Investigation of the effect of ZnO nanoparticles on the thermomechanical and microbial properties of hyperbranched polyurethane‐urea hybrid composites

Hybrid coatings of hyperbranched polyurethane‐urea (HBPUU) containing ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by mixing the hyperbranched polyurethane with the nanoparticles. The films were stored at room temperature and laboratory humidity conditions for one week to yield completely cured hybrid films. The ZnO nanoparticles were found to be well dispersed in the polymer up to 3 wt%. The structure–property relationship of various HBPUU–ZnO hybrid coatings was analysed using a Fourier transform infrared peak deconvolution technique with a Gaussian curve‐fitting procedure, while their viscoelastic, thermomechanical and surface morphology were studied using X‐ray diffraction, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, a universal testing machine, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and contact angle instruments. The thermal stability and mechanical properties of the hybrid composite films improved with increasing ZnO content, which was believed to be due to thermal insulation in the presence of nanoparticles. Water contact angle data suggested that the hydrophobic character of the hybrid composites increased with increasing nanoparticle concentration. The antimicrobial property of the HBPUU–ZnO hybrid coatings was studied using the disc diffusion method. HBPUU–ZnO hybrid coatings showed good antimicrobial properties compared to HBPUU. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Organic–inorganic hybrid linseed oil‐based urethane oil wood coatings

To prepare alkoxysilane‐functionalized urethane oil (AFUO) using linseed oil, 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) was first reacted with diisocyanate to obtain an NCO‐terminating oligomer. The reaction was continued by adding linseed oil glyceride to form an AFUO prepolymer. The auto‐oxidative drying coating was obtained after adding a metal dryer to the AFUO prepolymer. Urethane oil (UO) coating, as a control, was obtained by the same procedure as that for AFUO, but without containing alkoxysilane‐functional groups in the formation. Siloxane hybrid urethane oil (SHUO) wood coatings were prepared by mixing tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) solutions, as an external crosslinking agent by sol–gel process, with the AFUO and UO coatings. We found that introducing of APTES into the molecular chains of the UO coating resulted in a film with superior impact and abrasion resistance, and it is the most efficient process to enhance the UO films. The addition of TEOS into AFUO coatings shortened the curing time and further improved the crosslinking density of the AFUO films; however, the physical properties like impact resistance, bending resistance, and gloss were even worse than AFUO films. Mixing of TEOS and UO coating also shorten the curing time and improved the heat resistance, lightfastness, and hardness of the UO coating. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44562.     

The effects of modified zinc oxide nanoparticles on the mechanical/thermal properties of epoxy resin

Characterized by its strength, durability, and thermal properties, epoxy resin has been widely used as an adhesive, paint, and coating in many applications in the aerospace, civil and automotive industries. Despite this, the thermoset polymer resin has been known for its brittleness and low fracture resistance. This study focuses on the reinforcement of an epoxy resin system (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A) with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles in their pristine form and a further modified form. The modification took place in two ways: coating with polydopamine (PDA) and covalently functionalizing them with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and (3-glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPTMS). Therefore, four different types of nanoparticles were used: pristine ZnO, ZnO/PDA, ZnO/GPTMS, and ZnO/APTES aiming to improve the interfacial bonding between the polymeric matrix and the reinforcement. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy characterization and imaging techniques were used to prove that the ZnO nanoparticles were successfully modified prior to manufacturing the epoxy composites. While tensile testing showed that using pristine ZnO increases the composite's strength by 32.14%, the fracture toughness of the resin was improved by 9.40% when reinforced with ZnO functionalized with APTES. TGA showed that the addition of functionalized nanoparticles increases the material's degradation temperature by at most 7.31 ± 4.9°C using ZnO/APTES. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis testing proved that the addition of any type of nanoparticles increases the resin's glass transition temperature by as much as 7.83°C (ZnO/APTES).     

