Polymer Clay Research Articles

PENGARUH POLYMER CLAY TERHADAP PERKEMBANGAN KREATIVITAS ANAK USIA DINI DI TAMAN KANAK-KANAK PERTIWI 1 KANTOR GUBERNUR PADANG

This study aims to determine the effect of polymer clay on the development of earlyc hildhood creativity in Pertiwi 1 Kantor Gubernur Kindergarten. This study uses a quantitative approach with the type of quasy-experimental research. Data collectione tchniques in this study were tests and documentation regarding the effect of polymer clay on the development of early childhood creativity at Pertiwi 1 Kantor gubernur Kindergarten. The subjects of this study involved 30 children consisting of 15 children in the experimental class and 15 children in the control class. The results of this study indicate that polymer clay has a large influence compared to the control class with plasticine activities on the development of children's creativity. based on the acquisition of posttest results there is an average difference of 3.87.Thus it can be concluded that polymer clay has more influence on the development of early childhood creativity in Pertiwi 1 Kantor Gubernur Kindergarten.

Engineered polymer–clay–copper oxides catalyst for the oxidation and reduction of organic molecules: synergy of degradation and instinctive interface stability by polymer self-healing function

Although many applications of clay–polymer composites have been suggested in recent years, their potential use in water treatment processes has received relatively little attention. This study reports the synthesis, characterization, and application of supramolecular polymer–montmorillonite clay–copper oxide (MPC) as an efficient catalyst for the degradation of rhodamine B (RB), a model organic molecule (OM). MPC was synthesized by incorporating branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) into layered montmorillonite K10 (MK10) through a simple wet impregnation method, followed by the incorporation of a copper precursor and direct reduction of the metal precursor. The resulting MPC was characterized using ATR-FTIR, SEM-EDS, TEM, BJH, XRD, and SAXS. The results confirmed the incorporation of PEI and nano-copper oxides into MK10. The MPC chemically degraded RB (>99% at 5 mg L−1, pH 7) in the aqueous phase (10 mL), and the degradation followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model with a high correlation coefficient. The synthesized MPC degraded RB (7 h) in the presence of H2O2 and adsorbed RB (>98%) without H2O2. The completeness of RB degradation was validated using liquid–liquid extraction and solid–liquid phase extraction of the aqueous phase and solid MPC after the degradation reaction, respectively. The degradation proceeded through reactive active species (hydroxide radical, •OH), which remained in the solution and are active for 72 h or more. This indicates that the synthesized MPC can degrade trace amounts of RB in larger aqueous volumes. PEI exhibited self-healing behavior (network remodeling) after by mechanical or chemical stress to the PEI/PEI-Cu species during RB degradation, which included the re-formation of RnN–Cu oxides as well as the synergistic effect of charge transfer/recombination between N, Cu, and other reactive species in the reaction mixtures. The post-degradation characterization of MPC confirmed that MPC could be reused for more than five cycles without the loss of copper species. The high catalytic performance of MPC towards the other four organic pollutants in the aqueous phase indicates that MPC is a promising environmental catalyst.

Flow rate impact on the performance of immobilized nanoFeCu for sewage treatment and its reusability

AbstractAmmonia pollution is a global issue, and it endangers human and aquatic life. The role of nanoFeCu in oxidizing ammonia has been identified, but its practicality and performance on the pilot scale are still unclear. This study was conducted to investigate immobilized nanoFeCu's performance in terms of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total suspended solid (TSS) by using sewage as feed. The effect of sewage flow rate was studied to determine the optimum operating condition of a pilot‐scale reactor. The reusability test was conducted to address sustainability concerns. The nanoFeCu was synthesized, immobilized in polymer clay, and placed into the reactor filled with sewage at a varied flow rate of from 210 to 1200 mL/min. Results showed that a higher sewage flow rate increased the ammonia removal rate within a shorter time but exhausted the immobilized nanoFeCu at a higher rate. Nitrate, nitrite, and TSS have a similar removal trend as ammonia. 800 mL/min was identified as the optimum flow rate with effluent ammonia concentration below 10 ppm in 9 h and maintained for 12 h. A reusability study showed that immobilized nanoFeCu could be reused for at least 10 successive cycles. The stability and performance of immobilized nanoFeCu suggested that it could be an alternative to treat sewage wastewater for real‐life applications.

