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To achieve increased flow and reduce fouling, polymeric membranes can be functionalized with hydrophilic groups such as sulfone, amines, and others. This research has aimed at the sulfonation of Polysulfone (PSU) with various agents and at varying substitution degrees to change its hydrophobic character. PSU was also blended with Poly(lactic acid) (PLA), which is a more hydrophilic polymer. The phase inversion method was used to make PSU, PLA, sulfonated PSU, and PSU/PLA blend-based membranes. Sulfonation degrees of sulfonated PSU membranes were assessed using FT-IR, mechanical characteristics of membranes were determined, and thermal properties of membranes were clarified using DSC and TGA techniques. Hydrophilic natures and membrane alterations were investigated, as well as contact angle and water uptake measures. Among three distinct sulfonation agents (trimethylsilyl chlorosulfonate (TMSCS), sulfuric acid, and chlorosulfonic acid) employed to produce a 20% sulfonation degree of polysulfone, TMSCS was chosen as having the highest sulfonation efficiency (91.5%). With increasing sulfonation degree, a drop in molecular weight was seen in all sulfonated polysulfone samples. The mechanical strength values of polysulfone after sulfonation with TMSCS rose from 35.23 MPa to 63.35 MPa, while the contact angle value decreased from 85.58° to 71°. The contact angle value reduced from 85.58° to 64.68° while the mechanical strength of the PSU and PSU/PLA (50:50) blend increased from 35.23 MPa to 39.3 MPa. Membranes were also tested for pure water flux, hydrostability, and biostability. In terms of application requirements, it was determined that sulfonated PSU-based membranes manufactured with TMSCS with a 20% sulfonation degree and PSU/PLA blend-based membranes with a 50:50 (w:w) ratio have the optimum compositions with high flux quantities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polylactide (PLA) is one of the most attractive bioplastics as it can be produced from nontoxic renewable feedstock. However, its inherently poor toughness greatly limits its large-scale application. Cost-effectively toughening PLA without sacrificing its transparency remains a big challenge. We herein prepared an imidazolium-based poly(ionic liquid)- b -PLA copolymer (ILA) and ionomers as toughening agent for PLA through an integrative approach including continuous-monomer-feeding copolymerization, quaternization reaction, ion exchange and inter-ionomers blending. By blending PLA with the ILA and ionomers, we successfully obtained PLA materials with combined features including high toughness, good transparency and antibacterial properties. The effects of regulated ionomer composition and ILA compatibilizer on phase morphology, mechanical properties and transparency of the blends were systematically studied. The optimum formulation (PLA/E12/ILA 60/40/5) shows an impressive transmittance of 89–93 %, high impact strength of 45 kJ/m2 and elongation at break at 170 %, which are about 17 and 24 times that of pure PLA, respectively. More interestingly, the presence of imidazolium cation and anion groups endows the blends with attractive antibacterial properties. Ion exchange between ILA copolymer and the imidazolium-containing ionomeric system leads to a synergistic effect of compatibilization and efficient toughening, providing a new strategy for develop high performance PLA materials. [Display omitted] • A novel block copolymer compatibilizer was prepared for PLA/ionomer blends. • The toughening agents with desirable modulus and T g were designed by blending ionomers based on dynamic anion exchange. • PLA blends with the well-designed toughening agents exhibit excellent toughness, transparency and antibacterial property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obtaining white light from organic LEDs is a considerable challenge and, to realize white light emission, many studies have been conducted, primarily addressing two- or three-color blend systems as a promising strategy. In this work, pristine films, grown by spin coating, consisting of commercial blue Poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) (PFO), green Poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT), and red spiro-copolymer (SPR) light-emitting materials, were studied as reference materials. Afterward, binary (SPR doped in host PFO) and ternary (SPR and F8BT doped in host PFO) thin films were successfully prepared with various ratios. The characterization of the as-grown and thermally-treated blend films was focused on their optical and photophysical properties. After, the fabrication of OLED devices on glass substrates was carried out for the evaluation of a blend's composition and annealing in terms of the devices' electrical characteristics and electro-emission properties in order to achieve white light emission. Their analysis provided insights into the energy transfer mechanisms between the constituent materials, which were correlated to host–guest interactions as well as to the structural changes originated by thermal treatment, leading to the crystallization of PFO. Finally, the OLEDs based on ternary blends approach the white light emission with (x, y) of (0.272, 0.346). These fabricated devices also exhibit turn-on voltages as low as 3 V, accompanied by remarkable luminance values above 3000 cd/m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel blend of unsaturated polyester (UP) resin with an inherently flame-retardant and char-forming melamine formaldehyde (MF) resin has been prepared with the aim of reducing the flammability of the former. MF resin, sourced as a spray-dried resin, was dissolved in diethyleneglycol solvent; the dissolved resin and the UP-MF blend were autocured by heating under conditions normally used for curing UP, i.e., room temperature for 24 h and post-curing at 80 °C for 12–24 h. The cured UP-MF blends, although heterogeneous in nature, were rigid materials having fire performances superior to those of the cured UP alone. The blends also burned, but with