Study on electrochemical behavior of Nano‐ZnO modified alkyd‐based waterborne coatings

A nano‐composite coating was formed using nano‐ZnO as pigment in different concentrations, to a specially developed alkyd‐based waterborne coating. The nano‐ZnO modified composite coatings were applied on mild steel substrate by dipping. The dispersion of nano‐ZnO particles in coating system was investigated by scanning electron microscopic and atomic force microscopic techniques. The effect of the addition of these nano‐pigments on the electrochemical behavior of the coating was investigated in 3.5% NaCl solution, using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Coating modified with higher concentration of nano‐ZnO particles showed comparatively better performance as was evident from the pore resistance (R_po) and coating capacitance (C_c) values after 30 days of exposure. In general, the study showed an improvement in the corrosion resistance of the nano‐particle modified coatings as compared with the neat coating, confirming the positive effect of nano‐particle addition in coatings. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Preparation and anticorrosive behavior of epoxy-polysiloxane hybrid coatings modified by polyetheramines

Inorganic/organic hybrid coatings based on epoxy-polysiloxane resin were prepared by using five types of curing agents, including 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) alone (control coating) and the mixtures of four types of polyetheramines (Jeffamine D230, D400, T403, and THF100) along with APTES (modified coatings). The mechanical, adhesion, and corrosion resistance properties of the hybrid coatings cured by different curing agents were studied. The dynamic mechanical thermal analysis results showed that the glass transition temperature and cross-link density of the modified coatings decreased with increasing of the chain length of polyetheramines. The impact resistance height of the modified hybrid coatings was more than one time higher than that of the control coating. The adhesion of the modified hybrid coatings was enhanced compared to the control coating except the coating modified by THF100. Compared with the control coating, comparable hardness and improved wet adhesion were attained for the coatings modified by polyetheramines D230 and T403 with shorter chain length, while the hardness and wet adhesion were decreased for the coatings modified by polyetheramines D400 and THF100 with longer chain length. The corrosion resistance behavior of the hybrid coatings was thoroughly examined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and salt spray tests. It was found that the corrosion resistance behavior of the hybrid coatings increased with D230 and T403 due to higher cross-link density and decreased with D400 and THF100 due to lower cross-link density.     

Preparation and characterization of polynorbornene/sepiolite hybrid nanocomposite films

Polynorbornene/sepiolite hybrid nanocomposite films were prepared using polynorbornene dicarboximide and modified sepiolite with 3‐ aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3‐APTES). Exo‐N‐(3,5‐dichlorophenylnorbornene)‐5,6‐dicarboxyimide (monomer) and their copolymers were synthesized via ring‐opening polymerization using ruthenium catalysts. Subsequently, the surface‐modified sepiolite by 3‐APTES was mixed with the polynorbornene copolymers to prepare hybrid nanocomposite films. The modified sepiolite particles were well dispersed in N,N‐dimethylacetamide and distributed randomly throughout the polynorbornene matrix in the hybrid films, which enhanced the dimensional stability and mechanical and oxygen barrier properties of the polynorbornene/sepiolite hybrid nanocomposite films. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane on properties of poly(butyl acrylate‐co‐maleic anhydride)/silica hybrid materials

The transparent poly(butyl acrylate‐co‐maleic anhydride)/silica [P(BA‐co‐MAn)/SiO₂] has been successfully prepared from butyl acrylate‐maleic anhydride copolymer P(BA‐co‐MAn) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in the presence of 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) by an in situ sol–gel process. Triethoxysilyl group can be readily incorporated into P(BA‐co‐MAn) as pendant side chains by the aminolysis of maleic anhydride unit of copolymer with APTES, and then organic polymer/silica hybrid materials with covalent bonds between two phases can be formed via the hydrolytic polycondensation of triethoxysilyl group‐functionalized polymer with TEOS. It was found that the amount of APTES could dramatically affect the gel time of sol–gel system, the sol fraction of resultant hybrid materials, and the thermal properties of hybrid materials obtained. The decomposition temperature of hybrid materials and the final residual weight of thermogravimetry of hybrid both increase with the increasing of APTES. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that the morphology of hybrid materials prepared in the presence of APTES was a co‐continual phase structure. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 419–424, 1999     

