MIT-World Peace University (MIT-WPU) is a top educational institute located in Pune, India. It is recognized within&nbsp;UGC under Government of Maharashtra Act No. XXXV 2017.&nbsp;

It is part of the MIT group of institutions (established in 1983) which covers 10+ campuses across India and has more than 50,000+ students enrolled across various disciplines at a given point of time. The institute houses 15 schools ranging from Engineering &amp; Technology, Design, Pharmacy, Commerce, Governance among others. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD programs among different disciplines.&nbsp;

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MIT World Peace University

In recent years, research has focused on developing polymers from agricultural waste, and jackfruit waste has been identified as a potential source. The utilization of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) waste for making value-added polymers is an innovative approach to reduce environmental pollution and create a sustainable environment. The edible part of jackfruit consists of only 40% of the whole fruit while other 60% goes to waste as non-edible part of the fruit. Jackfruit waste in mainly distributed into three parts which are seed, peel and latex respectively. Jackfruit waste is a significant source of cellulose and starch, which can be converted into various high-value products through different chemical and biochemical processes. The resulting value-added polymers have numerous applications in various fields, including packaging, textiles, and biomedical engineering. They exhibit good mechanical properties, thermal stability, and biodegradability, making them a promising alternative to conventional petroleum-based polymers. Considering the large volume of jackfruit production (&gt; 500,000 metric tons pa in six countries), this waste can become feedstock for making new polymeric materials. Circular economy practices along with environmental protection are the need of modern world. This review covers the characterization of different parts of jackfruit waste and its utilization in making lightweight polymer composites. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

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School of Polymer Engineering

Engineering and Technology

Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery

Review on conversion of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) waste for making value added polymers

Exploring the effective incorporation of natural fibers into polymer composites offers a sustainable approach to finding eco-friendly alternatives that do not harm the environment. Sheep wool–based polymer composites have emerged as a promising and sustainable alternative in the field of materials science. This review comprehensively examines the recent advancements and developments in the utilization of sheep wool as reinforcement in polymer composites. The abundant availability of sheep wool as a natural and renewable resource makes it an attractive option for enhancing the properties of synthetic polymers. The unique structural characteristics of wool fibers, such as their high aspect ratio, surface morphology, and chemical composition, contribute to the improved mechanical, thermal, and flame-retardant properties of the resulting composites. This review explores the various techniques employed for preparing sheep wool fibers, including mechanical treatments, chemical modifications, and functionalization approaches, to optimize their compatibility with polymer matrices. The interfacial interactions between wool fibers and polymer matrices are also discussed, along with the effects of various processing parameters on the overall performance of the composites. The introduction of sheep wool fiber reinforcement results in a significant uptick in tensile strength, showcasing enhancements of up to 25% compared to unmodified polymers. The inherent thermal stability of sheep wool fibers leads to an enhanced thermal resistance, as demonstrated by a 15 °C elevation in the onset degradation temperature. Moreover, sheep wool fiber reinforcement precipitates a remarkable 50% reduction in peak heat release rate, thereby spotlighting augmented flame-retardant attributes. Additionally, the integration of sheep wool fibers yields a notable reduction in water absorption by up to 30%, signifying improved resistance against moisture-related degradation. Moreover, this review highlights the potential applications of sheep wool–based polymer composites in diverse fields, including construction materials, automotive components, textiles, and packaging materials. Furthermore, the environmental benefits of utilizing sheep wool as a renewable resource and its role in waste reduction from the textile industry are emphasized. However, challenges and limitations associated with sheep wool–based polymer composites are addressed, paving the way for future research directions. Overall, this review presents a comprehensive assessment of the current state of knowledge regarding sheep wool–based polymer composites, providing valuable insights for researchers, engineers, and industries interested in sustainable materials development and environmentally friendly technologies. Sheep wool is an exciting biomass which has a potential to create sustainable and innovative materials. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Review on biomass sheep wool–based polymer composites

Waste cassava starch was soaked in water for 24 h and the solution was heated at 70 °C that was then plasticized by using different plasticizer such as glycerine, sorbitol, and polyethylene glycol separately (0%–40% with respect to starch). This was blended with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix in aqueous solution. Plasticizer content (Plc) was varied from 10% to 40% with respect to starch. The solutions were cast into films in a plastic dish and dried at 55 °C for 24 h. These were subsequently given short-time heat treatment (150 °C for 2 min). The films were characterized by XRD, FTIR and tested for mechanical properties and seal strength. The two prominent XRD peaks at 19.6° and 23° merge in one broad peak for high Plc percentage. The crystallinity (Ci) decreased with the increase of Plc percentage in the order PEG < sorbitol< glycerine. Increase in the content of PVA led to a shift of onset degradation temperature to higher value while an increase of Plc percentage it lowered slightly. The FTIR bands in the region of 1130–1020 cm−1 indicated crystal modification of starch after heating. The tensile strength decreased with the increase in Plc percentage but increased after heat treatment (even for Plc percentage of 30%–40%). The elongation increased considerably with Plc percentage but dropped after heat treatment. The seal strength increased with the increase of plasticizer content. There was optimum PVA concentration (66.6%) at which best seal strength was achieved. These results correlated well with the structural changes noted with respect to composition and annealing. The above study helps to develop ecofriendly packaging films and improvements in the seal strength of such films in presence of modified starch. © 2022 by Apple Academic Press, Inc.

