The Influence of TiO2-Lignin Hybrid Fillers in Low-Density Polyethylene Composites on Photocatalytic Performance and UV-Barrier Properties.

The main objective of this study was to discover new packaging materials that could integrate one of the most expected properties, such as UV protection, with a self-cleaning ability defined as photocatalytic performance. Accordingly, new hybrid additives were used to transform LDPE films into materials with complex performance properties. In this study, titanium dioxide-lignin (TL) hybrid systems with a weight ratio of inorganic to organic precursors of 5-1, 1-1, and 1-5 were prepared using a mechanical method. The obtained materials and pristine components were characterized using measurement techniques and research methods, such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal stability analysis (TGA/DTG), measurement of the electrokinetic potential as a function of pH, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and particle size distribution measurement. It was found that hydrogen bonds were formed between the organic and inorganic components, based on which the obtained systems were classified as class I hybrid materials. In the next step, inorganic-organic hybrid systems and pristine components were used as fillers for a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) composite, 5 and 10% by weight, in order to determine their impact on parameters such as tensile elongation at break. Polymer composites containing titanium dioxide in their matrix were then subjected to a test of photocatalytic properties, based on which it was found that all materials with TiO2 in their structure exhibit photocatalytic properties, whereby the best results were obtained for samples containing the TiO2-lignin hybrid system (1-1). The mechanical tests showed that the thin sheet films had a strong anisotropy due to chill-roll extrusion, ranging from 1.98 to 3.32. UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed four times higher light absorption for composites in which lignin was present than for pure LDPE, in the 250-450 nm range. On the other hand, the temperature at 5% and 30% weight loss revealed by TGA testing increased the highest performance for LDPE/TiO2 materials (by 20.4 °C and 8.7 °C, respectively).

Design and characterization of functional TiO2-lignin fillers used in rotational molded polyethylene containers.

In this study, new TiO2-lignin hybrid systems were synthesized and characterized by various methods, including non-invasive backscattering (NIBS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis (EA) and zeta potential analysis (ZP). The weak hydrogen bonds between the components, as shown on FTIR spectra, proved the production of class I hybrid systems. TiO2-lignin systems were found to display good thermal stability and relatively good homogeneity. These newly designed hybrid materials were used to produce functional composites via rotational molding in a linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrix at 2.5 % and 5.0 % loading by weight of the fillers, namely, TiO2, TiO2-lignin (5:1 wt./wt.), TiO2-lignin (1:1 wt./wt.), TiO2-lignin (1:5 wt./wt.) and pristine lignin, creating rectangular specimens. The mechanical properties of the specimens were measured via compression testing and by low-energy impact damage testing (the drop test). The results showed that the system containing 5.0 % by weight of TiO2-lignin (1:1 wt./wt.) had the most positive effect on the container's compression strength, while the LLDPE filled with 5.0 % by weight of TiO2-lignin (5:1 wt./wt.) demonstrated the best impact resistance among all the tested composites.

Polylactide (PLA) as a Cell Carrier in Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion-A New Strategy in the Management of PLA.

The management of waste polylactide (PLA) in various solutions of thermophilic anaerobic digestion (AD) is problematic and often uneconomical. This paper proposes a different approach to the use of PLA in mesophilic AD, used more commonly on the industrial scale, which consists of assigning the function of a microbial carrier to the biopolymer. The study involved the testing of waste wafers and waste wafers and cheese in a co-substrate system, combined with digested sewage sludge. The experiment was conducted on a laboratory scale, in a batch bioreactor mode. They were used as test samples and as samples with the addition of a carrier: WF-control and WFC-control; WF + PLA and WFC + PLA. The main objective of the study was to verify the impact of PLA in the granular (PLAG) and powder (PLAP) forms on the stability and efficiency of the process. The results of the analysis of physicochemical properties of the carriers, including the critical thermal analysis by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), as well as the amount of cellular biomass of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens obtained in a culture with the addition of the tested PLAG and PLAP, confirmed that PLA can be an effective cell carrier in mesophilic AD. The addition of PLAG produced better results for bacterial proliferation than the addition of powdered PLA. The highest level of dehydrogenase activity was maintained in the WFC + PLAG system. An increase in the volume of the methane produced for the samples digested with the PLA granules carrier was registered in the study. It went up by c.a. 26% for WF, from 356.11 m3 Mg-1 VS (WF-control) to 448.84 m3 Mg-1 VS (WF + PLAG), and for WFC, from 413.46 m3 Mg-1 VS, (WFC-control) to 519.98 m3 Mg-1 VS (WFC + PLAG).

