Processing Stabilisation of PE with a Natural Antioxidant, Curcumin

The potential use of natural antioxidants for polyolefin stabilisation came into the centre of attention because of some doubts about the effects of the reaction products of synthetic phenolic antioxidants on human health. The effect of curcumin on the melt stability of polyethylene was investigated in this paper with and without a phosphonite stabiliser by using multiple extrusions. Irganox 1010 was applied as reference phenolic antioxidant. Curcumin was characterised by FT-IR and UV-VIS spectroscopy, as well as by thermal analysis. Its stabilisation efficiency was determined by measuring the chemical structure, the rheological properties, the residual thermo-oxidative stability, and the colour of the polymer. The results reveal that the melt stabilising efficiency of curcumin is superior to that of the synthetic antioxidant investigated and is further enhanced by the addition of the phosphonite secondary antioxidant. The changes in the characteristics of the polymer indicate that besides the phenolic OH groups also the linear linkage between the two methoxyphenyl rings of curcumin participates in the stabilisation reactions

Efficiency of curcumin, a natural antioxidant, in the processing stabilization of PE: concentration effects

The stabilising efficiency of curcumin was studied in polyethylene during processing and under oxygen at high temperature. The effect of the natural antioxidant was investigated at concentrations of 0 to 1000 ppm in combination with a phosphonite secondary antioxidant (Sandostab P-EPQ) of 1000 and 2000 ppm, respectively. The polymer was homogenized with the additives then processed by six consecutive extrusions taking samples after each processing step. The samples were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, melt flow index, colour, and OIT measurements. Compared to the effect of pure phosphorous antioxidant, the melt stability of PE is increased already at 5 ppm curcumin content. The melt as well as the high temperature oxidative stability (OIT) of the polymer are controlled by both types of antioxidants. Curcumin hinders the oxidation of polyethylene and the formation of long chain branches during processing, which can be attributed to the fact that curcumin is not only a hydrogen donor but its unsaturated linear moiety can also scavenge alkyl and oxygen centred macroradicals. Curcumin discolours polyethylene already at small concentrations but the colour fades with increasing number of extrusions

PLA-zselatin keverék szálak előállítása elektromos szálhúzással szövettenyésztés céljára

A gyógyítás egyik legnagyobb kihívása a funkciójukat sérülés, vagy betegség következtében ellátni képtelen szervek, szövetek pótlása, helyettesítése. A transzplantációs beavatkozások számos komplikációval járhatnak, illetve a rendelkezésre álló szervek száma korlátozott, így az orvoslásban évek óta jelentős figyelmet szentelnek a mesterséges szövettenyésztésnek. Kutatómunkánk során olyan politejsav (PLA)/zselatin keverék szálakat állítottunk elő elektromos szálképzéssel, melyek ötvözik a szintetikus biopolimer mechanikai tulajdonságait a zselatin sejtek megtapadását elôsegítő jellegével, és alkalmasak lehetnek mesterséges szövettenyésztési célokra. Vizsgáltuk a komponensek jelenlétét és mennyiségét a kialakított instabil emulziókból képzett szálakban, a szálak átlagos vastagságát, morfológiáját és szerkezetét, valamint mechanikai tulajdonságait

Melt stabilization of PE with natural antioxidants: Comparison of rutin and quercetin

The stabilization effect of a flavonoid type natural antioxidant, rutin, was compared to that of quercetin in polyethylene. Additive concentrations changed between 0 and 500 ppm in several steps and also 1000 ppm Sandostab PEPQ phosphorus secondary stabilizer was added to each compound. Stabilization efficiency was determined by changes in vinyl group content, melt flow rate, oxygen induction time, color and the consumption of the secondary antioxidant during multiple extrusions. The results showed that rutin is as efficient melt stabilizer as quercetin used as reference. On the other hand, rutin has a deteriorating effect on the stability of the polymer at small concentrations and partially decomposes during processing. The comparison of bond dissociation enthalpies indicated that the substitution of the hydroxyl group in the ring C of quercetin by saccharide moieties increases their value, but the small increase does not influence the efficiency of the stabilizer. FTIR and DSC measurements indicated the interaction of the natural antioxidant and the phosphonite secondary stabilizer, and the development of interactions was confirmed by molecular modeling. Mainly hydrogen bonds and aromatic, π electron interactions develop between the hydroxyl groups in ring A and the POC group of the phosphonite, as well as between the aromatic rings of PEPQ and the flavonoids, but they do not influence the stabilization efficiency of the antioxidants

Natural antioxidants as melt stabilizers for PE: Comparison of silymarin and quercetin

The stabilization effect of two flavonoid type natural antioxidants, silymarin (Si) and quercetin (Q), was compared in polyethylene (PE). Additive concentrations changed between 0 and 500 ppm in several steps and 1000 ppm Sandostab PEPQ phosphorus containing secondary stabilizer was also added to each compound. Stabilization efficiency was determined by changes in functional group (vinyl, residual PEPQ) content, melt flow rate (MFR), oxygen induction time (OIT), color and the consumption of the secondary antioxidant during multiple extrusions. The results showed that silymarin is a much less efficient stabilizer in polyethylene than quercetin. The consumption of vinyl groups is faster, melt flow rate and residual stability is smaller in its presence. Silymarin contains less active phenolic hydroxyls than quercetin, but comparison on equal molar basis also shows the inferiority of the compound. The difference can be partially explained by the larger bond dissociation enthalpies of the hydrogens in silymarin, but this antioxidant also accelerates the consumption of the phosphorous secondary stabilizer that must contribute to its smaller efficiency as well. DSC measurements indicate the interaction of the two compounds probably leading to the faster consumption of the phosphorous antioxidant and poor stabilization. Unlike quercetin and dihydromyricetin, the flavonoid type natural antioxidants studied earlier, silymarin is not a good candidate as stabilizer for practical applications

Melt stabilization of polyethylene with dihydromyricetin, a natural antioxidant

Experiments have been carried out to compare the stabilization effect of two flavonoid type natural antioxidants, dihydromyricetin (DHM) and quercetin (Q) in polyethylene (PE). Additive concentrations changed between 0 and 500 ppm in several steps and 1000 ppm Sandostab PEPQ phosphorus containing secondary stabilizer was also added to each compound. Both antioxidants are very efficient stabilizers for PE, sufficient melt stability was achieved already at 50 ppm DHM content. At small concentrations dihydromyricetin proved to be more efficient melt stabilizer and it protected the secondary antioxidant better than quercetin. In spite of its better efficiency in melt stabilization, polymers containing DHM had the same residual stability as those prepared with quercetin. Accordingly, the larger efficiency does not result from the larger number of active phenolic hydroxyls in the molecule, but from interactions with the phosphorous secondary stabilizer that is stronger or at least different for DHM than quercetin. In spite that DHM is a white powder, it gave the polymer a brownish color which became deeper with increasing number of extrusions and additive content. Nevertheless, both natural antioxidants can be used efficiently for the stabilization of polymers in applications in which color is of secondary importance

Biopolimerek az orvostudományban – Lebontható vázanyagok

A biokompatibilis, illetve lebontható műanyagok megjelenése és elterjedése rendkívüli hatást gyakorolt a modern orvostudományra. Ezen belül is külön figyelmet érdemelnek az emberi szövetek regenerálódását, illetve mesterséges úton történő tenyésztését elősegítő polimer vázanyagok. Cikkünkben e pórusos szerkezetek tulajdonságait és előállítását mutatjuk be