Maria-Beatrice Coltelli; Vito Gigante; Luca Panariello; Laura Aliotta; Pierfrancesco Morganti; Serena Danti; Patrizia Cinelli; Andrea Lazzeri
Abstract
Chitin nano-fibrils, obtained by waste sea food (for example exoskeletons of crustaceous), are available as water diluted nano-suspensions. Hence, their dispersion at the nanoscale in a molten polyester matrix is considered an issue, because diluted liquids cannot be usually added easily in most common ...
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Chitin nano-fibrils, obtained by waste sea food (for example exoskeletons of crustaceous), are available as water diluted nano-suspensions. Hence, their dispersion at the nanoscale in a molten polyester matrix is considered an issue, because diluted liquids cannot be usually added easily in most common extruders. In the present paper the use of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) of different molecular weight was investigated to prepare solid pre-composites useful to disperse chitin nanofibrils in poly(lactic acid) (PLA) by extrusion. The tensile properties of injection moulded specimens were determined and insights were also provided regarding the thermal characteristics of chitin nanofibril-reinforced nanocomposites. This study allowed the identification of a process leading to transparent PLA-based nanocomposites suitable to be exploited in packaging and personal care applications, where the intrinsic anti-microbial and tissue regenerative properties of chitin nanofibrils can be greatly useful.
Keisho Iimori; Ryo Endo; Kazuya Yamamoto; Jun-ichi Kadokawa
Abstract
Chitin is widely distributed in nature and an important renewable resource. However, it has been difficult to provide a wide variety of material applications from chitin, due to poor solubility and processability. In this study, we performed surface modification of self-assembled chitin nanofibers (CNFs) ...
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Chitin is widely distributed in nature and an important renewable resource. However, it has been difficult to provide a wide variety of material applications from chitin, due to poor solubility and processability. In this study, we performed surface modification of self-assembled chitin nanofibers (CNFs) by acetylation and their composite fabrication with a commodity plastic, low density polyethylene (LDPE). The self-assembled CNF dispersion with DMF was first prepared by regeneration from a chitin ion gel with an ionic liquid, 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (AMIMBr), using methanol, followed by exchange of a dispersion medium according to the previously reported method by us. Surface acetylation of the product was then performed by reaction of acetic anhydride in the dispersion to obtain partially acetylated CNFs, which formed a film by isolation. The composites of the film with LDPE with the different weight ratios were fabricated by pressing at 170 o C at 0.1 MPa. The SEM measurements of the products observed the morphologies that LDPE interpenetrated from surfaces into cross-sections of the partially acetylated CNF films with increasing the LDPE ratios. The tensile testing of the composite films indicated reinforcing effect of LDPE present in the composites.
Yesodaran Sangeetha; Sankaran Meenakshi; Chandrasekaran Sairam Sundaram
Abstract
The inhibition performance of water soluble chitin (WSC) and its synergistic inhibition with potassium iodide (KI) in 1 M HCl was studied using gravimetric and electrochemical measurements. From gravimetric measurement it is inferred that there is an increase in inhibition efficiency with the increased ...
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The inhibition performance of water soluble chitin (WSC) and its synergistic inhibition with potassium iodide (KI) in 1 M HCl was studied using gravimetric and electrochemical measurements. From gravimetric measurement it is inferred that there is an increase in inhibition efficiency with the increased addition of inhibitor and it further stepped up to a higher value in the presence of 0.1 % KI. Polarization studies revealed that there is mixed mode of inhibition by WSC. Impedance study suggested the adsorption of the inhibitor at the interface between mild steel and acidic solution. The adsorption of inhibitor followed Frumkin isotherm. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) confirmed the co- adsorption of KI with WSC on the mild steel surface. Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X- ray Diffraction (XRD) indicated the formation of protective film by the inhibitor on the surface of mild steel.