This study was carried out to evaluate the potential of plastic synthesized using bio-based starch. The method began with extraction of starch from chosen tubers with high content of starch; potato and yam. The samples were first grated, grinded and strained to obtain crude starch, which then centrifuged and rinsed to get pure starch. The starch was then reacted with hydrochloric acid to breakdown amylopectin to prevent the starch from becoming plastic-like. Finally, propan-1,2,3-triol was added as a plasticizer to increase the elasticity of the product. The chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the products were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), tensile strength tester and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The FTIR spectra of the product displayed the presence of O-H, C-H, C=O and C-O absorption peaks, which indicate the formation of bioplastic has already occured. The tensile strength obtained for potato and yam starch-based bioplastic are 0.6 MPa and 1.9 MPa, respectively. The result gained from TGA showed that 50% weight loss occurred at 250°C for potato and 310°C for yam-based plastic. The highly biodegradability of the plastic was proven using soil burial test, which observed the percentage of soil biodegradation for potato and yam-based bioplastic in 1 week duration is 43% and 26%, respectively. These bio-based plastics have exhibited good thermal and mechanical properties with high biodegradability that makes them a suitable alternative for the existing conventional plastics.

Glasses with chemical composition of (60-x)P2O5-25ZnO-(15+x)Li2O with 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 5.0 mol % are prepared by melt quenching technique. The physical properties, by mean of density and molar volume are determined. The amorphous nature, absorption and structural behaviour are characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) respectively. In this work, the glass densities are found increases in the range of 2.70 - 2.78 gcm-3 and molar volume decreases from 37.48 - 40.75 gcm-3 with respect to Li2O concentration. Meanwhile, the optical band gap energy for direct and indirect transition are found decreases from 3.074 eV to 2.525 eV and 2.699 eV to 1.670 eV respectively. The Urbach energy is varies as Li2O content increases. The refractive index of these glasses is ranging from 2.48 to 2.90. FTIR spectra exhibited seven bands which centered at 512 cm−1, 767 cm−1, 918 cm−1, 1087 cm−1, 1281 cm−1, 1627 cm−1 and 3441 cm−1 wavenumber that assigned as vibration of Zn-O, symmetric stretching vibration of P-O-P rings, asymmetric stretching vibration of P-O-P groups, asymmetric stretching of PO2-group, asymmetric stretching vibration P=O, bending vibration of water molecule and fundamental stretching of hydroxyl group.

In this project, the nominal glass composition with the form of (55-x) H3BO3-45ZnO-xY2O3 (x = 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 mol%) are synthesized by melt quenching techniques. The effect of Y2O3 on physical, mechanical and structural properties of glasses have been investigated using different characterization techniques. The parameters like density, molar volume and oxygen packing density have been calculated. Based on the micro hardness study, it has showed the decreasing trend from 518.80 N.mm-2 to 453.13 N.mm-2 with an increasing of Y2O3 content from 0.0 mol% to 2.5 mol%. The structural features of the yttrium oxide doped zinc borate glass were studied via X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) to confirm the amorphous nature of glass and Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) has been done to obtain the band positions and functional groups. FTIR spectral studies were recorded in the 400-4000 cm-1 wavenumber range at room temperature.

Pure zinc oxide (ZnO) and silica (SiO) doped ZnO nanopowders have been prepared using solid state method. SiO were doped into ZnO at different weight percentage 1 and 3 wt.%. The structural and electrical properties of ZnO and SiO doped ZnO powder have been characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and electro source meter. From the results, the XRD pattern were compatible with ZnO phase structure. Based on the SEM images, the grain size of ZnO varistor is increased when doped with SiO. The obtained value of nonlinear coefficient (α) of undoped ZnO sample is low compared to SiO doped ZnO varistor. The, α value is increased as the content of SiO doped increases. The maximum value of α is at 3 wt.% of SiO doped ZnO which is 1.734 that might be can enhanced the performance of varistor. Thus, the properties of ZnO varistor can be improved when doped with SiO .

The phosphate glasses, with composition (60-x)P2O5-25ZnO-(15+x)Li2O where 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 5.0 mol% are prepared by conventional melt quenching method. The amorphous nature of the glass is determined by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The physical properties are measured in term of their density and molar volume. Glass density is found to increase from 2.700 to 2.785 g cm-3 whereas molar volume is found to decrease from 40.735 to 37.488 cm3 mol-1 with respect to Li2O content. The DC measurements are done by using four point probes and the activation energies are determined. Arrhenius plot shows straight line behavior as observed that confirmed the conductivity increased with Li2O content. The activation energy is found to decreases from 0.75 to 0.08 eV as Li2O content is increased in the temperature range from 310 to 420 K. Measurements of the thermal conductivity using Lee’s disc apparatus have been made. It is observed that the maximum and minimum thermal conductivity are 0.2679 and 0.2168 W m-1 K-1 respectively.