a much reduced smoke output compared with that from UP. Although the heterogeneity of the blends helped in improving the fire performances of the blends in terms of the MF domains forming a semi-protective char, acting as thermal barriers for the adjoining UP domains, and hence reducing their thermal degradation, the mechanical properties of composites based on them were impaired. Nevertheless, whilst UP/MF blends may not be suitable for use as matrices in glass-reinforced composites in load-bearing applications, they may lend themselves to applications as fire-retardant gel coats, especially in view of their low-smoke, char-forming attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercially available carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene latex (XNBR) was physically blended with natural rubber latex (NR) at varying blend ratios to investigate its effect on the mechanical properties and morphology. Methyl methacrylate grafted natural rubber latex (MG) was added to the latex blends as a third polymer to study whether it could enhance the mechanical properties of the latex blend films. It was found that the tensile strength of the blend films irrespective of composition decreased when the two latexes were blended as compared to the virgin latex films. The modulus 300 decreased while the elongation at break and tear strength of the blend films increased gradually as the ratio of NR increased in the blend films. It was found that the MG did not enhance the mechanical properties of the XNBR/NR blend films under the current experimental condition. AFM phase imaging analysis revealed enhanced polymer distribution and evidence of NR-MG-XNBR interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution by synthetic polymers is a global problem and investigating substitutes for synthetic polymers is a major research area. Starch can be used in formulating bioplastic materials, mainly as blends or composites with other polymers. The major drawbacks of using starch in such applications are water sensitivity and poor mechanical properties. Attempts have been made to improve the mechanical properties of starch-based blends and composites, by e.g., starch modification or plasticization, matrix reinforcement, and polymer blending. Polymer blending can bring synergetic benefits to blends and composites, but necessary precautions must be taken to ensure the compatibility of hydrophobic polymers and hydrophilic starch. Genetic engineering offers new possibilities to modify starch inplanta in a manner favorable for bioplastics applications, while the incorporation of antibacterial and/or antioxidant agents into starch-based food packaging materials brings additional advantages. In conclusion, starch is a promising material for bioplastic production, with great potential for further improvements. This review summarizes the recent advances in starch-based blends and composites and highlights the potential strategies for overcoming the major drawbacks of using starch in bioplastics applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a polymeric blend of polyaniline (PAni) and chitosan (Chi), modified with Sucrose Octaacetate (SOA), was synthesized and characterized using different techniques. The blend was used as an adsorbent to remove Remazol Black (RB) dye from aqueous solutions. The blend was synthesized using the chemical oxidation method with ammonium persulfate as the oxidizing agent. Characterization was carried out using SEM, FT-IR, UV-Vis, BET, TGA, Conductivity, and PZc techniques. The blend structure appeared as clusters, providing a favorable surface area for adsorption. The results showed that SOA improved the conductivity of the blend without altering the structure and oxidative state of PAni. The study investigated the adsorption of RB, considering the influence of adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, pH, and temperature. Kinetic and equilibrium studies, thermodynamic analysis, synthetic effluent testing, and adsorbent reuse tests were conducted. The optimal adsorption conditions, within the studied range, were adsorbent dosage of 0.25 g L -1 , dye concentration of 60 mg L -1 , pH range of 2 to 7, and temperature of 30 °C. Equilibrium results indicated that the Langmuir model was the most representative, with a maximum adsorption capacity of q max  = 285.23 mg g -1 and R L  = 0.01, indicating favorable adsorption. The kinetic study revealed an equilibrium constant of K eq  = 0.421 L mg -1 and a process order 0.63. The adsorption process followed a pseudo-first-order kinetics, demonstrating rapid adsorption on the adsorbent surface. The adsorption was physical, endothermic, and spontaneous, showing increased randomness with temperature. RB removal from synthetic effluent was effective within the pH range of 2-7, with the dye removal efficiency from the aqueous phase remaining above 74 % for up to 4 cycles of adsorption-desorption. The results support the hypothesis that the PAni-SOA@Chi blend is a promising alternative for removing this dye from the waste., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

U ovome radu istražit će se uvjeti nastajanja i rok trajanja, tj. opstojnost jedne konceptualne integracije koja se pojavljivala u hrvatskome političkom diskursu za vrijeme predizborne promidžbe za parlamentarne izbore 2011. godine. Riječ je o blendu Kukuriku-koalicija koji je svojevremeno bio općeprihvaćen među političarima, ali i građanima Republike Hrvatske. Pojavljivao se u svim medijima, upotrebljavali su ga svi političari, jednako oponenti spomenute koalicije i njezini pripadnici. Iako je istodobno bio omiljen i omražen, premda se upotrebljavao izuzetno često, nakon određenog vremena ipak postupno nestaje iz jezične upotrebe. Ilustrirat ćemo stoga u ovome radu rađanje ove konceptualne integracije. Prikazat ćemo kada se ova konceptualna integracija najviše upotrebljavala te ćemo analizom anketnih odgovora i primjera prikupljenih s mrežnih stranica u razdoblju zadnjih godinu dana pokušati objasniti razlog(e) njezina nestanka iz današnjega političkog diskursa.

