Differential Scanning Calorimetric Analysis Research Articles

Ultrasonic agglomeration of model flour systems: Process parameter-product physico-thermal property relationships.

Ultrasonic compression was applied to wheat flour to create an agglomerated and compacted model food system. This novel process combines physical compression with ultrasonic vibration to permanently weld particles together, thereby producing a robust compact. Fundamental relationships among operating parameters, energy imparted to the specimens, and physical properties of the agglomerated products were developed. Integrated agglomeration energy was determined to be a linear function of percent maximum horn amplitude and ultrasonication time, and integrated energy in turn influenced product physical properties, such as density and fracture strength, in highly significant linear relationships. Microscopic, computer tomographic, and differential scanning calorimetric analyses confirmed progressive compaction of and thermal stability changes in the flour matrix with increased processing energy. Specimens agglomerated at higher energy levels were furthermore demonstrated to have higher fracture strength than conventionally (pressure-only) compressed specimens despite similar densities, due to the robust interparticle bridging produced by agglomeration. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Ultrasonic agglomeration represents a potential improvement over standard compression in the manufacturing of meal-supplementing energy bars. Ultrasonic agglomeration effectively adheres particles together without incorporation of low-nutrient- density syrups and binders. Agglomerated and compacted products also have superior mechanical stability, which can improve texture and physical stability during product handling.

Synthesis and properties of the bio-based isomeric benzoxazine resins: Revealing the effect of the neglected short alkyl substituents

Bio-based feedstocks usually contain many isomers with similar structures, and the short alkyl substituents are generally considered as low-reactive groups in benzoxazine chemistry due to their low induction effect and chemical inertness. Therefore, little attention has been paid on their effects on the synthesis or properties of benzoxazine. In this work, two bio-based benzoxazine isomers (CAR-fbz and THY-fbz) containing methyl and isopropyl groups with interchanged positions were synthesized from the renewable carvacrol and thymol. Their synthetic process, crystal features, and curing reactions were carefully investigated. Results showed that different side reacitions and by-products were detected under the same synthese conditions. And using the similar purification method, CAR-fbz and THY-fbz with high purity were found to have different crystal features. In addition, the cured systems also indicated varied H-bonding features and thermal properties based on differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results. With the help of density functional theory (DFT) calculation, the reasons were attributed to the different electrophilicity of phenol moiety, varied molecular symmetry and intermolecular interaction caused by the overlooked short alkyls. Summarily, the leverage of short-chain alkyl groups on benzoxazine chemistry is revealed. The result is significant for the benzoxazine synthesis, especially when the renewable compounds are taken as the starting materials for bio-based benzoxazine preparation, which often has many isomers with similar structures.

Preparation, performance and structure-properties relationship of poly (lactic acid)/modified saponite nanocomposites based on thiol-ene click chemistry

ABSTRACT Saponite (SA)-mercaptopropyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS-SH) grafted poly (L-lactic acid) (SA-POSS-PLLA) was synthesized by thiol-ene click chemistry. SA-POSS-PLLA was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. When 0.3 wt% SA-POSS-PLLA was used as a modifier in poly (lactic acid) (PLA), the impact strength and elongation at break of PLA/SA-POSS-PLLA nanocomposites were increased by 1.73 times and 4.25 times compared with pure PLA, respectively. The differential scanning calorimeter analysis showed that the crystallinity of PLA/SA-POSS-PLLA nanocomposites was increased from 7.74% to 30.32%. The addition of SA-POSS-PLLA increased the crystallization rate of PLA and significantly reduced the grain size of PLA, which also was proved by polarization optical microscopy analysis. Rheonaut technology for simultaneous rheometry and FTIR demonstrated that the reason why the addition of SA-POSS-PLLA nanoparticles accelerated the crystallization rate of PLA was that SA-POSS-PLLA nanoparticles promoted the adjustment of C-O-C structure and -CH3 group in the main molecular chain of PLA.

