Thermogravimetric Differential Scanning Calorimetry Research Articles

Design of Biodegradable PU Textile Coating

Polyurethane (PU) coatings are used in diverse applications such as textile coating. Up to today, landfilling is still the most occurring way of processing PU waste. Biodegradation is an alternative route for processing PU waste and decreases the amount of microplastics in the case of landfilling. In this study, a biodegradable PU textile coating was developed. The PU was characterized via Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR) thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The PU was thermoplastic and had a melting point of approximately 33 °C. The performance of the coating was studied by assessing the water barrier and mechanical properties. The PU coating completely disintegrated, and the biodegradation of PU was assessed in soil and was almost 60%. Furthermore, the plant toxicity was examined by evaluating seedling emergence and growth.

Effects of Wire-Wrapping Patterns and Low Temperature on Combustion of Propellant Embedded with Metal Wire

Incorporating silver wires into propellant has emerged as a highly effective strategy for enhancing propellant burning rates, a technique extensively deployed in the construction of numerous fielded sounding rockets and tactical missiles. Our research, employing a multi-faceted approach encompassing thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry measurements (TG-DSC), combustion diagnoses, burning rate tests, and meticulous collection of condensed combustion products, sought to elucidate how variations in silver wire quantity and winding configuration impact the combustion properties of propellants. Our findings underscore the remarkable efficacy of double tightly twisted silver wire in significantly boosting propellant burning rates under ambient conditions. Moreover, at lower temperatures, the reduced gap between the propellant and silver wire further magnifies the influence of silver wire on burning rates. However, it is noteworthy that the relationship between burning speed and combustion efficiency is not deterministic. While a smaller cone angle of the burning surface contributes to heightened burning rates, it concurrently exacerbates the polymerization effect of vapor phase aluminum particles, consequently diminishing propellant combustion efficiency. Conversely, propellants configured with sparsely twinned silver wires exhibit notable enhancements in combustion efficiency, despite a less pronounced impact on the burning rate attributed to the larger cone angle of the burning surface. Remarkably, these trends persist at lower temperatures. Based on the principle of heat transfer balance, a theoretical model for the combustion of propellants with wire inserts is developed. The reliability of this theoretical model is validated through a comparison of calculated values with experimental data. Our research outcomes carry significant implications for guiding the application and advancement of the silver wire method in solid propellants for solid rocket motors, offering valuable insights to inform future research and development endeavors in this domain.

Structural, morphological, and optical investigations of Mn-doped LaAlO3 perovskite obtained by microwave-assisted combustion and rapid calcination at low temperature

In this work, LaAlO3 perovskite was doped with 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 13 mol% of Mn using the microwave-assisted combustion method. The powders produced were heat treated at 700 °C and 900 °C for 10 min in an adapted microwave oven and then characterized by Thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, Ultraviolet–Visible Reflectance (UV–Vis), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The materials produced doped with the highest concentration of Mn (13 %) showed a single-phase reduced crystallite size compared to the pure sample. The unit cell volumes increased compared to the pure material, while the oxidation state of the dopant was mainly Mn3+. The refinement data for the volume of the different polyhedral that comprise the LaAlO3 unit cell revealed a local change at both sites, which may also indicate Mn substitution at the A site. The heat treatment temperature did not change significantly, demonstrating the method's efficiency in producing perovskites at temperatures and times below those reported in the literature. The morphology observed was porous and irregular agglomerates, and the bandgap was 2.90 eV.

Effect of nanocomposite cementitious capillary crystalline waterproofing material on self-healing properties of cementitious composites