Translators faced unusual and surprising linguistic challenges in keeping the original element of the J. K. Rowling’s style in the Harry Potter series. Our paper focuses on the impact of the British writer’s story by highlighting the subtle puns and hidden clues in her made-up words that have gone “beyond the book” and even leapt into the Oxford English Dictionary.

Nitrile rubber（NBR）/polyvinyl chloride（PVC） composite systems reinforced by single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were prepared by the addition of SWCNTs with different diameters to NBR/PVC composite system, which was prepared by blending method of nitrile rubber and polyvinyl chloride.The amorphous molecular models of NBR/PVC and NBR/PVC composite systems reinforced by SWCNTs with different diameters were constructed by Material Studio software, and the mechanical and friction properties of four kinds of composite systems were calculated, and the calculation results were compared and analyzed.The results showed that the elastic modulus, hardness and toughness of the composite systems reinforced by SWCNTs were improved to a certain extent except that the friction coefficient and wear loss were decreased.Under the action of external force, the surface material was not easy to fall off, the wear resistance of the composite system was improved, and the service life of the stator rubber was extended.

With incessant increases in fuel prices worldwide and concerns for environmental pollution, the need for alternative sources of energy is becoming urgent. In this study, the potential of grape seed oil for biodiesel as an alternative fuel was evaluated. Refined grape seed oil was bought in liquid form and then subjected to an alkali-catalyzed transesterification process for biodiesel production. The physicochemical properties of the resulting biodiesel—namely, viscosity, cetane number, and heating value—were investigated. The biodiesel was blended with a conventional diesel in various proportions and combusted in a four-cylinder, four-stroke compression ignition (diesel) engine under two loading conditions. Experimental results revealed that the blend ratio of B70 (70% GS biodiesel and 30% conventional diesel) gave the best overall engine performance in terms of maximum power, minimum emissions, and fuel consumption. Furthermore, a novel neural network technique called extreme learning machine was adopted to investigate the optimal blend ratio using the dataset obtained from the experimental results. The results also indicate that the best choice of biodiesel blend ratio is approximately B73.67 (73.67% GS biodiesel and 26.33% conventional diesel). The study shows that grape seed oil could serve as a reliable source of production of quality biodiesel fuels, which could be used as an alternative to conventional diesel fuels.

Polymer dielectric materials operating at high temperatures are widely needed for advanced electrical and electronic systems. However, currently commercial polymer dielectrics are limited to relatively low operating temperatures. Here, a series of polyether ether ketone (PEEK)-based blends with self-crosslinkable polyetherimide (c-PEI) has been prepared as high temperature dielectrics by melt blending. The obtained polymer blends maintain stable dielectric properties over a wide frequency and temperature range. At 160 °C，the dissipation factor of the blend film is only 0.0019 which is only 14% of the pristine PEEK. Crosslinked networks in polymer blends could efficiently restrict the movement of polymer segments which suppress the dielectric loss and enhance high temperature performance. Furthermore, the introducing of Al2O3 improve the dielectric constant of the polymer blend, which compensated for the decreased dielectric constant due to crosslinking. In addition, the c-PEI/PEEK blends could be produced by industrial-grade continuous production process. This work presents a feasible strategy to large-scale fabrication of high-temperature dielectric materials by melt blending with self-crosslinkable polymers.

In order to improve the comprehensive properties of bisphenol A epoxy resin (DGEBA), the alicyclic epoxy resin blend was used to modify the DGEBA. The crosslinking model was established and the thermodynamic mechanism was analyzed by Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation. The thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of the blend system were comprehensively analyzed through experiments. The research results show that when the introduction amount of alicyclic epoxy resin is between 10% and 20%, the thermal-mechanical-electrical comprehensive performance of the blending system reaches the best. Compared with bisphenol A epoxy resin, the glass transition temperature of the modified system is increased by 3.18%. The flexural strength and tensile strength are increased by 3.92% and 3.95%. The power frequency breakdown field strength is correspondingly increased by 7.16%, the leakage current is reduced by 6.11%, and the dielectric loss factor is reduced by 23.8%. Bisphenol A epoxy resin modified with alicyclic epoxy resin has excellent electrical application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyamide (PA) is the mostwidely used type of semi‐crystalline polymer among engineering plastics, with its low density and high mechanical properties. But the high moisture absorption of PA6 limits its use in some areas. Blending and the addition of reinforcement can decrease the moisture absorption value of PA6. In this research, the PA6/PA610 blends and glass fiber (GF) reinforced PA6/PA610 composites were fabricated, and the features of these blends‐composites were examined. The blends and composites were produced by using extrusion and injection molding methods and characterized by water absorption (WA) test, tensile test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The loading rates of GF were used as 10–20‐ 30–40 wt%. According to the tensile test consequences, the highest increase in the tensile strength for the composites was observed at 30% GF ratio. DMA results demonstrated an increase in loss modulus and storage with the increasing fiber amount. It is observed that the WA value of neat PA6 was diminished by blending with PA610 and adding an increasing amount of GF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work analyzes the influence of modified, epoxidized and maleinized corn oil as a plasticizing and/or compatibilizing agent in the PLA–PHB blend (75% PLA and 25% PHB wt.