Carboxyl-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles for the controlled delivery of poorly water-soluble non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

The purpose of this study was to investigate the delivery of poorly water-soluble non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by carboxyl-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN-COOH) with high specific surface area (SBET). In this study, MSN-COOH was prepared by collaborative self-assembly using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as template and hydrolysis (3-triethoxyl-propyl) succinic anhydride (TESPSA) as co-structure auxiliary directing agent (CSDA). The drug delivery systems were constructed with NSAIDs including Nimesulide (NMS) and Indomethacin (IMC) as model drugs. Moreover, the characterization techniques, hemolysis and bio-adsorption testes, in vitro drug release and in vivo biological studies of MSN-COOH were also carried out. The characterization results showed that MSN-COOH is spheres with clearly visible irregular honeycomb nanopores and rough surface (SBET: 1257 m2/g, pore volume (VP): 1.17 cm3/g). After loading NMS/IMC into MSN-COOH with high drug loading efficiency (NMS: 98.7 and IMC: 98.2%), most crystalline NMS and IMC converted to amorphous phase confirmed using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and X-ray power diffraction (XRD) analysis. Meanwhile, MSN-COOH significantly increased the dissolution of NMS and IMC compared with non-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN), which was also confirmed by wettability experiments. The results of in vivo biological effects showed that MSN-COOH had higher bioavailability of NMS and IMC than MSN, and exerted strong anti-inflammatory effects by delivering more NMS and IMC in vivo. Statement of significanceThis study successfully prepared MSNs-COOH (mesoporous silica nanoparticles modified with negatively charged carboxyl groups on the surface and in the pores) with high specific surface area and pore volume by using the negatively charged carboxyl group (hyd-TESPSA) and the positively charged CTAB self-assembled through electrostatic attraction under alkaline conditions. The drug delivery systems were constructed with Nimesulide (NMS) and Indomethacin (IMC) as model drugs. The results showed MSNs-COOH had high drug loading capacity and also exhibited good in vitro drug release properties. Interestingly, NMS loaded MSNs-COOH also had a potential pH responsive release effect. In vivo biological studies revealed that NMS/IMC loaded MSNs-COOH could evidently improve the bioavailability and played the strong anti-inflammatory effects.

Building and behavior of a pH-stimuli responsive chitosan nanoparticles loaded with folic acid conjugated gemcitabine silver colloids in MDA-MB-453 metastatic breast cancer cell line and pharmacokinetics in rats

The pH-stimuli release behavior of nanoformulations may enhance the success rate of chemotherapeutic drugs in cancers by site-specific delivery of drugs to cancer tissues. The aim of the present study was to prepare chitosan (CS) nanoparticles (NPs) with previously synthesized folic acid (FA) capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) loaded with the anti-cancer drug gemcitabine (GEM) (FA-GEM-AgNPs). The CS-FA-GEM-AgNPs (CS-NPs) were characterized with dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDAX), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analyses. The in-vitro drug release of GEM was evaluated in media of different pH. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was carried out to determine the cytotoxic effects of the prepared nanoformulations in media with various pH. The time- and pH-dependent apoptotic cell death induced by CS-NPs with MDA-MB-453 human breast cancer cell line was observed using acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EtBr) staining. The pharmacokinetic parameters were studied with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Two batches of CS-NPs formulations were prepared, one with AgNPs of particle size 143nm and the other with 244nm. The particle size for CS-NPs-I (FA-GEM-AgNPs-143nm) and CS-NPs-II (FA-GEM-AgNPs-244nm) was found to be 425 and 545nm, respectively. The zeta potential was found to be 36.1 and 37.5mV for CS-NPs-I and CS-NPs-II, respectively. CS-NPs-I and CS-NPs-II showed a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.240 and 0.261, respectively. A TEM study confirmed the spherical nature of the NPs. The nanoformulations exerted pH-dependant effect against MDA-MB-453 cells with relatively higher cytotoxicity at the lower pH than at higher pH levels. The pharmacokinetic profile and tissue distribution of CS-NPs in rats exerted drug release in a pH-dependent manner with enhanced excretion of Ag+. An optimized nanoformulation for pH-stimuli responsive release of GEM was successfully developed for future therapeutic exploration.