Pyrene‐anchored ZnO nanoparticles through click reaction for the development of antimicrobial and fluorescent polyurethane nanocomposite

This work demonstrates the development of a multifunctional, antimicrobial and fluorescent polyurethane–ZnO hybrid nanocomposite coating with the aid of azide–alkyne click chemistry. Firstly, the surface of ZnO nanoparticles was successfully modified with 3‐azidopropyltriethoxysilane coupling agent. The azide‐terminated nanoparticles were then reacted with separately synthesized propargylpyrene in order to obtain pyrene‐anchored ZnO nanoparticles. The size of the modified nanoparticles was measured using dynamic light scattering and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the thermal stability of the nanoparticles decreased with surface modification. The intensities of UV absorption and fluorescence emission were improved with an increase of pyrene units on the ZnO surface. These nanoparticles were incorporated into a triazole‐rich hyperbranched polyurethane matrix in various weight percentages. It was observed that thermal stability and the intensity of UV absorption and fluorescence emission of the resulting polyurethane nanocomposite hybrid films were improved with loading of the modified nanoparticles. These hybrids are extremely resistant towards various bacterial and fungal attacks, which is attributed to the presence of the ZnO nanoparticles in the coatings. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Unique coating formulation for corrosion and microbial prevention of mild steel

TGBAPB matrix material along with functionalized (F-ZnO) and non-functionalized (N-ZnO) nano ZnO as reinforcements was used to develop two unique skeletally modified tetra functional epoxy nano-hybrid coatings. The formation of N-ZnO was confirmed by TEM analysis. Amine functionalization of ZnO nanoparticle on its surface was achieved by grafting 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) as coupling agent. The FT-IR spectra revealed that the silane coupling agent was covalently bonded to the surface of ZnO nanoparticles, offering better dispersibility and compatibility with TGBAPB epoxy matrix. The effect of surface functionalization of nano ZnO towards corrosion resistance investigated by electrochemical impedance (EIS) indicates that the coating film had good corrosion resistance. Furthermore, the antimicrobial test indicated that F-ZnO-TGBAPB coating had strong antimicrobial activity against high concentration of Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) bacteria. Thus the TGBAPB-F-ZnO coating formulation appears to be unique by preventing both corrosion and bacterial growth.     

Synthesis and characterization of phenylsiloxane‐modified bismaleimide/barbituric acid‐based polymers with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane as the coupling agent

The preparation and characterization of phenylsiloxane (PhSLX)‐modified N,N′‐bismaleimide‐4,4′‐diphenylmethane (BMI)/barbituric acid (BTA) (10/1 mol/mol) oligomers are described. 3‐Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) was used as the coupling agent. The resultant hybrid BMI/BTA‐APTES‐PhSLX polymers were characterized primarily using thermogravimetric analysis in combination with differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared measurements. The thermal stability of the BMI/BTA oligomer was improved significantly by incorporation of a small amount (20–30 wt%) of the copolymer of PhSLX and APTES (PASi). After adequate post‐curing reactions, the PASi‐modified BMI/BTA oligomers (HYBRID20 and HYBRID30 containing 20 and 30 wt% PASi, respectively) exhibited greatly reduced thermal degradation rates in the temperature range 300–800 °C and an increased level of residues at 800 °C as compared to the native BMI/BTA oligomer. This was further confirmed by thermal degradation kinetic studies, in which the activation energies for the thermal degradation reactions of the cured PASi‐modified BMI/BTA oligomers were shown to be higher than that of the pristine BMI/BTA oligomer. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Surface modification of hollow glass microsphere with different coupling agents for potential applications in phenolic syntactic foams

