The Preparation and Characterization of Fe-ZnO Nanoparticles Immobilized onto Fiberglass Cloth

Lousy odor is severe pollution in natural rubber processing industries and the air pollution treatment by using photocatalytic decomposition method has not much known. This study aims to explore the photocatalyst preparation and characterization of Fe doped ZnO immobilized on fiberglass cloth. Fe doped ZnO was prepared both with and without co-precipitation agent of NaOH. Both methods confirmed the metal existence and gave crystallite catalyst particles with mean diameters of 50 nm according to XRD characterization methods. SEM-EDS analysis showed Fe-ZnO particles prepared without co-precipitation were less aggregated particles than those made with the other method. EDS data identified the elemental composition of Zn, Fe, and O, and the fiberglass cloth composition, including Si and Mg. In the co-preparation method, sodium was always existed along with Fe and ZnO. DR-UV analysis showed the bandgap of Fe-ZnO was 3.20 and 3.22 eV without and with co-precipitation methods, respectively. TEM analysis of the catalyst slurry shows all particles were agglomerated in both preparations. Spherical-like particles existed non-precipitation method, and a spherical- and rod particle shapes were detected in co-precipitation preparation. The non-co-precipitation process was a preparable step in immobilization of the Fe-ZnO particles onto fiberglass cloth

Diminution of Weight and Heat Accumulation in Transfemoral Socket Using PE/MWCNT Composite

The socket plays an important role in prostheses by providing structural integrity and suspension to the distal thigh of an amputee. Heat accumulation and weight of the socket increase the energy consumption in the amputee. To overcome the same, widely used polyester-based sandwich-structured composite was reinforced with 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1 wt% multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and analyzed for the thermal and mechanical properties. MWCNT added in a small weight proportion with polyester enhances the mechanical properties of the resulting nanocomposites as they have excellent mechanical and physical properties. The flexural and thermal property was evaluated as per ASTM D790 and ISO 22007-2 standard. It was noticed that the thermal property enhances with increase in wt% of MWCNT and mechanical properties decreased when more than 0.6 wt% MWCNT was reinforced. Hence, the sandwich-structured composite was prepared using polyester resin, 2 to 10 stockinette layers, fiberglass cloth, and 0.6 wt% of MWCNT. The thermal conductivity and flexural strength of 0.6 wt% MWCNT-reinforced sandwich-structured composite were enhanced upto 68.4% and 11.4% for 2-10 stockinette layers, respectively, while comparing to the unreinforced polyester sandwich-structured composite. The 0.6 wt% MWCNT-reinforced sandwich-structured composite may help in reducing the weight and heat build up in the socket. Hence, it is recommended to analyze further on their application in transfemoral socket preparation to bring down an amputee’s metabolic cost.

Analysis of bonding mechanism of glass fiber-reinforced bamboo plywood

Bamboo curtains, coarse glass fiber cloth, bamboo mat, poplar veneer, and fine glass fiber cloth impregnated with phenolic resin adhesive were sequentially laid from the inside to the outside, and the symmetrically balanced material was sent to the hot press. The bonding mechanism of the resulting glass fiber-reinforced bamboo plywood (GFRBP) was analyzed using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The bonding between the phenolic resin and fiberglass cloth was achieved with a coupling agent, which reacted chemically with both the fiberglass cloth and phenolic resin. ESEM showed that glass fiber was bonded strongly with phenolic resin after treatment with coupling agents such as KH-550, KH-560, and KH-792. When the GFRBP was damaged, there was no breakage at the bonding surface between the glass fiber and phenolic resin. During the hot-pressing process, the phenolic resin easily migrated to the middle of the gap between plywood plates, which promoted better integration and properties. FTIR results showed that the longitudinal sides of the GFRBP pressed by the fiberglass cloth that had been treated by the coupling agents KH-550 and KH-792 were similar to each other, but those treated with KH-792 contained more -CH2- and had a longer carbon backbone.