Avik Khan

Effect of Silane Treatment on the Mechanical and Interfacial Properties of Calcium Alginate Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composite

Calcium alginate fibers were treated with vinyl triethoxy silane [H 2C=CH-Si-(OC2H5)3] (5%, v/v) to reduce the strong hydrophilic nature of the fiber and also to improve the mechanical and interfacial properties of the calcium alginate fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites (10 wt% fiber). The composites were fabricated by compression molding. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus, and impact strength of both the composite systems (PP/untreated calcium alginate fiber and PP/silane-treated calcium alginate fiber) were found to be 25 MPa, 1090 MPa, 36 MPa, 1480 MPa, and 17 kJ/m2 and 31 MPa, 1510 MPa, 48 MPa, 2270 MPa, and 21 kJ/m2, respectively. Degradation tests of composites were performed for 16 weeks in soil and it was found that the silane treated composites retained almost 84% of its original strength. The interfacial properties of the composite were investigated by using single fiber fragmentation test.

Surface modification of calcium alginate fibers with silane and methyl methacrylate monomers

Calcium alginate fiber, which is a natural fiber, was prepared by extruding aqueous sodium alginate solution (4 wt%) into an aqueous calcium chloride (2 wt%) bath. Polypropylene matrix calcium alginate fiber-reinforced unidirectional composites were fabricated by compression molding. In order to reduce the strong hydrophilic nature of the fiber and also to improve the mechanical properties of the composites, calcium alginate fibers were treated with five different formulations of vinyl triethoxy silane (1—5 wt%) and methyl methacrylate (10—50 wt%) along with methanol and photoinitiator and then cured under UV radiation.

Studies on the Relative Degradation and Interfacial Properties Between Jute/Polypropylene and Jute/Natural Rubber Composites:

Jute fabrics (hessian cloth) reinforced polypropylene (PP) matrix composites (30% fiber by weight) were fabricated by compression molding. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), and percentage elongation at break (Eb) of the composites were found to be 32 MPa, 740 MPa, and 16%, respectively. Then jute fabrics reinforced solid natural rubber (NR)-based composites (30% fiber by weight) were also fabricated and it was found that TS, TM, and Eb of the jute/NR composites were 14 MPa, 120 MPa, and 94%, respectively. The mechanical properties of jute/PP and jute/NR composites were compared. Six weeks of degradation of the composites were performed in aqueous medium and it was found that jute/NR composites lost much of its original strength and modulus compared to that of the jute/PP composites. Interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the jute/PP and jute/NR systems was investigated by using the single fiber fragmentation tests. The IFSS of jute/PP and jute/NR systems appeared to be 2.16 and 0.89 MPa, respectively. Fracture side of the composites was also studied by scanning electron microscope and suggested better fiber matrix adhesion between jute fiber and PP.

Fabrication and Characterization of Jute Fiber-Reinforced PET Composite: Effect of LLDPE Incorporation

The aim of the research was to study the effect of LLDPE incorporation in the jute fiber-reinforced PET composites (50% fiber by wt). The effect of LLDPE incorporation into PET was investigated by measuring the mechanical properties of the LLDPE blended jute fiber-reinforced PET composites. LLDPE was blended (20-80% by wt) with PET and the thin films were made by compression molding. Water uptake of the composites was also investigated. Degradation of all the composites was carried out in soil medium.

Thermo-Mechanical and Interfacial Properties of Calcium Alginate Fiber-Reinforced Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Composite

Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrix calcium alginate fiber reinforced unidirectional composites (10% fiber by weight) were fabricated by compression molding. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus and impact strength were found to be 19 MPa, 696 MPa, 32 MPa, 1150 MPa and 18 kJ/m2, respectively. Degradation tests of composites were performed for twelve weeks in soil and it was found that composites retained almost 70% of its original strength. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the composites was also measured by single fiber fragmentation test (SFFT).

