@article { ISI:000260640600003, title = {Intrinsic viscosity of aqueous solutions of carboxymethyl guar in the presence and in the absence of salt}, journal = {Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics}, volume = {209}, number = {20}, year = {2008}, month = {OCT}, pages = {2087-2093}, publisher = {WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH}, type = {Article}, address = {PO BOX 10 11 61, D-69451 WEINHEIM, GERMANY}, abstract = {

Intrinsic viscosities were determined for solutions of CMG in pure water and 0.9 wt.-\% aqueous NaCl. To avoid the 0/0-type extrapolation typical for Huggins plots, a new procedure was used. For CMG and pure water, this requires only two adjustable parameters: the specific hydrodynamic volume of the polymer in the limit of infinite dilution and a hydrodynamic interaction parameter. The intrinsic viscosity of CMG (no salt) at room temperature is 6 050 mL . g(-1); approximately half as large as that of Na-PSS of comparable molar mass. The ratio of the intrinsic viscosities with and without salt is approximate to 7 for CMG, as compared to \>100 for Na-PSS. The reasons 1:5 5 for the different behaviors of the two types of polyelectrolytes are being discussed.

}, keywords = {Biopolymers, Carboxymethyl guar, intrinsic viscosity, polyelectrolyte, salt-free solutions}, issn = {1022-1352}, doi = {10.1002/macp.200800238}, author = {Badiger, Manohar V. and Gupta, Nivika R. and Eckelt, John and Wolf, Bernhard A.} } @article { ISI:000306768600002, title = {Electrospinning of PHBV/ZnO membranes: structure and properties}, journal = {Fibers and Polymers}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, year = {2012}, month = {JUL}, pages = {692-697}, publisher = {KOREAN FIBER SOC}, address = {KOREA SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY CTR \#501 635-4 YEOGSAM-DONG, KANGNAM-GU, SEOUL 135-703, SOUTH KOREA}, abstract = {

Polyhydroxy butyrate-co-valerate (PHBV) - Zinc oxide (ZnO) nano composite fibers were prepared using electrospinning. The structural and optical properties were studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-ER), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence study (PL). The morphology observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed no significant changes in the nano composite fibers as compared to bare polymer. The low concentration of ZnO nanoparticles resulted in an increase in overall crystallinity of the polymer matrix which was confirmed from FT-IR and XRD results. The photoluminescence (PL) study indicated the quenching of visible emission in the composite fibers. The ratio of UV to visible emission (I-uv/I-vis) intensity was found to be 12.8 times enhanced in the composite fibers compared to bare ZnO nanoparticles. The nanofibrous mats are self supported and hence offer potential applications in optoelectronic devices and the biomedical imaging.

}, keywords = {Biomarkers, Biopolymers, electrospinning, ZnO nanoparticles}, issn = {1229-9197}, doi = {10.1007/s12221-012-0692-9}, author = {Naphade, Rounak and Jog, Jyoti Prakash} } @article { ISI:000360002300005, title = {Studies on melt processable biocomposites of polylactic acid}, journal = {Journal of Polymers and the Environment}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, year = {2015}, month = {SEP}, pages = {321-333}, publisher = {SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS}, address = {233 SPRING ST, NEW YORK, NY 10013 USA}, abstract = {

Melt processable microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites were successfully prepared by twin-screw extrusion. Several characterization techniques were used to investigate the effect of MCC on rheological behavior, morphology, crystallization and melting behavior of the PLA and structure-property correlation of the MCC/PLA composites has been established. Rheological measurements showed that the addition of MCC has a dramatic influence on the low frequency relaxations of PLA chains and above 5 \% of MCC, it forms percolated network structure. Differential scanning calorimeter analysis showed that MCC acted as nucleating agent enhancing crystallization below the percolation concentration. Properties of MCC/PLA composites have been compared with that of talc and CaCO3 filled composites. Talc is found to be more effective in crystallizing PLA than MCC and CaCO3. MCC/PLA composites are found be melt processable like that of talc and CaCO3 filled PLA composites.

}, keywords = {Biopolymers, composites, Rheological properties, Structure-property relationship}, issn = {1566-2543}, doi = {10.1007/s10924-014-0668-5}, author = {Joseph, Seena and Deenadayalan, E. and Mahanwar, Prakash A.} }