Development and Characterization of Novel Biopolymer Derived from Abelmoschus esculentus L. Extract and Its Antidiabetic Potential

Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra) is an important vegetable crop, widely cultivated around the world due to its high nutritional significance along with several health benefits. Different parts of okra including its mucilage have been currently studied for its role in various therapeutic applications. Therefore, we aimed to develop and characterize the okra mucilage biopolymer (OMB) for its physicochemical properties as well as to evaluate its in vitro antidiabetic activity. The characterization of OMB using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed that okra mucilage containing polysaccharides lies in the bandwidth of 3279 and 1030 cm⁻¹, which constitutes the fingerprint region of the spectrum. In addition, physicochemical parameters such as percentage yield, percentage solubility, and swelling index were found to be 2.66%, 96.9%, and 5, respectively. A mineral analysis of newly developed biopolymers showed a substantial amount of calcium (412 mg/100 g), potassium (418 mg/100 g), phosphorus (60 mg/100 g), iron (47 mg/100 g), zinc (16 mg/100 g), and sodium (9 mg/100 g). The significant antidiabetic potential of OMB was demonstrated using α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory assay. Further investigations are required to explore the newly developed biopolymer for its toxicity, efficacy, and its possible utilization in food, nutraceutical, as well as pharmaceutical industries.     

Preparation and Properties of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Gel Films Based on Polyvinylpolysilsesquioxane Synthesized from Trimethoxy(vinyl)silane

Polyvinylpolysilsesquioxane (PVPS) organic-inorganic hybrid gel films containing polyethylene and siloxane backbone linkages were prepared through the radical polymerization of trimethoxy(vinyl)silane (VTS) followed by the acid-catalyzed hydrolytic polycondensation of trimethoxysilyl groups. The PVPS gel films were transparent and homogeneous. It was found that the mechanical properties of these films correlate both to the degrees of polymerization and to the extent of cross linking.     

橡胶拉伸强度能力验证计划和统计分析

采用稳健统计技术对全国84家实验室橡胶拉伸强度能力验证结果进行统计分析,结果显示全部满意的实验室78家,结果可疑的实验室有6家,并对实验室结果出现可疑的原因进行了分析。     

Improvement in Tensile Strength and Water Repellency of Paper after Treatment with Methyltrimethoxysilane Oligomer Using Titanium Butoxide as a Catalyst

The improvement in the tensile strength and water repellency of paper after treatment with a 2-propanol solution of a methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) oligomer was studied using filter paper. Titanium butoxide introduced in the solution as a catalyst effectively reacted with the MTMS oligomer, and a Si–O–Ti bond was generated inside the paper. The tensile strength of the paper was remarkably improved by this treatment of impregnation and polymerization of the MTMS oligomer. It was speculated that the reaction proceeded by consuming water that existed among the cellulose fibers by hydrogen bonding, because there was little difference in the tensile strength between the paper treated in air and the paper treated in a dry box. The methoxy groups in the MTMS oligomer demonstrated their good ability of making a three-dimensional network, and at the same time, the methyl groups in the oligomer showed their excellent water repellency. As a result, the treated paper had a good tensile strength even under wet conditions.     

Effect of fiber length and loading on the properties of Schumannianthus dichotomus (murta) fiber–reinforced epoxy composites

The present work was aimed at preparing composite materials using epoxy matrix and murta fibers of varying lengths and weight percentages. The composites were analyzed on the basis of density, thermal gravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, tensile strength, flexural strength, Izod impact strength, and Rockwell hardness studies. Twenty-five weight percent of randomly oriented fibers of 25 mm length rendered the best mechanical properties to the composite. The tensile strength of the composite was analyzed using the Hirsch model. The characterization of the composite reveals that murta fiber is a good candidate for polymer reinforcement.     

Effect of silane coupling agent on the polymer‐filler interaction and mechanical properties of silica‐filled NR

The effects of filler loading and a new silane coupling agent 3‐octanoylthio‐1‐ propyltriethoxysilane (NXT silane) on the polymer‐filler interaction and mechanical properties of silica‐filled and carbon black‐filled natural rubber (NR) compounds were studied. Silica (high dispersion silica7000GR, VN2, and VN3) and carbon black (N330) were used as the fillers, and the loading range was from 0 to 50 phr. The loading of NXT silane was from 0 to 6 phr. Experimental results show that the maximum and minimum torques of silica and carbon black‐filled NR increase with increasing filler loading. With increasing filler loading, the scorch time and optimum cure time decrease for carbon black‐filled NR, but increase for silica‐filled NR. The minimum torque, scorch time, and optimum cure time decrease because of the presence of NXT silane. For the carbon black and silica‐filled NR, the tensile strength and elongation at break have maximum values, but the hardness, M300, M100, and tear strength keep increasing with filler loading. The mechanical properties of silica‐filled NR were improved in the presence of NXT silane. With increasing filler loading, the storage modulus of filled NR increases, but the loss factor decreases. Carbon black shows the strongest polymer‐filler interaction, followed by VN3, 7000GR, and VN2. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 573–584, 2005     

