industry.

CO 2 geological storage potential in the Croatian part of the Pannonian Superbasin

In the continental part of Croatia, oil and gas have been discovered in more than 60 locations. Most reservoirs are in the Neogene/Quaternary basin infill, but the largest ones are found in the basement rocks. Decades of exploration have left a significant vintage dataset and substantial knowledge of the subsurface geology and reservoir properties. Since 2005, research efforts have been redirected towards CO 2 geological storage capacity estimates, and the first results were obtained relatively quickly. All identified potential storage objects – deep saline aquifers, depleted hydrocarbon fields and oil reservoirs that are suitable for CO 2 enhanced oil recovery (CO 2 -EOR) – can be regarded as prospective. The deep saline aquifers are defined on a regional scale and their estimated capacity is the highest (2584 Mt), but this is ‘theoretical capacity’ that can only be used to outline the total resource base. The storage capacity estimated for the selected 14 depleted hydrocarbon fields sums to 143.6 Mt, and this is a viable capacity that might be developed as soon as a particular field stops with production, but the most promising storage objects are the seven fields that have reservoirs suitable for CO 2 -EOR operations. The most recent models have revealed that seven active EOR fields operating in parallel between 2025 and 2040 could store up to 1.2 Mt CO 2 a −1 , while producing c. 1.2 Mt a −1 of additional oil. This is very high for a country with only 5.5 Mt CO 2 a −1 in point sources.

Facile synthesis route for bulk production of complex fullerene-like MoS2 nanostructures with enhanced tribological properties.

Molybdenum-based nanoparticles are often used as oil additives to enhance a material's tribological performance. Here, we present a highly efficient synthetic route for the bulk production of two types of MoS2 nanostructures: multi-wall nanotubes and fullerene-like nanostructures. The presented two-step synthesis involves the transformation of ammonium heptamolybdate tetrahydrate and aniline into precursor nanowires, which are later transformed into MoS2 through heating in a H2S, H2 , and argon atmosphere to approximately 800°C. Depending on the heating rate, we successfully grew MoS2 layered compounds in various shapes and sizes. The resulting structures and compositions were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. To assess the application potential of these MoS2 compounds, they were dispersed in polyalphaolefin (PAO 6) oil. Improved tribological properties were observed compared to typically used transition metal dichalcogenides.

Stability characterizations of feed-based bivalent vaccine containing inactivated Streptococcus agalactiae and Aeromonas hydrophila against streptococcosis and Aeromonas infections in red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis sp.).

Feed-based bivalent vaccine (FBBV) containing killed whole organism (KWO) of Streptococcus agalactiae and Aeromonas hydrophila with 10% palm oil was previously proved to improve red hybrid tilapia's (Oreochromis sp.) immunity against streptococcosis and Aeromonas infections. This study characterized the FBBV's stability following the preparatory process and storage. The FBBV was prepared, and the KWO's stability was determined microscopically and molecularly. The efficacy of FBBV stored at room temperature (25 ± 2°C) for 0, 30 and 60 days was investigated in red hybrid tilapia. The results indicated the addition of palm oil was not affecting the KWO's structure and helping in the FBBV's pelletization. In 1g of FBBV contained 1.5 × 109 CFU/g of S. agalactiae and 4.9 × 109 CFU/g of A. hydrophila, respectively, even after 60 days of storage at room temperature. The KWO's structure in FBBV was not affected following in vitro acidic tolerance analysis, as noted from light and electron microscopies. The FBBV's carbohydrate, energy, moisture, total protein and total ash contents remained stable at 95% after 60 days of storage at room temperature, while the KWO's concentration was slightly reduced to 83.3% for S. agalactiae (1.25 × 109 CFU/g) and 80.6% for A. hydrophila (3.85 × 109 CFU/g), respectively. Fish vaccinated with FBBV that was stored for 0, 30 and 60 days did not show any significant differences (p ≥ 0.05) in the relative percent survival when challenged with pathogenic Streptococcus spp. and Aeromonas spp. These findings suggested that the FBBV is a stable vaccine, which underscores its potential application as aquatic vaccines in aquaculture.

Development and characterization of nanoemulsions containing Lippia origanoides Kunth essential oil and their antifungal potential against Candida albicans.

Nanoemulsions based on plant essential oils have shown promise as alternatives against fungal pathogens by increasing the solubility and bioavailability of the active compounds of essential oils, which can improve their efficacy and safety. In the present study, we aimed to prepare and characterize nanoemulsions of Lippia origanoides essential oil, and analyze their antifungal activity against C. albicans in planktonic and biofilm form. Additionally, we sought to verify their cytotoxicity. Alginate nanoemulsions were prepared with different concentrations of essential oil, sunflower oil and surfactant to investigate ideal formulations regarding stability and antifungal efficiency. The results showed the nanoemulsions remained stable for longer than 60 days, with acidic pH, particle sizes ranging from 180.17±6.86nm to 497.85±253.50nm, zeta potential from -60.47±2.25 to -43.63±12, and polydispersity index from 0.004 to 0.622. The photomicrographs revealed that the addition of sunflower oil influenced the formation of the particles, forming nanoemulsions. The antifungal results of the essential oil and nanoemulsions showed that the MIC ranged from 0.078 to 0.312mg mL-1. The nanoemulsions were more effective than the free essential oil in eradicating the biofilm, eliminating up to 89.7% of its mass. With regard to cytotoxicity, differences were found between the tests with VERO cells and red blood cells, and the nanoemulsions were less toxic to red blood cells than the free essential oil. These results show that nanoemulsions have antifungal potential against strains of C. albicans in planktonic and biofilm forms.

Sustainable rubber nanocomposites for hydrogen sealings: Impact of carbon nano-onions and bio-based plasticizer

Additives play a crucial role in modifying and enhancing the properties of rubbers, improving mechanical strength, thermal stability, and chemical resistance to make them more suitable for various applications. The rubber industry faces challenges related to high resource consumption and toxic emissions, which are further impacted by the use of performance-enhancing additives. In hydrogen storage systems, tailored additives are required for rubbers to withstand elevated temperatures and high pressures, preventing hydrogen-induced swelling, a major cause of sealing failure. Herein, a novel form of carbonaceous material, carbon nano-onions (CNOs), and the bio-based plasticizer additive epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) are utilized in conventional silica-filled nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) nanocomposites to develop low-carbon manufacturing high pressure hydrogen resistant O-rings for sealing applications. The results reveal that the incorporation of CNOs increases the crosslinking density (vc), assisted by ESO, in silica-filled NBR nanocomposites. While the conventional adipate-based plasticizer and ESO were found to be susceptible to high pressure hydrogen exposures, ESO demonstrated sustained compressive sealing properties with increase in von-Mises stress and in elevated thermo-oxidative conditions over time. The results of the life cycle assessment (LCA) recommend ESO for low-carbon manufacturing in rubber processing over conventional plasticizer.