Amro K. F. Dyab

Fabrication of novel anisotropic magnetic microparticles

We report a novel technique for fabrication of magnetically anisotropic microparticles based on “arresting” of the alignment of oleic acid coated magnetite nanoparticles (OCMNs) dispersed within the oil drops of a polymerisable oil-in-water emulsion. This was achieved by polymerising the oil drops after gelling the continuous aqueous phase in the presence of an external magnetic field. This approach allowed us to produce magnetic Janus particles with anisotropic optical and magnetic properties which form unusual zig-zag chains and structures when exposed to an external magnetic field. We studied the magnetic properties of these novel microparticles and showed that they retained remanence magnetisation with high coercivity values indicative of ferromagnetic behaviour. This indicates that the composite polymeric Janus microparticles posses a net magnetic dipole and behave like micromagnets due to the “arrested” orientation of the OCMNs in their polymeric matrix. Utilizing the same technique, magnetic Janus microparticles have been prepared based on emulsions stabilised only by OCMNs without the use of surfactants, and the effect of pH of continuous aqueous phase on the morphology of these microparticles has been investigated.

Contact angles in relation to emulsions stabilised solely by silica nanoparticles including systems containing room temperature ionic liquids

We report measured and calculated oil-ionic liquid, water-ionic liquid and oil-water contact angles on silica surfaces which have been hydrophobised to different extents by silanisation. Based on the idea that the contact angle formed by a liquid-liquid interface with a particle adsorbed at that interface is a key determinant of the strength of particle adsorption and the tendency of the adsorbed particle film to curve, we correlate the contact angle data with the phase inversion points and stabilities of the corresponding particle-stabilised emulsions.

Novel emulsions of ionic liquids stabilised solely by silica nanoparticles

We have successfully prepared a series of novel stable emulsions, of both simple and multiple types, containing ionic liquids and stabilised solely by silica nanoparticles.

Synergetic Effect of Reactive Surfactants and Clay Particles on Stabilization of Nonaqueous Oil-in-Oil (o/o) Emulsions

Although surfactants and particles are often used together in stabilization of aqueous emulsions, the contribution of each species to such stabilization at the oil-water interface is poorly understood. The situation becomes more complicated if we consider the nonaqueous oil-oil interface, i.e, the stabilization of nonaqueous oil-in-oil (o/o) emulsions by solid particles and reactive surfactants which, to our knowledge, has not been studied before. We have prepared Pickering nonaqueous simple (o/o) emulsions stabilized by a combination of kaolinite particles and a nonionic polymerizable surfactant Noigen RN10 (polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether). Different pairs of immiscible oils were used which gave different emulsion stabilities. Using kaolinite with equal volumes of paraffin oil/formamide system gave no stable emulsions at all concentrations while the addition of Noigen RN10 enhanced the emulsion stability. In contrast, addition of Noigen RN10 surfactant to silicon oil-in-glycerin emulsions stabilized by kaolinite resulted in destabilization of the system at all concentrations. For all systems studied here, no phase inversion in simple emulsion was observed by altering the volume fraction of the dispersed phase as compared to the known water-based simple Pickering emulsions.

Protection of Petroleum Pipeline Carbon Steel Alloys with New Modified Core-Shell Magnetite Nanogel against Corrosion in Acidic Medium

New method was used to prepare magnetite nanoparticle based on reduction of Fe(III) ions with potassium iodide to produce Fe3O4 nanoparticle. The prepared magnetite was stabilized with cross-linked polymer based on 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS to prepare novel core-shell nanogel. In this respect, Fe3O4/poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) (PAMPS) magnetic nanogels with controllable particle size produced via free aqueous polymerization at 65°C have been developed for the first time. The polymer was crosslinked in the presence of N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker and potassium peroxydisulfate (KPS) as redox initiator system. The structure and morphology of the magnetic nanogel were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM). The effectiveness of the synthesized compounds as corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in 1 M HCl was investigated by various electrochemical techniques such as potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed enhancement in inhibition efficiencies with increasing the inhibitor concentrations. The results showed that the nanogel particles act as mixed inhibitors. EIS data revealed that increases with increasing inhibitor concentration.