Self-healing epoxy coating synthesis by embedment of metal 2-methyl imidazole and acetylacetonate complexes with microcapsules

The restoration of mechanical properties is desired for creating the self-healing coatings with no corrosion capabilities. The encapsulation of epoxy resins is limited by various factors in urea and melamine formaldehyde microcapsules. An improved method was developed, where epoxy resin was encapsulated by individual wrapping of poly(melamine-formaldehyde) and poly(urea-formaldehyde) shell around emulsified epoxy droplets via oil-in-water emulsion polymerization method. The synthesized materials were characterized analytically. The curing of the epoxy was achieved by adding the [Ni/Co(2-MI)6].2NO3 as a latent hardener and iron acetylacetonate [Fe(acac)3] as a latent accelerator. Isothermal and non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetric analysis revealed lower curing temperature (Tonset = 116 °C) and lower activation energies (Ea ≈ 69–75 kJ/mol). The addition of microcapsules and complexes did not adversely alter the flexural strength and flexural modulus of the epoxy coatings. The adhesion strength of neat coating decreased from 6310.8 ± 31 to 4720.9 ± 60 kPa and percent healing increased from 50.83 to 67.45% in the presence of acetylacetonate complex at 10 wt% of microcapsules.

Characterization of Cellulose Acetate Based Scaffolds Derived from Kapok Fiber (<i>Ceiba pentandra </i>(L) Gaertn)

Utilization of natural biopolymers has shown potential in generating innovations for tissue engineering applications. This study aims to fabricate scaffolds from cellulose acetate derived from kapok fiber. Cellulose is extracted from raw kapok fibers by alkali treatment and delignification then synthesized into cellulose acetate. Kapok cellulose acetate (KCA) is dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide to fabricate the scaffold. Materials were characterized using Attenuated Total Reflectance – Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectrometer, X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). FTIR analysis has shown that cellulose was extracted from kapok and cellulose acetate was successfully synthesized. XRD analysis also confirmed the presence of cellulose acetate. Results have also shown that synthesized KCA seems to have higher crystallinity than commercially available cellulose acetate (CCA). The degree of substitution (DS) of KCA was found to be 2.85 which is close to the DS value of tri-substituted cellulose acetate. DSC analysis has shown lower glass transition temperature of 52.15°C but higher degradation temperature of 300.43°C than the CCA. Moreover, the values for the enthalpy of fusion for two endotherms of KCA (44.0556 J/g and 18.6946 J/g) are higher than the values for CCA by 344% and 261%, respectively; thus, indicating the higher degree of crystallinity for synthesized KCA samples.

Self-assembly characterization of tilapia skin collagen in simulated body fluid with different salt concentrations

The characteristics and self-assembly properties of acid soluble collagen (ASC) from tilapia skin in simulated body fluid (SBF) with different NaCl concentrations were investigated. When the concentration of NaCl was 65 mM, the lag time in the turbidity of collagen fibril formation was 2 min, which increased with the NaCl concentration. However, the collagen fibril forming degree decreased with the increasing NaCl concentration. Gel strength decreased when NaCl concentration increased from 135 mM to 160 mM. Rheological and differential scanning calorimetric analyses showed that the elasticity, melting temperature (Tm), and enthalpy (ΔH) of collagen fibril gel were promoted by the increasing NaCl concentration. Self-assembly could affect the conformation but did not affect denaturation of collagen. The dense fibril network structure of collagen gels was formed at SBF with high NaCl concentration. No obvious change was found in the d-periodicities of assembled fibrils. The amide I, II, and III bands in the Fourier transform infrared spectra of collagen gel moved from 1633, 1538, and 1236 cm−1, respectively, to 1628, 1532, and 1229 cm−1, respectively with the increasing NaCl concentration. These results exhibit that the ASC can self-assemble to form different collagen fibril gels in the SBF by adjusting the NaCl concentration.

A Molecular Shape Recognitive HPLC Stationary Phase Based on a Highly Ordered Amphiphilic Glutamide Molecular Gel.

Chiral glutamide-derived lipids form self-assembled fibrous molecular gels that can be used as HPLC organic phases. In this study, HPLC separation efficiency was improved through the addition of branched amphiphilic glutamide lipids to the side chains of a terminally immobilized flexible polymer backbone. Poly(4-vinylpyridine) with a trimethoxysilyl group at one end was grafted onto the surface of porous silica particles (Sil−VP15, polymerization degree = 15), and the pyridyl side chains were quaternized with a glutamide lipid having a bromide group (BrG). Elemental analysis indicated that the total amount of the organic phase of the prepared stationary phase (Sil−VPG15) was 38.0 wt%, and the quaternization degree of the pyridyl groups was determined to be 32.5%. Differential scanning calorimetric analysis of a methanol suspension of Sil−VPG15 indicated that the G moieties formed a highly ordered structure below the phase transition temperature even on the silica surface, and the ordered G moieties exhibited a gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition. Compared with a commercially available octadecylated silica column, the Sil−VPG15 stationary phase showed high selectivity toward polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and particularly excellent separations were obtained for geometrical and positional isomers. Sil−VPG15 also showed highly selective separation for phenol derivatives, and bio-related molecules containing phenolic groups such as steroids were successfully separated. These separation abilities are probably due to multiple interactions between the elutes and the highly ordered functional groups, such as the pyridinium and amide groups, on the highly ordered molecular gel having self-assembling G moieties.