There are limited studies about the effect of nanocomposite cementitious capillary crystalline waterproofing material (CCCW) on the self-healing properties of cementitious materials in different environments. Compressive strength recovery ratio(CSRR) test, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) test, and macroscopic cracks healing observation test were adopted to study the self-healing properties of pure mortar specimens, mortar specimens mixed with CCCW, and nanocomposite CCCW respectively under three kinds of curing conditions. The self-healing mechanism of nanocomposite CCCW was analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), and scanning electronic microscope and energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) techniques. It was found that the curing condition significantly influenced self-healing performance, with touching water curing condition having the highest impact, followed by soaking water curing condition and natural curing condition. Nanocomposite CCCW promoted the healing performance of damaged specimens and significantly increased the CSRR. Under touching water curing condition, the CSRRs of the mortar groups with 3% nano-SiO2, 3% nano-CaCO3, and 2% nano-MgO were 26.1%, 11.5%, and 8.6%, respectively, higher than the CSRR of the single-doped CCCW group. After 28 days of touching water curing, change in charge transfer resistance before and after specimen healing (∆Rct) of the groups with 3% dosage of nano-SiO2, 3% dosage of nano-CaCO3, and 2% dosage of nano-MgO were 5.2, 1.8, and 2.7 times, respectively, higher than that of the single-doped CCCW mortar group. Throughout the healing process, the addition of the three nanocomposite CCCWs accelerated the hydration reaction to generate C-S-H gel, CaCO3, Aft, etc., improved the internal pore structure, reduced the size of the most probable pore diameter (MPPD) of the mortar specimens, and ultimately promoted the self-healing properties of the cementitious materials.

The Impact of Boron Nitride Additive on Thermal and Thermochromic Properties of Organic Thermochromic Phase Change Materials

Thermochromic phase change materials (TPCMs) are gaining increasing interest among scientists. These multifunctional materials can store thermal energy but also, at the same time, during the phase transition, they can change colour. Thermal conductivity is also extremely important for this type of material, which is why various additives are used for this purpose. This work aimed to study the properties of thermochromic phase change materials with an inorganic modifier. Stearic acid, behenyl alcohol, and bromocresol purple were used as thermochromic system components, while boron nitride particles were used as an additive. The key tests for such systems are thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which allow determining the thermal stability of the materials (at around 170 °C) and phase transition parameters (thermal energy storage of 300 J/g in the range of 40–75 °C). The thermochromic properties were tested, and satisfactory results were obtained. In the end, laser flash analysis (LFA) tests indicated that boron nitride improves the thermal conductivity of the organic thermochromic phase change material by almost 30%. The results showed that the tested materials have great potential as thermochromic phase change materials for thermal energy storage.

Experimental study on the heat treatment reaction process of bentonite

This study focuses on enhancing the pozzolanic activity of bentonite through heat treatment to improve its compressive strength, while also considering its expansion properties for applications. Sodium bentonite was subjected to various temperatures and analyzed using thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). The results indicated that at 100 °C, adsorbed and interlayer water in montmorillonite was lost, and constitution water was eliminated at 700 °C. With further temperature increases, montmorillonite decomposes into an amorphous phase at 900 °C. At 1100 °C, the amorphous phase recrystallized into magnesium–aluminum silicate, which further decomposed into cristobalite. The study concludes that bentonite heat-treated at 800–900 °C can be effectively used as an additive in mining backfill materials to enhance compressive strength while maintaining its expansion properties.

Mechanical and Thermal Properties of 3D-Printed Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Reinforced with Rubberwood Fiber

An additive manufacturing (AM) has become very popular due to its simplicity in producing complicated products using just one process due to the layer-by-layer addition of material, which makes it possible for more complicated products to be created. The constraint of Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) printed components with inadequate mechanical qualities has prevented AM from being widely adopted by numerous industries. The mechanical and thermal qualities of FFF printed components which is a pure polymer could be enhanced by reinforcing the wood fiber into the polymer. In this study, the twin-screw extruder was used to produce the wood plastic composites (WPCs) filaments, which were made with ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) as the matrix material and 1-3wt% rubberwood fiber (RWF) for reinforcement. The effects of the extrusion parameter, such as the volume fraction of RWF and the temperature of the extrusion process, on the 3D-printed WPCs samples were investigated. The experimental results of 3D-printed WPC sample were found that the highest compressive strength value is 24.3 MPa, obtained from the rubberwood 1wt% at the extrusion temperature 218 °C whereas the pure ABS filaments obtaining from the commercial and extrusion process gave the values of 28.9 and 14.5 MPa, respectively. The highest value of tensile strength is 8.4 MPa with the rubberwood 2wt% and temperature 198 °C whereas the pure ABS filaments obtaining from the commercial and extrusion process gave the values of 10.9 and 7.4 MPa, respectively. The morphological analysis of the 3D-printed WPC sample was observed to exhibit an effect of printing process. The result showed that an increasing temperature of extrusion process increases both tensile and compressive strengths of the samples whereas an increasing amount of fiber increases the tensile strength but decreased the compressive strength. Analysis of variance demonstrated linear factor and 2-way interaction factor of the extrusion parameter influence on compression and tensile strength significantly. The rubberwood 2wt% and the temperature 218 °C was suggested to achieve the suitable condition for extrusion process for the 3D-printed WPC sample. In addition, the discussions were supported with the thermal properties achieved from Thermogravimetric analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry.

