The purpose of the study was to determine whether lake sediments could be a potential raw material for the plastics industry. The examined samples were obtained in a complex process of sediment ...collection from Lake Swarzędzkie located in the region of Wielkopolska, Poland, followed by granulometric analysis by sieving and quartz grain shape analysis, with preparation of geotechnical sheets. The works involved the examination of physico-chemical characteristics of carbonate lake sediments and the analysis of impact of the sediments’ depth extraction on their chemical composition and physico-chemical properties. The lake sediment consists mainly of calcium carbonate (CaCO
) and can be a potential filler for plastics. Tests were carried out to determine chemical composition of the sediments and their thermal stability. The thermogravimetric analysis showed the three stages of the thermal decomposition. Sediments in deeper layers of the lake are characterised by the presence of not only CaCO
and silica, but also other chemical compounds, including aluminosilicates. In addition, as the depth increases, the average size of sediment particles changes, with the main fraction particle size being the smallest for the material from the 6–12 m depth. Additionally, carbon content systematically decreases with increasing depth.
In this study, the influence of carbonate lake sediments (Polylactide/Carbonate Lake Sediments–PLA/CLS) on the mechanical and structural properties of polylactide matrix composites was investigated. ...Two fractions of sediments originating from 3–8 and 8–12 m were analysed for differences in particle size by distribution (Dynamic Light Scattering–DLS), phase composition (X-ray Diffraction–XRD), the presence of surface functional groups (Fourier Transform-Infrared–FT-IR), and thermal stability (Thermogravimetric Analysis–TGA). Microscopic observations of the composite fractures were also performed. The effect of the precipitate fraction on the mechanical properties of the composites before and after conditioning in the weathering chamber was verified through peel strength, flexural strength, and impact strength tests. A melt flow rate study was performed to evaluate the effect of sediment on the processing properties of the PLA/CLS composite. Hydrophobic-hydrophilic properties were also investigated, and fracture analysis was performed by optical and electron microscopy. The addition of carbon lake sediments to PLA allows for the obtention of composites resistant to environmental factors such as elevated temperature or humidity. Moreover, PLA/CLS composites show a higher flow rate and higher surface hydrophobicity in comparison with unmodified PLA.
Current research on materials engineering focuses mainly on bio-based materials. One of the most frequently studied materials in this group is polylactide (PLA), which is a polymer derived from ...starch. PLA does not have a negative impact on the natural environment and additionally, it possesses properties comparable to those of industrial polymers. The aim of the work was to investigate the potential of organosilicon compounds as modifiers of the mechanical and rheological properties of PLA, as well as to develop a new method for conducting mechanical property tests through innovative high-throughput technologies. Precise dosing methods were utilized to create PLA/silicone polymer blends with varying mass contents, allowing for continuous characterization of the produced blends. To automate bending tests and achieve comprehensive characterization of the blends, a self-created workstation setup has been used. The tensile properties of selected blend compositions were tested, and their ability to withstand dynamic loads was studied. The blends were characterized through various methods, including rheological (MFI), X-ray (XRD), spectroscopic (FTIR), and thermal properties analysis (TG, DSC, HDT), and they were evaluated using microscopic methods (MO, SEM) to examine their structures.
A series of SiO2-La2O2CO3 and SiO2-La2O3 mixed oxide/carbonate systems with La/Si molar ratios of 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 have been obtained by the sol–gel technique from tetraethyl ...orthosilicate (TEOS) and metallic lanthanum powder. For the low lanthanum loading systems (La/Si 0.05 to 0.25) the lanthanum carboxy phase is easily transformed to oxide phase during thermal treatment in the presence of silica. The most important advantage of the proposed method is the possibility of obtaining a mixed oxide/carbonate phase and not directly an oxide phase as in the case of other methods. Depending on the calcination temperature and time, the proposed method can be used for obtaining compositions containing dioxycarbonate, oxide or mixed lanthanum phase.
The systems were characterized by X-ray diffraction, low temperature nitrogen adsorption, transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM, SEM and SEM/EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and FT-IR spectra.
•A new synthesis method of mixed oxide-carbonate SiO2-La2O3 and SiO2-La2O2CO3•Easy introduction of metal oxide precursors•One-pot synthesis
In this study, composites containing polylactide and carbonate lake sediment in concentrations of 2.5, 5, 10, and 15% by weight were prepared by a 3D printing method. The material for 3D printing was ...obtained by directly diluting the masterbatch on an injection moulder to the desired concentrations, and after granulation, it was extruded into a filament. The material prepared thusly was used to print standardised samples for mechanical testing. To compare the mechanical properties of the composites obtained by 3D printing and injection moulding, two sets of tests were performed, i.e., mechanical tests (tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength) and hydrophobic-hydrophilic surface character testing. The degree of composite waste in the 3D printing was also calculated. Mechanical and surface tests were performed for both systems conditioned at room temperature and after accelerated ageing in a weathering chamber. The study showed differences in the properties of composites obtained by 3D printing. Sedimentary fillers improved the hydrophobicity of the systems compared with pure PLA, but it was not a linear relationship. The PLA/CLS sedB composite had higher strength parameters, especially after ageing in a weathering chamber. This is due to its composition, in which, in addition to calcite and silica, there are also aluminosilicates, causing a strengthening of the PLA matrix.
