Jute fibres (JFs) and polyamide 11 (PA11) are naturally originated materials that, individually, have been widely employed for the manufacture of biocomposites. However, their simultaneous use in an environmentally friendly JFs/PA11 biocomposite that combines the advantages of both materials has received little attention. Therefore, this study investigated the possible fabrication of a biocomposite based on JFs and PA11. Since the dispersion, adhesion and interfacial interaction between JFs and resin matrix are usually poor, the possibility of improving those characteristics was explored via chemical modification. Accordingly, two modification routes were used: alkali treatment and SiO 2 nanoparticle deposition. Both modified and unmodified fibres were blended with PA11 for biocomposite production. Various techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, mechanical property analysis and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize fibre and biocomposite samples. The results indicated that thermal and mechanical stability of JFs were considerably improved as a result of modification. The tensile strength and Young's modulus of unmodified fibres was 303.75 MPa and 12.32 GPa, which then increased to 483.66 MPa and 483.66 GPa, respectively, as a result of SiO 2 nanoparticle deposition on the fibre surface. Because of SiO 2 nanoparticle modification, the interaction and adhesion between JFs and PA11 matrix were improved, which led to increases of 58.3%, 11.7% and 45.9% in tensile strength, impact strength and Young's modulus. The success of this study provides a novel route to produce a complete biocomposite from JFs and PA11, which could become a promising alternative to conventional synthetic polymer composites.
Mg-Alhydrotalcite, MgO-Al2O3 mixed oxides and modified-Y zeolite (sulfated Y zeolite and copper ion-exchanged Y zeolite) were prepared and characterized by XRD, EDX and XRF techniques. These materials were used as heterogeneous catalysts in aldol condensation of vanillin and acetone.The obtained results showed that the heterogeneous acid catalysts as modified-Y zeolites were more effective than the heterogeneous base catalysts as hydrotalcite Mg-Al and MgO-Al2O3 mixed oxides in aldol condensation reaction of vanillin. The highest conversion of vanillin was 95.5% when the reaction was carried out at 120oC in 5 hours, using sulfated Y zeolite.
Electrolyte films based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) were prepared by using casting method with the addition 100 wt.% to 240 wt.% of dioctyl phthalate (DOP), propylene carbonate (PC) as plasticizers and Mg(ClO4)2 as an electrolytic salt. The Fourier infrared spectra (FTIR), tensile, electrical properties, surface morphology of electrolyte films were investigated. The FTIR spectra of plasticized PMMA/PVC blends indicated that there were secondary interactions between plasticizers and PMMA/PVC matrix. There were also molecular interactions between Mg(ClO4)2 and the blends, which indicated that Mg(ClO4)2 was well dissolved and solvated in the blends. Tensile results showed that Mg(ClO4)2 improved the elongation at break and the reduced tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the blends due to this salt can act as an internal lubricant for the blends. The SEM and EDX-mapping micrographs showed the wrinkled surface morphology of the electrolyte film, all raw materials were dispersed regularly into each others at molecular and ionic levels. For the electrolytes containing 10 wt.% of Mg(ClO4)2, the ionic conductivity increased with increasing plasticizer content and achieved in the range of 1.80 × 10-4 - 1.03 × 10-3 (S/cm). For the electrolyte containing 200 wt.% of the plasticizer, the ionic conductivity increased with increasing magnesium salt content and achieved in the range of 2.31 × 10-4 - 4.57 × 10-3 (S/cm).
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