Heat-Shielding Nanobrick Wall for Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites

Owing to their excellent mechanical properties, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have a broad spectrum of applications in aerospace, civil engineering, automotive, and numerous industrial fields. Despite their many advantages, the inherent lack of thermal stability of the polymer matrix results in the loss of the composite’s mechanical properties when exposed to elevated temperatures. In an effort to provide thermal protection, a multilayer film composed of tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane (THAM)-buffered polyethylenimine (PEI) and vermiculite (VMT) clay was deposited on CFRP composites via layer-by-layer assembly. When subjected to the flame from a butane torch and mechanical loading, the polymer–clay nanobrick wall provides substantial thermal insulation, decreasing the temperature on the backside of the CFRP composites by as much as 100 °C. The PEI-THAM/VMT coating also helps to maintain the storage modulus of the composite and offers significant protection from oxidative degradation, as confirmed by dynamic mechanical analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The performance of this polymer–clay multilayer film provides excellent thermal barrier that can be used to protect advanced composite materials from extreme heat.

An Investigative Study on the Structural, Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Clay-Based PVC Polymer Composite Films.

The present study aims to explore the impact of pristine and surfactant-modified clays (montmorillonite, bentonite and vermiculite) on the thermomechanical properties of a poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) polymer film. Initially, clay was modified by employing the ion exchange method. The modification of clay minerals was confirmed by the XRD pattern and thermogravimetric analysis. Pristine PVC polymer film and clay (montmorillonite, bentonite and vermiculite)-based PVC polymer composite films were fabricated using solution casting. The ideal dispersion of surfactant-modified organo-clays was observed in the PVC polymer matrix due to the hydrophobic nature of modified clays. The resultant pure polymer film and clay polymer composite film were characterized using XRD and TGA, and their mechanical properties were determined using a tensile strength tester and Durometer. From the XRD pattern, the intercalation of the PVC polymer film was found in the interlayer of organo-clay while exfoliation or partial intercalation and exfoliation were observed for pristine clay mineral-based PVC polymer composite films. Thermal analysis indicated a lowering of the decomposition temperature of the composite film as clay promotes the thermal degradation temperature of PVC. Improvement in the tensile strength and hardness was found to be more frequent in the case of organo-clay-based PVC polymer films, which is only due to the hydrophobic nature of organ clays, resulting in greater compatibility with the polymer matrix.

Enhanced Coating Protection of C-Steel Using Polystyrene Clay Nanocomposite Impregnated with Inhibitors.

Polymer-Clay Nanocomposite (PCN) coatings were prepared using the solution intercalation method. The raw Khulays clay was treated with NaCl to produce sodium clay (NaC). Thereafter, Cetyl Pyridinium Chloride (CPC) was used to convert NaC into the organic clay form (OC). PCN was prepared by adding polystyrene as the matrix to different weights of OC to prepare 1 wt.% and 3 wt.% PCN. To enhance the coating protection of C-steel in NaCl solution, PCN coatings were added to microcapsules loaded with some corrosion inhibitors PCN (MC). The microcapsules are prepared by the encapsulation of rare-earth metal Ce+3 ions and Isobutyl silanol into polystyrene via the Double Emulsion Solvent Evaporation (DESE) technique. Characterization techniques such as FTIR, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were employed. FTIR confirmed the success of the preparation, while XRD and TEM revealed an intercalated structure of 1 wt.% PCN while 3 wt.% PCN has a fully exfoliated structure. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), Electrochemical Frequency Modulation (EFM), and Potentiodynamic Polarization showed an enhanced protection efficiency of PCN (MC) coatings. The results demonstrated that the corrosion resistance (RCorr) of 3% PCN (MC) coating was higher than all the formulations. These PCN (MC) coatings may provide corrosion protection for C-steel pipes in many industrial applications.

