Thottathil S., Thomas S., Kalarikkal N., Rouxel D. (eds.) Advanced Polymeric Materials for Sustainability and Innovations

Oakville: Apple Academic Press, Inc., 2019. — 369 p. — ISBN: 9781771886338.This informative volume discusses recent advancements in the research and development in synthesis, characterization, processing, morphology, structure, and properties of advanced polymeric materials. With contributions from leading international researchers and professors in academic, government and industrial institutions, Advanced Polymeric Materials for Sustainability and Innovations has a special focus on eco-friendly polymers, polymer composites, nanocomposites, and blends and materials for traditional and renewable energy.
In this book the relationship between processing-morphology-property applications of polymeric materials is well established. Recent advances in the synthesis of new functional monomers has shown strong potential in generating better property polymers from renewable resources. Fundamental advances in the field of nanocomposite blends and nanostructured polymeric materials in automotive, civil, biomedical and packaging/coating applications are the highlights of this book.Chapter 1 is a review that discusses recent advances in the synthesis and characterization of nanocomposites based on block copolymers and magnetic nanoparticles. It describes the use of different routes to prepare nanocomposites with magnetic properties. The functionalization of
nanoparticles can improve the dispersion of the nanoparticles and thereby final properties.
Development of environment-friendly green and low-cost ionic liquid
(IL) for rubber compounding has been described in Chapter 2. IL was synthesized and used as an accelerator in medium acylonitrile cold NBR compounding. Due to nonvolatile nature, IL usage in an industry will lead to almost no emission of volatile organic compounds.
Chapter 3 is an empirical study of green bio-composite beams containing dispersed equine ordure in naturally occurring clayey soil matrix. These materials containing 50% by volume of the clayey matrix have sustained importance in rural households in western Rajasthan, India, for manufacture of cantilever slabs. The implication of this work is toward a new set of bioactive materials that can be locally manufactured to substitute cementbased structures.
The effect of blending polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plasticized with epoxidized soy oil with polybenzoxazine has been reported in Chapter 4. These studies indicate the compositional dependence of performance of unfilled polybenzoxazine–PVC blends and also the effect of addition of fumed silica on the properties of the material. Thermal properties revealed that the presence of more thermally stable PBZ and FS in the composites enhances the overall thermal stability of the composites.
Chapter 5 discusses on the dry bonding of rubber, which could be achieved by resorcinol formaldehyde resin (R) being used as a methylene acceptor and hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM) as a methylene donor. From the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves, the interaction existing between R and HMMM is explicit. The TG studies of the cured blend B (60% R + 40% HMMM) showed that PB is thermally more stable than the resin R and the rate of degradation of the cured material is comparatively slower than the blend B.
Chapter 6 deals with the newly developed composites from hybrid resins containing strontium, which exhibited good mechanical properties with low polymerization shrinkage. The synergetic effect of the inorganic content within the resin of this particular composition supplements better properties for the composites. So the application of these hybrid resins can be expanded to orthopedic, dental, and bioactive coating applications as it contains polymerizable methacrylate groups which can endure in-situ polymerization to obtain bioactive polymers.
Chapter 7 talks about hybrid jute/sisal fiber-reinforced epoxy composites which are prepared using hand lay-up technique with varying wt.% of fibers. The positive effect of hybridization is observed as increase in dynamic mechanical properties. Glass transition, crystallization, and decomposition temperatures are found to increase due to hybridization as compared to pure jute and sisal composites. The potential applications of jute-based hybrid composites in packaging, automobiles, and constructions
are going to increase in the near future.
Chapter 8 illustrates unidirectional jute-fiber-reinforced epoxy composites which are prepared using hand lay-up technique. The composites were subjected to mechanical tests (tensile, flexural, and impact) and thermal tests using DMA and DSC. The mechanical properties of present jute composite were found to be good. No significant change is observed in values of crystallization and glass transition temperatures of jute composites when compared to epoxy resin.
Chapter 9 describes the sodium alginate and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose polymers. Based on the results, it is concluded that the acridine orange is more effective in inducing metachromasy in sodium alginate than in sodium heparinate. Cooperativity in binding is observed to occur due to neighboring interactions among the bound dye molecules at lower P/D ratios leading to stacking. The stacking tendency is enhanced by the easy availability and close proximity of the charged sites.
