Search results

The aim of this work is to synthesize neopentyl glycol oligoesters based on adipic acid and rapeseed oil (NOAR) which may be used as the renewable and environmentally acceptable base fluids to replace mineral oils in the future.

Oligomeric intermediates were synthesized in the first esterification of neopentyl glycol with adipic acid and characterized by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) to calculate the average oligomerisation degree. NOAR were synthesized in the second esterification of oligomeric intermediates with rapeseed oil fatty acid. The effects of average oligomerisation degree on the viscosity, viscosity index, pour point, oxidative stability and biodegradability of NOAR were investigated; the tribological properties and thermal stability of NOAR were evaluated by four-ball tribometer and TGA, respectively.

Results show that with the increase of average oligomerisation degree from 2.10 to 4.34, the viscosity of NOAR increased from 101.1 to 182.0 (mm2/s) at 40°C and 18.3 to 30.1 (mm2/s) at 100°, respectively, and their oxidation stability can be improved as well. The yields of NOAR were 83.3-89.4 per cent, and the evaluated properties were as follows: viscosity index of over 200, pour point of below −43°C, biodegradation rate of more than 96 per cent, maximum non-seizure load (PB value) of 784 N, wear scar diameters of 0.40 mm and thermal decomposition temperature of higher than 300°C.

This work provides a method to synthesize rapeseed oil-based oligoesters which can serve as the renewable and environmentally acceptable base fluids with tunable viscosity by controlling the oligomerisation degree of esterification.

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste from soft drink bottles was incorporated into palm olein alkyd to produce new polyol for use in polyurethane resins as surface protection on metal surfaces.

Alkyd was prepared from palm olein, glycerol and phthalic anhydride. PET underwent simultaneous glycolysis and transesterification reactions with the alkyd. Varying the amount of PET has led to polyols with different viscosities. Polyurethane resins were produced by reacting the polyols with toluene diisocyanate. The resins were coated on mild steel panels and cured. Performances of the cured films were tested.

The polyurethanes (PU) resin cured to a harder film with better thermal stability. Films showed excellent adhesion properties, while higher content of PET exhibited higher pencil hardness, better water, salt, acid and alkali resistance.

Other vegetable oils could also be used. The alkyd structure could be changed by formulation to have different functionality and the ability to incorporate higher amount of PET waste. Rate of glycolysis of PET could be increased by higher amount of ethylene glycol.

This method has managed to use waste PET in producing new polyol and PU resins. The cured films exhibit good mechanical and chemical properties, as well as excellent adhesion and thermal stability.

The non-biodegradable PET has created environmental pollution problems connected to littering and illegal landfilling. It has become necessary to pay greater attention to recycling PET bottles for obtaining valuable products.

This approach is different from the earlier reports, where PET was recycled to recover the raw materials.

One of the more recent additions to the range of additives from Diamond Shamrock UK Ltd., P.O. Box 1, Silk Street, Eccles, Manchester M30 OBH, are their Photomer speciality polyfunctional monomers and photocurable oligomers for use in the production of radiation curable inks and coatings.

Electron beam is a way of radiation that can induce different reactions on polymers. The purpose of this work is to analyze the effect that the electron beam can produce on polyester fabrics.

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibres were treated at 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 KGy. Later on surface modification was analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Colorimetric and thermal measurements were studied too, as well as traction resistance.

Traction resistance showed no significant variations. As a result the authors could observe some changes in fabric witnesses and cristallinity increase, but no changes in traction resistance were observed. Moreover, when surface was studied, roughness was increased as oligomers moved towards fibre surface because of radiation dose.

The authors could appreciate roughness increased with radiation dose as well as yellowness and crystallinity.

In order to obtain desired film properties, alkyd resins are frequently modified by other resins and polymers either by physically blending them or chemically incorporating them. Some of the recent physical modifications of alkyd have already been described in the first part of the article. In this second part, the different types of resins and polymers used for the chemical modifications of alkyd resin are reviewed. A critical discussion on generally recognised advantages and disadvantages of the resultant coating from each modifier is described. Their use in surface coating industry are enumerated. Types of modifier to be used for improving a particular property in the coating are also suggested.