Influence of thermal and UV treatment on the polypropylene/graphite composite

Electrically conductive polypropylene/graphite (PP/graphite) composites were prepared via blending granulated PP with maleic anhydride grafted PP and natural graphite. Electrical conductivity of prepared samples containing either 65, 70, or 75 wt% of graphite was measured and the most conductive sample containing 75 wt% of graphite was exposed to UV irradiation for 1 and 24 h or thermally treated at 170 °C for 1 h. The influence of thermal and UV exposure on the structural and electrical changes in such treated samples was studied. Local current measurements on the surface were made using scanning spreading resistance microscopy and morphology of the surface was studied by atomic force microscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis, infrared and Raman spectroscopy were also used for the structural characterization. Properties of treated and untreated samples are compared and differences are discussed.     

Combined protein A imprinting and cryogelation for production of spherical affinity material

Cryogels have been demonstrated to be efficient when applied for protein isolation. Owing to their macroporous structure, cryogels can also be used for treating particle‐containing material, e.g. cell homogenates. Another challenging development in protein purification technology is the use of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). These MIPs are robust and can be used repeatedly. The paper presents a new technology that combine the formation of cryogel beads concomitantly with making imprints of a protein. Protein A was chosen as the print molecule which was also be the target in the purification step. The present paper describes a new method to produce protein‐imprinted cryogel beads. The protein‐imprinted material was characterized and the separation properties were evaluated with regard to both the target protein and whole cells with target protein exposed on the cell surface. The maximum protein A adsorption was 18.1 mg/g of wet cryogel beads. The selectivity coefficient of protein A‐imprinted cryogel beads for protein A was 5.44 and 12.56 times greater than for the Fc fragment of IgG and protein G, respectively.     

GO/PVA nanocomposites with significantly enhanced mechanical properties through metalion coordination

In this study, a simple and efficient way is demonstrated to create strong interfacial interaction between graphene oxide(GO) filler and poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA) matrix through metal ion coordination. The coordination bonding provides efficient load transfer during the tensile process, and enhances the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites significantly. After being coordinated with Cu(Ⅱ) ions, GO/PVA composites show much higher Young's moduli and yield stresses than pure PVA and noncoordinated GO/PVA. UV–vis and FTIR spectra are performed to confirm the successful coordination between GO and PVA. Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid disodium salt(EDTA-2 Na) is used to confirm the important role of coordination in enhancing the composites. This research provides a new approach to manufacture polymer-matrix nanocomposites with significantly improved mechanical performances.     

Preparation and photochromic properties of pyrazolones/polyvinyl alcohol composite films

Novel photochromic composite films have been successfully fabricated by dispersing pyrazolone derivative:1,3-Diphenyl-4-(3-chlorobenzal)-5-hydroxypyrazole 4-phenylsemicarbazone (1a) into hydrosol of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The microstructure, photochromic behaviors and thermal bleaching properties were investigated by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis). The results showed that 1a was not only blended but also well dispersed in the PVA polymer films with a suitable content of chromophore. Upon UV light irradiation, the composite films gradually changed from colorless to yellow and recovered fully to the initial state upon thermal bleaching. The time constants of photochromic reactions were almost the same as those of 1a observed in their crystalline state, indicating that the photochromic phenomenon is barely disturbed by the polymer matrix.     

Composite Likelihood Inference in a Discrete Latent Variable Model for Two-Way “Clustering-by-Segmentation” Problems

We consider a discrete latent variable model for two-way data arrays, which allows one to simultaneously produce clusters along one of the data dimensions (e.g., exchangeable observational units or features) and contiguous groups, or segments, along the other (e.g., consecutively ordered times or locations). The model relies on a hidden Markov structure but, given its complexity, cannot be estimated by full maximum likelihood. Therefore, we introduce a composite likelihood methodology based on considering different subsets of the data. The proposed approach is illustrated by simulation, and with an application to genomic data.     

Structural, optical and electromagnetic properties of aluminum-clay nanocomposites

Aluminum pillared and exchanged bentonite particles were synthesized by the ion exchange method. The characteristics of the particles were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), electron dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), reflectance spectrophotometer (RS) and electromagnetic transition instrument (ETI). FTIR spectra showed a successful incorporation of Al complexes into the clay interlayer. The TGA result demonstrated an improvement in thermal stability of the Al-pillared clay compared with the untreated particles. SEM and EDX results showed the presence of aluminum aggregates on the surface of clay. It was also found that Al ions affect electromagnetic properties of the clay particles.     