Pyrolysis of high-density polyethylene: Degradation behaviors, kinetics, and product characteristics

Pyrolysis is a promising technology for converting plastic waste into valuable raw materials while offering a potential solution to the global plastic pollution crisis. In this study, the thermal pyrolysis of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is investigated in a drop tube reactor under nearly isothermal conditions. The impact of reaction temperature and gas/volatile residence time on carbon conversion and product distribution is examined across a range of 500–900 °C and 3.6–32.2 s, respectively. Non-condensable gas products detected by online mass spectrometry are H2, CH4, C2H4, C2H6, C3H6, and C3H8. At elevated temperatures and prolonged residence time, H2 yield reaches as high as 8.6 wt% of the initial HDPE mass due to intensified cracking reactions of C2–C3 hydrocarbons and long-chain aliphatic compounds. Consequently, pyrolysis tars consist mainly of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with 5–7 rings, accompanied by visible coke deposition within the reactor. HDPE decomposition to volatiles is an endothermic process and it is complete at a temperature between 492 °C and 525 °C, depending on the heating rate employed, from non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC) measurements. The thermal degradation of HDPE pellets follows the two-dimensional nucleation growth model for conversion levels up to 0.8 with an apparent activation energy of 259–270 kJ/mol and a pre-exponential factor of 4.83 × 1017–1.37 × 1019 min−1, determined from various isoconversional methods such as Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), and Starink, along with Criado's master plots. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing process parameters and refining reactor design for pyrolysis, which can be integrated with gasification and reforming processes to enhance hydrogen production on a larger scale.

Insight into in situ enzymatic transesterification modification of polyethylene terephthalate fibers with polyethylene glycol

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric was enzymatically modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG). Lipase from Aspergillus oryzae was used as a catalyst. The wetting behavior of the modified PET fabric was characterized by the water contact angle, water adsorption dynamics and moisture regain. The initial water contact angle of the modified fabric decreased from 129.3° to 74.9°. The water absorption dynamics results indicated that the equilibrium water absorption amount of the modified fabric was approximately 10 times greater than that of the untreated sample. The initial absorption rate (Vinit) of the modified fabric was almost 30 times higher than that of the untreated fabric. The moisture regain reached 3.52% after modification. Scanning electron microscopy revealed granular and sheet coatings on the surface of the modified fabric. Chemical linkage of PEG onto the PET fibers was confirmed by attenuated total reflection–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The modification had no significant effect on the thermal properties of the PET fabrics according to the thermogravimetric curve and differential scanning calorimetry results. The mechanical properties of the modified fabric were slightly improved. Therefore, in situ enzymatic transesterification between PET and PEG could be a potential novel modification approach for adding value to PET fiber textiles.

Improving the interfacial properties of carbon fiber/low melting point PAEK composites by embellishing of bio-based PAEK sizing agent

In this study, a bio-based polyarylene ether ketone (bio-PAEK) was synthesized to prepare water-based sizing agents for enhancing the interfacial adhesion between carbon fiber (CF) and matrix. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results indicated that the bio-PAEK exhibited good thermal properties. To improve the processability and reduce the processing temperature, PAEK with a low melting point (LMPAEK) was also used as the matrix resin. The glass-transition temperature (Tg) of LMPAEK was slightly higher than that of polyether ether ketone (PEEK), but its melting temperature (Tm) was lower 48.5 °C. A strong interface was created after introducing sizing agents onto the CF surface due to good compatibility between fibers and matrix. The interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and flexural strength of CF2/LMPAEK composites increased by 54.7%, 56.0% and 46.6%, respectively, compared with the untreated composites. This study provided a novel approach to prepare water-based bio-PAEK sizing agents for CF composites with a low melting point matrix to be applied in additive manufacturing.