In Chapter 10 the reclaimed rubber is produced by breaking down the vulcanized structure of rubber using heat, chemicals, and mechanical techniques. Devulcanization and reclaiming of rubber waste is carried out by physical and chemical processes. Physical process involves application of mechanical, thermo-mechanical, microwave, or ultrasound energy to partially devulcanized rubber while chemical reclaiming processes use various chemicals and devulcanizing agents. The chemical system under study was based on natural rubber (NR) waste. Diphenyl disulfide (DPDS) and garlic oil were used as devulcanizing agents. Promising results are obtained for combination of thermal and mechano-chemical modes of devulcanization process.
Chapter 11 illustrates the production of new PMCs with the reinforcement materials of fly ash and SiC by injection molding process. Tests are conducted to find out their impact strength and hardness. Hardness of the PMC is increases with the increase of percentage of reinforcement. It is also established that the new materials produced have the suitable mechanical property with strengths for practical applications.
Chapter 12 gives a brief review on the ion-conducting polymers, which provides a perspective on the problem of ion conduction in polymer electrolytes. It mainly focuses on the properties of polymer that favor ion transport. Contemporary issues in polymer electrolytes are discussed next. This is followed by a discussion of two fundamental experimental probes: electrical conductivity and positron annihilation.
Chapter 13 describes the synergistic effect of LDH and calcium carbonate. The problem regarding weak compatibility between calcium carbonate and PP has been dealt with by modifying calcium carbonate by sodium stearate as organically modified filler that can reduce the aggregation tendency. Moreover, polar and nonpolar functional groups present in sodium stearate can help to improve the interfacial adhesion of hydrophilic filler particles with hydrophobic polymer molecules.
Chapter 14 explains and compares different aerogel fabrication techniques such as supercritical drying, ambient pressure drying, and freeze drying along with their mechanisms, advantages, and disadvantages. The applications of aerogels in various fields are also described in brief.
Chapter 15 describes the incorporation of nanodispersoids in polymeric coatings for improving barrier performance as it influences other properties as well as imparts new properties to the coating system. Dispersing nanodispersoids, instead of larger particles has allowed increase in the “interfacial material” content significantly. The investigated novel coating formulations and their tailored responses have been designed to provide new insight toward understanding the mechanism of corrosion protection of different materials such as aluminum and its alloys, brass, steel and so forth.
Chapter 16 illustrates the study of the processing parameters for jute– PP composites. The thermal analysis has been carried out using TGA and DSC. The TGA study reveals that the thermal stability of the jute–PP composite is better than neat PP. While the DMA investigations show that at high temperatures up to 120°C the reinforcing effect of jute fibers is more pronounced. The tan δ curve indicates lower energy dissipation in the jute–PP composite which suggest a better interfacial bonding.Still Looking for the Magic Spot: Dispersing Modified Magnetic Nanoparticles into Nanostructured Block Copolymers.
Applications of Ionic Liquids in Polymeric Composites.
Role of Equine Ordure in Enhancing Physical and Mechanical Properties of Natural Bio-Active Composites.
Preparation and Characterization of Polybenzoxazine/Plasticized PVC-Based Fumed Silica Composites.
Investigation on the Thermal Characteristics of Dry Bonding System for Tire Applications.
Novel Bioactive Strontium Containing Composites for Medical Applications.
Hybrid Natural Fibers Reinforced Polymer Composite: Thermal Analysis.
Mechanical and Thermal Analysis of Unidirectional Jute-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite.
A Comparative Study of Metachromasy Induced in Acridine Orange by Anionic Polyelectrolytes.
Reclamation of Natural Rubber Waste.
Preparation and Characterization of Polymer Matrix Composites with Reinforced Fly Ash and Silicon Carbide.
Ion-Conducting Polymers.
Effect of Modified Calcium Carbonate Filler on Properties of Poly(Propylene)/Layered Double Hydroxide Composites.
Different Fabrication Techniques of Aerogels and Its Applications.
Behavior of Smart Polymer Nanocomposite Coatings.
Thermal and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis of Jute Polypropylene Composites.