Surfactant Assisted One-Pot Method for Preparation of Polyethylene-Clay Nanocomposites (PECN) and Study of their Viscoelastic Behaviour

This work demonstrates a one-pot soft template-assisted technique for developing polyethylene clay nanocomposite (PECN) using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelle as structure directing agent. Linear and shear viscosities of the composite were studied in the oscillatory and rotational modes. The effect of clay content, temperature and gallery space on the storage modulus and steady-state viscosities were analyzed. The composite exhibited enhanced storage modulus over the pristine polymer, confirming strong interaction between the clay platelet and polymer molecules. The prepared PECN showed superior thermal stability, phase transition temperature, flame retardancy and mechanical properties as compared to the conventional composite. Morphological studies using SEM and TEM also confirmed the formation of the nanocomposite. This one step surfactant-assisted emulsion method offers a broad scope in designing polymer clay nanocomposites with exciting properties and consequent applications.

Self-regenerable clay polymer nanocomposite for organophosphate adsorption and degradation

Efficient and fast degradation of the organophosphates diazinon and paraoxon by a novel clay-polymer nanocomposite.

DOM removal from surface water by activated carbonvs.a nanocomposite: an experimental and modeling approach to optimize treatment

A hydraulic-adsorption model was applied to predict the removal of DOM from three surface waters by adsorption in columns packed with commercial granular activated carbon and a designed clay–polymer nanocomposite.

Exact scaling of adsorption isotherms of clay-polymer composites: Comparison to experiment

In this work, we reexamine theoretically the problem of the determination of the adsorption isotherms architecture for clay-polymer complexes using Renormalization Theory. The latter is a powerful theoretical approach giving rise to exact scaling relations near the adsorption temperature. Adsorption isotherms are expressed in terms of the evolution of the equilibrium adsorbed quantity (or simply amount adsorbed) upon the final polymer-density. First, we write exact scaling relations concerning the amount adsorbed in dilute, semi-dilute and saturation regimes, as a function of temperature, molecular-weight and final polymer-density. Second, we compare our theoretical predictions with experimental data choosing some clay–polymer composites. Finally, it is found that theory and experiment are in good agreement.

A biomimetic polymer-clay nanocomposite coating for dendrite-free Zn metal anode

Dendrite growth and side reactions in Zn metal aqueous batteries have limited their practical application. Herein, based on the poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoro propylene) (PVDF-HFP) codoped with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and Zn‐based montmorillonite (Zn-MMT), a biomimetic ant nest porous polymer–clay composite as a protective layer is fabricated on the surface of Zn anode (PC@Zn). The PC coating demonstrates flexibility, high mechanical robustness and high ionic conductivity, simultaneously, which can accommodate the Zn surface volume change and maintain close contact with the Zn anode during the cycling. Furthermore, the PC@Zn with improved hydrophilicity can effectively suppress both Zn dendrites growth and H2 evolution by regulating the homogeneous ion diffusion and uniform Zn deposition. Therefore, the PC@Zn anode presents an ultralong cycle lifespan and reversible Zn stripping/plating for thousands of hours at 0.25, 1, and 5 mA cm−2 with high Coulombic efficiency. A full cell PC@Zn//MgVO demonstrates a high capacity (146.2 mAhg-1) at 5 A g−1 and high capacity retention of 95.5% after 3000 cycles. Based on the concept of biomimetics, this work gives inspiration for designing artificial coating layers for ultrastable dendrite-free aqueous metal batteries.

Fabrication of Electrospun Cellulose Acetate/Nanoclay Composites for Pollutant Removal.

