Cochin University of Science and Technology

About: Cochin University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Kochi, Kerala, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Thin film & Natural rubber. The organization has 5382 authors who have published 7690 publications receiving 103827 citations. The organization is also known as: CUSAT & Cochin University.

Studies on novel binary accelerator system in sulfur vulcanization of natural rubber

Abstract: The synergistic activity of binary accelerator systems in rubber vulcanization is well known. Binary accelerator systems are being widely used in industry and are becoming increasingly popular because of the fact that such mixed systems can effectively prevent prevulcanization, permit the vulcanization to be carried out at a lower temperature in a shorter time, and produce a vulcanizate with superior mechanical properties compared to those of a stock cured with a single accelerator. Thiourea and its derivatives are important secondary accelerators in this context. It is suggested that thiourea containing binary accelerator systems cause rubber vulcanization to proceed by a nucleophilic reaction mechanism. In the present study 1-phenyl-5-ortho, -meta, and -para-tolyl derivatives of 2,4-dithiobiurets, which are more nucleophilic than thiourea and vary in their nucleophilic reactivity, are used as secondary accelerators along with 2-morpholinothiobenzothiazole in the vulcanization of natural rubber. The results show an appreciable reduction in the cure time for the mixes containing the dithiobiurets compared to the reference mix. These results are indicative of a nucleophilic reaction mechanism in the vulcanization reaction under consideration. These vulcanizates also demonstrate comparatively better tensile properties and good retention of these properties after aging. An attempt is also made to correlate the variation in physical properties to chemical crosslink formation in the various vulcanizates. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 3173–3182, 2003

Statistical analysis on extreme wave height

Abstract: The classical extreme value theory based on generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution and generalized Pareto distribution (GPD) is applied to the wave height estimate based on wave hindcast data covering a period of 31 years for a location in the eastern Arabian Sea. Practical concern such as the threshold selection and model validation is discussed. Estimates of wave height having different return periods are compared with estimates obtained from different distributions. On comparing the distributions fitted to the GEV with annual maximum approach and GPD with peaks over threshold approach have indicated that both GEV and GPD models gave similar or comparable wave height for the study area since there is no multiple storm event in a year. Influence of seasonality on wave height having different return period is also studied.