%). The chemical modification processes of corn oil were successfully carried out and different quantities were used, between 0 and 10% wt.%. The different blends obtained were characterized by thermal, mechanical, morphological, and disintegration tests under composting conditions. It was observed that to achieve the same plasticizing effect, less maleinized corn oil (MCO) is needed than epoxidized corn oil (ECO). Both oils improve the ductile properties of the PLA–PHB blend, such as elongation at break and impact absorb energy, however, the strength properties decrease. The ones that show the highest ductility values are those that contain 10% ECO and 5% MCO, improving the elongation of the break of the PLA–PHB blend by more than 400% and by more than 800% for the sample PLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although several properties of collagen have been explored, the blend formation with sulfated polymers is poorly explored. Antiplatelet effects can be achieved after the formation of this type of blend. In this work, a film formed by collagen and sulfated polysaccharide and their properties were analyzed. Five blends were produced, blend with collagen (10 mg/g) and 0, 5, 10, 20, and 25% of the sulfated polysaccharide. No changes amine (I, II, and III) vibrations alterations were observed, where the collagen structure remained unchanged. In addition, it was also observed the presence of sulfoxide groups related to the presence of sulfated polysaccharides. The samples have the same thermal degradation profile. Additionally, the stability of the film is up to 100 °C, characterized by the loss of water from the structure caused by the break-up of the blend. Also, it was verified that the adhesion of platelets to the collagen decreases with the presence of sulfated polysaccharide. The synthesized material presents a potential for application as an anti-thrombogenic agent, besides being biodegradable and biocompatible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, thermoplastic elastomeric nanofibers made up of a homogenous blend of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and Ppolycaprolactone (CL), with 80% wt of rubbery component, are used to modify a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate with the aim of improving its delamination and damping behavior at the same time. Since the nanofibrous membrane is not chemically cross‐linked, the fibrous morphology is lost during composite curing owing to its melting. Nonetheless, the nanomodified CFRP displays an impressive ability to improve the delamination resistance in mode I and also an enhanced damping capacity at low temperature. The use of nanofibrous membranes allows for modification of specifically selected areas, thus maximizing the toughening and damping behavior where most required, without necessarily affecting the whole bulk of the resin. Both PCL and NBR components contribute to the final performance; however, the very high amount of rubber leads to a membrane difficult to handle whose final performance in CFRP modification is not superior to membranes up to 60% wt NBR that are instead more stable and easier to deal with. Overall, the proposed results are nonetheless very promising, taking into account also that the improved delamination resistance in mode I and enhanced damping are obtained without significantly sacrificing the weight and overall dimension of the obtained composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An all-solid–state dye-sensitized solar cell is one of the non-fossil fuel-based electrochemical devices for electricity generation in a high-temperature region. This device utilizes a redox mediator, which is a fast ion-conducting solid polymer electrolyte (SPE). The SPE makes the device economical, thinner, and safer in high-temperature regions. The SPE generally has a form of matrix−plasticizer−redox salts. Succinonitrile (SN) is generally employed as a plasticizer for reducing the crystallinity of poly(ethylene oxide), abbreviated as PEO, a common polymeric matrix. In the present paper, the structural and thermal properties of tetramethyl succinonitrile (TMSN) were compared with SN for its application as a solid plasticizer. TMSN and SN both are plastic crystals. TMSN has four methyl groups by replacing the hydrogen of the SN, resulting in higher molecular weight, solid–solid phase transition temperature, and melting temperature. We thoroughly studied the structural, thermal, and electrical properties of the [(1−x)PEO: xTMSN] blend for utilizing it as a matrix, where x = 0–0.25 in mole fraction. The FT-IR spectra and XRD patterns of the blends exhibited PEO-alike up to x = 0.15 mole and TMSN-alike for x > 0.15 mole. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed formation of a eutectic phase from x = 0.1 mole and phase separation from x = 0.15 mole. The blends with x = 0.1–0.15 mole had a low value of PEO crystallinity. Thermogravimetric analysis showed thermal stability of the blends up to 75 °C. The blends exhibited electrical conductivity, σ25°C more than 10−9 S cm−1, and Arrhenius behavior (activation energy, ~0.8 eV) in a temperature region, 25–50 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical properties of γ-irradiated ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM)/high styrene-butadiene rubber (HSBR) blends were investigated with special reference to the effects of blend ratio. Among the blends, the one with 80/20 EPDM/HSBR has been found to exhibit the highest tensile, hardness, thermal, and abrasion properties. The effect of γ-irradiation dose on the mechanical properties namely tensile strength and elongation at break was investigated. The effect of silane coupling agent on the mentioned properties of the EPDM/HSBR blend was studied. The results showed that the mechanical and the thermal properties of the γ-irradiated EPDM/HSBR blend improved with the addition of the silane coupling agent due to the increase in the cross-linking density. The inclusion of both the 30 phr fumed silica and N, N - m -phenylenedimaleimide coagent in the 80/20 EPDM/HSBR nanocomposite irradiated to 150 kGy leads to a synergistic effect. Thermogravimetric analysis was carried out to analyze the thermal stability of the nanocomposites. The mechanical properties have been interpreted in terms of the morphology of the blends as attested by scanning electron microscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menstrual hygiene is one of the most important health-related aspects which must be given higher priority to overcome the menstrual cycle period of women. Currently, there are many types of sanitary napkins are available in the market to absorb the menstrual fluid but most of them are constructed by using petroleum bi-product called SAP and it is used to absorb and hold more menstrual fluid. The present work focuses on to produce and study the moisture behavior properties of a sanitary napkin by using 100% natural fibers as core absorbent. Milkweed fibers are the natural organic fibers which have been taken as core absorbent material in different blend ratios as 100% milkweed, 80/20 milkweed/cotton, 60/40 milkweed/cotton, 50/50 milkweed/cotton, 40/60 milkweed/cotton, and 20/80 milkweed/cotton to develop a sanitary napkin by using polyethylene and polypropylene as bottom and top layer respectively. The produced samples were tested and evaluated by Liquid spreading rate test, Liquid Retention test, Liquid holding capacity under pressure test, and quantity of liquid absorbed in order to evaluate the moisture behavior properties of developed sanitary napkin. The outcome of the results demonstrates that sanitary napkins shows enhanced moisture properties when increasing the milkweed fiber blend percentage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, many samples have been synthesized by using solution casting technique with different additive content of Chromium oxide nanoparticle (Cr2O3NPs), poly vinylalcohol (PVA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The UV-Vis. spectrophotometer used to record the absorbance spectrum in the range of (200-800) nm. The absorption of UV waves is improved while the transmittance is reduced when Cr2O3 NPs were added to the polymeric system which are useful for a number of applications including low-cost UV protection and solar radiation shield. When Cr2O3 NPs concentrations increased, the optical energy gap for indirect transition (allowed and forbidden) was decreased. Furthermore, all the optical constant has been improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high-performance polymer membranes has sparked a lot of attention in recent years. Polymer blending is a potential method of modification. A limitation, however, is the compatibility of blends at the molecular level. In this investigation, polyethersulfone/polyetherimide hollow fiber membranes were prepared by the solution blending method. Compatibility, hydrogen bonding, crystallinity, microstructure, hydrophilicity, mechanical properties, and transmissibility of blended membranes were also characterized. The compatibility and hydrogen bonding action of the two components were confirmed by DSC, FTIR, XPS, and XRD. The structure exhibits a C−H···O interaction motif with the sulfone group acting as a hydrogen bond acceptor from a methyl C−H donor. The π–π stacking between the two polymers arranged molecules more orderly, resulting in enhanced intermolecular interactions. Compared to polyethersulfone hollow fiber membranes, the hydrophilic, mechanical properties, and rejection rate of the blended membranes are more effectively enhanced. Self-assembly of the host polymer with a polymer capable of forming hydrogen bonds to construct controllable blends is a crucial and proven method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marinades based on vegetable oil blends for the production of natural marinated meat semi-finished products substantially affect the rheological and structural-mechanical parameters of the product. They determine the plasticity and consistency of semi-finished products made from raw materials of grades 1 and 2. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to develop recipes for marinades and establish the effect of marinade based on blends of vegetable oils enriched with the enzyme bromelain on the structural and mechanical parameters of natural marinated meat semifinished products during storage. The research developed 8 samples of semi-finished products, namely: 4 samples using pork: 1 control sample without marinade and 3 samples with marinades based on vegetable oil blends; and 4 samples using beef: 1 control sample without marinade and 3 samples with marinades based on vegetable oil blends. In this regard, it was concluded that it is advisable to use blends of vegetable oils and enzymes in the marinade. An additional effect on natural marinated meat semi-finished products is the better organoleptic and structuralmechanical indicators in comparison with control samples. It was identified that the consistency of semi-finished beef products during the storage period becomes more tender compared to the control sample. It was proved that the plasticity of semi-finished pork products compared to the control sample decreased, which indicates an increase in meat hardness. The results of the study of the plasticity of marinated semi-finished products increased compared to the control sample, which indicates a decrease in meat hardness. The use of vegetable raw materials in the technology of natural marinated meat semi-finished products allows using meat raw materials of grades 1 and 2 and getting a tender, juicy, easily digestible product at the output

