Si-Dong Li

Self-assembled natural rubber/silica nanocomposites : Its preparation and characterization

Abstract A novel natural rubber/silica (NR/SiO2) nanocomposite is developed by combining self-assembly and latex-compounding techniques. The results show that the SiO2 nanoparticles are homogenously distributed throughout NR matrix as nano-clusters with an average size ranged from 60 to 150nm when the SiO2 loading is less than 6.5wt%. At low SiO2 contents (⩽4.0wt%), the NR latex (NRL) and SiO2 particles are assembled as a core-shell structure by employing poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) as an inter-medium, and only primary aggregations of SiO2 are observed. When more SiO2 is loaded, secondary aggregations of SiO2 nanoparticles are gradually generated, and the size of SiO2 cluster dramatically increases. The thermal/thermooxidative resistance and mechanical properties of NR/SiO2 nanocomposites are compared to the NR host. The nanocomposites, particularly when the SiO2 nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed, possess significantly enhanced thermal resistance and mechanical properties, which are strongly depended on the morphology of nanocomposites. The NR/SiO2 has great potential to manufacture medical protective products with high performances.

Development and evaluation of novel flavour microcapsules containing vanilla oil using complex coacervation approach.

A novel flavour microcapsule containing vanilla oil (VO) was developed using complex coacervation approach, aimed to control release of VO and enhance its thermostability for spice application in food industry. Viscosity of chitosan (CS) and VO/CS ratio were optimised for fabrication of microcapsules. The flavour microcapsules were evaluated by scanning electron micrograph (SEM), laser confocal microscopy (LSCM), particle size analyser, infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), thermal analysis and controlled-release analysis. The microcapsules were in spherical with good dispersibility when moderate viscosity CS was used. 94.2% of encapsulation efficiency was achieved in VO/CS ratio of 2:1. The FT-IR study proved chemical cross-linking reaction occurred between genipin and chitosan, but a physical interaction between CS and VO. A core-shell structure of microcapsule was confirmed by LSCM, which was beneficial to improve the thermostability of VO in microcapsule. Moreover, VO could be remained about 60% in the microcapsules after release for 30 days, which demonstrated the flavour microcapsules had good potential to serve as a high quality food spice with long residual action and high thermostability.

Study on thermal degradation of sol and gel of natural rubber

The thermal degradation of natural rubber (NR) in air at a constant heating rate was studied by using of the thermogravimetry (TG) and thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) simultaneous techniques. It indicates that the temperature of thermal degradation of gel and sol of NR rises linearly along with the increment of the heating rate, whereas the heating rate has little effect on the degree of thermal degradation. Accompanying other side reactions, the thermal degradation of NR is not a simple random chain scission process, and it is an exothermic reaction. The dynamic variation of molecular structure of NR during the thermal degradation was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It shows that the products of the thermal degradation of both sol and gel of NR are hydroperoxide, carbonyl, and hydroxyl compounds. The formation of gel makes the temperature of the thermal degradation of NR decrease and the rate of the thermal degradation increase; thus, the thermal stability of NR is reduced.

Study on preparation of chlorinated natural rubber from latex and its thermal stability

The effects of pH value of reaction system, reaction time, and reaction temperature on the chlorination reaction in the preparation of chlorinated natural rubber (CNR) from natural rubber latex were discussed. It has been found from the thermal analysis that the thermal degradation of CNR in nitrogen is a one-step reaction, and 30% carbonide with a stable structure remained at 360 to 700°C; whereas the thermo-oxidative degradation of CNR in air is a multistep reaction, and the thermal degradation ratio reaches to 100% at 560°C.

Microencapsulation of coupled folate and chitosan nanoparticles for targeted delivery of combination drugs to colon

Abstract Folate−chitosan nanoparticles, co-loaded with 5-fluourouacil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) and prepared by ionic gelation technology were physically microencapsulated by enteric polymer using a solvent evaporation method. Average particle size of the microencapsulated particles was in the range of 15 to 35 µm. High drug encapsulation efficiency was obtained for both 5-FU and LV in the microencapsulated particles. Both drugs were in amorphous state in the microencapsulated particles. By enteric coating, excellent pH-dependent release profile was achieved and no drug release was observed in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. However, when the pH value reached the soluble threshold of Eudragit S-100, a constant and slow drug release was observed. The results indicated that these microencapsulated particles are a promising vehicle for selectively targeting drugs to colon in the chemotherapy of colon cancer.

Studies on the properties and the thermal decomposition kinetics of natural rubber prepared with calcium chloride

Abstract To evaluate calcium chloride coagulation technology, two kinds of raw natural rubber samples were produced by calcium chloride and acetic acid respectively. Plasticity retention index (PRI), thermal degradation process, thermal degradation kinetics and differential thermal analysis of two samples were studied. Furthermore, thermal degradation activation energy, pre-exponential factor and rate constant were calculated. The results show that natural rubber produced by calcium chloride possesses good mechanical property and poor thermo-stability in comparison to natural rubber produced by acetic acid.