Effect of magnetite and graphene nanoplatelets on mechanical properties and thermal stability of thermoplastic elastomer

ABSTRACT Functional nanocomposites have garnered considerable attention due to their ability to exhibit multifunctional properties and achieve exceptional performance. This current paper aims to analyze the individual and combined effects of magnetite (Fe3O4) and Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on the mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of a blend consisting Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) which is made up of Natural rubber (NR) and Polyaniline (PANi). Both nanocomposites were fabricated via melt blending method using an internal mixer, followed by compression via hot/cold pressing. The incorporation of Fe3O4 was observed to consistently enhance the flexural and impact properties compared to GNP-based nanocomposites. Notably, the nanocomposites filled with 6 wt% Fe3O4 displayed the highest flexural strength (2.1 MPa), flexural modulus (31.1 MPa), and impact strength (4.4 kJ/m2). Results from thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated a significant improvement in thermal stability within the nanocomposites. The introduction of nanoparticles led to a delay in decomposition and melting processes. The hybridization of Fe3O4 and GNP proved effective in synergistically enhancing both mechanical performance and thermal stability. At optimum content, scanning electron microscopy micrographs revealed a uniform dispersion of Fe3O4/GNPs within the TPE-PANi blend, accompanied by strong interactions between the components.

Prospects of mono cellulosic and cellulosic-glass hybrid fillers reinforced polypropylene composites

The objective of the study was to investigate the flexural mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of polypropylene composites reinforced with cellulose and glass particles. Polypropylene lacks sufficient strength and stiffness for many applications. By reinforcing it with cellulose and glass particles, the study was aimed at enhancing these mechanical properties, addressing the need for stronger and more durable materials. These composites are likely to find applications in the automotive industry where light weight, strong and heat resistant materials are needed for bumpers, dashboards, and interior trims. Additionally, these composites can be used for consumer goods where strong and lightweight materials are needed for various consumer products such as furniture, sporting goods, and appliances. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was used to explore the properties of the cellulosic composites and the experimental method was used to validate the results of FEA. The injection moulding process was used to fabricate the specimens for this study. The specimens were then characterized for their thermal behavior, morphology, and flexural properties. The thermal properties that were performed were thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Moreover, the morphology of the fabricated samples was examined using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composites were fabricated at filler volume fractions ranging from 0% to 50%. The flexural strength of both the wood powder/PP composites and the hybrid composites were found to be maximum for a filler volume fraction of 40% exhibiting 796.44 MPa and 1692.951 MPa, respectively. The research also noted from TGA that the melting temperature of all the fabricated samples were in the range of 150 °C to 160 °C. The glass transition temperature of neat polypropylene was around −20 °C.

Well-defined triphenylamine-containing polymers as hole-transporting layers in solution-processable organic light-emitting diodes via living anionic polymerization

In this study, we conducted anionic polymerization of N-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl-N-(4′-ethenyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluoren-2-amine (A) incorporating a triphenylamine group as a hole-transporting unit using sec-butyllithium and potassium naphthalenide as initiators in tetrahydrofuran at −30 ℃ for 10 min. The resultant poly(A)s exhibited controlled molecular weights (Mn = 20.9−126.3 kg/mol) and narrow molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn ≤ 1.12). The living nature of the propagating chain end of poly(A) was confirmed by postpolymerization. Additionally, block copolymerization of A with styrene (St) and 2-vinylpyridine (2VP) was performed to assess its relative reactivity. Copolymerization resulted in the precise synthesis of well-defined block copolymers with poly(A) segments. Thermal properties of poly(A) were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Notably, the thermal annealing of poly(A) film at 230 ℃ for 10 min made it insoluble in toluene, indicating its solvent resistance. Thus, poly(A) was used as the hole-transporting layer (HTL) in solution-processable organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). A comparative analysis against a reference device containing poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) revealed an enhancement in the performance of the OLED comprising thermally annealed poly(A) as the HTL. These results strongly suggest that poly(A) is a promising HTL material for solution-processable OLEDs.