Strengthening precipitates and mechanical performance of Al–Si–Cu–Mg cast alloys containing transition elements

This study investigated the active strengthening precipitates existing in the structure of 354-type Al–Si–Cu–Mg cast alloys following the addition of Zr as a primary alloying element in addition to Ni and Mn in different amounts and combinations. The investigation comprised three main parts: the first part simulated the formation and dissolution of strengthening precipitates and their precursors using differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) heating analysis of as-quenched samples, the second part presented transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations of the fine precipitates existing in the structure of the alloys studied, and the third part examined the mechanical performance (tensile properties and hardness values) of the alloys studied. Interpretation of the DSC heating data in accordance to the available literature showed that the alloys are strengthened primarily by θ-Al2Cu and S–Al2CuMg precipitates and their precursors. Furthermore, some of the copper content was consumed in forming Al–Ni–Cu particles instead of the θ-Al2Cu strengthening phase and its precursors and hence the Ni-free alloys contain higher fractions of the θ-Al2Cu phase and its precursors than the Ni-containing alloys. TEM investigations confirmed the results obtained from the DSC heating analysis regarding the combined strengthening effect of θ-Al2Cu and S–Al2CuMg precipitates and their precursors as well as the fraction of θ-Al2Cu phase in Ni-free and Ni-containing alloys. TEM observations revealed, also, that the alloys studied have a secondary strengthening effect which is exerted by precipitates in the form of Alx (Zr,Ti)Si that formed following the addition of Zr. The Mechanical performance showed to be highly dependent on the chemical composition which controls alloys structure and response to the applied heat treatment and hence the formation of the fine precipitates which are mainly responsible to the strengthening effect.

Heating temperature effect on the hygroscopicity of expanded vermiculite

The hygroscopicity of expanded vermiculite is one of major influence factors for thermal insulating performance. To explore the water absorption properties of expanded vermiculite prepared via electrical heating method, heating temperature effect on the hygroscopicity of expanded vermiculite was investigated under various humidity circumstances. The influencing mechanisms were analyzed by means of Thermogravimetric Analysis-Differential Scanning Calorimeter technique (TG-DSC), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller technique (BET) for the measurement of the specific surface area. The results of water absorption experiments indicated that the hygroscopicity of vermiculite showed an inversely proportional relationship to heating temperature and the water absorption content of EV-900 was only 6.206 mg/g with a dramatic decline of 91.5% in comparison with that of RV. This decline of water absorption capacity was mainly attributed to the decrease of interlamellar spacing and specific surface area. In addition, environment humidity had a significant effect on water absorption capacity and velocity. The water absorption content of EV-400 sample increased dramatically from 48.414 mg/g at the humidity of 55%–72.929 mg/g at the humidity of 95%, and the equilibrium time reduced from 3 h to 0.5 h. This study will provide a new perspective and theoretical guidance for the development of vermiculite based thermal insulating materials.

Evaluation of Physicochemical Properties and Battery Performancesfor PEO/SL-Based Na Conductive Solid Electrolyte

