BACKGROUND: The positive temperature coefficient (PTC) effect on material properties has attracted much attention in recent years due to the prospects of many applications like temperature sensors, thermistors, self‐regulating heaters, etc. It has been suggested that incorporation of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) into carbon black (CB)‐filled polymers could improve the electrical properties of composites due to high conductivity and network structure and significantly reduce the required CB loading. RESULTS: We observed no change in melting temperature and crystalline transition temperature on addition of MWNTs. However, the heat of fusion decreases as the amount of conducting carboxylated MWNT (c‐MWNT) filler increases and the resistivity of the composite decreases. The free volume shows an increase up to 1.5 wt% of c‐MWNT content and then decreases. CONCLUSION: Well‐developed crystals could not be formed due to restricted chain mobility as filler content increases. This results in minimum intermolecular interactions, and thus a decreased heat of fusion. A composite with c‐MWNT content of 0.5 wt% showed the highest PTC and higher resistivity at 150 °C possibly due to the formation of flocculated structures at elevated temperature. For filler content greater than 1.5 wt%, the decrease in free volume may be due to restricted chain mobility. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry

Hybrid nanocomposites of polypropylene/ ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (PP/UHMWPE, 70/30) with various amounts of carbon black (CB) and carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (c-MWNTs) were prepared by the solution mixing and melt blending techniques. The effects of the mixture of CB and c-MWNTs on the positive-temperature-coefficient (PTC) behavior and the negative-temperature-coefficient (NTC) behavior, as well as the room temperature resistivity, were studied. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that the CB particles were aggregated at the interface, between PP and UHMWPE. This selective localization of the CB particles at the interface along with the formation of continuous conducting media leads to the formation of additional conducting networks, resulting in a percolation threshold at a low CB content. A synergy effect of the hybrid conducting fillers of CB and c-MWNTs on the PTC behavior of the hybrid blends was also observed. The room temperature resistivity was reduced significantly by the incorporation of the c-MWNTs into the PP/UHMWPE/CB composite. The intensity and repeatability of the PTC effect in the nanocomposites were improved and the NTC effect weakened by incorporating a small amount (0.5 wt %) of c-MWNTs.

The aim of the current investigation is to evaluate the efficiency of tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) as an antioxidant in sesame oil (sesamum indicum) by density, viscosity and ultrasonic velocity. The effects of varying amounts of TBHQ on the oxidation stability of sesame oil have been investigated. The antioxidant incorporated sesame oil system and control edible oil were subjected to heating at 180 ± 5 °C continuously for a period of 4 h per day for consecutive 4 days. The parameters used to assess the thermal degradation and oxidation properties of the oils include ultrasonic velocity, viscosity, density and peroxide value. The fatty acid compositions of the oils were measured by gas chromatography. Adiabatic compressibility, intermolecular free length, relaxation time and acoustic impedance have been calculated from experimental data. Viscosity, density and ultrasonic velocity change in control oil is from 3.6553 × 10(-2) to 11.1729 × 10(-2) Nsm(-2), 912.59 to 940.31 kg/m(3) and 1,421 to 1,452 m/s respectively and in sesame oil with 200 ppm TBHQ is from 3.6793 × 10(-2) to 6.4842 × 10(-2) Nsm(-2), 913.78 to 922.45 kg/m(3) and 1,421 to 1,431 m/s respectively for 16 h of heat treated oil. The ultrasonic results obtained have shown reduction in thermal degradation and improvement in oxidation stability of antioxidant loaded oil in comparison to base oil. Hence, it can be recommended that sesame oil with 200 ppm TBHQ can be used for frying without adverse effect on physical properties. The ultrasonic velocity can be used for assessment of stability of frying oil.

Background:Conventional periodontal therapy with various bone grafts has limited scope and the results are not predictable. To improve their utility, the hybridization of bioceramics and biodegradable polymers has been widely adopted to reform the mechanical properties of bone grafts. One such biodegradable polymer is POC (Poly 1,8 octanediol). Secondly, citric acid is considered as the key material in bone mineralization, which is related to the overall stability, strength and fracture resistance of bone. Hence citric acid is incorporated in a polymer and Nano hydroxyapatite to form a composite graft, for periodontal bone regeneration. This study attempts to evaluate the efficacy of citric acid based Nano-hydroxyapatite composite graft for the treatment of intrabony defects in chronic periodontitis patients over 12 months.Methods:A split mouth study, which consists of 10 systemically healthy patients, were randomly treated with Citric acid based Nano hydroxyapatite composite graft (test sites, n=18) or with Nano hydroxyapatite alone (control sites, n=15). Plaque index, gingival index, gingival bleeding index, probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bone probing depth (BPD) and hard tissue parameters such as amount of defect fill, percentage of defect fill, and changes in alveolar crest were assessed over a period of 12 months. Statistical analysis used was student's t-test and One-Way ANOVA.Results:Both test and control sites demonstrated statistically significant reduction of PD, BPD, gain in CAL and radiographic bone fill. Nevertheless the test sites showed Statistically significant improvements in all the parameters as compared to control sites at 12 months.Conclusion:Citric acid based Nano hydroxyapatite composite graft can be considered as a newer material for periodontal regeneration.