Modified hollow glass microsphere (HGM) particles have been prepared by surface treatment. Coupling agents such as γ‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), di(dioctylpyrophosphato) ethylene titanate (NDZ‐311), and glutaraldehyde (GA) were used as modifiers to improve the hydrophobicity of HGM. Compared with pristine HGM, the modified HGM, especially the particles coupled with APTES‐GA, show better properties on flexural strength, fracture toughness, and dynamic mechanical properties of phenolic syntactic foams. It is revealed that the coupling agent coating layer grafted onto the surface of HGM reduces the polarity of particles, avoiding agglomeration of HGM in phenolic matrix and exhibiting good interfacial interaction between HGM and phenolic matrix. The remarkable improvement of interfacial adhesion between APTES‐GA modified HGM and phenolic matrix is mainly due to the covalent linkage with phenolic resin while the physical entanglement of molecular chains dominates the linkage between other modified HGM and phenolic matrix. APTES‐GA treatment is a more appropriate surface modification method for inorganic particle reinforced phenolic matrix composites. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44415.     

Silane‐modified NaA zeolite/PAAS hybrid pervaporation membranes for the dehydration of ethanol

To improve the pervaporation selectivity of poly(acrylic acid) sodium (PAAS) membranes incorporated with NaA zeolite, the interface compatibility between zeolite nanocrystals and the polymer matrix was improved by modifying NaA zeolite using 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). Both X‐ray photoelectron spectra and FTIR confirmed the chemical modification, while the results of zeolite particle size analysis and scanning electron microscopy revealed the improved dispersion of the modified zeolite. Transmission electron microscopy images of these hybrid membranes indicated that the interface between the polymer and modified zeolite phases had improved. The effects of loaded NaA zeolite on the pervaporation performance of hybrid membranes were investigated. The selectivity of hybrid membranes made from APTES‐modified zeolite was higher than that using the original zeolite under the same conditions, because fewer voids resulted from the incompatibility between the zeolite and PAAS and the structure was more homogenous. Based on the Arrhenius plots, the activation energies of water and the ethanol ratio were lower for modified zeolite hybrid membranes, because water molecules experienced less restrictive passage through the membranes compared with the original zeolite‐based hybrid membrane. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Synthesis of triazole ring‐containing pentol chain extender and its effect on the properties of hyperbranched polyurethane‐urea coatings

This article describes the synthesis and property evaluation of different hyperbranched polyurethane‐urea (HBPUU) coatings based on a newly synthesized triazole ring‐based pentol chain extender. For this initially, the chain extender was synthesized using acetylene azide click reaction and the structure of the intermediate compounds were confirmed by ¹H‐, ¹³C‐NMR, FTIR, and ESI‐mass spectrometry. In the further steps, the required HBPUU coatings were prepared by a systematic three‐step reaction process. In the first step, a isocyanate terminated prepolymer resin was synthesized at NCO/OH ratio of 1.2 : 1, while the second and third step involves the partially chain extension followed by moisture curing. The excess NCO content in the prepolymer was calculated by standard dibutylamine titration method and partially (10, 20, 30, 50, and 70% of the excess NCO content) chain extended with the pentol chain extender and remaining was moisture cured. The structure property relation of different HBPUU coating films were analyzed by FTIR peak deconvulation technique using Gaussian curve fitting procedure while, their viscoelastic and thermo‐mechanical properties were measured by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, thermo gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetric, and universal testing machine instruments. These results showed that thermal stability, glass transition temperature (T_g), elongation at break increases but the storage and tensile modulus decreases with increasing the percent loading of the triazole chain extender. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

New organic–inorganic hybrid membranes based on sulfonated polyimide/aminopropyltriethoxysilane doping with sulfonated mesoporous silica for direct methanol fuel cells