Polyamide 6-Aluminum Assembly Enhanced by Laser Microstructuring.

The presented work's aim is the application of low-power laser treatment for the enhancement of interfacial micromechanical adhesion between polyamide 6 (filled with glass fiber) and aluminum. A fiber laser beam was used to prepare micro-patterns on aluminum sheets. The micro-structuring was conducted in the regime of 50, 100, 200 and 300 mm/s laser beam speeds, for both sides. The joining process was realized in an injection molding process. Metallic inserts were surface engraved and overmolded in one-side and two-side configurations. A lap shear test was used to examine the strength of the joints. Engraved metallic surfaces and adequate imprints on polyamide side were checked by optical microscope with motorized stages, and roughness parameters were also determined. Microscopic observations made it possible to describe the grooves' shape and to conclude that a huge recast melt was formed when the lowest laser beam speed was applied; thus, the roughness parameter Ra reached the highest value of 16.8 µm (compared to 3.5 µm obtained for the fastest laser speed). The maximum shear force was detected for a sample prepared with the lowest scanning speed (one-sides joints), and it was 883 N, while for two-sided joints, the ultimate force was 1410 N (for a scanning speed of 200 mm/s).

The Role of Inorganic-Organic Bio-Fillers Containing Kraft Lignin in Improvement in Functional Properties of Polyethylene.

In this study, MgO-lignin (MgO-L) dual phase fillers with varying amounts of lignin as well as pristine lignin and magnesium oxide were used as effective bio-fillers to increase the ultraviolet light protection and enhance the barrier performance of low density polyethylene (LDPE) thin sheet films. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to check the crystalline structure of the studied samples, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied to determine morphological characteristics. The results of optical spectrometry in the range of UV light indicated that LDPE/MgO-L (1:5 wt/wt) composition exhibited the best protection factor, whereas LDPE did not absorb ultraviolet waves. Moreover, the addition of hybrid filler decreased the oxygen permeability factor and water vapor transmission compared with neat LDPE and its composites with pristine additives, such as lignin and magnesium oxide. The strong influence of the microstructure on thin sheet films was observed in the DSC results, as double melting peaks were detected only for LDPE compounded with inorganic-organic bio-fillers: LDPE/MgO-L.

Deformation Mechanism in Mechanically Coupled Polymer-Metal Hybrid Joints.

In this, work, metal inserts were joined with polyamide 6 by using the injection-molding technique. The metal parts, made of steel grade DC 04, were mechanically interlocked with polyamide 6 (PA6) by rivets as a mechanical connection between both components in the form of s polymer filling the holes in the metallic parts. The mechanical-interlocking joints made of steel/PA6 were mechanically tested in a tensile-lap-shear test. The damage behavior of the joined materials in relation to rivet number and position on the metal plate was studied. The observation of rivet deformation was also conducted by infrared IR thermography. The study showed that, for polymer-metal joined samples with fewer than three rivets, the destruction of rivets by shearing meant sample damage. On the other hand, when the polymer-metal joint was made with three or four rivets, the disruption mechanism was mostly related to the polymer part breaking. The maximal values of the joint's failure force under tensile-shear tests were achieved for samples where three rivets were used. Moreover, strong correlation was found between the surface temperature of the samples and their maximal force during the tensile-lap-shear test.

Influence of MgO-Lignin Dual Component Additives on Selected Properties of Low Density Polyethylene.