The creation of eco-friendly clay-based composites for pollutant removal by adsorption still remains a challenge. This problem might be successfully solved by the development of electrospun polymer-clay composites. For the first time in this study, a one-step fabrication of cellulose acetate (CA) fibers filled with commercially available nanoclays (NCs) was described. The optimal ratio at which CA/NCs dispersions remained stable was accomplished by varying the nanoclay concentration with respect to CA. Furthermore, the selected solvent system and the electrospinning conditions allowed for the successful fabrication of electrospun CA/NC composites. It was found that the composites' surface morphology was not affected by the incorporated nanoclays and was the same as that of the electrospun CA fibers. The performed analyses clearly showed that CA and nanoclays did not react during the electrospinning process. It was found that the distribution of nanoclay layers probably was a mixture of intercalated and exfoliated structures. Notably, the type of the nanoclay strongly influenced the adsorption ability of CA/NC composites toward Cr(VI) ions and MB dye. These results suggested that the fabricated CA/NC composites are suitable for pollutant removal due to their specific structure.

The development of a didactic model to facilitate the understanding of the components and anatomical relations of the middle ear

The middle ear is important from an anatomical and clinical point of view, seeing that it contains and allows the passages of structures, in addition to establishing relations with other regions of the head. However, the middle ear is small and difficult to dissect, making difficult the study in cadavers and understanding. In this context, professors and students from Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná developed an anatomical model of themiddle ear, showing its main bones, membranes, muscles and nerves. The model was developed with acrylic plates joined to form a cube, each side representing one of the middle ear’s walls. The tympanic membrane and the secondary tympanic membrane were represented by an elastic fabric, which covered openings on the membranous wall and the labyrinthic wall, respectively. The auditory ossicles, the muscles and the nerves were made from polymer clay and positioned inside the cube, according to their characteristics and anatomicalposition in the middle ear. Furthermore, the auditory tube was represented by a plastic cone projecting from the carotid wall. The use of these low-cost anatomical models is an alternative to enable and improve learning. These initiatives favor the teaching of Human Anatomy, increasing understanding, the establishment of clinical correlations, and improving the academic education of health professionals.

Formulation of promising antibacterial, anticancer, biocompatible and bioactive biomaterial as therapeutic drug delivery system for biologically active compound loaded on clay polymer

The synthesized heterocyclic compound: 5-[4-bromobenzylidene amino)-1, 3, 4-thiadiazole-2-thiol abbreviated as BATT possessed good antibacterial activity for various Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In addition to potent antitumor activity to breast cancer, for the first time, the novelty of this study is facile low-cost formulation of safe antitumor drug delivery system (DDS) for breast cancer from such simple heterocyclic compound. Heterocyclic compound is efficiently and spontaneously incorporated into MMT clay polymer matrix forming novel therapeutic nanocomposite DDS for breast cancer. BATT successfully intercalates MMT clay polymer matrix. Electron donation ability of nanocomposites is confirmed by cyclic voltammetry in terms of small peak-to-peak redox potential Delta E_{{{text{peak}}}}. Adsorption of BATT on clay is carried out by batch adsorption method. Better adsorption strength at low pH 2 decreased with increasing pH. Adsorption data are analyzed by multiple mathematical models. MMT clay is an efficient carrier polymer heterogonous adsorbent for BATT at optimum conditions: contact time 2.0 h, pH 2 and initial concentration up to 1200 ppm. Adsorption rate constant, k2 equals 14.6 times 10–3 and qe 19 mg g−1 (R2 0.999). pH of zero charge of MMT at pH 3 reflected adsorption mechanism of MMT. At pH 2, BATT is loaded on MMT by physi- and chemisorption. At pH 4, BATT is loaded on MMT by chemisorption.