Natural Polymers: Perspectives and Applications for a Green Approach

Effect of Thermal Treatment on Structure and Properties of Plasticized Starch– Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Blend Films

Recycling of plastics is very much hindered due to the process of segregation and sorting of individual polymer and also lack of compatibility between the different polymers. There is no single compatibilizer which can be effective for different pairs of polymer. If one could develop a multifunctional compatibilizer (MFC) that can be effective for a various range of polymers, the mixed plastics waste can be processed as such with minimal sorting/segregation. There are a number of reports on compatibilizer for specific pairs of polymer blends but there are practically no reports on single compatibilizer which works for different pairs of polymers. In the present studies, we have investigated the possibility of introducing different functional groups on a single polymer chain by chemical grafting. This multifunctional polymer has been used as compatibilizer for polypropylene blend with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). © 2018, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

Materials Horizons: From Nature to Nanomaterials

Multifunctional Compatibilizer for Polypropylene Blends with PMMA and EVA

In the attempt to make low cost conducting polymer composite materials for fuel cell / battery applications, polypropylene (PP) with graphite (Gr) and other carbon black/ nanotubes hybrid materials were investigated. The development of crystalline structure in polypropylene (PP) graphite composite was studied with respect to composition and processing conditions. The DSC and XRD data confirmed the preferential nucleation and beta crystalline phase formation for the binary PP-Gr composites. There was dramatic increase in the electrical conductivity by addition of small amount of thrid component (CNT <5%) to the binary PP-Gr composite even at low graphite loading of 10%. Impedance spectroscopy analysis showed that the interfacial capacitance, with the addition of 2.75 wt% CB in PP-7 wt% graphite, increases to 52 pF from 31 pF for PP-7 wt% graphite proving the occupation of CB particles in the interspaces of graphite particles. The results of electrical conductivity were correlated with the nucleation and crystallization of the beta phase of PP by graphite flakes leading to interfacial resistive layer in binary composites while suppression of these effects in the ternary composites.

Technical Proceedings of the 2013 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 2013

Structure and Electrical Properties of Polypropylene-Graphite-Carbon black/ Nanotubes Hybrid Conducting Composites

All polymer composites contain blends of two or three polymers of which the minor phase is in fibrous form and acts as the reinforcement for the material. In the present studies polypropylene (PP) with nylon (Ny) were compounded extruded and then molded at temperature close to nylon. Crystallization kinetics and structure devlopment was studied in the PP-Ny blends with composition. Nylon dispersed phase was found to nucleate PP giving rapid crystallization. There was extensive fibrous morphology and fiber diameter was dependent on composition. The tensile and impact strength were considerably improved by almost 1.5 to 2 times that of PP at certain concentrations of nylon. Thus, these blends behave as self reinforced composites due to the peculiar nanofibrous morphology getting developed during melt processing.

Novel in situ nano fibrous reinforced all polymer polypropylene-nylon composite

Nanofibrous morphology has been observed in ternary blends of low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and isotactic polypropylene (PP) when these were melt-extruded via slit die followed by hot stretching. The morphology was dependent on the concentration of the component polymers in ternary blend LDPE/LLDPE/PP. The films were characterized by wide angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and testing of mechanical properties. The XRD patterns reveal that the β phase of PP is obtained in the as-stretched nanofibrillar composites, whose concentration decreases with the increase of LLDPE concentration. The presence of PP nanofibrils shows significant nucleation ability for crystallization of LDPE/LLDPE blend. The SEM observations of etched samples show an isotropic blend of LDPE and LLDPE reinforced with more or less randomly distributed and well-defined nanofibrils of PP, which were generated in situ. The tensile modulusand strength of LDPE/LLDPE/PP blends were significantly enhanced in the machine direction than in the transverse direction with increasing LLDPE concentration. The ultimate elongation increased with increasing LLDPE concentration, and there was a critical LLDPE concentration above which it increased considerably. There was a dramatic increase in the falling dart impact strength for films obtained by blow extrusion of these blends. These impressive mechanical properties of extruded samples can be explained on the basis of the formation of PP nanofibrils with high aspect ratio (at least 10), which imparted reinforcement to the LDPE/LLDPE blend. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Journal of Applied Polymer Science

Development of nanofibrous morphology in LDPE/LLDPE/PP blends and its effect on mechanical properties of blend films

Plastics have become a major factor in modern life and the massive volume of plastics in use has a significant effect on the environment. Major efforts are underway to reduce the impact of plastics on the environment and to make them more eco-friendly. Such efforts include the use of bio-materials instead of nonrenewable resources such as petroleum for manufacturing polymers. There are also studies which are aimed at reducing the impact of discarded plastic products on air and water supplies, as well as on flora, fauna, and landfills. © 2006 SAGE Publications.

School of Chemical Engineering

Fulltext

Journal of Plastic Film and Sheeting

Studies toward producing eco-friendly plastics

The effect of CaCO3 on the crystallization behaviour and the modification of structure in polypropylene (PP) has been investigated using X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy. The crystallization half time deduced from spherulitic growth rate was found to vary sharply and decreased considerably from 5-6 min for pure polymer to less than 2 min in the presence of CaCO3. The ultimate spherulite size also decreased considerably for PP containing CaCO3. Its dependance on composition however, showed a plateau region at about 10-15 wt % of additive. The intensities of certain reflections especially the 130 and 040 of the α phase were greatly affected by the presence of CaCO3 and large variations in the crystallinity (Ci) values were observed with composition. The ratio of intensities of 130 and 040 reflections and the Ci revealed a maximum at a certain concentration of CaCO3. The above results can be explained on the basis of nucleation and preferential growth of the α phase of PP crystallites. © 1996 Chapman &amp; Hall.