Strained arrays of colloidal nanoparticles: conductance and magnetoresistance enhancement

Colloidal nanoparticles are very popular as building blocks of functional arrays for electronic and optical applications. However, there is a problem in achieving electrical conductivity in such nanoarrays due to their molecular shells. These shells, which are inherent to colloidal particles, physically separate the nanoparticles in an array and act as very effective insulators. Post-assembly thinning of the shells is therefore required to enhance the array conductivity to a sensible value. Here, we introduce a conceptually new approach to the thinning, using compressive stress applied to the array by the supporting matrix. The stress arises from polymerization-induced shrinkage of the matrix as an integral step during device assembly. Using arrays of oleic-acid-covered magnetite nanoparticles in conjunction with an HDDA-polymer (HDDA: 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate) matrix, we have achieved a significant steady current in the array along with an unprecedented value of the magnetoresistance. Our results serve as a proof-of-concept for other colloidal nanoparticles.

Effect of sporopollenin microparticle incorporation into the hexyl methacrylate-based monolithic columns for capillary liquid chromatography

ABSTRACT Sporopollenin microparticles have been prepared form Lycopodium clavatum spores, defatted and incorporated into a porous methacrylate polymer monolith to enhance liquid chromatographic performance of different sets of small neutral molecules. A stable suspension between sporopollenin microparticles and porogenic solvents composed of 1-propanol and 1,4-butandiol has proved before preparation, and seven compositions with increasing sporopollenin microparticles were prepared inside fused silica tubing. After optimizing of the preparation conditions, the structure of the stationary phase was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, surface area analysis, thermodynamic study, short- and long-term precision, and hydrodynamic properties including mechanical stability, porosity, and permeability. The columns were successfully applied to improve the separation efficiency of different mixtures using capillary liquid chromatography. Addition of very small amount of sporopollenin microparticles to the methacrylate mixture enhanced the column efficiency from 3 to 5 times for ketonic and phenolic compounds and reduced the retention with the corresponding better resolution and peak shapes for all studied compounds. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Novel reactive polymerizable nonyl phenol ethoxylate surfactants as emulsifier in non-aqueous emulsion polymerization

In this work, new series of modified nonionic polymerizable nonyl phenol ethoxylates (NPEs) were synthesized as organic solvent-soluble surfactants. The nonyl, phenyl and propenyl groups were acted as solvophilic segment. The modified polyoxyethylene, maleate chains were behaved as solvophobic segment. The new bifunctional surfmers were prepared by reacting polyoxyethylene 4-nonyl-2-propylenephenol nonionic reactive surfactant with maleic anhydride followed by esterification with poly(ethylene glycol). The chemical structure of the prepared surfactants was determined by 13C and 1H NMR analyses. The surface activities of these surfactants were determined in organic solvents including formamide, toluene and aqueous water solvent from surface tension measurements. The relationship between the surface activity and molecular structure of the organic solvent-soluble polymerizable NPE surfactants as well as the type and structure of organic solvents were discussed. The results showed that the prepared polymerizable NPE surfactants have been reduced the surface tension of both polar and non-polar organic solvents. Surface parameters such as surface excess concentration (Γmax), the area per molecule at interface (A min) and the effectiveness of surface tension reduction were determined from the adsorption isotherms of the prepared surfactants. The prepared polymerizable surfactant used to prepare crosslinked N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) copolymer microgel based on nonaqueous emulsion copolymerization.

Surface Activity of Novel Polymerizable Anionic Polyoxyethylene 4-Nonyl-2-Prpylene-Phenyl Ether Ammonium Sulfate Succinate Surfactants

Novel polymerizable surface-active monomers were synthesized by successive treatment of polyoxyethylene 4-nonyl-2-prpylene-phenyl ether ammonium sulfate with maleic anhydride in the presence of hydroquinone at temperature of 180°C. The molecular structures of the polymerizable surfactants were confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The surface tension isotherms on the air-water solution interface were obtained. The critical micelle concentrations (cmc) as well as the surface tension at the cmc were determined for these substances. The micellization and adsorption of the prepared anionic surfactants have been investigated by surface tension, and cloud point measurements. Surface parameters such as surface excess concentration (Γ max), the area per molecule at interface (A min) and the effectiveness of surface tension reduction (πCMC) were determined from the adsorption isotherms of the prepared surfactants.