A series of novel composite methanol‐blocking polymer electrolyte membranes based on sulfonated polyimide (SPI) and aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) doping with sulfonated mesoporous silica (S‐mSiO₂) were prepared by the casting procedure. The microstructure and properties of the resulting hybrid membranes were extensively characterized. The crosslinking networks of amino silica phase together with sulfonated mesoporous silica improved the thermal stability of the hybrid membranes to a certain extent in the second decomposition temperature (250–400°C). The composite membranes doping with sulfonated mesoporous silica (SPI/APTES/S‐mSiO₂) displayed superior comprehensive performance to the SPI and SPI/APTES membranes, in which the homogeneously embedded S‐mSiO₂ provided new pathways for proton conduction, rendered more tortuous pathways as well as greater resistance for methanol crossover. The hybrid membrane with 3 wt % S‐mSiO₂ into SPI/APTES‐4 (SPI/A‐4) exhibited the methanol permeability of 4.68 × 10^?6 cm² s^?1at 25°C and proton conductivity of 0.184 S cm^?1 at 80°C and 100%RH, while SPI/A‐4 membrane had the methanol permeability of 5.16 × 10^?6 cm² s^?1 at 25°C and proton conductivity of 0.172 S cm^?1 at 80°C and 100%RH and Nafion 117 exhibited the values of 8.80 × 10^?6 cm² s^?1 and 0.176 S cm^?1 in the same test conditions, respectively. The hybrid membranes were stable up to about 80°C and demonstrated a higher ratio of proton conductivity to methanol permeability than that of Nafion117. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(methyl acrylate‐co‐itaconic anhydride)/TiO2 hybrid materials via sol–gel process

In the presence of 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), the transparent and yellowish poly(methyl acrylate‐co‐itaconic anhydride)/TiO₂ [P(MA‐co‐Itn)/TiO₂] hybrid materials were prepared from the copolymer of methyl acrylate and itaconic anhydride [P(MA‐co‐Itn)] and tetrabutyl titanate (TBT) via a sol–gel process. At first, the triethoxysilane groups were incorporated into the copolymer P(MA‐co‐Itn) as pendant side chains by the aminolytic reaction between the itaconic anhydride units of the copolymer and the amino group of 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), and then the covalent bonds between the organic and inorganic phases were introduced by the hydrolysis and polycondensation of the triethoxysilane groups on the copolymer with TBT. FTIR analysis proved the existence of the covalent bonds. The influences of APTES on glass transition and morphology of the hybrid materials was studied by differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscope, and atomic force microscope. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1763–1768, 2000     

Preparation of highly emissive,thermally stable,UV‐cured polysilsesquioxane/ZnO nanoparticle composites

A high molecular weight polysilsesquioxane (LPMSQ)/ZnO nanocomposite was prepared by blending a methacryl‐substituted polysilsesquioxane and PMMA‐coated ZnO nanoparticle (NP) followed by UV‐curing process. These LPMSQ/ZnO nanocomposites gave high thermal and mechanical stabilities originated from the rigid ladder structured siloxane backbone of LPMSQ. The polysilsesquioxane and surface‐modified ZnO nanoparticles showed excellent compatibility between MMA groups in LPMSQ‐ and PMMA‐capped ZnO nanoparticles to give well‐dispersed LPMSQ/ZnO nanocomposites. Mechanically pliant and flexible free standing films were obtained, and the photo and optical properties of these hybrid nanocomposites were examined. The high photoluminescent properties were maintained even after severe thermal treatments exceeding 400°C. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42333.     

