Search results for " Plastics"
showing 10 items of 2628 documents
The use of in-line quantitative analysis to follow polymer processing
2009
In this work it is presented three applications of real time analysis during extrusion process using an optical device developed by our research group, which applies the concepts of light extinction. Monitoring of polymer blends morphology takes place to infer data concerned to dispersed phase size and concentration. The detector also enables information about melting temperature of polymer during extrusion and the level of viscous heating, and the exfoliation step during processing of a polymer-clay nanocomposite.
Hyaluronan-coated polybenzofulvene brushes as biomimetic materials
2016
Hyaluronic acid (HA) forms pericellular coats in many cell types that are involved in the early stages of cell adhesion by interacting with the CD44 receptor. Based on the largely recognized overexpression of the CD44 receptor in tumor tissues, a polybenzofulvene molecular brush has been enveloped into hyaluronan shells to obtain a tri-component polymer brush (TCPB) composed of intrinsically fluorescent backbones bearing nona(ethylene glycol) arms terminated with low molecular weight HA macromolecules. The nanoaggregates obtained in TCPB water dispersions were characterized on the basis of dimensions, zeta potential, and in vitro cell toxicity. This biomimetic multifunctional material beari…
Functional Bionanocomposite Fibers of Chitosan Filled with Cellulose Nanofibers Obtained by Gel Spinning
2021
Extremely high mechanical performance spun bionanocomposite fibers of chitosan (CHI), and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were successfully achieved by gel spinning of CHI aqueous viscous formulations filled with CNFs. The microstructural characterization of the fibers by X-ray diffraction revealed the crystallization of the CHI polymer chains into anhydrous chitosan allomorph. The spinning process combining acidic–basic–neutralization–stretching–drying steps allowed obtaining CHI/CNF composite fibers of high crystallinity, with enhanced effect at incorporating the CNFs. Chitosan crystallization seems to be promoted by the presence of cellulose nanofibers, serving as nucleation sites for the gr…
Grafting of polymer chains on the surface of carbon nanotubes via nitroxide radical coupling reaction
2016
Poly(butylene succinate)/MWCNTs nanocomposites with improved dispersion and with nanotubes embedded/immobilized into the polymer matrix were here prepared by an alternative "grafting to" method based on thenitroxide radical coupling reaction. Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) was grafted on the surface of TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy) modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via a nitroxide radical coupling reaction. TEMPO functionalized MWCNTs (MWCNTs-g-TEMPO) were synthesized using the Cu(I)-catalyzed azide/alkyne click chemistry approach and the covalent bond of the nitroxide moieties onto the MWCNTs was confirmed via electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy.…
Recycling of Thermoset Materials and Thermoset-Based Composites: Challenge and Opportunity
2022
Thermoset materials and their composites are characterized by a long life cycle with their main applications in aircrafts, wind turbines and constructions as insulating materials. Considering the importance of recovery and valorization of these materials at their end-of-life, avoiding landfilling, the interest concerning their recycling grows continuously. The thermoset materials and their composites, to be successfully recovered and valorized, must degrade their three-dimensional structures and recover the mono-oligomers and/or fillers. The thermoset materials could successfully degrade through thermal treatment at different temperatures (for example, above 1000 °C for incineration, ca. 50…
Polysarcosine-Based Lipids: From Lipopolypeptoid Micelles to Stealth-Like Lipids in Langmuir Blodgett Monolayers.
2016
Amphiphiles and, in particular, PEGylated lipids or alkyl ethers represent an important class of non-ionic surfactants and have become key ingredients for long-circulating (“stealth”) liposomes. While poly-(ethylene glycol) (PEG) can be considered the gold standard for stealth-like materials, it is known to be neither a bio-based nor biodegradable material. In contrast to PEG, polysarcosine (PSar) is based on the endogenous amino acid sarcosine (N-methylated glycine), but has also demonstrated stealth-like properties in vitro, as well as in vivo. In this respect, we report on the synthesis and characterization of polysarcosine based lipids with C14 and C18 hydrocarbon chains and their end g…
Reactive Compatibilization of PBT/EVA Blends with an Ethylene-Acrylic Acid Copolymer and a Low Molar Mass Bis-Oxazoline
2004
Polyesters and polyolefins form highly incompatible blends with poor properties and gross morphology that hinder any practical applications. In this work, the possibility to compatibilize an incompatible blend of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) with ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) by adding a bis-oxazoline compound, 2,2'-(1,3-phenylene)-bis(2-oxazoline) (PBO), and an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer (EAA) as compatibilizer precursors has been studied. The results indicate that the binary uncompatibilized blends show poor mechanical properties and a bad morphology with scarce adhesion between the phases. The situation is only slightly improved when the EAA is added while the best performance …
On the modification of the nitrile groups of acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene into oxazoline in the melt
2000
Oxazoline functionality is well known to be highly reactive toward a lot of other functional groups like carboxyls, hydroxyls, mercaptans, and amines. In this work we report the possibility to modify the nitrile groups of an acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene (ABS) copolymer into oxazoline in the molten state in the presence of aminoethanol as modifier agent and zinc acetate as a catalyst. The reaction has been carried out in a batch mixer and in a corotating twin screw extruder. The conversion of the nitrile groups into oxazoline has been verified by infrared spectroscopy, NMR analysis microanalysis and confirmed by thermomechanical characterization. The results indicate that the kinetic of g…
Effect of different processing techniques and presence of antioxidant on the chitosan film performance
2022
In the last two decades, the naturally occurring polysaccharides have gained great attention because of their potential applications in different sectors, for example, from food to biomedical sectors. Chitosan is a cationic polysaccharide with good transparency, and currently, it has been considered also as suitable material for the formulation film and coating in cultural heritage protection. In this work, the chitosan films (Ch), with and without natural antioxidant such as citric acid (CA), are formulated considering two different processing techniques: (i) conventional solvent casting and (ii) compression molding, that is an unconventional method for this polysaccharide, giving the poss…
Structure and dielectric breakdown strength of nano calcium carbonate/polypropylene composites
2013
Nanodielectrics, a 21st-century phenomena, is envisioned to be the answer for material challenges in progressive high-voltage technology. It is well known that the proper dispersion of nanoparticles plays a key role in improving the dielectric properties of a material, but to understand where changes in the properties of a material originate, it is also essential to reveal the multiscale structure of the material. In this study, the dielectric permittivity, breakdown strength, and structure of nano calcium carbonate (nano-CaCO3)/polypropylene composites with 1.8-8.1 wt % doping were characterized systematically. The combined results from transmission electron microscopy, Raman microscopy, a…