Sustainable polymer materials are emerging as promising alternatives in the filtration sector due to the adverse environmental impacts and persistence of synthetic polymers. This study reports the fabrication of sustainable blend electrospun nanofibrous membranes (ENMs) for switchable membrane emulsification/demulsification of oil-in-water (O/W) premix emulsion and water filtration. The optimized 2:3 PFLA (2PEF: 3PLA) electrospun nanofibrous membrane (ENM) exhibited superior chemical, mechanical, thermal, and permeation properties compared to membranes made from pure PEF and PLA. The tunable hydrophilicity of the optimized ENM was attributed to trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)-induced solvation/scission effects on the polymer chains, resulting in superhydrophilicity, as demonstrated by a dynamic contact angle of 0° after 5 s. Moreover, it exhibited excellent hydrophilic efficacy, with significantly high water flux (9.99 × 104–60.19 × 104 L m−2 h−1) at various pressures (1–5 bar), along with strong fouling tolerance, high rejection, and a substantial flux recovery ratio. A switchable emulsification/demulsification phenomenon was observed during the extrusion of premix emulsions through the 2:3 PFLA ENM, governed by the transmembrane pressure and surfactant-to-oil ratio (C S /C O). During emulsification, the droplet size of the premix decreased from 67 μm to 5.4 μm, while during demulsification, it increased from 37 μm to 230 μm. This study advances the applications of PEF and opens a new direction for sustainable membranes towards switchable premix membrane emulsification/demulsification as well as fouling-tolerant water filtration applications. [Display omitted] • Stabilized interactions in PEF/PLA blends form versatile biopolymeric ENMs. • TFA-induced superhydrophilicity shown by 0° contact angle after 5 s. • ENM exhibited pure water flux up to 60.19 × 104 L m−2 h−1 with fouling tolerance. • Switchable emulsification/demulsification observed in 2:3 PFLA ENM membrane. • Switchability governed by transmembrane pressure and surfactant-to-oil ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purely cotton fabric lacks different functional and physical properties than cotton-flax blends fabric. The experimental part of the present study is to investigate the influence of flax fibres content in cotton-flax blended yarn quality. Five ring yarn samples of the same count, 16/1Ne but from different blend ratios (100C, 80C:20F, 70C:30F, 45C:55F, and 100F) were produced from the same spinning preparatory conditions. The primary outcome was measured by analyzing test results obtained from different testing instruments (Uster Evenness tester, Mesdan Tensile Tester, and Instron Lea strength tester). The secondary outcome was measured by statistical analysis. Evenness properties were better for 80:20 blends in CVm% (17.13), IPI (1346), and H (6.89). 100% cotton yarn possessed the richest evenness quality CVm% (13.23), IPI (168.4), and H (7.97) in contrast to the poorest result of 100% flax yarn. On the other hand, the highest strength (CSP 4631, RKM 30.22) and the lowest elongation, 2.29%, were both achieved for 100% flax yarn. Evenness properties and elongation deteriorated with the gradual increase in flax content. In terms of strength, tenacity and CSP both decreased with an increase in flax content, but 100% flax yarn exhibited the highest performance.

Minimally processed fruits undergo changes that require careful monitoring. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of edible coatings based on chitosan and gelatin using various application techniques for minimally processed papayas. The treatments included: control (distilled water), 1% chitosan, 4% gelatin, 1% chitosan + 4% gelatin (blend), and 1% chitosan with a 4% gelatin undercoat (layer-by-layer). The coatings’ infrared spectroscopies (FTIR) were analyzed, and the fruits’ fresh mass, firmness, pulp color (L*, a*, b*, and hue angle), pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, lycopene, β-carotene, total sugars, and catalase activity were measured. The results revealed that gelatin and the layer-by-layer treatment positively influenced the preservation of minimally processed papaya. These coatings effectively reduced fresh mass loss while maintaining firmness and the characteristic orange color of the mesocarp. Furthermore, the treated samples consistently exhibited low soluble solids content during the storage period, with minimal variations in acidity, thereby influencing the maturation process. Gelatin coatings demonstrated low polyphenol content, while the layer-by-layer treatment showed no significant changes in vitamin C levels. Lycopene and β-carotene levels remained stable throughout the storage period, with a slight increase observed in total sugars. Consequently, the application of gelatin polymers and the undercoat treatment (LBL) represents a viable alternative for extending the shelf life of minimally processed papayas for at least eight days.

