This article deals with the usage of tamarind seed filler (TSF) as reinforcement in vinyl ester (VE) composites. The composite plates have been fabricated by compression molding machine with TSFs of varying wt% from 5 to 50 as reinforcement material, and their properties such as tensile, flexural, impact, hardness, water absorption, heat deflection tests, and thermogravimetric analysis are studied. The mechanical properties of TSF reinforced VE composites are optimum at 15 wt% filler. The tensile strength and flexural strength of TSF‐VE composites are estimated to be around 34.1 and 121 MPa, respectively. The better impact strength of TSF‐VE composites is found to be 14.02 kJ/m2, and barcol hardness can hold a value up to 42.33. Thermo gravimetric analysis and heat deflection test of TSF reinforced VE composite have improved the thermal stability. The fiber matrix interaction of the fractured mechanical testing specimen has been analyzed by scanning electron microscope. The TSF‐VE composites are used to fabricate the wheel hubcap of heavy‐duty buses, bus seat backrest cover, and silencer guard of the motorcycle. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 25:E114–E128, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers

The widespread use of plastic goods creates huge disposal issues and environmental concerns. Increasing emphasis has been paid to the notion of a circular economy, which might have a significant impact on the demand for plastic raw materials. Post-consumer plastics recycling is a major focus of the nation’s circular economy. This study focuses on energy recovery from waste plastics as an alternative fuel source to meet the circular economy demand. Waste plastic fuel produced through pyrolysis has been claimed to be utilized as a substituted fuel. This work focuses to determine the performance and emission standards of Waste Plastic Fuel (WPF) generated from the pyrolysis of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) in a single-cylinder Direct Injection Diesel Engine (DIDE). Three different ratios of WPF were combined with 10% ethanol and 10% ethoxy ethyl acetate as an oxygenated additive to create quaternary fuel blends. The ethanol has a low viscosity, a high oxygen content, a high hydrogen-to-carbon ratio as favourable properties, the quaternary fuel results the improved brake thermal efficiency, fuel consumption and reduced emissions. The blend WEE20 exhibits 4.7% higher brake thermal efficiency, and 7.8% reduced fuel consumption compared to the diesel. The quaternary fuel blends demonstrated decreased carbon monoxide of 3.7 to 13.4% and reduced hydrocarbons of 2 to 16% under different load conditions.

The production of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) utilizing different vegetable extracts (onion, cabbage, carrot, and tomato) was performed in this research owing to its excellency over other methods of synthesis, namely, simplicity, environmental friendliness, and the elimination of harmful compounds. Fresh extracted onion, cabbage, carrot, and tomato of ZnO NPs are characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-visible spectroscopy. FTIR findings demonstrate that the prepared nanoparticles were observed in the spectrum of 626 cm-1–1219 cm-1 with some other functional groups. Wurtzite hexagonal structure of the prepared ZnO NPs was observed from XRD results. In addition, the prepared nanoparticles were failed into nanoscales (17 nm, 18 nm, 24 nm, and 15 nm) calculated from Scherrer’s equation. Nearly spherical shapes were seen from SEM image for onion and tomato extraction while rod and tube for carrot and cabbage, respectively. Two broad peaks were observed from UV-vis spectroscopy results for each extract. The presence of a wide range of energy bandgaps in the region of 3-4 eV was detected, indicating that ZnO NP material can be employed in metal oxide semiconductor-based systems. The dye-sensitive solar cell based on ZnO NPs has been successfully synthesized, and the efficiency of the device has been evaluated by measuring the current density-voltage behaviour under the presence of artificial sunshine. The increased effectiveness of the manufactured dye-sensitive solar cell is attributable to a large improvement in dye molecular adsorption onto the surface of ZnO NPs. Thus, the usage of the green produced ZnO NPs with creating dye sensitivity solar cell is a simple and viable way for the well-being of our future.

This study presents a novel utilization of biomass solid waste, named Polyalthia longifolia (Mast tree) seed as a reinforcement in a composite, using a compression molding technique.An attempt was made to reinforce vinyl ester matrix (VE) with Polyalthia longifolia seed filler (PLSF), ranging from 5 to 50 wt% loadings. Mechanical properties of the fabricated Polyalthia longifolia seed filler/vinyl ester (PLSF-VE) composite samples were tested and analyzed. The results showed that the PLSF-VE composite exhibited optimum mechanical properties at 25 % wt of filler loading; ultimate tensile strength and modulus were approximately 32.50 MPa and 1.23 GPa, respectively. The ultimate flexural, impact strengths and hardness were observed around 125 MPa, 31.09 kJ/m 2 and 36.50, respectively. The heat deflection test and thermo-gravimetric analysis depicted that the PLSF-VE composites withstood up to 66 o C and 430 o C, respectively. Furthermore, the PLSF and its various composite samples were studied, using energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM).

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