Assessment of heating rate and mixing ratio on the synergistic effects of co-pyrolysis of pine sawdust and high-density polyethylene

The co-pyrolysis of biomass and plastics presents a promising approach for generating hydrocarbon fuels and high-value chemicals while addressing environmental pollution concerns. This study investigates the pyrolysis process by examining mixtures of pine sawdust (PS) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with varying mass proportions and heating rates using analytical methods including thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC), thermogravimetry coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-FTIR) coupled analysis, pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) and kinetic analysis. The study highlights the impact of heating rate on product distribution, with significant changes observed when the biomass ratio is at 30 %. Moreover, the addition of high-density polyethylene leads to an increase in polyol content in the liquid product. Analysis of product types reveals that plastics act as “hydrogen donors,” supplying hydrogen to biomass during co-pyrolysis, thus reducing oxygen chemicals. Results from the kinetic analysis show that the activation energy for co-pyrolysis is lower than individual pyrolysis, also indicating a synergistic effect. Overall, this research provides insights into the synergistic benefits of co-pyrolysis and establishes a theoretical foundation for advancing co-pyrolysis technology.

Protic ionic Liquids-Water Interactions: A study on 2-Hydroxypropylammonium formate through experimental analysis and computer simulations

In this study, interactions within a mixture of the protic ionic liquid 2-hydroxypropylammonium formate and water were investigated across the entire range of ionic liquid compositions and a wide temperature range from 283.15 K to 333.15 K. This investigation was based on the measurement results of density, viscosity, and electrical conductivity, and was supported by computational simulations. The synthesized ionic liquid was further characterized thermally using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The study focuses on the analysis of excess molar quantities of volume, thermal expansion coefficients, viscosity, and Gibbs energy of viscous flow, aiming to examine the influence of temperature and mixture composition on thermophysical properties. The impact of temperature on the system’s viscosity and Angell’s strength parameter was investigated to assess the influence of the ionic liquid’s content on the system’s structural organization. The dependency of molar conductivity on viscosity was analyzed through the Walden rule. Based on this analysis, the effect of temperature and mixture composition on deviations from the ideal behavior in diluted solutions of strong electrolytes was estimated. Computational molecular dynamics simulations were employed for a more detailed study of the structural organization of the system’s components.

Preparation of Thermal Controlled Deoxygenation Inhibitor and Its Inhibition of Coal Spontaneous Combustion

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to prepare a new type of thermal controlled deoxygenation inhibitor successfully. By adding a particular inorganic salt hydrate, this new deoxidizing inhibitor effectively slows down the oxidative-exothermic reaction that may occur during the action of the original deoxidizing inhibitor, improving the efficiency of preventing coal from spontaneous combustion. The heat shielding approach was employed, using the inorganic salt hydrate’s high heat capacity to absorb and decelerate heat transport during the phase change process. To assess the heat shielding effect of inorganic salt hydrates like Na2CO3·10 H2O, MgSO4·7 H2O, Na2SO4·10 H2O, MgCl2·6 H2O, and CaCl2·6 H2O, we conducted tests using thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). With a heat shielding effect of 171.2 J/g, which is much superior to that of other hydrates, the testing results demonstrate that Na2CO3·10 H2O has the best thermal control performance. In addition, we verified the effective inhibition of coal spontaneous combustion by the thermal controlled deoxygenation inhibitor, especially under the condition of increasing temperature, and the blocking effect of the inhibitor was enhanced with the increase of temperature. The findings of this study provide a new strategy for spontaneous combustion prevention during coal mining and storage and provide a scientific basis for further industrial application and optimization.