Polypropylene (PP) is widely used as oxygenation membrane material for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. However, the microporous pores and poor hemocompatibility of PP oxygenation membrane hamper the efficient applications in blood gas exchange process. This study utilizes fluorinated copolymer poly (ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene) (ECTFE) as blending additive to construct PP/ECTFE flat sheet and hollow fiber membranes (HFM) via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) for blood oxygenation. The PP:ECTFE-3:1 HFMs exhibited high O 2 and CO 2 exchange rates of ∼319.6 ml min−1 m−2 and ∼1532.3 ml min−1 m−2 in blood gas exchange process, respectively. The introduction of fluorinated segments rendered hydrophobic and low-surface-energy membrane surface, as indicated by the water contact angle of ∼119.2° and surface energy of ∼35.1 mN m−1 of PP:ECTFE-3:1 flat sheet membrane, compared with those of ∼96.8° and ∼41.0 mN m−1 for the PP membrane. Consequently, the liquid entry pressure and hemocompatibility were enhanced, affording resistance to plasma leakage for 189 h, which prolonged 30.5 times than 6 h of PP HFM, and was comparable with the level of poly (4-methyl-1-pentene) (PMP) oxygenation membrane. The PP/ECTFE blend oxygenation membranes possess great potential for biomedical application. [Display omitted] • PP/ECTFE flat sheet membranes and hollow fiber membranes were fabricated. • The membranes exhibit prolonged blood oxygenation performance. • Higher liquid entry pressure and improved hemocompatibility were acquired. • The membranes exhibit enhanced gas permeance and long-term stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible oils are vulnerable to oxidation-induced degradation, leading to off-flavors, carcinogenic products, and reduced nutritional content. This work aimed to prepare a blended oil (BO) from indigenous mustard and sesame seeds to extend the oil's shelf life and boost its nutritional value. Four blends were formulated with sesame oil (SO) and mustard oil (MO) in the ratios of SO50:MO50, SO60:MO40, SO70:MO30 and SO80:MO20. GCMS analyses showed that the SO80:MO20 blend had an erucic acid content of 4.22 %, which is below the internationally accepted limit of 5 %, and an ideal fatty acid ratio of 1:1.3:1; saturated fatty acid (SFA): monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA): polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), close to the WHO/FAO permissible limit. The blend SO80:MO20 was then assessed and related to single oil. The physicochemical properties of the blended oil were superior to those of the individual oils. BO exhibited higher levels of lignan (48.96 %) and tocopherol (13.58 %) than SO (48.89 % and 12.74 %) and MO (0.24 % and 6.22 %). Additionally, BO's sterol content was 18.7 %, surpassing SO's 14.7 % but falling short of MO's 21.13 %. Moreover, BO's flash point (318 °C) closely resembled that of SO (320 °C) and MO (316 °C). Aflatoxin and trace metal levels were detected and found to be well below than permitted ranges. The blend had a total antioxidant capacity of 95 % with an IC 50 value of 0.575 mg/mL, which was higher than that of the individual oils and comparable to standards. Over 180 days of storage at room temperature, the moisture content, refractive index, free fatty acids, peroxide value, p-anisidine value, saponification value, iodine value, and totox value of the BO showed a slower increase compared to the individual oils. The estimated fatty acid ratio and enriched antioxidant in the blended oil enhanced its stability and nutritional potency over the individual oils. The results of this work may represent Bangladesh's first unique oil blend composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a one-step extrusion method is proposed to prepare blended polylactic acid (PLA)/thermoplastic starch (TPS) using a novel plant-derived compatibilizer, pyrogallic acid (PGA), to enhance the PLA/TPS compatibility. The effects of PGA on the mechanical behavior, fractured cross-section morphology, thermal and dynamic mechanical performance, and water resistance of PLA/TPS blends were systematically studied. Results demonstrate that the addition of PGA effectively improves the compatibility between TPS and PLA, resulting in enhanced tensile strength, crystallinity, elongation at break, thermal stability, and hydrophobicity of the blends. Specifically, incorporating 1.5 phr of PGA into the blend system yields the highest values for tensile strength (23.38 MPa) and elongation at break (16.96 %), which are 24.7 % and 233.2 %, respectively, higher than those observed for pure PLA/TPS blends. Furthermore, other properties exhibit obvious improvements upon incorporation of PGA into the blends. This approach provides a promising strategy for enhancing the performance of PLA/TPS blends and expanding their applications in food packaging, agricultural film, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystalline/crystalline blends of polymer have shown advantages in the preparation of new polymeric materials. However, the regulation of co-crystallization in a blend is still full of challenges due to the preferential self-crystallization driven by thermodynamics. Here, an inclusion complex approach is proposed to facilitate the co-crystallization between crystalline polymers, because the crystallization process displays a prominent kinetics advantage when polymer chains are released from the inclusion complex. Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), poly(butylene adipate) (PBA) and urea are chosen to form co-inclusion complexes, where PBS and PBA chains play as isolated guest molecules and urea molecules construct the host channel framework. The coalesced PBS/PBA blends are obtained by fast removing the urea framework and systematically investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, proton nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transformation infrared spectrometry. It is demonstrated that PBA chains are co-crystallized into PBS extended-chain crystals in the coalesced blends, while such a phenomenon has not been detected in simply co-solution-blended samples. Though PBA chains could not be totally accommodated in the PBS extended-chain crystals, their co-crystallized content increases with the initial feeding ratio of PBA. Consequently, the melting point of the PBS extended-chain crystal gradually declines from 134.3 °C to 124.2 °C with an increasing PBA content. The PBA chains playing as defects mainly induce lattice expansion along the a-axis. In addition, when the co-crystals are soaked in tetrahydrofuran, some of the PBA chains are extracted out, leading to damage to the correlative PBS extended-chain crystals. This study shows that co-inclusion complexation with small molecules could be an effective way to promote co-crystallization behavior in polymer blends.

