Synthesis and surface engineering of iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Fundamental aspects of nano-reinforced composites

In this study, a high-intensity ultrasonic liquid processor was used to obtain a homogeneous mixture of epoxy resin and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The CNTs were infused into epon 862 epoxy resin through sonic cavitation and then mixed with W curing agent using a high-speed mechanical agitator. The trapped air and reaction volatiles were removed from the mixture using a high vacuum. Flexural tests and fracture toughness tests were performed on unfilled and CNT-filled epoxy to identify the effect of adding CNTs on the mechanical properties of epoxy. The highest improvement in strength and fracture toughness was obtained with 0.3 wt% CNT loading. The nanophased matrix filled with 0.3 wt% CNT was then used with weave carbon fabric in a vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) set up to fabricate composite panels. Flexural tests, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of adding CNTs on the mechanical and thermal properties of the composite. The glass transition temperature, decomposition temperature, and flexural strengths were improved by infusing CNTs. Based on the experimental result, a linear damage model has been combined with the Weibull distribution function to establish a constitutive equation for neat and nanophased carbon/epoxy. Simulated result show that that infusing CNTs increases Weiubll scale parameter, but decrease Weibull shape parameter.

Fabrication and characterization of carbon/epoxy composites mixed with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Polymers more suitable for use in organ transplantation are formed by coupling biologically active moieties to the free amino groups of polymers formed by incorporation of α amino acids into polymers formed of alpha hydroxy acids such as lactic acids. In the preferred embodiment, the peptides are coupled to the free amino groups.

Biodegradable polymers for cell transplantation

Toughening epoxies with halloysite nanotubes

Fracture toughness of spherical silica-filled epoxy adhesives

Fracture toughness of rubber-modified epoxy adhesives: effect of plastic deformability of the matrix phase

Thermal decomposition mechanisms of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and the effects of a few metal oxides on the pyrolysis of PVC were previously reported. In the present work, 33 metal oxides were investigated to determine their effects on the thermal decomposition of PVC, by using a pyrolysis gas chromatograph. Most acidic oxides accelerate the recombination of chlorine atoms with double bonds, since PVC containing these metal oxides easily release lower aliphatics, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, and chlorobenzenes. On the other hand, most basic metal oxides, such as oxides of alkaline earths or silver, inhibit the recombination. These tendencies observed in the thermal decomposition of PVC agree with the contributions of corresponding metal salts to the dehydrochlorination of PVC proposed by other workers. This means that thermal decomposition or dehydrochlorination of PVC is affected by irregularities in head-to-tail linkages formed by the recombination of chlorine atoms during heat treatment of PVC.

Investigations on poly(vinyl chloride). III. Effects of metal oxides upon thermal decomposition of poly(vinyl chloride)

The effect of tackifier on the adhesive properties of a model pressure-sensitive adhesive tape was investigated. For this purpose, a model system consisting of poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene) triblock copolymer as the base polymer and a typical aliphatic petroleum resin as the tackifier was prepared. The tackifier content ranged from 10 to 60 wt%. The tackifier used has a good compatibility with polyisoprene, whereas it has a poor compatibility with polystyrene. The 180° peel adhesion was measured. The peel adhesion increased with the tackifier content, while the degree of increase became more significant above 40 wt%. The pressure sensitivity appeared obviously and the maximum peel adhesion was obtained without heating above 40 wt%. The phase structure was determined using pulse 1H-NMR, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis. A phase structure in which spherical polystyrene domains with a mean size of about 20 nm were dispersed in the polyisoprene continuous phase was observed. I...

Relation between phase structure and peel adhesion of poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene) triblock copolymer/tackifier blend system

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) alone or mixed with 10 wt-% and 50 wt-% TiO2, SnO2, ZnO, and Al2O3 were pyrolyzed by using a pyrolysis gas chromatograph. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, styrene, naphthalene, and various chlorobenzenes were identified. No hydrocarbons could be detected in pyrolysis products of any samples at 200°C. More aromatic hydrocarbons than aliphatic hydrocarbons are released from the PVC–TiO2 system and in preheated PVC. The contrary result is observed in the PVC–ZnO and PVC–SnO2 systems. Aromatics having methyl endgroups are easily released from the PVC–ZnO and PVC–SnO2 systems and at elevated pyrolysis temperature, because methylene groups are easily isolated along the chain by ZnO, SnO2 and the heating. The release of ethylbenzene o-xylene, and chlorobenzenes suggests a repeated dehydrochlorination and recombination of HCl and Cl2 to double bonds along the chain. Possible decomposition mechanisms of PVC are discussed.

Takeo Iida

Papers

Fracture toughness of spherical silica-filled epoxy adhesives

Fracture toughness of rubber-modified epoxy adhesives: effect of plastic deformability of the matrix phase

Investigations on poly(vinyl chloride). III. Effects of metal oxides upon thermal decomposition of poly(vinyl chloride)

Relation between phase structure and peel adhesion of poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene) triblock copolymer/tackifier blend system

Investigations on poly(vinyl chloride). I. Evolution of aromatics on pyrolysis of poly(vinyl chloride) and its mechanism