Effect of plasticizers on the properties of sugar palm nanocellulose/cinnamon essential oil reinforced starch bionanocomposite films

This work examines the effects of plasticizer type and concentration on mechanical, physical, and antibacterial characteristics of sugar palm nanocellulose/sugar palm starch (SPS)/cinnamon essential oil bionanocomposite films. In this research, the preparation of SPS films were conducted using glycerol (G), sorbitol (S), and their blend (GS) as plasticizers at ratios of 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 wt%. The bionanocomposite films were developed by the solution casting method. Plasticizer Plasticizers were added to the SPS film-forming solutions to help overcome the fragile and brittle nature of the unplasticized SPS films. Increasing plasticizer contents resulted in an increase in film thickness and moisture contents. On the contrary, the increase in plasticizer concentrations resulted in the decrease of the densities of the plasticized films. The increase in the plasticizer content from 1.5 to 4.5% revealed less influence towards the moisture content of S-plasticised films. For glycerol and glycerol-sorbitol plasticized (G and GS) films, higher moisture content was observed compared to S-plasticised films. Various plasticizer types did not significantly modify the antibacterial activity of bionanocomposite films. The findings of this study showed significant improvement in the properties of bionanocomposite films with different types and concentrations of plasticizers and their potential for food packaging applications was enhanced.

Mechanical Study of Some Polystyrene composites modified with adding inorganic fillers

Polystyrene-Zinc oxide microcomposites have been prepared for Mechanical study. The Zinc oxide micro particles were added to polystyrene by different concentrations that are (3, 5, and 7) by weight percent of the pure polymeric matrix. Solution casting method is used for preparing such composites. Different Mechanical properties of (PS-ZnO) microcomposites have been measured. Stress strain Curve is investigated for both pure Polystyrene and its composites with zinc oxide. The results showed that the Tensile Strength varies with the increase of ZnO in a specific way. Elongation at break of (PS-ZnO) micro composites increase with increase the content of (ZnO). An explanation of such behavior in tensile strength as well as Elongation at break has been discussed.

Effect of NaBr on the Structural, Thermal and Mechanical Properties of HPMC:NaBr Composite Films

The hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC):sodium bromide (NaBr) composite films were prepared using different concentrations by solution casting method. The crystalline percentage of the pure HPMC was reduced from 74% to 60% upon the incorporation of 0.7 wt.% of NaBr salt, which suggests that the NaBr salt disrupted the host polymer crystalline phase. The two-phase microstructure in the morphological images reflects the phase separation at different concentrations of dopant. The functional studies revealed the considerable variation of intensity and the shift of peaks due to the action of NaBr in the host polymer matrix. The HPMC showed a large increase in the glass transition temperature (Tg) from 65 ºC to 86 ºC and simultaneously reduction in the weight percent loss was observed. The mechanical analysis revealed that the added dopant has a significant effect on the mechanical properties of HPMC.

Gas Transport Characteristics of Mixed Matrix Membrane Containing MIL-100 (Fe) Metal-Organic Frameworks and PEBAX Precursors

In this research, the effect of adding MIL-100 (Fe) MOFs on the PEBAX membranes has been scrutinized in two grades of 1657 and 2533. Initially, the intended membranes were synthesized by the solution-casting method. Then, the XRD and SEM were applied to deliberate the influence of adding MIL-100 (Fe) to the structure of both types of membranes. In consequence, the separation function of the pair gases of CO2/CH4، CO2/N2 and CO2/O2 and their permeability were considered at the pressure of 3.5 bar and temperature of 25°C. Eventually, their function was compared by Robeson diagrams of 1991 and 2008. The comparison results by Robeson diagrams indicated that the PEBAX1657/MIL-100 (Fe) and PEBAX2533/MIL-100 (Fe) membranes containing 5 wt.% of MOF represent more suitable performance in separating CO2/CH4 in comparison with the axis of the Robeson diagram. However, their function for separating the aforementioned gases requires more modifications.

