Kuo‐Shien Huang

In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) were used in different proportions to produce a series of PEG–VTES copolymers. The copolymer molecular structures were confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. In addition, their surface activities were evaluated by evaluating the surface tension, contact angle, and foaming properties. The results showed that these surfactants exhibited excellent surface activities and wetting power, as well as low foaming. Consequently, the application of a series of PEG/VTES copolymers can make cotton fabrics stain resistant.

Many studies have explored dye wastewater treatment methods; however,concerns relating to the dye wastewater composition and cost still exist. In this study, we used polyethylene glycol (PEG) and vinyltriethoxy silane (VTES) in different proportions to produce a series of PEG-VTES copolymers, to investigate the interaction between various dyes and the impact of these copolymers on dye absorption. The copolymer molecular structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and their impact on dye absorption and dye interaction was investigated. We demonstrate that the series of copolymers produced displayed enhanced dye decolorization with increasing copolymer dose and time. Additionally, the PEG/VTES copolymers and dyes interacted, as the copolymer enabled a shift of the λmax of UV, reducing the absorbance. We also demonstrate that addition of the copolymers reduced the overall zeta electrical potential value of the dye solution and improved dye decolorization most potently at the lowest PEG-VTES molar ratio (2:1). Key words: Polyethylene glycol, copolymer, compound, decolorization.

We considered polyamide 6 as a base material for a composite and added improved tourmaline and carbon fiber to manufacture a material that could release negative ions and resist electromagnetic waves. Through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyses, we verified that the improved tourmaline could disperse homogeneously in the base material, whose thermal properties improved as the content of tourmaline increased. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the added tourmaline and carbon fiber complemented the conductive network of the composite material. A negative ion detector and an infrared thermal imaging system both revealed that with an appropriate tourmaline content, the negative ion release properties of the composite material could reach 2020 units cm⁻³ with a difference in temperature of up to 7.54°C. Analyses by a four-point probe low-resistance tester and electromagnetic wave shielding effectiveness tester demonstrated that the osmotic concentration was approximately 4%, and the surface resistivity was high, up to 1.04 × 10⁷ Ω cm⁻¹, reaching the range of static dissipative materials (10⁶–10¹² Ω cm⁻¹). The maximum electromagnetic wave shielding effectiveness was as high as 30 dB MHz⁻¹.

This experiment adopted mixed acid (H₂SO₄:HNO₃ = 3:1) to purify multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and used a silane coupling agent n-octyltriethoxysilane (OTES) to modify carbon nanotubes, respectively. Then we mixed OTES-modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) resin to make a composite. TGA analysis results revealed that as the CNTs'content increased, the Td₁₀ tended to rise. The amount of composite residual at 500°C also increased, as well as the composite electrical conductivity. When a concentration of 5% OTES was used to modify the CNT, the resultant composite exhibited better electrical conductivity.

Copolymers with different weight ratios of AA/PAS (acrylic acid/poly(DL-aspartic acid)) were synthesized and blended with sol-gel precursors to prepare water-soluble PAA–PAS/SiO₂ inorganic/organic hybrid materials. The PAS polymer or its copolymer in PAA–PAS/SiO₂ formed hydrogen bonds with SiO₂ and the amorphous structure of the hybrid material varied with the weight ratio of PAA. The hybrid materials exhibited enhanced thermal resistance over the copolymer alone. All hybrid materials were water-soluble and relatively insoluble in organic solvents.

Chitosan was degraded into low-molecular-weight chitosan (LWCS) using different concentrations of H₂O₂. Then different concentrations of tripolyphosphate (TPP) were incorporated to make nanochitosan. The effects of LWCS on nanochitosan particle size and the zeta potential are discussed. The cross-linking was best when the LWCS/TPP mass ratio was approximately 5:2, at which nanochitosan particles formed and the zeta potential measured at this moment was minimal. A lower molecular weight corresponded to a smaller nanoparticle size.

This research explored the effect of a mixed sol on the physical properties of a treated fabric, and confirmed the crosslinkage of SiO₂ and dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) using Fourier transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In the experiment, DMDHEU was applied to a cotton fabric and different mole ratios of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)/titanium (IV) n‐butoxide (TTB) were added. The mixture was then subjected to immersion, padding, drying, and curing. The results showed that hydrogen bonds had formed between SiO₂ and DMDHEU. The treated fabric had improved antiwrinkle properties, tensile‐strength retention, and yellowing degree when the mole ratio of TEOS was increased. By contrast, the softness of the fabric showed the opposite trend. When the mole ratio of TEOS/TTB was set at 10/1, the treated fabric showed a significant reduction of its antiwrinkle properties under both dry and wet conditions. The fabric treated with TEOS/TTB was superior to the traditionally treated fabric in terms of its ultraviolet (UV) light resistance. When the mole ratio of TEOS/TTB was 2.5/1 or 5.0/1, the addition of 10% DMDHEU during the treatment of the cotton fabric, followed by drying for 5 min at 80°C and curing at 150°C for 2 min, resulted in the fabric having improved and more balanced physical properties. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007