Cryogenic Designing of Biocompatible Blends of Polyvinyl alcohol and Starch with Macroporous Architecture

The present paper discusses synthesis, characterization, and blood compatibility studies of macroporous cryogels of PVA and starch. Biocompatible spongy porous hydrogels of polyvinyl alcohol–starch have been synthesized by repeated freezing–thawing methods and characterized by Infra red (FTIR) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) techniques, respectively, to gain insights for structural and morphological features. The FTIR analysis of prepared cryogels indicated that starch was introduced into the network of cryogel possibly via formation of hydrogen bonds between the PVA and starch clusters. The “cryogels” were evaluated for their water uptake potentials and influence of various factors such as chemical architecture of the spongy hydrogels, pH and temperature of the swelling bath were investigated on the degree of water sorption by the cryogels. The hydrogels were also swollen in salt solutions and various simulated biological fluids. The biocompatibility of the prepared cryogels was judged by in vitro methods of blood–clot formation viz. percent haemolysis and protein (BSA) adsorption. The cryogels were also studied for their pores morphology and percent porosity and the effect of chemical composition on the extent of porosity was also investigated.     

Amperometric detection of nitrite based on Dawson-type vanodotungstophosphate and carbon nanotubes

A nitrite sensor based on Dawson vanodotungstophosphates α₂-K₇P₂VW₁₇O₆₂·18H₂O (P₂W₁₇V) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was prepared by electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly technique. The sensor {PEI/PSS/[PDDA/P₂W₁₇V-CNTs]_n} was characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). The electron transfer and sensing ability of this sensor were explored using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) technology. The results show that the incorporation of CNTs and P₂W₁₇V into the composite film endowed the modified electrode with fast transfer rate and high electrocatalytic activity towards oxidation of nitrite. This nitrite sensor with 10 bilayers has a broad linear range of 5 × 10⁻⁸ to 2.13 × 10⁻³ M, a low detection limit of 0.0367 μM (S N⁻¹ = 3), a high sensitivity of 0.35 mA mM⁻¹ NO₂⁻, an excellent anti-interference property in the presence of other potential interfering species and a good stable. It was successfully employed for determination of nitrite in real towards.     

Transport Studies with Composite Membrane by Sol-Gel Method

The preparation of polystyrene-based composite membrane at different pressures with varying amounts of material has been described. In order to understand the mechanism of transport of ions, membrane potential measurements were carried out using different concentrations of 1:1 electrolyte (KCl, NaCl, and LiCl) solutions and also to evaluate various membrane parameters such as mobility, distribution coefficient, and charge effectiveness controlling the transport phenomena. The membrane potential offered by the electrolytes is in the order of LiCl > NaCl > KCl, and the membrane is found to be cation selective. The large deviation in the value of K _± at the lower concentration of electrolytes was attributed to the high mobility of comparatively free charges of the strong electrolyte. Teorell, Meyer, and Sievers (TMS) method was used for the estimation of the thermodynamically fixed charge density of membranes. The data were then utilized to calculate membrane potential using the TMS theory. It was interesting to note that the theoretical predictions were borne out quite satisfactorily with experimental results.     

Micellar Catalysis of Composite Reactions—The Effect of SDS Micelles and Premicelles on the Alkaline Fading of Crystal Violet and Malachite Green

ABSTRACT

The effect of SDS micelles and premicelles on the reversible alkaline fading reactions of crystal violet and malachite green were studied. Micellar and premicellar catalysis models for 1-1 type reversible reactions were proposed. The rate constants of forward and backward reactions and equilibrium constants of these reversible alkaline fading reactions in SDS micellar solutions were obtained from a micellar catalytic model. Under the premicellar condition the average number of SDS molecules per substrate molecule with n surfactant molecules was obtained from a premicellar catalytic model. The results indicated that both SDS micelles and premicelles exhibited an inhibiting effect on the forward reaction, while they exhibited an accelerating effect on the backward reaction. These results can reasonably be accounted for in terms of electrostatic interactions.