Introduction In recent years, power generations utilized renewable energy are attracted attention, and power resource is variegated for the realization of sustainable society. Among them, the amount of power generation as solar power generation and wind power generation is unstable due to weather and environmental factors. In order to popularize such renewable energy, it is considered required to have a power storage system for stores the generated power electricity. As one of the promising candidates for them, there is the lithium-ion battery which is widely utilized such as smartphones and laptop computers. However, this battery has the problem such as cost and resource due to utilizing rare material of lithium and is desired to instead another element to lithium. Sodium resources are inexhaustible and distributed everywhere, it has similar chemical properties due to same monovalent alkali metal like lithium. One of the sodium-based batteries is the sodium-sulfur (Na-S) battery, which operates at high temperatures and is primarily used for peak-shaving and load-leveling applications. In general, sodium-sulfur (Na-S) batteries use sodium and sulfur as negative and positive electrode active materials, respectively, and has possible to produced low-cost due to few resource restrictions of the main content materials. The β-alumina ceramics are used as an electrolyte and acts as the Na+-conduction membrane layer and the separator between two liquid state electrodes. Due to operating at high temperature, it utilizes the advantage of quit high ionic conductivity of electrolyte at high temperature and improves the interfacial formation of electrolyte/electrode by ensuring active materials are molten. However, β-alumina is easy to damage by various thermal and mechanical stresses and there are risks of the direct reaction of molten sodium and sulfur, and leak out of the module. Therefore, it is desired to develop low temperature operating Na-S battery, we focused on solid polymer electrolytes (SPE) having high flexibility for the realization of safety low temperature operating Na-S battery. SPE is expected to improve safety by decrease operating temperature, but it has the problem of low ionic conductivity at room temperature to compare liquid electrolytes, therefore we focused on gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) by added sulfolane (SL) solvent which high thermal stability. This study proposed sodium conductive new solid polymer electrolytes and evaluated their physicochemical properties and Na-S battery performance. Experimental Liquid electrolytes were prepared by mixing SL and NaTFSA using shading bottle in Ar-filled glove box. The molar ratio was changed to xSL:1NaTFSA (x=2,3,4,5 and 6, respectively). These liquid electrolytes and polyether-based macromonomer (P(EO)/(PO), polymer) were mixed with changing weight ratio as followed formula; y liquid electrolyte: (10-y) polymer (y=7 and 8). After added DMPA as photo-initiator, solid gel polymer electrolytes were fabricated by photo-polymerization by UV irradiation. Prepared samples were expressed as (xSL)yEl+(10-y)Po. Thermophysical properties of fabricated gel polymer electrolytes were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimeter analysis (DSC). In addition, ionic conductivities were measured by electrochemical impedance method. The reversibility of Na-S batteries was evaluated by charge and discharge measurements at 333 K. Result and discussion Proposed GPE has high flexibility at room temperature. Remarkable weight changes were not observed below 373 K, and it was expected to apply as the low-temperature operated Na-S battery. Fig.1 shows DSC curves of GPE. The glass tradition temperature (T g) increased with polymer composition, when the case of high composition SL, T g exhibited almost the same value as T g of the pure polymer without SL. It was suggested that the increase in free PEO chains owing most Na+ forms a solvate structure with SL. Fig.2 shows temperature dependence of ionic conductivities. Ionic conductivities increased with SL composition, it was suggested that improving ionic mobility due to decreasing microscopic viscosity according to adding SL. The highest ionic conductivity of 2.3 × 10-3 Scm-1 was observed when the highest electrolyte composition and SL composition were optimized. In this presentation, we will also report about electrochemical properties, such as transference number of Na+ and activation energy at Na/GPE interfaces, time dependences of interfacial stabilization at Na/GPE interface, and battery performance of [Na|GPE|SPAN] (Sodium-Sulfur) and [Na|GPE|NaCoO2] (Na-ion) cells. Figure 1

Biodegradation of foam plastics by Zophobas atratus larvae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) associated with changes of gut digestive enzymes activities and microbiome

In order to uncover the plastic types that superworm Zophobas atratus can degrade and the underlying changes associated with plastics consumption, three types of plastics including polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE) and polyurethane (PU) foam were used as sole feedstock to feed the superworm larvae for 35 days with bran as control. Compared to the control, PS- or PU-fed larvae showed 100% survival rates, the PE-fed and starvation larvae had decreased survival rates of 81.67% and 65%, respectively. Both plastics-fed and starvation groups showed decreased larvae weight. The consumption rates of PS, PE, and PU were 1.41, 0.30, and 0.74 mg/d/larva, respectively. The attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and differential scanning calorimeter and thermogravimetric (DSC-TGA) analyses demonstrated the changes of functional groups and thermostability in frass compared to plastic feedstocks, indicating the partial oxidation and degradation of plastics. Among the gut digestive enzymes tested, protease showed increased activities in all plastics-fed groups. Gut microbial communities displayed significant relative abundance changes such as increased abundances of Enterococcus in all plastic-fed groups, Citrobacter in PE-fed group, Dysgonomonas and Sphingobacterium in PS-fed group, and Mangrovibacter in PU-fed group. The latter 3 genera were reported for the first time. In summary, the results demonstrated that Z. atratus could efficiently degrade both PS and PU foam plastics, and the plastic degradation was associated with changes of gut microbial communities and digestive enzyme activities.

