Characterization of Full—Biodegradable Starch—PVA—Polyester Film

IntroductionConventional polymers such as polyethyleneand polypropylene persistfor many years after landdisposal.Furthermore,plastics are often soiled byfood and other biological substances,making phys-ical recycling of those materials impractical andgenerally undesirable. In contrast,biodegradablepolymers disposed in bioactive environment are de-graded by the enzymatic action of microorganismssuch as bacteria,fungi,and algae.The worldwideconsumption of biodegradable polymers increasedfrom 1 .…     

低温水凝胶力学性能的研究

本文采用单向压缩和单向拉伸法测定了聚乙烯醇(PVA)低温水凝胶的力学性能。结果表明,其机械强度随凝胶浓度和冷冻时间的增加而增强。得到弹性模量与凝胶浓度的关系符合标度律。说明采用低温处理方法可使PVA水溶液凝胶化,制得含水量高、具有较高强度、类似于橡胶的弹性材料,认为其力学强度来自于物理交联网络的贡献。     

Influence of Natural and Accelerated Weathering on the Mechanical Properties of Low-Density Polyethylene Films

Natural and accelerated weathering tests were performed to inspect the effect of antioxidants on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films used as greenhouse covering materials. The LDPE pellets were extruded and blown into a film using a twin-screw extruder and film blowing machine, respectively. The film with 0.2 wt.% Alkanox-240 (AN-0.2) stabilizer showed the highest tensile strength (11 MPa) among all samples during 90 days of natural as well as accelerated weathering. The elastic modulus of the film with 0.5 wt.% of Good-rite (GR-0.5) increased after weathering from approximately 91.8 to 138.9 MPa, and showed the best performance. Morphological images of the neat LDPE film during weathering showed some cracks and grooves, while those of stabilized films showed fewer cracks. Moreover, the estimation of the rapidity of the accelerated method compared to the natural one was approximately nine times faster in Riyadh during the summer season (June–August). The present study suggests that the addition of antioxidants can improve the tensile strength, stability, and, hence, the effectiveness of these films. The best antioxidants were found to be 0.2 wt.% Alkanox and 0.5 wt.% Good-rite antioxidants.     

Influence of TiO2 on the Chemical,Mechanical, and Gas Separation Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol-Titanium Dioxide (PVA-TiO2) Nanocomposite Membranes

PVA/TiO₂ nanocomposite membranes developed were investigated for chemical, mechanical, and gas separation properties. PVA/TiO₂ dispersion offers good optical property and less aggregation, as shown by UV-vis photospectroscopy. FT-IR spectra suggest strong interaction between PVA and TiO₂. Mechanical properties of the composite membranes were enhanced by the addition of TiO₂. Permeation results show that the addition of TiO₂ up to 20 wt.% increased the selectivity of gas pairs O₂/N_2, H₂/N_2, H₂/CO₂, and CO₂/N₂ by 60%, 55%, 23%, and 26% respectively, with a corresponding decrease in the permeability. At higher loading of TiO_2, a reverse trend was observed.     

Influence of Organophilic Ammonium-Free Nanoclay Incorporation on Mechanical Properties and Biodegradability of Biodegradable Polyester

Summary: Disposal of petroleum-derived polymers is a growing global environmental problem of alarming proportions, which has increased interest in the use and production of biodegradable materials. In addition to biodegradation, investment in research and development in the nanotechnology area is also significant. This study evaluated the effect of incorporation of an organophilic nanoclay ammonium-free salt (Novaclay™) on the mechanical properties and biodegradation of a biodegradable polyester (Ecoflex®), according to ASTM G 160. Ecoflex with and without incorporated Novaclay was characterized before and after biodegradation in organically enriched soil for up to 180 days, by visual analysis, optical microscopy, weight loss, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, mechanical testing, and scanning electron microscopy. The pure Ecoflex and the Ecoflex/Novaclay nanocomposite were partially biodegraded by the method used, and showed changes in their morphological and mechanical properties.     

