Search results for "PLASTICS"

Nanocarbons in electrospun polymeric nanomats for tissue engineering: A review

2017

Electrospinning is a versatile process technology, exploited for the production of fibers with varying diameters, ranging from nano- to micro-scale, particularly useful for a wide range of applications. Among these, tissue engineering is particularly relevant to this technology since electrospun fibers offer topological structure features similar to the native extracellular matrix, thus providing an excellent environment for the growth of cells and tissues. Recently, nanocarbons have been emerging as promising fillers for biopolymeric nanofibrous scaffolds. In fact, they offer interesting physicochemical properties due to their small size, large surface area, high electrical conductivity an…

Influence of oxidation level of graphene oxide on the mechanical performance and photo-oxidation resistance of a polyamide 6

2019

The aim of this work is to study the relationship between the chemical-physical properties of graphene oxide (GO) and the performance of a polyamide 6 (PA6) in terms of mechanical reinforcement and resistance to UV-exposure. For this purpose, two samples of GO possessing different oxidation degrees were added (0.75 wt.%) to PA6 by way of a two-step technique and the materials achieved were carefully analysed from a morphological, chemical-physical, mechanical point of view. Photo-oxidation tests were carried out to assess the performance of this class of nanohybrids after 240 h of UV-exposure. The results reveal that both nanocomposites exhibit enhanced mechanical performance and durability…

Influence of pulp bleaching and compatibilizer selection on performance of pulp fiber reinforced PLA biocomposites

2019

Fracture behavior and mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties of biodegradable films extruded by flat die and calender

2020

The development of biodegradable materials for tailored applications, particularly in the field of polymeric films and sheets, is a challenging technological goal as well as a contribution to help protect the environment. Poly(lactic) acid (PLA) is a promising substitute for several oil-based polymers; however, to overcome its thermal and mechanical drawbacks, researchers have developed solutions such as blending PLA with polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), which is capable of increasing the ductility of the final material. In this study, PLA/PBAT binary blends, with minimum possible content of nonrenewable materials, were examined from processing, thermal, morphological, and rheolog…

Chemical Modification of Nitrile to Oxazoline Functionality on a Styrene-Acrylonitrile Copolymer in the Melt

1998

Oxazoline is a very interesting functionality for reactive extrusion and other applications. In this paper, we report the possibility of chemically transforming nitrile group attached to a copolymer of styrene and acrylonitrile (SAN) to oxazoline group using 2-amino-ethanol (AE). The chemical modification of SAN with AE was done in the molten state. Among various catalysts tested, zinc acetate turned out to be the most efficient. The effects of the catalyst concentration, temperature and mixing on the overall kinetics were studied. The formation of the expected oxazoline functionality was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy and by reacting with 1-naphthylacetic acid. The reaction between the…

Photo-oxidative degradation of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)/nisin antimicrobial films

2012

The photo-oxidative behaviour of different antimicrobial blown films based on poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) was studied. In particular, two samples of EVA containing different level of vinyl acetate comonomer (namely 14% and 28%) were used as matrices while nisin at different concentrations was used as antimicrobial agent. The degradation was followed by analyzing the changes in the spectroscopic behaviour and of the elongation at break measured in tensile tests. Moreover, changes in the antimicrobial activity of the films were followed by measuring the inhibition halo in agar diffusion tests. The results indicate that nisin acts as an excellent UV stabilizer for both samples of EV…

Safely Dissolvable and Healable Active Packaging Films Based on Alginate and Pectin

2019

Extensive usage of long-lasting petroleum based plastics for short-lived application such as packaging has raised concerns regarding their role in environmental pollution. In this research, we have developed active, healable, and safely dissolvable alginate-pectin based biocomposites that have potential applications in food packaging. The morphological study revealed the rough surface of these biocomposite films. Tensile properties indicated that the fabricated samples have mechanical properties in the range of commercially available packaging films while possessing excellent healing efficiency. Biocomposite films exhibited higher hydrophobicity properties compared to neat alginate films. T…

Coffee grounds as filler for pectin: Green composites with competitive performances dependent on the UV irradiation.

2017

Novel composite bioplastics were successfully prepared by filling pectin matrix with treated coffee grounds. The amount of coffee dispersed into the pectin was changed within a wide filler range. The morphology of the pectin/coffee hybrid films was studied by microscopic techniques in order to investigate their mesoscopic structure as well as the sizes distribution of the particles dispersed into the matrix. The micrographs showed that the coffee grounds are uniformly dispersed within the polymeric matrix. The morphological characteristics of the biocomposite films were correlated to their properties, such as wettability, water uptake, thermal behavior and mechanical performances. Dynamic m…

Raman spectrum of the high pressure phase of polyethylene

1982

The Raman spectrum of the hexagonal high pressure phase of polyethylene was measured at 5.2 kbar and 240 °C, using a hydrostatic high pressure cell. The spectrum is largely identical to that obtained for the melt. This result indicates that the conformational short range order in the hexagonal phase remains melt —like and is not modified by the overall straightening of chains.

The influence of the rubber carboxyl functionality on the processability and properties of solid rubber modified epoxy mixtures

2005

A high molecular weight, carboxyl functionalised solid rubber was added to an epoxy resin-aromatic amino system developed for autoclave curing of honeycomb core composite structures. The achievement of an optimal balance of viscous flow and viscoelasticity of the resin, by controlling the nature and extent of cross-linking of the functionalised rubber, was proposed as a route to void-free honeycomb skins. The aim of the present investigation is to understand how the concentration of carboxylic groups of the rubber, prereacted with one of the epoxy monomers, affects the matrix resin flow properties. The concentration of carboxyl groups was changed by reacting them with a monofunctional epoxy…