Polypropylene/ethylene propylene diene monomer/cellulose nanocrystal ternary blend nanocomposites: Effects of different parameters on mechanical, rheological, and thermal properties

AbstractIn the present study, the effect of dynamic vulcanization, mixing sequence, and cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) content on mechanical, rheological, and thermal properties of the polypropylene/ethylene propylene diene monomer (PP/EPDM/CNC) ternary blend‐nanocomposites was investigated. Significant reduction in tensile and yield strengths occurred for the un‐vulcanized PP/EPDM blend compared to PP. Vulcanization and adding CNC have compensated for the decrease in tensile and yield strengths of the un‐vulcanized blend. The tensile and yield strengths of the vulcanized samples had almost a slight uptrend by adding CNC. Elongation at break for both nanocomposites types had slight changes compared to that of PP/EPDM‐thermoplastic vulcanizates and all of them were approximately in the range of 600%–700%. Adding CNC before or after vulcanization had the same effect on the trend of Young's modulus and the higher the amount of CNC, the greater the increase in Young's modulus. Incorporating and increasing the amount of CNC improved the impact strength of all samples, especially when added after vulcanization. Rheological measurements showed that vulcanization of PP/EPDM resulted in frequency independence of storage modulus and a more sharp increment in Complex viscosity. Also, the more CNC content, the more dramatic changes occurred in complex viscosity, especially in DV‐CNC nanocomposites. Differential scanning calorimeter analysis showed that all samples had higher crystallinity which was more significant for Dynamic vulcanization (DV)‐CNC nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscope images also indicated that the addition of CNC increased fracture surface roughness for all samples ignoring their preparation sequence.

High-density polyethylene composite filled with red mud: effect of coupling agent on mechanical and thermal properties

ABSTRACT In this study, red mud (RM) was modified with titanate coupling agent (triisostearoyl isopropoxy titanate, KR-TTS), and then the modified RM was melted blending with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to prepare HDPE-based composite. The action mechanism of KR-TTS on the properties of HDPE composites was analysed combining with the movement mode of polyethylene macromolecular chain segments. The entanglement and mechanical interlocking of long alkyl chains of titanate coupling agent and the polyethylene molecular chains occurs in modified RM/HDPE composite, reflected by fracture morphology within tension process. The stronger interface interaction results in a decrease of polyethylene molecular chain segments motion under external loading, externally expressed as higher tensile strength and tensile modulus as well as storage modulus. Meanwhile, KR-TTS imparts modified RM/HDPE composite with higher elongation at break of uniaxial tension and lower damping ratio. The impact strength presents an improvement from 5.62 kJ/m2 of RM/HDPE composite to 6.56 kJ/m2 of modified RM/HDPE composite due to stronger interface strength. And modified RM/HDPE composite appears higher thermal stability, attributed to better particles dispersion and higher interface adhesion. Differential scanning calorimetric analysis shows that with the addition of coupling agent, the melt enthalpy of modified RM/HDPE composite decreases, indicating a decrement in the crystallinity of polyethylene composites (from 70.2% of RM/HDPE to 63.1% of modified RM/HDPE), resulted from the retarded stacking speed of chain segments into the crystal lattice during crystal growth.

Synthesis, characterisation and evaluation of new liquid crystalline oxazolone derivatives

Liquid crystals technique for drug delivery can be effective and useful for delivering the drug with desired target and it also stabilise the molecule. Previously, we synthesised a series of 4'-[{2"-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-5"-oxooxazol-4"-ylidene}methyl]phenyl-4-alkoxybenzoate by condensation of 4-n-alkoxy benzoyl glycine with 4-formyl-phenyl 4-alkoxybenzoate. In present work, we have synthesised 4'-[{2"-alkyl-5"-oxooxazol-4"-ylidene}methyl]phenyl-4-alkoxybenzoate by condensation of acetyl glycine with 4-formyl-phenyl 4-alkoxybenzoate. The structure of all the synthesised compounds are characterised by spectral analysis and purity of the compounds were checked by TLC. The LC property was checked under polarising microscope attached with Linkam heating stage and confirmed by differential scanning calorimetric analysis.