Gamma Irradiation Effects on Mechanical and Thermal Properties and Biodegradation of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Based Films

Summary: Their biodegradable properties make polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) ideal candidates for innovative applications. Many studies have been primarily oriented to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-valerate) (PHBV) and afterwards to blends of PHAs with synthetic biodegradable polymers, such as poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). Medical and pharmaceutical devices require sterilization and γ irradiation could provide a proper alternative since it assures storage stability and microbiological safety. This contribution presents the effect of γ irradiation on the mechanical and thermal properties and on the biodegradation of PHB, PHBV and a commercial PHB/PCL blend. Samples, prepared by compression moulding, were irradiated in air at a constant dose rate of 10 kGy/h, from 10 to 179 kGy. Polymer chain scission was assessed by changes in the molecular weight, thermal properties and tensile behaviour. The correlation between absorbed dose and changes in the mechanical properties and biodegradation is discussed in detail. The optimum dose to guarantee microbiological sterilization without damage of the structure or meaningful loss of the mechanical properties is also reported.     

Metal Doped PVA Films for Opto-Electronics-Optical and Electronic Properties,an Overview

Polyvinyl alcohol is unique among polymers. Apart from its preparation, it is not built up in polymerization reactions from monomers, unlike most vinyl-polymers, and it is biodegradable in the presence of suitably acclimated microorganisms. It is an environmentally friendly material for a wide range of applications, from medical ones, based on its biocompatibility, to integrated optics. This paper reviews, in addition to the preparation and optimization of films of polyvinyl alcohol doped with different metal species, the role of dopants and doping technologies in the involved electronic mechanism. The optical properties were studied by UV-VIS-IR, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and other measurement techniques, with applications such as real-time holography, microlasers, optical sensors or nanophotonics in mind.     

Thermal Aging Effect on Mechanical Properties of Polyurethane

This study concerns the effect of thermal aging on mechanical properties of polyurethane. Polyurethane samples were exposed at 85° and 120°C under inert atmosphere. Mechanical tests were carried out on these samples the aging period. Tensile tests were performed to see the effect of aging on elastic modulus (E), stress (σ_r), and strain (?_r) at break. It was shown that there are two distinct periods. Due to aging, E and σ_r increase in the first period, then they decrease in the second period. ?_r decreases first and then increases. Fatigue tests were performed on unaged and aged samples. It was shown that the fatigue behavior of polyurethane (PU) is improved the same way during the first stage of aging. In the second step, the number of cycles to failure increases due to aging. The results show that aging has an important effect on mechanical properties of PU. The strain at break decreases during the first step of aging due to post-cross-linking and then increases due to chain scission in the network. Based on these results, the effect of cross-linking and chain scission on the mechanical properties of PU was discussed.     

Structural and Mechanical Properties of Crosslinked Drawn Gelatin Films

This paper presents possible applications of thermal analysis, sorptomatic and microgravimetric methods for the study of surface adsorption and porosity properties via the programmed thermodesorption of liquid from the sample. The thermodesorption of liquids under quasi-isothermal conditions demonstrates that the adsorption layers on a high superconductor surface possess non-continuous properties. The degradation of the superconducting properties of an YBa₂Cu₃O_7–δsuperconductor sintered in a CO₂-containing atmosphere has been revealed. It is known that atmospheric contaminants such as CO₂ and H₂O can strongly influence the transition temperature, the critical current density, and the width of the superconducting transition of the YBCO superconductor. Similarly to other liquids adsorbed on solid samples, water induces changes in the physicochemical properties at the interface. A good correlation was obtained between the adsorption and porosimetric, thermal analysis and sorptometric findings. The results prove the applicability of these findings for determination of the adsorption capacity. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cornstarch/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Biocomposite Blend Films: Mechanical Properties,Thermal Behavior,Fire Retardancy,and Antibacterial Activity

In the present study, biocomposite films of starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) (St/PVA) reinforced with delignified Grewia optiva fiber and methyl methacrylate (MMA) grafted fibers were prepared using citric acid as a plasticizer and glutaraldehyde as the cross-linker. The biocomposite films were subjected to evaluation of mechanical properties, biodegradability, and antibacterial properties. The biocomposite films were characterized by using Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA/DTG). SEM showed good adhesion between St/PVA blend matrix and fibers. The antimicrobial activity of biocomposite films against pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was also explored. The results confirmed that the biocomposite films may be used for food packaging.     

