Ghader Khanbabaei

In this research esterified canola oil diol (COD) was used to synthesize a green thermoplastic polyurethane. The mixture of synthesized COD as a polyester and polytetramethylene‐glycol as a polyether with different molar ratios were used to synthesize a thermoplastic polyurethane. Membranes were prepared by solution casting technique and nano‐silica particles were used to improve their gas separation performance. The effects of COD segments on phase separation and thermal properties of blocky segments of polyurethanes were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. Results showed that phase separation behavior of the synthesized polyurethane was significantly increased with COD content. The COD segments showed high tendency to interact with hard segments of polyurethane in a way that new domains with higher thermal stability is created. Permeability of pure CO₂, CH₄, N₂, and He gases were taken using constant pressure method at different pressures. Nano‐silica particles showed high inclination to interact with COD segments and significantly influenced the phase separation as well as gas permeation properties of polyurethane. Interactions of nano‐silica particles with the soft segments of polyurethane increased the glassy behavior of polymer and improved the CO₂/CH₄, CO₂/N₂, and CO₂/He ideal selectivities (permselectivities). © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45979.

Epoxy‐clay nanocomposites were synthesized to examine the effects of adding different contents of nanoclays on the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the epoxy resin system used in composite pipes manufacturing. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol‐A (epoxy) with a cycloaliphatic amine heat curing hardner was reinforced by 1–7 wt.% of an organically modified type of montmorillonite. SEM results showed the change in failure of epoxy from brittle to tough mode by addition of nanoclays. X‐ray results indicated some degree of exfoliation by 1 wt.% clay and a decrease in d‐spacing in higher clay loadings after that. The heat‐distortion temperature of epoxy-clay nanocomposites increased from 125.5 to 138.7°C with 3 wt.% organoclay loading. Tensile and flexural modulus increased with increasing clay loading in this type of nanocomposite, but addition of organically modified clay decreased the tensile and flexural strengths and tensile elongation at break. Addition of 7 wt.% nanoclay improved the impact strength by 25.6%.