Non-Wettable Microporous Sheets Using Mixed Polyolefin Waste for Oil-Water Separation.

Mixed polyolefin-based waste needs urgent attention to mitigate its negative impact on the environment. The separation of these plastics requires energy-intensive processes due to their similar densities. Additionally, these materials cannot be blended without compatibilizers, as they are inherently incompatible and immiscible.

Reusable Macroporous Oil Sorbent Films from Plastic Wastes.

Plastic waste comprises 15% of the total municipal solid waste and can be a rich source for producing value-added materials. Among them, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) account for 60% of the total plastic waste, mainly due to their low-end and one-time-use applications. Herein, we report reusable oil sorbent films made by upcycling waste PE and PP.

Accelerated Weathering Effects on Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and PHBV/TiO Nanocomposites.

The effect of accelerated weathering on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and PHBV-based nanocomposites with rutile titanium (IV) dioxide (PHBV/TiO) was investigated. The accelerated weathering test applied consecutive steps of UV irradiation (at 340 nm and 0.76 W m irradiance) and moisture at 50 °C following the ASTM D4329 standard for up to 2000 h of exposure time.

Effects of Rutile-TiO Nanoparticles on Accelerated Weathering Degradation of Poly(Lactic Acid).

The effect of accelerated weathering on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and a PLA nanocomposite with rutile titanium (IV) dioxide (rutile-TiO) was investigated. The accelerated weathering test applied consecutive steps of ultraviolet (UV) (at 340 nm and 0.76 W m irradiance) and moisture at 50 °C for 2000 h, following the ASTM D4329 standard.

Kinetics of alkoxysilanes hydrolysis: An empirical approach.

Alkoxysilanes and organoalkoxysilanes are primary materials in several industries, e.g. coating, anti-corrosion treatment, fabrication of stationary phase for chromatography, and coupling agents.

Halogen-Free Flame-Retardant Compounds. Thermal Decomposition and Flammability Behavior for Alternative Polyethylene Grades.

The effect of six halogen-free flame retardant (FR) formulations was investigated on the thermal stability of two low-density polyethylenes (LDPE) and one linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) under nitrogen and air atmosphere. The relative data were combined with flammability properties and the overall performance of the FRs was correlated with the type of branching in the polyethylene grades and to their processing behavior. The thermal degradation kinetics was further determined based on the Kissinger and Coats-Redfern methods.

Isothermal Crystallization Kinetics and Morphology of Double Crystalline PCL/PBS Blends Mixed with a Polycarbonate/MWCNTs Masterbatch.

In this work, the 70/30 and 30/70 w/w polycaprolactone (PCL)/polybutylene succinate (PBS) blends and their corresponding PCL/PBS/(polycarbonate (PC)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) masterbatch) nanocomposites were prepared in a twin-screw extruder. The nanocomposites contained 1.0 and 4.

Morphology, Nucleation, and Isothermal Crystallization Kinetics of Poly(Butylene Succinate) Mixed with a Polycarbonate/MWCNT Masterbatch.

In this study, nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) with a polycarbonate (PC)/multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) masterbatch, in a twin-screw extruder. The nanocomposites contained 0.5, 1.

Kinetics of Alkoxysilanes and Organoalkoxysilanes Polymerization: A Review.

Scientists from various different fields use organo-trialkoxysilanes and tetraalkoxysilanes in a number of applications. The silica-based materials are sometimes synthesized without a good understanding of the underlying reaction kinetics. This literature review attempts to be a comprehensive and more technical article in which the kinetics of alkoxysilanes polymerization are discussed.

Morphology, Nucleation, and Isothermal Crystallization Kinetics of Poly(ε-caprolactone) Mixed with a Polycarbonate/MWCNTs Masterbatch.

In this study, nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with a (polycarbonate (PC)/multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)) masterbatch in a twin-screw extruder. The nanocomposites contained 0.5, 1.

Synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial properties of novel double layer nanocomposite electrospun fibers for wound dressing applications.

Herein, novel hybrid nanomaterials were developed for wound dressing applications with antimicrobial properties. Electrospinning was used to fabricate a double layer nanocomposite nanofibrous mat consisting of an upper layer of poly(vinyl alcohol) and chitosan loaded with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and a lower layer of polyethylene oxide (PEO) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers loaded with chlorhexidine (as an antiseptic). The top layer containing AgNPs, whose purpose was to protect the wound site against environmental germ invasion, was prepared by reducing silver nitrate to its nanoparticulate form through interaction with chitosan.

Review of recent research on biomedical applications of electrospun polymer nanofibers for improved wound healing.

Wound dressings play an important role in a patient's recovery from health problems, as unattended wounds could lead to serious complications such as infections or, ultimately, even death. Therefore, wound dressings since ancient times have been continuously developed, starting from simple dressings from natural materials for covering wounds to modern dressings with functionalized materials to aid in the wound healing process and enhance tissue repair. However, understanding the nature of a wound and the subsequent healing process is vital information upon which dressings can be tailored to ensure a patient's recovery.

Tryptophan-functionalized gold nanoparticles for deep UV imaging of microbial cells.

Biocompatible fluorescent nanostructures were prepared by a functionalization of gold nanoparticles with the amino acid tryptophan. The gold-tryptophan bioconjugates were investigated by TEM and HRTEM and various spectroscopy methods (XPS, FTIR, UV-vis and photoluminescence). It was found that the gold nanoparticles, initially 8 nm in diameter, aggregate in the presence of the amino acid.

Review on flammability of biofibres and biocomposites.

The subject on flammability properties of natural fibre-reinforced biopolymer composites has not been broadly researched. This is not only evidenced by the minimal use of biopolymer composites and/or blends in different engineering areas where fire risk and hazard to both human and structures is of critical concern, but also the limited amount of published scientific work on the subject. Therefore, it is necessary to expand knowledge on the flammability properties of biopolymers and add value in widening the range of their application.

Viscoelastic properties and antimicrobial activity of cellulose fiber sheets impregnated with Ag nanoparticles.

A silver nanoparticle colloid was prepared by a modified Tollens method using d-glucose as the reduction agent. The obtained nanoparticles were used for the modification of pine, linter and recycled cellulose fibers. Although the silver contents were relatively low (0.

Oxidized wax as compatibilizer in linear low-density polyethylene-clay nanocomposites: x-ray diffraction and dynamic mechanical analysis.

Oxidized paraffin wax was used as a compatibilizer in composites of linear low-density polyethylene and layered nano silicate clays. X-ray diffraction analyses were carried out to investigate the crystalline morphology of five types of clays, oxidized wax, and their composites with LLDPE. The composites exhibited different X-ray diffraction and dynamic mechanical behaviour in the presence of different clays.

Structure and mechanical properties of polycarbonate modified clay nanocomposites.

Polycarbonate (PC)/modified clay nanocomposites were prepared, in the absence and presence of different amounts of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA), by direct melt blending. Their structures, as well as mechanical, morphological and thermal properties, were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), tensile testing, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The XRD results of the PC/clay nanocomposites showed that they had intercalated structures, although some exfoliation was visible at low clay contents, that the gallery heights of the PC/clay nanocomposites were almost the same, and that some of the clay layers collapsed as a result of modifier decomposition at the high processing temperature.

Thermal and thermomechanical properties of poly(butylene succinate) nanocomposites.

This article describes the thermal and thermomechanical properties of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and its nanocomposites. PBS nanocomposites with three different weight ratios of organically modified synthetic fluorine mica (OMSFM) have been prepared by melt-mixing in a batch mixer at 140 degrees C. The structure and morphology of the nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations that reveal the homogeneous dispersion of the intercalated silicate layers into the PBS matrix.