[Display omitted] • A pressure-induced flow processing at above the glass transition temperature was applied. • PLA/EGMA 95//5 blend showed a notched Izod impact strength of 54 KJ/m2. • The obtained PLA blend showed simultaneously improved tensile strength and impact toughness. Elastomer toughening is widely recognized as a highly effective strategy for enhancing the mechanical performance of plastics. However, the improvement in toughness generally comes at the cost of a drastic sacrifice in tensile strength. In this work, ethylene–acrylic ester-glycidyl methacrylate random terpolymer (EGMA) of a small amount of 5 % in mass was applied as a toughening agent of polylactide (PLA), with the assistance of a pressure-induced flow processing at above the glass transition temperature. The obtained PLA blend showed simultaneously improved tensile strength and impact toughness. The tensile strength and Young′s modulus maintained at a relatively high level of 58 MPa and 2.1 GPa, respectively, and the notched Izod impact strength reached up to 54 kJ/m2, which was 27 times higher than that for neat PLA (1.9 kJ/m2). The increased toughness was primarily attributed to a synergistic effect of the reduced crystal sizes, reduction in phase domain sizes and enhanced interfacial interactions. This study provided a cost-effective and feasible approach to achieving strong and super-tough PLA materials, which held a significant potential for PLA widespread applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen (H 2) is considered an alternative energy carrier to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to power and heat generation. A quantitative analysis was conducted to estimate the energy intensity and GHG emissions associated with the transportation of NG/H 2 mixture in high-pressure transmission pipeline, considering blending ratios up to 100% of low-carbon H 2. The life cycle emissions were obtained by including upstream supply chain emissions, compression and transportation emissions, and end use combustion emissions of the NG/H 2 blend. This study accounts for global warming potential of fugitive methane and H 2 emissions associated with pipeline transportation of the blend in the life cycle analysis. A significant reduction in the overall life cycle GHG emissions can be achieved when delivering the same volume throughput but at a reduced energy flow to end users. However, to maintain the nominal energy throughput of the pipeline regardless of the H 2 mole fraction, a maximum reduction of about 6% is obtained as the H 2 mole fraction in the blend will be practically limited to approximately 30% H 2 when the pipeline operates at capacity. • NG/H 2 mixtures in a high-capacity NG transmission line was modeled with Aspen Plus. • Emissions decreased by 96% with 100% H 2 when delivering the same volume flow rate. • Delivering the same energy flow rate can limit emissions reduction to less than 6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a stable twist grain boundary A (TGBA*) and blue phase liquid crystal (LC) blend is prepared by mixing an achiral-imine-type compound with cholesteryl pelargonate and 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (nematic LC). The LC blend has five LC phases, which contain the TGBA* phase at room temperature and the blue phase as frustrated LC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly (lactic acid)/silicone rubber (PLA/SR) blends were reinforced with (3‐aminopropyl) triethoxysilane‐functionalized titanium dioxide nanoparticles, and the effect of the virgin (TDO) and functionalized (FTDO) nanoparticles was investigated in the presence and absence of compatibilizer. The results demonstrated that the functionalization of TDO had no negative effect on the morphology of the blends, and no aggregation was seen in the blends containing TDO and FTDO. Furthermore, nanoparticles were localized at the interface of PLA and SR. Adding TDO in the PLA/SR blends increased the mechanical properties. The same trend was observed after incorporating the compatibilizer and FTDO. Additionally, a good agreement was seen between the theoretical and experimental mechanical properties values. Moreover, introducing SR diminished the crystallinity of PLA, and further reduction was observed by adding TDO, FTDO, and compatibilizer. Also, the modification of TDO did not affect the crystallinity of the blends. Incorporating 1 and 2 phr TDO to the blends increased the thermal stability while diminishing with 3 phr TDO. In addition, FTDO improved thermal stability. The antibacterial test indicated that the higher nanoparticles content, the better the antibacterial properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to fabricate of (PEO-PVP) blend doped with SnO2/MnO2 NPs for photodegradation of organic pollutants with low cost, high activity high propagation and anti-aggregation of nanoparticles compare with other materials.The polymer blend was prepared with ratio: 80 wt.% PEO and 20 wt.% PVP. The structural and optical properties of (PEO-PVP-SnO2-MnO2) nanocomposites have been studied in wavelength range (220–820) nm. The photodegradation behavior for (PEO-PVP-SnO2-MnO2) nanocomposites against organic pollutants has been investigated. The results indicated that the absorbance of (PEO–PVP) blend increases about 51% with adding of 4.5 MnO2NPs. The energy gap decreased for allowed and forbidden transitions about 55% and 91%, respectively, by adding of 4.5 MnO2NPs, this behavior is useful for optoelectronics, photocatalysis, the solar cells and diodes fields with low cost and light weight. Finally, the photodegradation activity of (PEO-PVP) blend and (PEO-PVP-SnO2) were increased with increasing of the MnO2 NPs ratios. The (PEO–PVP–SnO2–MnO2) NCs with 4.5 wt% of MnO2 NPs have photodegradation ratio 59%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic rheological behavior of polypropylene (PP)/low-density polyethylene (LDPE) blending melts at 210 °C and 230 °C was measured by small-amplitude oscillatory shear mode on a rotational rheometer. The complex viscosity and dynamic modulus of pure PP are higher than those of pure LDPE at low frequency. For the blends with dispersion morphologies, Palierne model is applied to fit the storage modulus data and the model almost underestimates the data since most of the experimental dynamic modulus of the blends lay between that of pure PP and pure LDPE. While Lee and Park model predicts the dynamic storage data well for the PP/LDPE blends 90/10, 10/90 and 70/30 blends. For the 30/70 blend, this model describes the data much closer than Palierne model and a little deviation occurs at low frequency. The comparison between the two models' fitting results indicates interaction among dispersed droplets should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]