Amorphic diatomaceous earth is derived from natural sources, and polyamide 11 (PA11) is produced from materials of natural origin. Both of these materials show a low harmfulness to the environment ...and a reduced carbon footprint. This is why the combination of these two constituents is beneficial not only to improve the physicochemical and mechanical properties of polyamide 11 but also to produce a biocomposite. For the purpose of this paper, the test biocomposite was produced by combining polyamide 11, as well as basic and pre-fractionated diatomaceous earth, which had been subjected to silanization. The produced composites were used to carry out rheological (melt flow rate-MFR), mechanical (tensile strength, bending strength, impact strength), crystallographic (X-ray Diffraction-XRD), thermal and thermo-mechanical (differential scanning calorimetry-DSC, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis-DMTA) analyses, as well as a study of hydrophobic-hydrophilic properties of the material surface (wetting angle) and imaging of the surface of the composites and the fractured specimens. The tests showed that the additive 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) acted as an agent that improved the elasticity of composites and the melt flow rate. In addition, the produced composites showed a hydrophilic surface profile compared to pure polylactide and polyamide 11.
Hydrogen sorption abilities of Pt-B2O3/Al2O3 systems with different molar ratio of oxides obtained by sol-gel method were examined. Platinum was introduced by surface impregnation. Main goal of the ...research was to check an influence of metallic component (platinum) on sorption properties of B2O3/Al2O3 binary oxides. The oxide systems were characterized using XRD and TEM. Hydrogen adsorption was tested in the volumetric system and TPD measurements were taken. Results show that the amount of adsorbed hydrogen depends not only on the amount of platinum in the system but also on the type of oxide support and mainly on the content of boria.
A series of mixed oxide‑carbonate Al2O3-La2O2CO3 systems with the La/Al molar ratios of 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 have been synthesized by the sol–gel technique from aluminum isopropoxide and ...metallic lanthanum powder. During the synthesis of Al2O3- La2O2CO3 system, metallic lanthanum acts both as a precursor of lanthanum oxide and as secondary pH modifier of the gel solution. The traditional sol-gel method was modified to provide a better control over the final product surface parameters and structure. The obtained systems were amorphous and highly homogenic. The rate of the metal reaction was used as a limiting factor to control the gel formation. The obtained oxide systems are intended as a support for metallic phase catalysts. Calcination in air at 600°C did not produce systems containing only oxides and the lanthanum (dioxy)carbonate phase was still present. This observation can be explained by the multi stage decomposition process of lanthanum acetate forming during the gel synthesis.
The systems were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, low temperature nitrogen adsorption, transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM, SEM and SEM/EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and FTIR spectra.
•a new synthesis method of mixed oxide‑carbonate Al2O3-La2O2CO3 systems has been proposed•easy introduction of metal oxide precursors•one-pot synthesis – an improvement of sol-gel method
A series of binary oxide systems with Ca/Si molar ratios of 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 have been synthesized by the sol-gel technique from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and metallic calcium ...powder. Upon calcination, a side effect of wollastonite formation as a result of the reaction between the components of the material has been observed in the two calcium-richest systems. The increase in calcium content produces an effect of porosity promotion. At high calcium contents, the homogeneity of the systems is limited by the ability of silica to disperse the calcium component. The properties of these systems are determined by the silica surface coverage with a large amount of the scattered CaCO3 fine microcrystallites (calcite), resulting from the phase segregation. The gels were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, low temperature nitrogen adsorption, transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM, SEM and SEM/EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and FT-IR spectra, to describe the parameters important from the point of view of their application as a support for metal-based catalysts.
The aim of this work is to evaluate analytical tools for fast assessment of the catalysts’ ability to conduct a catalytic cracking process with the use of vegetable oils. The practical context of the ...presented concept relates to the use of cracking reaction products as valuable chemical raw materials. The proposed analytical tools allow for quick assessment of reaction products, indication of the molecular weight range, or the presence of specific functional groups. We want to emphasize that vegetable oils can not only be raw products for biofuels but also an alternative to petrochemicals. The study was undertaken to determine the influence of acid–base properties of catalysts on the rapeseed oil conversion process at 500°C. The effect of these properties on the character of the process and quality of the products obtained was shown to be very high. Basic correlations between the formation of coke, gaseous products and dehydrogenation products, and acid–base parameters of the individual catalysts have been observed. The use of spectroscopic methods (FTIR ‐ Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, 1H NMR ‐ Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) for fast qualitative analysis of the products is described.
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