A novel orientation technique for semi-rigid polymers. 2. Mechanical properties of cellulose acetate and hydroxypropylcellulose films

The networks of cellulose acetate and hydroxypropylcellulose prepared in the first part of this investigation were studied with regard to their mechanical properties. The quantities of particular interest were increases in tensile modulus and tensile strength obtained by drying the swollen films under strain, both uniaxial and equi-biaxial. These increases or improvements in mechanical properties were determined as a function of polymer concentration during cross-linking, polymer molecular weight, degree of cross-linking, and elongation during drying. In all cases, the improvements increased with increase in elongation during drying, and the largest increases were obtained in the case of the highest molecular weight polymer which had been lightly cross-linked in dilute (isotropic) solutions. The extent of ordering in these systems was gauged approximately by measurements of birefringence, which were correlated with their tensile moduli and tensile strengths.     

Matrix properties and composite failure

The influence of matrix extensibility on the properties of a composite was studied using two glassy polymers of almost identical chemical structure but differing crosslink densities. The lower crosslink density gave a 73 % increase in tensile elongation at break and a 56% increase in specific fracture energy. Unidirectional laminates of glass, carbon, and Kevlar^® fibres were prepared with these two polymers and tested for shear strength, transverse tension, and dynamic fatigue.The shear strengths of the polymers were found to be almost independent of crosslink densities (about 100 MPa). The interlaminar shear strengths of the carbon fibre laminates corresponded to those of the matrix polymers (Kevlar^® fibre laminates failed at 60 %). In accordance with Griffith's equation the more extensible polymer and its laminates performed better in tensile tests transverse to the fibres due to improved fracture energy. Failure criteria based on strain magnification were useful in the case of glass fibre laminates, but proved inadequate for laminates based on anisotropic fibres such as carbon and Kevlar^®.The dynamic fatigue strengths of the two matrix polymers were unaffected by the difference in crosslink densities. Almost the same fatigue strengths were obtained for the matrix polymers as for the laminates (carbon, glass) transverse to the fibres. A lack of processability of the polymer with high functionality was identified as a source of deteriorating effects.     

Ternary polymer blends: prediction of mechanical properties for various phase structures

A predictive scheme is proposed for the simultaneous calculation of the modulus and yield (or tensile) strength of ternary polymer systems. According to the continuity or discontinuity of constituting phases, the scheme combines in two steps the models for binary systems: (i) in the interval of phase duality (co‐continuity), a two‐parameter equivalent box model is used along with the data on the phase continuity rendered by modified equations of the percolation theory; and (ii) the effects of a dispersed phase on the mechanical properties of a continuous phase are treated by using the approach developed earlier for particulate systems. Simultaneously predicted values of the modulus and yield (or tensile) strength of ternary systems are interrelated because they are calculated by using an identical set of input parameters characterizing a specific phase structure. The predictive scheme will allow the experimentalists: (i) to anticipate selected mechanical properties of envisaged blends (for presumed phase structures); (ii) by comparing experimental and theoretical data, to assess to which percentage the potential of a material has been exploited; (iii) to analyze the phase structure of prepared ternary blends; and (iv) to evaluate interfacial adhesion or the extent of interfacial debonding. The versatility of the predictive scheme is demonstrated on three examples of various types of ternary systems. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mechanical anisotropy of a monoaxially drawn polypropylene film

The tensile strength values, tensile moduli (measured with an Instron dynamometer) and sonic moduli of a monoaxially oriented polypropylene film were determined. Anisotropy was defined by the ratio between the tensile strength or modulus values in the direction of drawing and in the perpendicular direction. The difference amounting to an order of magnitude between the anisotropy of tensile strength and of the sonic modulus is explained by the existence of cracks between bundles of microfibrils. Anisotropy of the modulus determined with the instron dynamometer is lower than that of tensile strength, but higher than that of the sonic modulus. This is a consequence of the failure of the system which occurs in the transverse direction already at low deformations.     