三偏磷酸钠交联壳聚糖/聚乙烯醇共混膜的制备及其性能研究

将充分溶胀的壳聚糖/聚乙烯醇共混膜置于一定浓度的三偏磷酸钠溶液中进行交联反应制备出交联壳聚糖膜。用红外光谱(FTIR-ATR)、X-射线衍射(XRD)和扫描电镜(SEM)表征了膜的结构,并测试了其吸水率、力学性能、酶降解性能。结果表明,交联作用明显提高了膜的抗张强度和抗水性,并有效地降低了溶菌酶对其降解速率。     

Small Strain Mechanical Properties of Latex-Based Nanocomposite Films

A waterborne latex-based technique, in which functionalized laponite is attached to PS and acrylic latex particles, is used to prepare films containing up to 50 wt% laponite. At high laponite contents this leads to a cellular arrangement of the laponite-rich layers, concentrated at the latex particle interfaces. MDSC shows that a significant proportion of the organic matrix does not contribute to the glass transition. However, this “rigid” matrix fraction arises from intercalation of the laponite stacks, and cannot account for the large increases in global stiffness in the rubbery state (T > T_g) on laponite addition. The mechanical response for T > T_g is therefore discussed in terms of a four-phase structure, in which the intercalated laponite stacks embedded in a matrix with a relatively high rubbery modulus form a cellular structure, which is in turn embedded in a matrix whose modulus is closer to that of the bulk polymer. The importance of the cellular arrangement is underlined by the much lower rubbery modulus observed by DMA in specimens produced by deforming the original films in plane strain compression to produce oriented textures with relatively little connectivity between the laponite-rich layers.     

微波辐射对淀粉结构及性质的影响

简单地介绍了微波对淀粉的辐射作用,并综述了微波辐射对淀粉形态结构和结晶结构以及淀粉凝胶化性质、热性质等影响的国内外研究进展,如微波辐射可改变淀粉颗粒形状、结晶结构及其结晶度.微波辐射时间及辐射能等技术参数能够改变淀粉的凝胶化性质,而淀粉的含水量也是重要的影响因素.淀粉的溶解性、润胀性和吸水性都会因微波辐射而较原淀粉下降.     

Effect of Molybdenum Disulfide Exfoliation Conditions on the Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Nanocomposites

In this work, the MoS2 fillers were prepared through chemical exfoliation method and used as fillers to fabricate epoxy (EP)/MoS2 nanocomposites. The effects of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) intercalation conditions on the properties of EP/MoS2 nanocomposites were investigated. As the intercalation time was prolonged, the surface of MoS2 exhibited a totally crumpled structure and more functional groups formed. Because of the higher functional group concentration, the interfacial adhesion force between EP and MoS2 was enhanced. With the addition of 1.0 wt% exfoliated MoS2 fillers, the tensile strength and tensile modulus of EP were even improved ~500% and ~6800%, respectively. Therefore, this work provides a facile way to produce high-performance EP nanocomposites.     

交联壳聚糖膜的制备及其性能的研究

用环氧氯丙烷成功地制备出交联壳聚糖膜。用FTIR,XRD和SEM方法表征其结构,并测试了其力学性能。结果表明,壳聚糖在低温下只有氨基参与交联反应,反应温度高于40℃时,羟基才发生反应;环氧氯丙烷的交联作用显着提高了壳聚糖膜的抗张强度,并有效地降低了溶菌酶对其降解速率;该交联膜有望用作可控降解的生物医用材料。     

可生物降解的pH敏感水凝胶的合成及其溶胀性能研究

采用明胶和聚乙烯醇为原料,制备了戊二醛交联、明胶／聚乙烯醇配比不同的水凝胶,并用FTIR和SEM对产物进行了表征。研究了凝胶的溶胀动力学,结果表明,原料配比对各种凝胶的溶胀速率影响不大,而对平衡溶胀比与原料配比有关,室温下凝胶的平衡溶胀比在300％～500％之间。pH敏感性研究表明,几种凝胶均表现出明显的pH响应性,当溶胀介质的pH值在明胶等电点附近时,水凝胶的溶胀比达到最小值,凝胶的溶胀-消溶胀动力学曲线呈“W”形,即该凝胶具有形状记忆功能。     