The presented study describes the application of lignin-based dual component fillers into low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and an examination of their selected properties. The main experimental procedure was focused on the preparation of thin sheet films using polyethylene and its composites with 5% by wt. of fillers: MgO, MgO-lignin dual phase systems with varying amounts of lignin and pristine lignin. Analysis of morphology revealed that elongated voids appeared in the structure for hybrid filler with a higher content of lignin (min. 50% by wt. of lignin versus MgO) and also for pristine lignin. Moreover, the prepared sheets were subjected to the thermoforming process by using the positive forming method (male mold). The thermoforming ability of all composites was evaluated by means of a comparison of wall thickness distribution on thermoformed shapes. The most noticeable percentage of wall thinning occurred for films which consisted of LDPE/MgO-lignin (5:1 wt./wt.) composite. In contrast, the best material arrangement and the highest mean percentage wall thickness were observed in the case of the shape formed with LDPE/MgO-lignin (1:5 wt./wt.). In addition, as part of research studies, the measurements of the contact angle have been conducted. The analysed LDPE films, in particular LDPE/MgO-L, have been recognized as materials with high wettability.

MgO-Lignin Dual Phase Filler as an Effective Modifier of Polyethylene Film Properties.

Functional magnesium oxide-lignin hybrid materials were obtained via mechanicalgrinding. Their particle shape and size as well as physicochemical properties were characterized.MgO-lignin materials with biocomponent content (between 20% and 80% amount of total weight offiller) were used as a partially bio-structured modifier of low density polyethylene. The compositeswith 5% by weight of dual fillers and polyethylene grafted with maleic anhydride werecompounded in a twin screw extruder working in co-rotating mode. The prepared blends were castextruded using a single screw extruder and laboratory cast line. The properties of the obtainedfilms were verified in case of their weldability. The seal strength as well as shear test and tearstrength of the welded sheets were examined. The results showed that the shortest equivalent timerequired to perform correct weld occurred in the system, where the highest amount of lignin wasused in hybrid filler MgO-L (1:5 w/w). From mechanical tests of welds, a sharp increase in ultimateseal force was noticed for almost all compositions with lignin, especially where MgO was coupledwith a high lignin content. For those composition seal open force raised up to 37.0 N, from thevalue of 23.6 N, achieved for neat low density polyethylene (LDPE). Tear strength of weld sheetsconfirmed once more that LDPE composition with MgO-L (1:5 w/w) achieved the highest ultimateforce with its value of 71.5 N, and it was ~20.0 N higher than in the case of neat LDPE.

Electrokinetic and bioactive properties of CuO∙SiO2 oxide composites.

CuO∙SiO(2) hybrid oxide precipitated on a semi-technical scale was thoroughly characterised in terms of physicochemical properties. Its particle size distribution and SEM analysis were performed to establish dispersion and surface morphology. Chemical analysis provided information on the content of CuO and SiO(2) oxides in the hybrid systems. The oxide systems were also subjected to elemental analysis. Zeta potential determinations were evaluated to obtain information regarding the interactions between colloidal particles. The stability of copper silicates' water dispersions was estimated on the basis of zeta potential measurements. The obtained oxide systems were used as components of polymer composites with polyester resins, which were subjected to mechanical tests and bactericidal tests against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a well known biofilm-forming microorganism. The anti-adhesive activity of the CuO·SiO(2) enriched polymers was assessed using a 9-degree scale of adhesion. A significant reduction in the P. aeruginosa biofilm development rate was achieved for Palatal A 400-01 resins enriched with both 2 and 8 phr of the filler. In the case of Aropol M 105 TB resins the introduction of CuO∙SiO(2) caused inhibition of bacterial colonisation but to a smaller extent. These results strongly indicate that the biological activity of Cu was maintained. The release of copper ions into the local environment was examined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Maximum values of 1.621 and 5.934 mg/dm(3) of released copper were detected. The surface composition of both resins studied by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) contributed to the data suggesting homogenous distribution of Si; however copper seemed to form local aggregates. The presented results may be of great significance for those dealing with materials tailored for specific needs.