Regeneration of Used Oils by Red Mud and DESs (Reline)

To regeneration of oils which are used in cars engines to lubricate its moving parts, and to get rid of highly contaminants which must be separated to reuse the engine oils. In the column chromatography, the waste oil was treaded as mobile phase (eluent) with petroleum ether (40-60°C), while the red mud (alhuor) is a stationary phase for adsorbed the impurities. The effect of the new method using deepeutectic solvent (DESs Reline) as a kind of ionic liquids to help extract impurities by adsorption (choline chloride and urea). Moreover, some thermal and physicochemical properties like density, thermal and electrical conductivity, ash percentages, viscosity, specific gravity and pH values were determined. Values were determ.using TGA for blank oil for comparison and differential scanning calorimetric analyses (DSC).

Designing self-crosslinkable ternary blends using epoxidized natural rubber (ENR)/poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid)(EAA)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) demonstrating triple-shape memory behavior

The aim of this work is developing a facile and versatile route for preparing chemically crosslinked triple-shape memory polymers (SMPs). Hence, epoxidized natural rubber(ENR)/poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid)(EAA)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) ternary blends were fabricated using the facile melt-mixing method. Interestingly, it was observed that the resultant ternary blends could self-crosslink during molding at high temperature without need for any crosslinking agents. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) analyses revealed that all of the ternary blends have two well-separated thermal transitions (Tm, PCL and Tm, EAA) and, as a result, they exhibited triple-SM behavior. Moreover, the mechanical properties as well as shape memory effect of ternary blends were improved with carboxylation of PCL. The developed ternary blends can be considered as a promising SM material in many in-vivo and aerospace applications.

Characterization of in-House-Developed Mn-ZnO-Reinforced Polyethylene: A Sustainable Approach for Developing Fused Filament Fabrication-Based Filament

This study outlines a sustainable development of Mn-ZnO-reinforced low density polyethylene (LDPE)-based feedstock filament, using twin screw extrusion (TSE) process, for fused filament fabrication-based additive manufacturing technology. Mn-ZnO-based reinforcement, known for its functional properties, has been utilized to tune the thermo-mechanical, morphological, and piezoelectric characteristics of LPDE. Functional feedstock filaments have been manufactured by varying twin screw compounder processing parameters such as barrel temperature (120, 130, and 140 °C), screw torque (0.15, 0.20, and 0.20 N.m) and forced loading (5, 10 and 15 kg). The results of the study suggested that the better mechanical properties of feedstock filament were attained at 140 °C barrel temperature, 0.25 N.m screw torque, and 10kg forced loading in TSE. The result of the tensile properties is supported by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), piezoelectric property (D33 measurement), shape memory effect and differential scanning calorimetric analysis.

Synthesis and characterization of organosilicon modified self-matting acrylate polymer: Insight into surface roughness and microphase separation behavior

A new type of low gloss waterborne self-matting acrylate polymer with core-shell structure was successfully synthesized. The organosilane ϒ-methacryloxy propyl trimethoxyl silane (ϒ-MPS) was used as a crosslinking agent, which can control and modulate the surface micro-roughness of acrylate polymer films. The self-matting acrylate polymer has good latex stability containing no external powdery matting agent. In particular, the gloss value can reach as low as 6.3 units at an incident of 60° when the amount of ϒ-MPS is 7% based on the total mass of the shell monomer. Moreover, the main factors affecting glossiness, such as crosslinking degree, surface roughness, migration of organosilicon moieties to the surface and phase separation, were studied in detail. The observation by scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope indicated that the surface roughness was elevated with the increase of the ϒ-MPS content. Besides, the transmission electron microscope observation and differential scanning calorimeter analysis revealed that the acrylate polymers displayed microphase separation behavior, which combined with the surface roughness could increase the scattered and diffused lights, thereby endowing the coating with the matte effect. In addition, due to the incorporation of ϒ-MPS, the crosslinking density and hydrophobicity increased, and thereby thermal stability, tensile strength and water resistance of the films were also improved. Therefore, this work provides practical prospects for the industrial application of organosilicon modified acrylate polymer in the field of matte coatings.