Boehmite [bey-mahyt] is a unique aluminum oxide hydroxide nanostructure. It consists of nanosheets of octahedral aluminum ions with surface hydroxyl groups. Owing to exceptional reinforcing behavior, boehmite nanoparticles have gained immense attention as polymeric nanofillers. Essential matrices used with the boehmite based nanocomposites include poly(methyl methacrylate), polyethylene, polypropylene

This study explores the blade coating process with a simple fixed blade for a second-grade fluid over a moving porous substrate. The article investigates both plane and exponential blade coating. The analysis simplifies the governing equations via lubrication approximation theory by assuming that blade length is much larger than the coating layer thickness. Suitable scales normalize the governing equations

Multilayer sheets were used for thermoforming non thermoformable polymers in order to face the challenge of semi-crystalline polymers like low melt-stiffness. Mono- and 2-layer sheets consisting of different polypropylene (PP) homopolymers were extruded on a twin screw extruder. The PP viscosity as was measured by melt flow rate (MFR) 3 g/10 min., 12 g/10 min., 22 g/10 min. and 50 g/10 min. The layer

This study experimentally and numerically investigates a typical HDPE blown film production process cooled via a single-lip air-ring. The processing observations are considered for the proposed subsequent modifications on the air-ring design and the location relative to the die to generate a radial jet, directly impinging on the bubble. Measurements are performed to collect the actual operating parameters

The purpose of this article is to provide a mathematical model of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) non-isothermal flow of an incompressible Jeffrey fluid as it goes through a minimal gap between the two counter rotating rolls. The dimensionless forms of governing equations are obtained by using appropriate dimensionless parameters. The LAT (lubrication approximation theory) is utilized to simplify the dimensionless

This article analyses research trials on noteworthy features and technological impact of the polystyrene/graphene nanoplatelet nanocomposites. In polystyrene matrix, graphene nanoplatelets have been used as remarkable nanofiller. Substantial improvements in polystyrene physical properties occurs by adding low nanofiller content. Simple in situ, emulsion, solution, or melt synthesis strategies have

The COVID-19 corona virus pandemic continues its spread throughout the world. At this writing it passed 175 million cases and is rising by ∼400,000 cases per day worldwide and there have been >3.7 million deaths which are increasing by ∼10,000 per day. The third wave covered about 3 months and may have had 3 mini waves inside. The fourth wave peak, which was in April 2021, 7-day moving average was

Flows and heat transfer over stretching/shrinking and porous surfaces are studied in this paper. Unusual and generalized similarity transformations are used for simplifying governing equations. Current model includes all previous cases of stretched/shrunk flows with thermal effects discussed so far. Moreover, we present three different cases of thermal behavior (i) prescribed surface temperature (ii)

In this work, peel tests inside the chamber of an ESEM (in situ peel tests) are described with heat-sealed test specimens of packaging systems made of multilayer films that simulate different flexible packaging types, according to the packaging line used. The in situ peel tests provided evidence to describe the influence of three different main aspects of the packaging process in relation to the opening

This theoretical analysis reports on the non-isothermal calendering process of micropolar-Casson fluid and studies the viscoplastic and microrotation effects by utilizing the lubrication approximation (LAT). Exact dimensionless velocity and pressure gradient solutions are achieved. Then a numerical integration technique determined other mechanical quantities. Implementing the finite difference approximations

Extended shelf-life of many foods is a modern requirement that has been achieved by means of fossil-based plastic films despite their environmental issues. Recently, starch-based, fully biodegradable thermoplastics are gaining momentum as packaging material; however, if they are in contact with food, aspects such storage, water interaction and spoilage due to microorganisms must be considered. Essential

This work aims to optimize the industrial extraction conditions of cellulose microfibers (CMFs) from Washingtonia palm fiber for application in starch bio-composite films. The CMF extraction was a mixed process that combines caustic soda treatment with hydrogen peroxide bleaching in a stirred thermostatic bath. To study the yield, whiteness index and α-cellulose content, three variables were selected;

Quantum dots are tiny (∼5 nm) nanoparticles with outstanding electronic, optical, luminescence, and semiconducting properties. Polymer dots are important and unique quantum dots. Polymer dots have been designed and used for advanced hybrid nanomaterials and applications. This review article deliberates scientific trials on design, fabrication, characteristics, and technical solicitations of polymer

The COVID-19 corona virus pandemic continues its spread throughout the world. It is now approaching 120 million cases and rising by ∼400,000 cases per day worldwide and >2.6 million deaths increasing by ∼10,000 per day. The third wave covered about 3 months and may have had 3 mini waves inside. The peak, which was in December 2020, averaged ∼650,000 cases per day. At this writing we may be seeing the