Synthesis and properties of PMMA‐ZrO2 organic–inorganic hybrid films

In this work we report the synthesis process and properties of PMMA‐ZrO₂ organic–inorganic hybrid films. The hybrid films were deposited by a modified sol‐gel process using zirconium propoxide (ZP) as the inorganic (zirconia) source, methyl methacrylate (MMA) as the organic source, and 3‐trimetoxy‐silyl‐propyl‐methacrylate (TMSPM) as the coupling agent between organic and inorganic phases. The films were deposited by dip coating on glass slide substrates from a hybrid precursor solution containing the three precursors with molar ratio 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 for ZP, TMSPM, and MMA, respectively. After deposition, the hybrid thin films were heat‐treated at 100°C for 24 h. The macroscopic characteristics of the hybrid films such as high homogeneity and high optical transparence evidenced the formation of a cross‐linked, interpenetrated organic–inorganic network. The deposited PMMA‐ZrO₂ hybrid films were homogeneous, highly transparent and very well adhered to substrates. Fourier Transform Infra‐Red measurements of the hybrid films display absorption bands of chemical groups associated with both PMMA and ZrO₂ phases. The amounts of organic and inorganic phases in the hybrid films were determined from thermogravimetric measurements. The surface morphology and homogeneity of the hybrid films at microscopic level were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images. From the analysis of optical transmission and reflection spectra, the optical constants (refraction index and extinction coefficient) of the hybrid films were determined, employing a physical model to simulate the hybrid optical layers. The refraction index of the hybrid films at 532 nm was 1.56. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42738.     

Influence of surface modification of zinc oxide nanoparticles on thermal behavior and hydrophilic property of PET–PEG composites

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were successfully prepared by a one‐step precipitation reaction in an aqueous solution of zinc acetate and sodium hydroxide with stearic acid (SA) as the modifying agent. Hydrophilic composites of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(ethylene glycol), and ZnO nanoparticles were prepared further by in situ polymerization. The surface modification of ZnO and the microstructure and properties of prepared nanoparticles were investigated by relative contact angle measurements (CA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Measurements of CA and XRD indicated that the surface‐treated ZnO was hydrophobic and had a significant improvement in crystallinity with SA. Compared with the nanocomposites filled with the pure ZnO, the modified ZnO exhibits a better dispersion in PET–PEG matrix. TGA results showed that the presence of modified ZnO nanoparticles can improve the thermal stability of PET–PEG matrix. CA and low field nuclear magnetic resonance methods were used to investigate the hydrophilic behavior of nanocomposites. The results revealed that modified nanoparticles had a positive effect on the bound water absorption. A simple model for the interactions between ZnO, SA, and PET–PEG matrix was proposed. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:1830–1838, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Development of Functional Polyurethane–ZnO Hybrid Nanocomposite Coatings from Thevetia peruviana Seed Oil

The present article reports eco‐friendly multi‐functional polyurethane–ZnO hybrid nanocomposite coatings obtained from Thevetia peruviana seed oil (TPSO). Initially, the polyols were prepared by treating TPSO with glycerol and the formation was supported by Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) and ¹H‐NMR studies. In the next stage, siloxane functionalized ZnO nanoparticles were added to the polyol mixture in different weight percentages (0, 1 and 2 %) and then treated with excess 4,4′‐diisocyanatodicyclohexylmethane (H₁₂MDI) in order to synthesize isocyanate terminated polyurethane nanocomposites. The polyurethane hybrids were then casted as thin films and cured under atmospheric moisture. After complete curing they were characterized by using FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis techniques. The hybrid nanocomposites showed superior thermo‐mechanical and anti‐corrosive properties compared to pristine polyurethane. Also, due to the presence of nano ZnO in the polyurethane matrix, the composite coatings are showing excellent resistance towards various bacterial and fungal stains.     

Yttria–polystyrene–polypropylene composite for fine dyeable fibers

Fine polypropylene fiber has many excellent properties, but it is difficult to dye because of the absence of dye sites in the molecular chain and high crystallinity. Fine polypropylene/hybrid polystyrene (yttria) fiber melt‐spun from blends of polypropylene and a small amount of nanohybrid polystyrene with modified yttria incorporated was prepared to improve the dyeing properties. The dyeability, orientation, degree of crystallinity, phase morphology, and mechanical properties of pure polypropylene and the blend fibers were investigated. It was found that the crystallinity and morphology of these phases in the blend systems were different. With the existence of nanohybrid polystyrene, the fine modified polypropylene filaments had practical mechanical properties, the amorphous region of the polypropylene/hybrid polystyrene (yttria) fiber increased, and the modified polypropylene fiber dyed easily and had good fastness to soaping because of the complexation of the disperse dye and yttrium in the blend system. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008