Stereocomplexation and Mechanical Properties of Polylactide-b-poly(propylene glycol)-b-polylactide Blend Films: Effects of Polylactide Block Length and Blend Ratio

In the present work, poly(propylene glycol)(PPG) was block copolymerized to form polylactide-poly(propylene glycol)-polylactide(PL-PPG-PL) triblock copolymers for preparing flexible stereocomplex PL(sc PL) blend films. The sc PL blend films were prepared by solution blending of poly(L-lactide)-PPG-poly(L-lactide)(PLL-PPG-PLL) and poly(D-lactide)-PPG-poly(D-lactide)(PDL-PPG-PDL) triblock copolymers before film casting. The influences of PL end-block lengths(2×10~4 and 4×10~4 g/mol) and blend ratios(75/25, 50/50 and 25/75 W/W) on the stereocomplexation and mechanical properties of the blend films were evaluated. From DSC and WAXD results, the 50/50 blend films had complete stereocomplexation. Phase separation between the sc PL and PPG phases was not observed from their SEM images. The tensile stress and elongation at break increased with the sterecomplex crystallinities and PL end-block lengths. The PPG middle-blocks enhanced elongation at break of the sc PL films. The results showed that the PL-PPG-PL triblock structures did not affect stereocomplexation of the PLL/PDL block blending. In conclusion, the phase compatibility and flexibility of the sc PL films were improved by PPG block copolymerization.     

粒子-聚合物相互作用与粒子-粒子相互作用对聚合物基纳米复合物力学性能的影响

聚合物基纳米复合物(PNCs)具有比传统高分子材料更加优异的光学、力学、热力学等性能,广泛应用于各个工程领域.而纳米粒子(NPs)对材料性能提高的机理则是当前聚合物纳米复合物领域研究的重要问题,聚合物纳米复合体系相互作用的影响因素众多,至今尚未明确并完整建立复合体系相互作用与性能增强之间的关系.本文总结了近年来关于纳米粒子填充聚合物基体力学性能的研究,从粒子-聚合物相互作用和粒子-粒子相互作用角度阐述了聚合物纳米复合体系力学性能的增强机理,并根据体系中不同的结构关系分别总结了聚合物/未改性纳米粒子复合体系和聚合物/聚合物接枝纳米粒子复合体系中影响力学性能的因素.该部分内容具有重要的理论和实践意义,有助于构建复合体系微观结构与宏观性能之间的关系,进而对微观层面调控PNCs的力学性能提供指导.     

Mechanical and anti-pathogenic characterization of starch-based materials

Food products are susceptible to the growth of pathogenic microbes, such as Escherichia coli. Smart packaging is an effective non-invasive route to reducing food pathogens. Some lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus plantarum inhibit the growth of pathogens. We report here the incorporation of L. plantarum within a starch matrix using sucrose as a protectant and glycerol as a plasticizer. The anti-pathogenic and mechanical characteristics of the films produced were tested. The properties of the films varied depending on their composition, with tensile strengths ranging from 6.8 – 8.7 MPa and maximum tensile stress relaxation from 4 – 13%. Antimicrobial activity (agar disk diffusion) assays showed that films incorporating L. plantarum inhibited E. coli moderately, and when assisted with starch-degrading α-amylase, E. coli growth was reduced significantly. These findings demonstrate the potential of this natural anti-pathogenic film to be applied as an edible coating for food and as a second layer with traditional synthetic thermoplastics to improve food shelf-life.     

Mechanical Properties of SiO2-PMMA Based Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Thin Films

Nano-indentations using a Berkovich indenter were performed in order to analyze the mechanical properties of hybrid organic-inorganic coatings. This technique allows to measure low load deformations and therefore to estimate quantitatively mechanical properties of the coatings. The elastic modulus and the hardness were determined on the basis of the load-displacement curve. We report results obtained for class II hybrid coatings based on SiO₂-PMMA prepared by sol-gel process. The effects of coating composition were investigated.