There is rising interest in the development of poly(ethylene glycol) based nanocomposites. Poly(ethylene glycol) is a synthetic water soluble polyether polymerized from ethylene glycol monomer. Poly(ethylene glycol) matrix has been reinforced with various carbonaceous nanofillers such as graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotube, and nanodiamonds to form nanocomposites. In this state-of-the-art review

Flexible and hybrid electronics (FHE) are widely utilized from wearable to automotive applications. Instead of commonly used poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film, bio-based and biodegradable polymer, poly(lactic acid) (PLA), is a most promising novel substrate alternative for FHE. From the point of heat curable conductive inks, the poor heat resistance and inherent brittleness are the major drawbacks

As I write this the COVID-19 corona virus pandemic continues it spread throughout the world. It is now approaching 88 million cases and rising by ∼500,000 cases per day worldwide and >1.8 million deaths increasing by ∼10,000 per day. Since my last editorial, the cases have again tripled, and the deaths doubled. And when you read this the numbers will be out of date. There is some indication that we

This paper presents a numerical study of the calendering mechanism. The calendered material is represented using the Carreau-Yasuda fluid model. The governing flow equations in the calendering process are made first dimensionless then the lubrication approximation theory (LAT) is used to simplify them. The simplified flow equations are transformed into stream function and then are numerically solved

This paper numerically solves the third-order fluid flow during calendering with slip condition at the rolls. The basic equations are transformed into dimensionless forms and simplified by adopting LAT (Lubrication Approximation Theory). The flow equations are then solved with the perturbation technique. Whereas a finite difference scheme along with TDMA (Tridiagonal Matrix Algorithm) is implemented

This article deals with the blade coating process for Johnson-Segalman (JS) fluid using plane coater. Flow equations are simplified with the Lubrication approximation theory (LAT). The equations are normalized using suitable scales. Reduced equations are solved numerically using the shooting technique. Also, for small Weissenberg numbers, a perturbation solution is obtained. How Weissenberg number

Poly(acrylic acid) is a synthetic polymer that is polymerized from acrylic acid monomers. Poly (acrylic acid) is a high molecular weight polymer having good water solubility. Poly(acrylic acid) also exists in the cross-linked forms. Poly(acrylic acid) is an important polymer for making polymeric blends and nanocomposites. This state-of-the-art review is an endeavour to define the unique capabilities

Commercially important extrusion film casting (EFC) processes for manufacturing plastic films or sheets are hampered by several instabilities that severely limits their productivity. In this research we focussed on one important instability: the draw resonance that occurs during the EFC process mainly under extensional flow conditions. Draw resonance is the sustained periodic oscillations in the film

In this review, traditional and novel techniques for producing micro- and nano- fibers are discussed and various nanofillers, their modifications and polypropylene (PP) functionalization routes are presented. Their influence on PP properties is discussed and new PP composite fiber applications are presented. This review reveals interesting conclusions, such as that in terms of mechanical reinforcement

A new nanoencapsulated phase change material (PCM) filled polyurethane microcellular foams is reported in this work. Palmitic acid nanocapsules with silica shells ([email protected]2) is a well-known phase change material synthesized by the sol-gel process are loaded at selected weight ratios into microcellular polyurethane foam. FT-IR spectra revealed successful [email protected]2 nanocapsules formation

Spiral dies are divided into three categories, namely: Flat Spiral Die (FSD), Cylindrical Spiral Mandrel Die (SMD), and Conical Spiral Mandrel Die (CSD). These dies are used to produce films via blown film extrusion and multilayer films via co-extrusion. The goal is to improve the flow distribution and to decrease the pressure drop which will result in uniform film thickness and reduced energy dissipation

This paper analyses an isothermal calendering for an upper convected Jeffery’s Material. Lubrication Approximation Theory (LAT) is applied to simplify the flow equations. Analytical solutions of velocity, flow rate, and pressure gradient are carried out. Outcomes of sheet thickness, detachment point, roll separating force, power input to the roll, and pressure distribution are obtained. The effects

Flex barrier and optical density (OD) are two unique properties for metallized films and aluminum foil. This study investigated the effect of flexing on barrier properties of a laminate comprising metallized films and aluminum foil, as well as OD and adhesive lamination process on the overall multilayer laminate performance. Three (3) barrier layers, namely aluminum foil, metallized polyethylene terephthalate

As I write this the COVID-19 corona virus pandemic is now greater than 26 million cases and rising by >250,000 cases per day worldwide and >870 thousand deaths increasing by >5,000 per day. Since my last editorial, the cases have tripled, and the deaths doubled. This virus continues to take advantage of the poor governmental leadership where there is denial and a clear misunderstanding of the science

Self-healing polymers have the capability to autonomically heal themselves. Recent breakthroughs in self-healing systems rely on integrating nanoparticles into relevant polymers. This article overv...

