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Nanostructured nickel oxide samples with crystallite sizes in the range 32-45 nm are synthesized through a facile chemical route using nickel chloride and ethanol amine as the starting materials. The analysis of the antioxidant activity and DC conductivity of the NiO samples confirmed the presence of both Ni(2+) and O(2-) vacancies. The temperature dependent magnetization studies of the samples are done using a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer in the range 20-300 K. The core-shell magnetic structure of the NiO nanoparticles with an antiferromagnetic core and a spin-glass shell is revealed from the zero field cooled and field cooled magnetization studies of the samples. The dependence of uncompensated moments on total spins contradicts Neel's models and is found to vary directly with O(2-) vacancy concentration. The ferromagnetic response of NiO samples due to the interaction between the antiferromagnetic core and the ferromagnetic shell is evident from the magnetic hysteresis studies in the temperature range 20-300 K. The ferromagnetic response is traced to the concentration of O(2-) vacancies, which act as donor impurities and mediate the alignment of magnetic moments associated with Ni(2+) vacancies. The decrease of ferromagnetic contribution upon annealing is explained by the decrease in the concentration of O(2-) vacancies which caused a reduction in the number of magnetic polarons and hence the effective magnetization.

Polyblend films were prepared from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) up to 20% PLLA by the melt blending method in an extrusion mixer with post-extrusion blown film attachment. The 80/20 (HDPE/PLLA) blend was compatibilized with maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE-g-MA) in varying ratios [up to 8 parts per hundred of resin (phr)]. Tensile properties of the films were evaluated to obtain optimized composition for packaging applications of both non-compatibilized and compatibilized blends. The compositions HDPE80 (80% HDPE and 20% PLLA) and HD80C4 (80% HDPE, 20% PLLA and 4 phr compatibilizer) were found to be optimum for packaging applications. However, better tensile strength (at yield) and elongation (at break) of 80/20 (HDPE/PLLA) blend were noticed in the presence of PE-g-MA. Further, thermal properties and morphologies of these blends were evaluated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) study revealed that blending does not much affect the crystalline melting point of HDPE and PLLA, but heat of fusion of 80/20 (HDPE/PLLA) blend was decreased as compared to that of neat HDPE. Spectroscopy studies showed evidence of the introduction of some new groups in the blends and gaining compatibility in the presence of PE-g-MA. The compatibilizer influenced the morphology of the blends, as apparent from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and supported by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR).

Partially biodegradable polymer films from the blends of polypropylene (PP) and poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) were prepared in an internal mixer by melt blending technique, with and without compatibilizer, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP), followed by compression molding. With regard to tensile properties, 80/20 (PP/ PLLA) and 80/20/6 (PP/PLLA/MAPP) were found as the optimum blends with best combination of the ingredients. Therefore, the blend samples, namely, PP80 (80% PP+20% PLLA) and PP80C6 (80% PP+20% PLLA+6 phr MAPP) were selected as 'optimized' blends and further characterized for their physical, chemical, morphological, and thermal properties. X-ray diffraction studies showed that neat PP and PP80C6 had the same crystallite size indicating compatibility between PP and PLLA due to MAPP. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microsopy investigations revealed that the two polymers were completely immiscible in absence of the compatibilizer. Bacterial biodegradation of the samples was performed by exposure to Pseudomonas stutzeri for 60 days and measured in terms of weight loss, optical density, and thermal stability of the samples before and after degradation. The results showed that 80/20 (PP/ PLLA) blends undergo considerable degradation. Reduction in thermal stability of the film samples was also observed through thermogravimetric analysis, which was useful in accelerating their biodegradation.

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