Gamma Radiation Processed Polymeric Materials for High Performance Applications: A Review.

The polymeric properties are tailored and enhanced by high energy radiation processing, which is an effective technique to tune the physical, chemical, thermal, surface, and structural properties of the various thermoplastic and elastomeric polymeric components. The gamma and electron beam radiation are the most frequent radiation techniques used for crosslinking, compatibilizing, and grafting of various polymer blends and composites systems. The gamma radiation-induced grafting and crosslinking are the effective, rapid, clean, user-friendly, and well-controlled techniques for the polymeric materials for their properties improvement for high performance applications such as nuclear, automobile, electrical insulation, ink curing, surface modification, food packaging, medical, sterilization, and health-care in a different environment. Similarly, electron beam radiations crosslinking has been a well-known technique for properties development and has economic benefits over chemical crosslinking techniques. This review focuses on the development of polymeric multi component systems (functionalized polymer, blends, and nanohybrids), where partially nanoscale clay incorporation can achieve the desired properties, and partially by controlled high energy radiations crosslinking of blends and nanocomposites. In this review, various investigations have been studied on the development and modifications of polymeric systems, and controlled dose gamma radiation processed the polymer blends and clay-induced composites. Radiation induced grafting of the various monomers on the polymer backbone has been focused. Similarly, comparative studies of gamma and electron beam radiation and their effect on property devlopment have been focused. The high energy radiation modified polymers have been used in several high performance sectors, including automotive, wire and cable insulation, heat shrinkable tube, sterilization, biomedical, nuclear and space applications.

Effect of vinyl silane modification on thermal and mechanical properties of starch-polyvinyl alcohol blend.

This study aims to observe the effect of addition of silane coupling agent on polyvinyl alcohol and starch-PVA blend. Starch and PVA blend with citric acid addition was prepared. Silane-modified polymer was obtained by treating polyvinyl alcohol and starch-PVA blend with Trimethoxyvinylsilane. The blend has been tested against the canarium wood substrate for tensile strength. A further property like viscosity has also been evaluated. Analytical tests such as DSC and DMA proved the phenomenon of cross-linking, having shown an increase in glass transition temperature and area under the curve of tan delta. The efficient and novel method for polymerization of vinyl groups present in the PVA and PVA-starch blends has contributed to better adhesion on the wood substrate and also better cohesion between the chains.

Effect of glutaraldehyde on thermal and mechanical properties of starch and polyvinyl alcohol blends.

The aim of this study is to analyze the various compositions of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and starch (S) blends. The blends have been cross-linked with glutaraldehyde to enhance its properties. The hydroxyl groups of PVA and starch react with glutaraldehyde via formation of acetal bonds hence crosslinking could take place. The cross-linking of glutaraldehyde is observed with the help of various analytical methods such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The presence of two highly reactive alpha protons makes glutaraldehyde more reactive and acidic in nature. The higher reactivity of glutaraldehyde, at higher dosages leads to reduction in H-bonding of PVA and starch. The cross-linked blends showed better thermal and mechanical properties. Viscosity, tensile strength, pencil hardness, and ultimate stress were evaluated to estimate the changes due to cross-linking. It was observed that the mechanical properties are directly proportional to the amount of starch as the starch hydroxyl groups are easily accessible for the cross-linking reaction. The cross-linked blend showed better cohesion between its chains, thereby increasing the glass transition temperature. It was reflected in the subsequent increase in tensile strength properties.