This study is a non-isothermal analysis of the calendering process using a water based nanofluid with Cu-nanoparticles. The basic flow equations are simplified under the lubrication approximation t...

Layered silicates present interaction sites at both faces and edges of the nanolayers and silane coupling agents that locate at both sites lead to polymer nanocomposites with superior melt strength...

Further developed methods based on an indenter penetration into a material allow generalised quantitative statements on the composition, the depth-dependent mechanical properties and the delaminati...

As I write this the COVID-19 corona virus pandemic continue with 8 million cases worldwide and 440 thousand deaths. It appears that the virus first emerged in August or September 2019. The world economy is in a contraction, the size of which is yet to be determined. While many business have been closed temporally or simply gone out of business, there are others that are prospering such as personal

Mild steel materials have wide applications in marine construction, because they are low cost, available and easy to handle. However, they have to be protected from corrosive media by coating with ...

Polymeric nanofibers have appeared as unique one-dimensional nanomaterials. Nanofibers possess exceptionally high specific surface area and essential properties. Various polymeric nanofibers and na...

The mass throughput and thus the productivity of a blown film line strongly depends on heat transfer from the film. Existing cooling systems are therefore constantly being further developed. Usuall...

Quantum dots are 2–5 nm nanoparticles with exceptional optical, electronic, luminescence, and semiconducting properties. Polyaniline is an exclusive conjugated polymer. This article reviews recent efforts, scientific trials, and technological solicitations of the polyaniline/quantum dot-based nanocomposites. Polyaniline/quantum dot mixtures form a unique composition for advance materials and applications

I hope you have been looking into the effects of global warming on climate change and plastic pollution. If you have you probably realize that there is much activity on solving these two critical problems. There is a quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson which puts the climate change issue in perspective.

More thoughts on protecting our planet so that we have a suitable environment to sustain our existence. As I travel, I see much evidence where people disregard the environment by tossing trash on the ground. This appears to be because they do not care and also because the infrastructure to collect the trash is not available. There are countries where little roadside dumps exist and counties where the

Poly(methyl methacrylate) is an important acrylic thermoplastic polymer. Poly(methyl methacrylate) is a transparent and rigid synthetic plastic. There has been growing interest in developing high performance poly(methyl methacrylate)-based nanocomposites. This article reviews a few important poly(methyl methacrylate)-based nanocomposites and composites. An extended account of the poly(methyl methacrylate)

As I write this the COVID-19 corona virus in now a pandemic. Containing the virus is no longer possible and mitigation is now the plan. Some counties have been effective in containment and reducing how much the disease spreads while others have ignored the warnings and reduced their capability to respond to this crisis. Ignoring the problem by not testing does not change the progress of the disease

This work was done to improve the interfacial adhesion and engineering performance of polyvinyl alcohol/polylactic acid laminate film by altering the polyvinyl alcohol phase surface properties via incorporating microfibrillated cellulose modified by propionylation. Incorporating the modified microfibrillated cellulose into polyvinyl alcohol film improved adhesion between film layers during the laminating

This article presents the blade coating analysis of viscous nanofluid passing over a porous substrate using a flexible blade coater. Water-based copper nanoparticles are considered to discuss the blade coating process. The lubrication approximation theory is applied to develop the flow equations. The analytical solution is obtained for velocity, volumetric flow rate, and pressure gradient, while shooting

Development of the novel delivery provides optimal drug delivery via facilitated transcorneal penetration and ultimately improved retention time in eye. The present study was to fabricate and evaluate the performance of ocular inserts of Olopatadine hydrochloride by consuming polymers such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, gelatin, and chitosan at various concentrations with different plasticizers

Epoxies are important thermosetting polymers with exceptional features, which have been successfully employed for coatings. Polyester blends with epoxy enhances their chemical inertness, anti-rusting, toughness, strength, glass transition temperature, and heat stability, Epoxy/polyester blends have been further reinforced with nanocarbon, nanoclay, and inorganic nanoparticles to form nanocomposite

In this research, first, ZnO nanorods were synthesized by hydrothermal method and characterized in terms of morphological and structural properties by means of field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray diffraction techniques. Subsequently, polylactic acid/ZnO, polylactic acid/TiO2, and polylactic acid/ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposites with different percentages of nanoparticles