Mechanical Properties of Regenerated Cellulose Fibres for Composites

Summary: A broad variety of regenerated cellulose fibres was subjected to single fibre tensile tests in order to determine the modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, and failure strain. The results were compared to glass fibres and flax fibres, which are considered the most important technical and natural fibres, respectively. With regard to their modulus of elasticity and tensile strength, regenerated cellulose fibres showed clearly lower values than glass fibres, even when their low density was taken into account. The average modulus of elasticity and tensile strength of regenerated cellulose fibres was also lower than the values measured for flax fibres, but when variability was considered, both fibres performed similarly. In terms of interfacial shear strength with polypropylene, lyocell fibres performed significantly less well than sized glass fibre and ramie fibre. The most important difference between regenerated cellulose fibres and both glass and flax fibres is their high failure strain and thus high work to fracture. The high work to fracture of regenerated cellulose fibres makes them particularly useful for composite applications where high fracture toughness is required.     

Hydrolytic polycondensation of vinyltrimethoxysilane and formation of vinylpolysiloxane films

Hydrolytic polycondensation of vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTM) was investigated in detail to prepare vinylpolysiloxanes (VPS) having spinnability and tough gel films. VTM was hydrolyzed in various molar ratios r₁ (H₂O/VTM) = 0.5–1.6 (HCl/VTM = 0.105, EtOH/VTM = 1.44) at 70°C under a N₂ stream with stirring at 150 rpm to give vinylpolysiloxanes with =510–2100 ( =1.1–10.4). The controlled hydrolysis in r₁ = 1.40–1.64 formed VPSs having the various degrees of spinnability at N₂ flow rates of 100–500 ml/min. Transparent films of thickness 0.1–0.05 mm and tensile strength 5–16 MPa were prepared when a 20 wt% acetonemethanol (1:1, V/V) solution of VPS (r₁=1.64) was cast at 80°C for several ten days. The reaction was followed by ²⁹Si-NMR spectroscopy to investigate the distribution of unit structures T¹, T² and T³ in VPS depending on r₁.     

Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate by Charge-Transfer Mechanism with Amines and Carbon Tetrachloride

The charge-transfer complex formed between an amine and carbon tetrachloride can initiate the polymerization of vinyl monomers in a nonaqueous solvent such as dimethylsulfoxide. Here we use cyclopentylamine (CPA) and heptylamine (HA) as the donor compounds for charge-transfer initiation of the polymerization of methl methacrylate (MMA). The rate of polymerization R_p = k[MMA]¹ [amine]^0.5 [CCl₄]^0.5 when [CCl₄] [amine] ≤ 1; when [CCl₄] [amine] < 1, R_p becomes independent of [CCl₄] and R_p = k[MMA]^1.5 [amine]^0.5. The average constant at 60°C for the polymerization of MMA in terms of monomer were (1.66 ± 0.03) × 10^?5 and (1.46 ± 0.04) × 10^?5 s^?1 with CPA and HA, respectively, when [CCl₄] [amine] ≤ 1, and (1.16 ± 0.04) × 10^?5 and (1.39 ± 0.08) × 10^?1 L/mol·s when [CCl₄]/[amine] < 1.     

Physicochemical testing of free films containing non‐soluble components

Eudragit® L 30D‐55 films containing diclofenac sodium in different concentrations (0%, 1%, and 5%) were studied by conventional physicochemical methods and positron annihilation spectroscopy. Diclofenac sodium was found to change the properties of the film formed significantly. Positron annihilation spectroscopy was applied to track the Eudragit–diclofenac interaction. The presence of diclofenac initially led to significant distortion of the structure of the pure Eudragit film. However, during storage (17°C, 65% relative humidity), the distorted structure relaxed because of water uptake from the air. At the end of the storage period, the free‐volume size was almost the same in all films. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nanodiamond tethered epoxy/polyurethane interpenetrating network nanocomposite: Physical properties and thermoresponsive shape-memory behavior

In this study, a novel blend of polyurethane and diglycidyl 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate epoxy was prepared and reinforced with various content of functional nanodiamond (0.1–5 wt%). According to morphological analysis, diglycidyl 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate/polyurethane/nanodiamond nanocomposite revealed beaded-twine network structure due to entrapment of nanodiamond aggregates into epoxy/polyurethane interpenetrating networks. Exclusive self-assembled nanodiamond-tethered interpenetrating network was due to physical inter-linking of nanodiamond with blend components. There was a 47% rise in tensile strength and an 80% increase in Young’s modulus of diglycidyl 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate/polyurethane/nanodiamond 5 nanocomposite relative to neat polymer. The original shape of diglycidyl 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate/polyurethane/nanodiamond 5 was 95% recovered using heat-induced shape-memory effect.