New Developments in the Formation of Nanocomposites between Starch and Clay

Biodegradable polymers, like Polycaprolactone (PCL), have recently received a lot of attention in the science establishment because of the growing global interest in non - petroleum-based polymeric materials. 3-amino - 4 - ((3-hydroxyphenyl) diazenyl) - N(pyrimidine-2-yl) benzenesulfonamide (AZO) one of the organic materials used to reconfigure natural clay (sodium montmorillonite). The clay particles were modified by stirring them in an aqueous medium of AZO-MMT, which increased the wavelength from 1.27 to 2.04 nm. The reconfigured clay would have been used to make PCL/corn-starch mixture nanocomposites. They were created by combining 0.5–5% AZO-MMT. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) were utilized to characterize the interaction of the modifier in the clay layer. The nanocomposites were prepared by solution casting method the reconfigured clay and a PCL/corn-starch mixture at a weight ratio of 80/20, which leads to an increase in the scope of tensile strength which that considers the biggest blend. The results of survey electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and XRD was proved the creation of nanocomposites materials. Additionally, that PBS/corn-starch reconfigured clay nanocomposites exhibit that superior thermal stability significantly and a great increase over the PCL/corn-starch mixture.

FTIR spectroscopy characterization and critical comparison of poly(vinyl)alcohol and natural hydroxyapatite derived from fish bone composite for bone-scaffold

This paper presents the interaction comparison of poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) with hydroxyapatite derived from Spanish Mackerel (SM) and Whitefin Wolf Herring (WWH) bones, in different processing method. PVA filament and solution casting method illustrated higher crystallinity in the FTIR graph as compared to the PVA pellet and filament extrusion method. Besides, minimal interactions between PVA with glycerol and HAp was observed as well. PVA pellet and solution casting method portrait higher interaction as compared to the PVA filament and extrusion method. As for the HAp of SM and WWH, WWH had higher crystallinity and better cell adhesion with a higher Ca/P ratio while SM had relatively better mechanical strength with Ca/P ratio near to stoichiometric value. The loading of HAp (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 30%) does not affect interactions of PVA/HAp composite in FTIR, and thermal properties in TGA. However, it caused an increase in crystallinity at low HAp loading and decreased at higher loading of HAp above 10%. Upon addition of HAp, tensile strength increased and elongation at break decreased. As the loading of HAp increased, both mechanical properties decreased. Scaffold with WWH composite possessed lower tensile strength and higher elongation at break than SM composite. The result of mechanical properties corresponded to the SEM result. ANOVA analysis justified the effect of HAp variations and loading on the mechanical properties of the composite was prominent.

Karakteristik Poli Asam Laktat Glikolat (Kajian Rasio Asam Laktat Limbah Aren-Asam Glikolat)

Polimer Poli Asam Laktat Glikolat (PLGA) merupakan salah satu jenis polimer yang telah disetujui FDA dan EMA untuk penggunaan biomedik. Kelebihan PLGA yaitu biokompatibilitas, biodegradabilitas, fleksibilitas, dan efek samping yang minimal. PLGA telah dikembangkan untuk penggunaan medis namun pemenuhannya masih berupa impor. Oleh karena itu, pada penelitian ini monomer asam laktat dari limbah pati aren dan asam glikolat dengan rasio LA:GA = 75%:25%; 90%:10%; 95%:5%; direaksikan secara Ring Opening Polymerization (ROP) dengan bantuan katalis Sn(II) Oktoat membentuk PLGA. PLGA hasil kemudian ditambahkan PVA, dengan rasio PLGA:PVA 3:2; 3:3; 3:4; dan 3:5 dengan metode solution casting membentuk film. Penelitian dilakukan secara eksperimental dengan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) faktorial. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya kombinasi rasio LA:GA dan rasio penambahan PVA mempengaruhi karakteristik film PLGA. Hasil kekakuan dan Modulus Young film PLGA tertinggi pada kombinasi penambahan rasio LA:GA = 75%:25% dan penambahan rasio PLGA:PVA =3:4. Biodegrabilitas film PLGA terbaik pada kombinasi penambahan rasio LA:GA 90%:10% dan penambahan rasio PLGA:PVA 3:4. Film PLGA memiliki biokompatibilitas yang baik pada semua rasio LA:GA, dengan penambahan rasio PLGA:PVA lebih dari 3:2. Hasil film PLGA memiliki morfologi permukaan paling halus pada rasio penambahan PLGA : PVA 3:2, dan memiliki struktur semi kristalin.Lactic Glycolic Acid Polymer (PLGA) is a type of polymer that has been approved by the FDA and EMA for biomedical use. The advantages of PLGA are biocompatibility, biodegradability, flexibility, and minimal side effects. PLGA has been developed for medical use but fulfillment is still imported. Therefore, in this study, the lactic acid monomer from waste palm starch and glycolic acid with a ratio of LA: GA = 75%: 25%; 90%: 10%; 95%: 5%; reacted with Ring Opening Polymerization (ROP) with the help of a catalyst Sn (II) Octoate to form PLGA. The resulting PLGA was then added with PVA, with a ratio of PLGA: PVA 3: 2; 3: 3; 3: 4; and 3: 5 with the solution casting method forming the film. This research was conducted experimentally with a factorial completely randomized design (CRD). The results showed that the combination of LA: GA ratio and PVA addition ratio affected the PLGA film characteristics. The results of stiffness and Young's Modulus of PLGA film were highest in the combination of addition of the ratio of LA: GA = 75%: 25% and the addition of the ratio of PLGA: PVA = 3: 4. The best PLGA film biodegradability was combined with the addition of the ratio of LA: GA 90%: 10% and the addition of the PLGA: PVA ratio 3: 4. PLGA film has good biocompatibility in all LA: GA ratios, with the addition of a PLGA: PVA ratio of more than 3: 2. The results of the PLGA film had the smoothest surface morphology at the ratio of addition of PLGA: PVA 3: 2, and had a semi-crystalline structure.