This article provides insights into nanowhisker nanofiller particles, different categories of polymer/nanowhisker nanocomposites, and broad span of applications. Nanowhiskers are hierarchical needle-like elementary crystallites, often used as nanofillers in polymers. Cellulose, chitin, zinc oxide, fullerene, and aluminum nitride-based nanowhiskers have been employed in matrices. Inclusion of organic

The purpose of this study is to analyze the performance of the flexible conductive substrate by interfacial shear stress. This study performed automatic liquid-crystal modulating common-path interferometry (LMCI) optical inspections on 125-µm polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates having indium tin oxide (ITO) coating thicknesses of 80 nm, 160 nm, and 230 nm. The nonlinear characteristic of the

We investigated the influence of multiple extrusions of poly-(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) blended with a polymer-based oxygen scavenger. PET and PET blended with an oxygen scavenger additive were extruded up to four times to polymer strands. They were chilled in a water bath and cut to granules. Between the extrusions, the granules were dried at (only) 60°C to avoid the oxygen scavenger losing its

A numerical study of the calendering process is presented. The material to be calendered is modeled by using Giesekus constitutive equation. The flow equations are first presented in dimensionless forms and then simplified by incorporating the lubrication approximation theory. The resulting equations are analytically solved for the stream function. The pressure gradient, pressure, and other engineering

Abstract This paper analyses an isothermal roll coating for a Rabinowitsch fluid. Equations of motion are simplified using lubrication approximation theory. Analytical solutions of velocity, flow rate and pressure-gradient are calculated. Outcomes of coating thickness, pressure distribution, split position, stresses, forces, the power input to the roller and the temperature rise between the coating

Advancements in polymer/nanoclay nanocomposites have supported the development of distinctive preparation strategies and characteristic features. High-performance polymer/nanoclay nanocomposites have applications in aerospace, automotive, construction, environmental, and biomedicine. To further improve polymer/nanoclay nanocomposite performance, nanoclay nanobifillers have been considered. In this

The roll-coating analysis of viscous nanofluid using lubrication approximation theory over a flat porous sheet is investigated. We considered water-based copper (Cu) nanoparticles to discuss the roll-coating analysis. The rate of fluid entering at the roll surface is assumed equal to the rate of fluid leaving on the web surface. The resulting differential equation developed under lubrication approximation

This review presents an overview of the versatile shape memory polyurethane/graphene nanocomposites. Shape memory polyurethanes can recover their original shape from an intermediate shape when triggered by an external stimulus, such as heat, electrical voltage, light, pH change, or water absorption. Shape memory polymers have a successful history in commercial use. The applications for shape memory

This article addresses advances in polymeric nanocomposites for packaging applications. Synthetic and biodegradable polymers have been reinforced with carbon nanotube, graphite, graphene and derived nanofiller, nanoclay, and inorganic nanoparticles to form high performance packaging materials. Polymeric nanocomposites possess markedly improved packaging properties including oxygen permeability, moisture

A new mathematical model for a flexible blade coater is proposed and analysed for slip and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects in blade coating process. The slip is considered at the blade surface and magnetic field is imposed normal to the flow. To obtain the velocity profile, pressure, pressure gradient, volumetric flow rate and maximum pressure both exact and numerical solutions are utilized. In order

Semiaromatic polyamides belong to a large family of polymers commonly utilized in demanding engineering applications due to a unique set of outstanding mechanical properties as well as in terms of thermal and chemical resistance. Somewhat less understood is the use of certain members of this family in packaging applications such as the manufacturing of films and sheets or thin-walled containers, as

In this paper, biocomposite films were prepared by using recycled low density polyethylene from marine plastic waste and wheat straw micropowders from common agricultural wastes in northern China. In order to determine the optimal ratio, eight experimental groups were set up for comparative testing. For further improving the performance of the biocomposite film, the three-dimensional network skeleton

We used low-cost ultrasonic spray pyrolysis to prepare fluorine-doped tin oxide film from 470 to 590°C in 30°C increments with air and nitrogen as carrier gas. The film had 86.4% optical transparency and 16.8 Ω/□ electrical resistivity. The quality factor was defined as average optical transmittance to the 10th power divided by square resistance. The quality factor for one film fabricated at 590°C

This study was undertaken to fundamentally understand structure–property relationship of blown films of linear low density polyethylene/low density polyethylene blends over the entire composition range via decoupling orientation effects from their intrinsic properties. Three different low density polyethylene blends with an octene Ziegler–Natta linear low density polyethylene resin were studied. The