Study on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Jute-Reinforced Methyl Acrylate Grafted PET Composites

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) granules were grafted with methyl acrylate (MA) from the solution containing 10% MA in methanol (86%) solvent and photo initiator (4%) for 10 min and then cured under UV radiation. MA-grafted PET films were prepared at 260°C and 5 ton pressure using heat press. Jute fabric-reinforced, MA-grafted, PET-based composites (25% fiber by weight) were fabricated by compression molding. Mechanical, thermal and soil degradation tests of the composites were performed. It was found that the MA grafted PET composites showed higher mechanical properties over the ungrafted PET/jute composite.

Preparation and mechanical characterization of jute reinforced polypropylene/natural rubber composite

Poly(propylene) (PP) matrix jute fiber reinforced composites were prepared by compression molding. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), percentage elongation at break (Eb%), bending strength (BS), bending modulus (BM), impact strength (IS) and hardness of the prepared composites (50% fiber by weight) were found to be 45 MPa, 2305 MPa, 12%, 52 MPa, 4267 MPa, 18 kJ/m2 and 95 shore-A, respectively. Non-vulcanized natural rubber (NR) was blended (10—50% by weight) with PP using extruder, and films (PP + NR) were prepared by heat press for composite fabrication. Jute fiber reinforced blended PP + NR based composites (50% fiber by weight) were fabricated and characterized. It was found that TS, TM, BS, BM and hardness of the composites were decreased with the increase of NR in PP but IS and Eb% were improved significantly.

Thermo-mechanical, Degradation, and Interfacial Properties of Jute Fiber-reinforced PET-based Composite

Jute fiber-reinforced polyethylene terephthalate (PET) matrix composite was prepared by compression molding. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), elongation at break (Eb%), bending strength (BS), bending modulus (BM), impact strength (IS), and hardness of the composites (50% fiber by weight) were found to be 56 MPa, 1950 MPa, 5%, 73 MPa, 3620 MPa, 24 kJ/m2, and 97 Shore-A, respectively. After 6 weeks of soil degradation, composites lost 28.5% and 24.6% of their original TS and BS, respectively. Interfacial characterization was performed by scanning electron microscope.

Cellulosic Nanomaterials in Food and Nutraceutical Applications: A Review

Cellulosic nanomaterials (CNMs) are organic, green nanomaterials that are obtained from renewable sources and possess exceptional mechanical strength and biocompatibility. The associated unique physical and chemical properties have made these nanomaterials an intriguing prospect for various applications including the food and nutraceutical industry. From the immobilization of various bioactive agents and enzymes, emulsion stabilization, direct food additives, to the development of intelligent packaging systems or pathogen or pH detectors, the potential food related applications for CNMs are endless. Over the past decade, there have been several reviews published covering different aspects of cellulosic nanomaterials, such as processing-structure-property relationship, physical and chemical properties, rheology, extraction, nanocomposites, etc. In this critical review, we have discussed and provided a summary of the recent developments in the utilization of cellulosic nanomaterials in applications related to food and nutraceuticals.

Selenium content of rice, mixed plant foods and fish from Bangladesh

Selenium (Se), an essential trace mineral, is obtained by individuals from foods ingested and is necessary for 25 human proteins including the antioxidant family of glutathione peroxidases. Since plants are not known to require Se for growth, the quantity of this mineral in plant foods depends on the soluble Se in soils that is passively accumulated by plants. As all animals require Se, it is usually stored more uniformly and to a greater degree in animal than plant protein foods. Owing to the alluvial origin, high rainfall and flooding upon the soils of Bangladesh these soils appear to be low in measured soluble Se. These low levels of soluble Se in Bangladeshi soils reflect the low levels of Se in plant foods, rice and vegetables, staples of the rural and poor Bangladeshis diet. This study reports on the dry-weight content of Se found in samples of rice, other plant foods and fish from Bangladesh. Rice grain averaged 0.105 µg Se g−1 from Jessore and 0.212 µg Se g−1 from 5 other districts of Bangladesh. Gourds and potatoes from Jessore averaged 0.471 and 0.181 µg Se g−1 respectively. All other district plant foods averaged 0.26 µg Se g−1. All 7 different but unidentified species of fish sampled in Jessore and quantitated fluorimetrically averaged 1.318 µg Se g−1. Fish was the single highest food source of dietary Se per unit dry weight. Fish in particular, but also other animal foods, are likely to serve as better dietary sources of Se for the people of Bangladesh.