Design and sustainability analyses of road base layers stabilized with traditional and nontraditional additives

Base course is an important structural layer of a road pavement which plays a vital role in transferring and distributing the traffic loadings to the subgrade. The base usually comprises unbound materials, which can be stabilized to enhance the mechanical properties when necessary. This study evaluates all the various types of stabilization products suitable for a coarse-graded base, which can be grouped as traditional solutions (cement and bitumen) and nontraditional solutions (brine salt, clay, organic non-petroleum, organic petroleum and synthetic polymer). The research presented here addresses four major objectives. First, the effect of the stabilizers is evaluated via cyclic triaxial tests both before and after the exposure of the samples to ten freeze-thaw cycles. Second, the potential to reduce the thickness of a base course is evaluated for each stabilizer according to the Norwegian pavement design code. Third, the study appraises the associated reductions in carbon dioxide emissions during the operations for road construction in Norway and, finally, the related economic costs are derived. The freeze-thaw actions exert almost no effect on the samples stabilized with cement, bitumen, organic petroleum and synthetic polymer. These stabilizers seem to display an aging effect, which is responsible for the improvement of the mechanical properties over time. The required thickness of a stabilized base layer is at least halved compared to a traditional unbound course and this remarkably lowers the carbon footprint of the construction operations. The application of most of the stabilizers is cost-effective, whereas their market price and the transport distance of aggregates are two crucial factors for the determination of their economic competitiveness.

Study on the Relationship between the Relative Molecular Mass of a Polymer Clay Stabilizer and the Permeability of a Tight Reservoir.

Water-sensitivity damage is inevitable during hydraulic fracturing for tight reservoir stimulation. A polymer clay stabilizer is the most effective and commonly used agent for reducing this kind of permeability damage. However, due to the small pore throat radii of tight reservoirs, polymers may be captured and detained, resulting in secondary permeability damage caused by polymer plugging. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the matching relationship between the relative molecular mass of the clay stabilizer and the permeability of tight cores, which has not been reported yet. In response to this problem, the residual resistance factor and the permeability damage rate of PDMDAAC (poly dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride, a kind of commonly used polymer clay stabilizer) to tight cores from Xinjiang Oilfield were investigated in cores with permeabilities of 0.10 × 10–3 μm2 (0.08–0.17 × 10–3 μm2), 0.05 × 10–3 μm2 (0.035–0.065 × 10–3 μm2), and 0.01 × 10–3 μm2 (0.007–0.020 × 10–3 μm2) through flow experiments. It was found that the relative molecular masses of PDMDAAC, which did not cause obvious core permeability damage, should be less than 10 000, 5000, and 2000, respectively. In addition, the bridging flocculation principle between the hydrodynamics radius of the clay stabilizer and the radius of the tight core pore throat can be used to explain the matching relationship between the relative molecular mass of the polymer clay stabilizer and the permeability of the tight reservoir. This study points out the direction for the optimization of the polymer clay stabilizer used in tight reservoir hydraulic fracturing and provides some references for the construction of hydraulic fracturing fluid systems for the efficient development of unconventional oil and gas resources.

Current synthesis and characterization techniques for clay-based polymer nano-composites and its biomedical applications: A review

Clays and its composites have received considerable attention recently due to their low cost, wide availability and low environmental impact. The development of various preparation processes and applications of innovative polymer–nanoclay composites has been aided by recent breakthroughs in material technologies. Novel polymer–nanoclay composites with better qualities have been effectively adopted in a variety of fields, including aerospace, car, construction, petroleum, biomedical, and wastewater treatment, owing to innovative production processes. Due to their superior qualities, such as increased density, strength, relatively large surface areas, high elastic modulus, flame retardancy, and thermomechanical/optoelectronic/magnetic capabilities, these composites are acknowledged as potential advanced materials. Hence the present paper reviews the advances in synthesis and preparation of clay-polymer nanocomposites. In addition, this study also focuses on the various techniques used for clay-polymer nanocomposites characterization e.g. scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential colorimetric analysis (DSC), x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) characterization. These advanced physico-mechanical and chemical characterization techniques would be effective in understanding the most appropriate application of clay polymer nanocomposites. In addition, the application of clay polymer nanocomposites in biomedical sector is also discussed in brief.