Phase change material microcapsules doped with phosphorus-based flame retardant filled titanium dioxide nanotubes for enhancing the energy storage and temperature regulation performance of buildings

Solar energy is not only a green alternative to fossil energy but also a candidate for future mainstream energy sources. To improve the efficiency and application range of solar energy, we investigated tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) modified titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs) doped phase change material microcapsules (p-t-MPCMs) to enhance the temperature regulation and flame retardancy of epoxy resin (EP) coatings. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy determined the successful preparation of p-TNTs and p-t-MPCMs. Moreover, it was confirmed that the p-t-MPCMs had great thermal stability and reliability by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The p-t-MPCMs increased residual mass by 12.2 % at 600 ℃ while correcting the initial melting temperature of MPCMs by 1.0 ℃. Based on the principle of oxygen consumption, the heat release rate (HRR) of EP coatings containing the p-t-MPCMs (p-t-MPCM/EP) was reduced from 665.92 kW/m2 to 443.78 kW/m2, resulting in a total heat release reduction (THR) of 17.73 % tested by a conical calorimeter. Then the results of the miniature chamber model demonstrated that p-t-MPCM/EP had outstanding temperature control ability. In summary, the p-t-MPCMs expressed great potential in regulating building temperature timely and improving the fire safety of EP coatings.

Synergistic co-pyrolysis of corn stover and refuse-derived fuel with microplastics: Kinetic and thermodynamic study

Biomass and refuse-derived fuel are prevalent constituents of municipal solid waste worldwide, exerting persistent pressures on environmental ecosystems. Consequently, there arises a critical necessity for their effective recycling and management. This study investigates the co-pyrolysis of corn stover (CS) and Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) in a 1:1 mass ratio through kinetic and thermodynamic analyses. Using a thermogravimetric analyzer and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the co-pyrolysis process is examined within a temperature range of 25–900 °C, under varying heating rates of 5, 10, and 20 °C/min in a nitrogen atmosphere. Kinetic analysis is conducted employing model-free methods, including Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Starink, and Tang, with subsequent estimation of thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy change (ΔH), entropy change (ΔS), and Gibbs free energy (ΔG). Additionally, mass and energy balances specific to the blended feedstock are calculated to evaluate future operational efficiency. The investigation reveals the higher heating values (HHV) of CS and RDF as 17.879 and 20.035 kJ/kg, respectively. Notably, the DTG and DSC curves indicate a positive interaction between CS and RDF's plastic component at temperatures exceeding 400 °C. Kinetic analysis yields average activation energies for CS, RDF, and the CS-RDF blend (1:1) as 202.26, 235.87, and 212.60 kJ/mol, respectively, suggesting a reduction in activation energy for the blend. In summary, these findings offer valuable insights into the co-pyrolysis of CS and RDF, thereby contributing to the optimization of co-pyrolysis as an effective waste-to-energy conversion process.

Fabrication of mechanical durable novolac matrix composites with recycled and cost-effective candle-soot nano particles

Novolac matrix composites are crucial due to their exceptional resistance to heat, chemicals, and mechanical stress. These advanced materials find applications in aerospace, electronics, and automotive industries, providing high-performance solutions for components requiring superior durability and reliability. In this context, the microstructure, thermal, phase, and mechanical properties of the composites obtained as a result of the recycling-oriented reinforcement of the waste candle-soot (CS) reinforcement at the rate of 1 wt% to the pure novolac (PN) and shaping with the hot press method were examined in detail at first time in the literature. While microstructural properties and fracture mechanisms were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal properties were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results obtained provided critical findings as the composite hardness, tensile strength, and flexural strength values were 3.28, 2.47, and 3.21 times higher than PN, respectively. CS-reinforced novolac composites made a significant contribution to the literature by introducing a novel and eco-friendly approach to enhance material properties. Their use as a filler material provided insights into sustainable novolac composites, offering potential applications in various industries, such as electronics and aerospace, with improved mechanical and thermal properties.

Crystallization of KDP in the presence of 4-nitro benzoic acid, L-ornithine hydrochloride and terephthalic acid

The present study is to investigate the optical, thermal and SHG properties of grown potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystals using slow evaporation method in the presence of 4-nitro benzoic acid, l-Ornithine Hydrochloride and Terephthalic acid. Powder crystal XRD studies confirm their structure as that of KDP. The presence of functional groups has been tested and confirmed by FTIR. UV–visible spectral analysis - Differential Reflectance Studies (DRS) is used to examine the optical properties of pure and doped KDP crystals within the wavelength range of 200–800 nm and also evaluate the band gap, refractive index, extinction coefficient and optical conductivity of the grown crystals. Thermal properties of grown crystal are analysed by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Second harmonic generation test is carried out for the grown crystals to analyse nonlinear optical (NLO) properties.