Obtainment and Characterization of Metal-Coated Polyethylene Granules as a Basis for the Development of Heat Storage Systems

The research studied the feasibility of using copper-coated polyethylene granules as a basis for creating efficient heat storage systems. A technology for imparting catalytic properties to a polymer surface by the joint processing of polymer granules and an activator metal in a ball mill with their subsequent metallization in a chemical reducing solution is proposed. The efficiency of copper-coating a polyethylene surface is shown to be largely determined by the activation stage and the assumption regarding the mechanism of interaction of the activator metal with the polymer surface is made. To obtain different amounts of metal on the polyethylene granules, it is proposed that the method of remetallization is used. It was established that the rate of copper ion reduction depends on the number of previous coatings and is determined by the area of interaction of the metal-coated granules with the chemical reducing solution. The obtained metal-coated polyethylene granules were characterized in terms of the viability of using it as a phase transition material for a heat storage system. Using the developed installation that simulates the heat accumulator operation, it was shown that the efficiency of using metal-coated polyethylene granules to create heat storage systems is higher. The copper coating deposited on the polyethylene granules was studied using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis.

Plasma Surface Modification of Epoxy Polymer in Air DBD and Gliding Arc

We studied the epoxy polymer surface modification using air plasma treatment in a Gliding Arc (GA) plasma reactor and a pulsed Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD). We employed optical emission spectroscopy (OES) measurements to approximate the vibrational and rotational temperatures for both plasma sources, as well as surface temperature measurements with fiber optics and IR thermography to corelate with the corresponding hydrophilization of the epoxy material. Water contact angle measurements revealed a rapid hydrophilization for both plasma sources, with a slightly more pronounced effect for the air DBD treatment. Ageing studies revealed stable hydrophilicity, with water contact angle saturating at values lower than 50°, corresponding to a >50% decrease compared to the untreated epoxy polymer. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy studies showed an additional absorption band assigned to carbonyl group, with its peak intensity being higher for the DBD treated surfaces. The spectra were also correlated with the surface functionalization via the relative peak area ratio of carbonyl to oxirane and benzene related bands. According to SEM imaging, GA plasma treatment led to no apparent morphological change, contrary to DBD treatment, which resulted in nano-roughness formation. The enhanced surface oxidation as well as the nano-roughness formation on epoxy surface with the air DBD treatment were found to be responsible for the stable hydrophilization.

IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CONTACT FORCE METHOD OF THE ATOMIC FORCE SPECTROSCOPY

Предложена методика, оптимизирующая метод контактной силовой спектроскопии. С помощью макроязыка, интегрированного в программное обеспечение NOVA установки сканирующего зондового микроскопа Solver P47, был разработан алгоритм, позволяющий анализировать силовые кривые, не покидая его основного интерфейса. Апробация метода выполнена на образцах синтезированного полимера, поскольку одним из важнейших механических свойств, определяющим их спектр областей применения, является упругость. В работе получены локальные значения модуля Юнга на поверхности полимера методом контактной силовой спектроскопии с применением скрипта YUNG, разработанного с помощью макроязыка, интегрированного в программу управления сканирующего зондового микроскопа. Показано, что применение скрипта YUNG позволяет оптимизировать метод контактной силовой спектроскопии по поиску показателя степени γ, выбору модели для расчета силы взаимодействия для дальнейшего определения локального модуля Юнга. We propose a technique that optimizing the method of contact force spectroscopy. With the help of a macro language integrated into the NOVA software of the Solver P47 scanning probe microscope, an algorithm was developed that allows analyzing force curves without leaving its main interface. The approbation of the method was done on samples of synthesized polymer, since one of the most important mechanical properties determining their range of applications is elasticity. In this paper, local values of the Young's modulus on the polymer surface are obtained by the method of contact force spectroscopy using the YUNG script developed using a macro language integrated into the control program of a scanning probe microscope. It is shown that the use of the YUNG script makes it possible to optimize the method of contact force spectroscopy by searching for the exponent γ, choosing a model for calculating the interaction force for further determination of the local Young modulus.