Fabrication of Poly(o-Chloroaniline) to MMT Clay as Potential Flame-Resistant Material

Polyorthochloroaniline (POC) nanocomposites with montmorillonite (MMT) clay (POC/MMT) nanocomposites (POC/MMT clay NCs) are the most widespread and attractive among organic/inorganic nanocomposites due to their distinctive properties in addition to inexpensive, abundance, and attractive characteristics such as ion-exchange and great surface area properties and have ample applications. The preparation of polyorthochloroaniline nanocomposites with montmorillonite (POC/MMT) clay nanocomposite has been completed chemically with the help of oxidative polymerization of orthochloroaniline in the presence of montmorillonite (MMT) clay. POC will be admixed with montmorillonite (MMT) clay at various concentrations, by keeping the o-chloroaniline monomer in the reaction mixture constant. To investigate the influence of MMT clay on the characteristics of POC, the load percentage of MMT clay in the nanocomposites was adjusted. The characterization and properties have been determined by using different techniques. FTIR spectroscopy was used to investigate the interactions between POC and MMT. The complete homogeneous dispersion of MMT clay in the POC matrix was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis that revealed the compactness. The thermal stability of polymer–clay nanocomposites was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results of DSC/TGA measurements revealed that the flame retardancy and thermal stability of POC/MMT clay nanocomposites were considerably improved.

Rheological investigation of polymer/clay dispersions as potential drilling fluids

The rheological properties of poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG)/Laponite® RD (Lap) and poly(propylene glycol)(PPG)/Lap aqueous dispersions, with 2% polymer and different clay concentrations, were investigated at 25 °C in order to establish the optimal composition to formulate a system applicable as drilling fluid. Some of the most important parameters, such as low shear rate viscosity, plastic viscosity, yield stress and flow behavior index, were determined and discussed. The PEG/Lap and PPG/Lap dispersions containing more than 2.55% and 3.10% clay, respectively, could be considered in the formulation of drilling fluids. The yield point value of dispersions, which is suitable for drilling fluid applications, increased while their plastic viscosity decreased in the presence of NaCl. By addition of NaCl, the complex viscosity of these samples becomes independent of temperature in the range 10 °C – 65 °C. Zeta potential value decreases as the Lap concentration increases up to about 3% clay and, higher clay content no longer affects it. • Laponite® RD (Lap) aqueous dispersions in presence of PEG or PPG were investigated. • Rheological results suggest Lap suitability for drilling fluids. • Effect of salt and temperature on viscoelastic properties was evaluated. • Zeta potential as function of clay content and polymer structure was analysed. • Structure of Lap dispersions in presence/absence of PEG or PPG was discussed.

“Clay-corn-caprolactone” a novel bioactive clay polymer nanofibrous scaffold for bone tissue engineering

Osteoconductive bone tissue scaffolds are of particular interest. Clay composed of aluminosilicate can play an essential role in bone repair and regeneration, enhancing osteoblastic differentiation and apatite deposition. Current research focuses on the fabrication of illite incorporated polycaprolactone/zein electrospun scaffolds. The prepared scaffolds by varying concentrations of Illite were characterized physiochemically and biologically. The composite scaffolds were analyzed for surface morphology, mechanical properties, thermal characteristic, crystal structure, surface wettability, and chemical modification. Biocompatibility of the composite scaffold was checked against the MC3T3-e1 cell line as a model. The biomineral apatite deposition was determined by incubating the scaffolds in simulated body fluid. The alkaline phosphatase staining evaluated osteoblastic differentiation. The results show that the clay composite scaffolds showed reduced fiber diameters and enhanced wettability. The addition of Illite improved the tensile strength and the Youngs Modulus of the composite scaffolds. The in vitro biomineralization of the composite scaffolds improved calcium deposition with the maximum Ca/P ratio of 1.55. The WST-1 assay and ALP staining show that the composite scaffolds have better cell viability and osteoblastic differentiation than the PCL/zein scaffolds. The overall results show that the clay-corn-caprolactone scaffold is a promising material for bone tissue engineering.