G. Thejas Urs

Radial distribution studies on water soluble polymers using XRD line profile data

Pair correlation and line profile analyses of X-ray data obtained for some man-made polymers have been carried out in this report. Results obtained show that the pair correlation is pronounced in the region of 2A and dies away for regions greater than 10A in general for all the samples in the neighborhood of the point where X-rays are incident on the sample. Complementary to this study, line profile analysis shows that the crystallite size and strain obtained from Williamson-Hall plot method in these polymers do change significantly. This information is in no way connected to the results of pair correlation study.

Preparation and characterization of conductive PVA/Gly:Na2SO4 polymer composites

AbstractPolymer composites were prepared by adding sodium sulphate to water-soluble polymer polyvinyl alcohol by solution casting method. Characterization of these polymer composites was carried out using analytical studies like wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), FT-IR spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectrophotometry and conductivity measurements. Microstructural parameters of polymer composites were computed using an in-house program. Structure–property relationship is established by explaining observed experimental results. General observation being that the addition of sodium sulphate to a polymer will lead to the increase in conductivity and make them suitable for applications.

Pair correlation studies of CdCl2 doped PVA polymer films using X-ray data

PVA based polymer films were prepared with various concentrations of CdCl2 using solution casting method. Prepared polymer films were investigated using XRD. XRD result shows that the crystallite size decreases with increase in CdCl2. Presence of CdCl2 creates an inversion center which makes the system more electrolyte. Crystallite size for different concentrations of CdCl2 are computed here using Williamson and Hall plot (WH plot), an in-house program developed by us. Pair correlation study shows that the changes are pronounced in the region of 2A indicating that the polymer network gets modified with the presence of CdCl2 salt. This is because of the free charge density variation in the polymer complex. The disorder sets in regions greater than 10A.

Effect of NiCuZnFe2O4 on the microcrystalline properties of PVA/CMC polymer blends

A series of PVA/CMC polymer composite films with different amounts of NiCuZnFe2O4 (nickel–copper–zinc–ferrite) was prepared by means of solution-casting technique. These films were characterised using various techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–visible) and AC electrical conductivity measurements. Recorded XRD pattern at room temperature shows an increase in amorphousity of the matrix with concentration of NiCuZnFe2O4 nanoferrite. Microstructural parameters were computed using an in-house program employing XRD data. UV–visible spectra show that the optical absorption of the PVA/CMC nanocomposite films in the UV region is quite high. FTIR spectra show the stretching of the major vibration bands associated with organic–inorganic chemical groups present in the nanoferrite-doped polymer blends. Measured AC electrical conductivity of prepared samples shows that the added nanoferrite does increase the ionic conductivity at lower concentrations.