A Sulfonated Polyimide/Nafion Blend Membrane with High Proton Selectivity and Remarkable Stability for Vanadium Redox Flow Battery

A sulfonated polyimide (SPI)/Nafion blend membrane composed of a designed and synthesized SPI polymer and the commercial Nafion polymer is prepared by a facile solution casting method for vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). Similar molecular structures of both SPI and Nafion provide good compatibility and complementarity of the blend membrane. ATR-FTIR, 1H-NMR, AFM, and SEM are used to gain insights on the chemical structure and morphology of the blend membrane. Fortunately, the chemical stability of the SPI/Nafion blend membrane is effectively improved compared with reported SPI-based membranes for VRFB applications. In cycling charge-discharge tests, the VRFB with the as-prepared SPI/Nafion blend membrane shows excellent battery efficiencies and operational stability. Above results indicate that the SPI/Nafion blend membrane is a promising candidate for VRFB application. This work opens up a new possibility for fabricating high-performance SPI-based blend membrane by introduction of a polymer with a similar molecular structure and special functional groups into the SPI polymer.

Development and characterization of polyvinyl alcohol filled with date palm midrib powder

Date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L) is one of the most widely cultivated crops in different parts of Saudi Arabia. The midribs rich in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin are often burnt in the farms, causes severe environmental problems. In the present study, date palm midrib (DPM), these waste materials were powdered and incorporated into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Composites were prepared by varying the DPM loading (0–10 wt%) using the solution casting method. Tensile and thermal properties were analyzed for the composites with respect to filler loading. Addition of DPM as filler enhanced the tensile modulus while an inverse effect was observed in the elongation values. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis showed a gradual increase in melting temperature (Tm) and crystallinity values for PVA. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the incorporation of DPM into PVA can increase the thermal stability of PVA. Morphology of the composites were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Effect the Ratio and Particle Size of Glass Powder from Fluorescent Tubes Waste on Electrical Properties of PVA-Glass Composites

The polymer composites used in the present study were made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a matrix and glass powder as a filler. The glass powder was obtained from fluorescent tubes waste. The solution casting method was used to fabricate PVA/glass powder composite. Three groups of samples were prepared. The first was prepared by using PVA with the addition of glass powder (sieved less than 20 μm) in proportions 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 %. The second: the mixing ratios of PVA and glass powder were 80% and 20%, respectively. The third: The mixing ratios of PVA and glass powder were 60% and 40%, respectively. In Both previous groups, the added glass powder used was sieved with sizes less than 20, 45, 105, and 125 μm. For all samples, the following properties were measured at room temperature: DC electrical conductivity, dielectric constant, electrical conductivity, and dissipation factor. The last three properties were measured with a range of frequencies from 1kHz to 5MHz. DC conductivity increases with increasing of glass powder. It was found that the highest conductivity values are for samples composed of glass powder with a particle size of less than 45 μm for both ratios of glass 20% and 40%. It is also noticed that within most frequencies, the sample with 30% glass has the largest dissipation factor. At 20% filler of glass powder, it is noted that the highest values of the dielectric constant are for samples composed of glass powder with a particle size of less than 45 μm and 125 μm. Below 1 MHz, the effect of glass powder particle size on the AC conductivity is minimal. It is found that the samples containing glass powder (less than 125 μm and 105 μm), have similar and lowest dissipation factor. At 40% filler of glass powder, it is noted that the lowest values of the dielectric constant are for samples composed of glass powder with a particle size little than 105 μm.