N ANOSTRUCTURED materials are an important subject in different applications. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have much attention because of their unique properties. The objective of this work is to synthesise zinc oxide nanoparticles by simplest chemical method (direct aqueous precipitation). Also, the effect of zinc oxide addition to polyurethane foam (PUF) on the mechanical and sound properties has been evaluated. Different concentrations of ZnO (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 wt.%) were used. ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by some techniques such as X-Ray diffraction, Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and Transmission electron microscopy analysis. Scanning electron microscope was used to describe the dispersion state of the nanoparticles in the polyurethane foam. Density of PUF increased while the particle size decreased. Finally, it was confirmed that the mechanical and acoustic properties of polyurethane nanocomposites were improved and depend on the amount of nanozinc oxide.

In this article, rice husk flour filler/polypropylene (RH/PP) composites with different ratios of the filler were prepared without and with maleated PP, which was used as a compatibilizer. The RH filler in the RH/PP composites was treated with acid and alkali, and their mechanical properties were measured. The mechanical properties were improved with the addition of the compatibilizer. In this study, grafting of maleic anhydride (MA) onto PP with different ratios of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and MA was prepared. Infrared analysis showed characteristic bands at 1786 and 1863 cm−1 for the grafted sample (maleated PP). Also, from chemical titration, the optimum MA and BPO contents were 4 and 1 part per hundred parts (php of polymer), respectively. The results showed that the morphology of the grafted sample was a flat with coarse surface, and that of the composite clearly elucidated that the interfacial bonding between RH and PP was enhanced by the presence of the compatibilizer. Thermal stability of the grafted PP was enhanced by the grafting process. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012