Tribological and Rheological Investigations of MWCNT/PMMA Polymeric Composites and Hybrid Compounds

The Nano scale self-lubricating compounds were prepared by in-situ free radical polymerization with the dispersion of MWCNT ultrasonic molecules embedded in the polymer matrix to enhance the tribological mechanical properties as well as the production of hybrid compounds to detect the tibial changes on the polymer surface, dry friction under the conditions of slip was studied, the friction coefficient was found For hybrid compounds slightly lower than the coefficient of friction of Nano composites under multiple loads and constant velocities, enhancements of Nano composites in rheological behavior were investigated and the influencing factors were determined: shear stress, shear viscosity, as well as shear rates. By using visual inspection, tracking of the behavior of compounds during extrusion was carried out and obtaining the shapes of the threads resulting from extrusion, which are usually important matters whose results depend on many industries.

A study of The use of Manuka Honey and Methylglyoxal to Impart Antimicrobial Activity to Wool Textiles and Polymers

<p><b>Methylglyoxal (MGO), which is an ingredient in New Zealand Manuka honey (MH) possesses unique antimicrobial properties against a broad range of bacteria. MGO has been determined to have a low minimum inhibitory concentration against bacteria. This provides a new opportunity to develop the use of this compound as a natural antimicrobial agent to impart such antimicrobial properties to wool textiles. This is the focus and detailed research work of this thesis. Also, its application to paper and polymer surfaces has been investigated briefly.</b></p> <p>Due to their protein-based structure and porosity, woollen textiles provide a hospitable host for the growth of microorganisms. This microbial growth on such textiles can pose an undesirable health risk to humans and can negatively affect textile sales. the textile market. Similarly, microbial growth on other substrates such as walls, floors and various equipment can also pose health risks. There are a number of antimicrobial treatments on the market, but with the move to more natural-based antimicrobial agents, there is an opportunity to capture the natural antimicrobial properties of MH and particularly the active ingredient MGO, as a natural antimicrobial agent in wool textiles and paper and polymer substrates.</p> <p>This research developed a novel approach and methodology to incorporate MH and also MGO itself as an isolated component and antimicrobial agent of MH, into the wool fibres and chemically bonding it to the fibre proteins. This approach commenced with determining the extent of uptake of MH, based on its MGO concentration, and MGO itself into wool fibres. The extent of MH and MGO uptake has been determined with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). This uptake was studied over a range of MH and MGO concentrations and temperatures using loose top wool, yarn and finished wool fabric. An increase in temperature from room temperature up to 80 °C resulted in significantly higher amounts of MGO and MH being absorbed by the wool. Also, higher concentrations of the initial MGO and MH solutions accelerated the uptake rates and resulted in higher uptake amounts. The relatively slow diffusion rate of MGO into the wool necessarily required a long period of time, up to 14 days, for the particular uptake to generally reach the saturation level. The maximum amounts of MH and MGO that were incorporated into wool fibres in this study were 21.2 mg g-1 and 299 mg g-1 wool, respectively.</p> <p>The chemical interactions between MGO and MGO in MH with the wool fibres have been characterised by Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). FTIR spectra showed that the MGO absorption by the wool changed the intensity of particular peaks between 2,000 and 700 cm-1 characteristic of the wool proteins, and the NH stretching peaks of the wool at 3,270 cm-1. The TGA and DSC analyses showed a thermal stability of the wool after MGO absorption and the likely formation of new bonds, probably H-bonds, between the MGO and the wool. Confirming these findings, the MGOWool and MH-Wool showed a resistance against MGO leaching on washing with water, where less than 1% (relative) of MGO leached out. These results suggest the MGO is likely chemically bound to the wool fibres through hydrogen bonding.</p> <p>The MGO-Wool and also MGO-paper composites produced in a similar way with MGO-Wool, exhibited antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli). The MGO-Wool showed bacteriostatic properties for all composites even after three months of being synthesised. This opens up potential applications for the use of MH and MGO in antimicrobial woollen apparel, medical textiles and bandages.</p> <p>In addition, MGO was incorporated into samples of an acrylic polymer NeoCryl® XK-98 and a polyurethane, Kamthane K-5000, polymer resin, respectively. The interaction of MGO with the respective polymer chains resulted in similar hydrogen bonding between MGO and the polymers. At high MGO concentrations this bonding was confirmed by the presence of a new endothermic peak in the DSC pattern. The addition of MGO also modified the polymer surface and resulted in a more hydrophobic surface with an increased water droplet contact angle of 87.5°. The new polymer compositeswere successfully tested against S. aureus and E. coli microbes and were shown to exhibit antimicrobial properties.</p>