National Institute of Technology, Karnataka

About: National Institute of Technology, Karnataka is a education organization based out in Mangalore, Karnataka, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Corrosion & Cloud computing. The organization has 5017 authors who have published 7057 publications receiving 70367 citations.

Influence of organically modified clay mineral on domain structure and properties of segmented thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer

Abstract: Segmented polyether–urethane/organically modified montmorillonite (O-MMT) nanocomposites were synthesized with poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMG), 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), butane diol (BD), and a commercially available clay Cloisite-30B® (O-MMT). The state of dispersion of the clay crystals in the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU) matrix was studied by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The phase-separated morphology of the TPU was revealed by high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). O-MMT caused a marginal increase in the glass transition temperature of the soft segments of the TPU and this increase is proportional to the amount of O-MMT in the nanocomposites. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was employed to study the effect of O-MMT on the extent of phase separation in the TPU in these nanocomposites. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results indicate a substantial improvement in the thermal stability of TPU by the addition ...

Facile solvothermal synthesis of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles for high-performance supercapacitor applications

Abstract: We report a green and facile approach for the synthesis of NiFe2O4 (NF) nanoparticles with good crystallinity. The prepared materials are studied by various techniques in order to know their phase structure, crystallinity, morphology and elemental state. The BET analysis revealed a high surface area of 80.0 m2·g−1 for NF possessing a high pore volume of 0.54 cm3·g−1, also contributing to the amelioration of the electrochemical performance. The NF sample is studied for its application in supercapacitors in an aqueous 2 mol·L−1 KOH electrolyte. Electrochemical properties are studied both in the three-electrode method and in a symmetrical supercapacitor cell. Results show a high specific capacitance of 478.0 F·g−1 from the CV curve at an applied scan rate of 5 mV·s−1 and 368.0 F·g−1 from the GCD analysis at a current density of 1 A·g−1 for the NF electrode. Further, the material exhibited an 88% retention of its specific capacitance after continuous 10000 cycles at a higher applied current density of 8 A·g−1. These encouraging properties of NF nanoparticles suggest the practical applicability in high-performance supercapacitors.

Recent Advances in the Value Addition of Biomass-Derived Levulinic Acid: A Review Focusing on its Chemical Reactivity Patterns

Abstract: Levulinic acid (LA) is one of the most prominent biomass‐derived chemical building blocks that can be transformed into specialty chemicals like fuels, solvents, monomers for polymers, plasticizers, surfactants, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Over the past three decades, an enormous amount of research data have been acquired on the preparation and downstream value addition of LA, and these works have been reviewed. However, considering the astonishing number of publications appearing every year on LA derivatives, the periodical review of recent works focusing on unique aspects of chemistry must be undertaken to critically evaluate the achievements to date, reassess the challenges, and recognize new opportunities. This review discusses the chemical‐catalytic synthesis of various derivatives of LA by focusing on its functionalities and reactivity patterns. Recent literature on some crucial derivatives such as γ‐valerolactone, 4,4’‐diphenolic acid, and ethyl levulinate have been tabulated and discussed. The synthetic interconversion between various derivatives, mechanistic insights, critical analysis of the reaction parameters toward selective preparation of various derivatives, and their potential commercial applications have been elaborated using predominantly heterogeneous catalysts. A critical assessment of the relative advantages and shortcomings of the existing synthetic strategies for various derivatives of LA has been presented to enkindle fresh ideas.

Sensitivity of the Food and Agriculture Organization Penman–Monteith Evapotranspiration Estimates to Alternative Procedures for Estimation of Parameters

Abstract: Reference crop evapotranspiration ( ETo ) is a key variable in procedures established for estimating evapotranspiration rates of agricultural crops. As per internationally accepted procedures outlined in the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56 (FAO-56), using the Penman–Monteith (PM) combination equation is the recommended approach to computing ETo from ground-based climatological observations. Applying of the PM equation requires converting input climate and site data into a number of parameters, and FAO-56 recommends exact procedures for estimating these parameters. However, a plethora of alternative procedures for estimating parameters exist in literature. As a consequence, it is likely that ambiguous results may be obtained from the FAO-56 PM equation because of the adoption of such alternative (nonrecommended) supporting equations. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate differences that could arise in FAO-56 ETo estimates if nonrecommended ...