AbstractThis paper illustrates the aim to introduce biodegradable vegetable filler in synthetic polymers to prepare novel biodegradable composites. Low density polyethylene/alkali treated corn flour (LDPE/ATCF) composites were prepared by reactive extrusion using a twin-screw extruder. The microstructure, thermal properties and tensile properties were evaluated and compared with virgin LDPE. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed a decrease in the hydrophilic nature of corn flour (CF) after alkali treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs showed good dispersion between matrix and filler. The tensile and elongation at break decreased by increasing the filler content in the composites. However, the Young’s modulus increased with the increase in filler content. The biodegradation of composites was studied in the environment using the soil burial test for 6 months. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed an increase of the melting enthalpy (ΔHm) and crystallinity of LDPE with evidence of degradation. The biodegradability of the composites was enhanced with increasing ATCF content in the matrix. This result was supported by weight loss and degraded surface of composites observed through morphological studies. From the results, we conclude that the use of ATCF as filler in LDPE reduces pollution problems. This is advantageous for both the economy and the environment.
In this study, an agricultural waste product was used to prepare a green
corrosion inhibitor based on olive leaves (Olea Europaea Syslvestris).
Firstly, an optimization study of antioxidant activity of Olea Europaea
Syslvestris leaves monitored by the DPPH free radical trapping method, was
carried out using full factorial design. In the second step, the extract
obtained under optimal conditions was tested as a green corrosion inhibitor
for steel in 0.5 mol dm?3 HCl, using gravimetric and electrochemical
methods. The results obtained by various tech-niques showed that the extract
acted as a mixed-type inhibitor. The adsorption of the inhibitor was
spontaneous (?Gads = ?12.443kJ mol?1), through the mechanism of physical
adsorption, and it obeyed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The highest
corrosion inhibition efficiency of 92 % was obtained for 2.8 10?3 g cm?3of
inhibitor, as measured by gravimetric method.
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