Chitosan films incorporated with thyme oil for potential applications of wound dressing were successfully prepared by solvent casting method. The water vapor permeability, oxygen transmission rate, and mechanical properties of the films were determined. Surface and crosssection morphologies and the film thicknesses were determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was conducted to determine functional group interactions between the chitosan and thyme oil. Thermal behaviors of the films were analyzed by Thermal Gravimetry (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). In addition, the antimicrobial and the antioxidant activities of the films were investigated. The antimicrobial test was carried by agar diffusion method and the growth inhibition effects of the films including different amount of thyme oil were tested on the gram negative microorganisms of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a gram positive microorganism of Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum thyme oil concentration in chitosan films showing the antimicrobial activity on all microorganisms used in the study was found as 1.2 % (v/v). In addition, this concentration showed the highest antioxidant activity due to mainly the carvacrol in thyme oil. Water vapor permeability and oxygen transmission rate of the films slightly increased, however, mechanical properties decreased with thyme oil incorporation. The results revealed that the thyme oil has a good potential to be incorporated into chitosan to make antibacterial and permeable films for wound healing applications.

The effects of coupling agents on the mechanical, morphological, and water sorption properties of luffa fiber (LF)/polypropylene(PP) composites were studied. In order to enhance the interfacial interactions between the PP matrix and the luffa fiber, three different types of coupling agents, (3-aminopropyl)-triethoxysilane (AS), 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-1-propanethiol (MS), and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) were used. The PP composites containing 2-15 wt% of LF were prepared in a torque rheometer. The tensile properties of the untreated and treated composites were determined as a function of filler loading. Tensile strength and Young's modulus increased with employment of the coupling agents accompanied by a decrease in water absorption with treatment due to the better adhesion between the fiber and the matrix. The maximum improvement in the mechanical properties was obtained for the MS treated LF composites. The interfacial interactions improved the filler compatibility, mechanical properties, and water resistance of composites. The improvement in the interfacial interaction was also confirmed by the Pukanszky model. Good agreement was obtained between experimental data and the model prediction. Morphological studies demonstrated that better adhesion between the fiber and the matrix was achieved especially for the MS and AS treated LF composites. Atomic force microscope (AFM) studies also showed that the surface roughness of LFs decreased with the employment of silane-coupling agents. q

No abstract

In this study, mechanical and morphological properties of composites made up of recycled highdensity polyethylene (HDPE) filled with calcium carbonate and fly ash (FA) were studied. Interfacial interactions were modified to improve the filler compatibility and mechanical properties of the composites by surface treatment of the FA filler with 3-amino propyl triethoxy silane. The composites were prepared by using a Thermo Haake Rheomixer. Effect of filler loading and treatment of FA with silane coupling agent on mechanical and morphological properties were investigated and it was found that silane treatment indicated significant improvements on the mechanical properties of the HDPE-FA composites. The improvement with silane treatment of FA was also confirmed by applying the Pukanszky model. Scanning electron microscopy on the fracture surface of composites had given direct evidence of better interfacial adhesion via silane treatment.

a b s t r a c tA novel corn-zein coating structure on polypropylene (PP) films was developed to examine its feasibility as an alternative water vapor and oxygen-barrier for flexible packaging industry. The barrier properties of the resulting films were evaluated as affected by coating formulation (solvent, corn-zein, plasticizer concentration and plasticizer type). Corn-zein with different amounts (5% and 15%) was dissolved in 70% and 95% aqueous ethanol solution at 50°C, respectively. Solutions of corn-zein plasticized by polyethylene glycol (PEG) and glycerol (GLY) with various levels (20% and 50%) were applied on corona-dischargedtreated PP by using solvent-casting method. The significant improvements in water vapor and oxygenbarrier properties of uncoated PP films were obtained with corn-zein coating. Water vapor permeability (WVP) of the coated films decreased significantly with increasing corn-zein concentration. The application of plasticized corn-zein coating on PP films showed nearly more than three order of reduction in oxygen permeability (OP). The high water vapor and oxygen-barriers were obtained for films coated with coating formulation consisting of higher amounts of corn-zein plasticized by GLY. The statistical analysis defined the key parameters of coating formulation that had major effect on the final properties of coated PP films as corn-zein, plasticizer concentration, and plasticizer type.