Evaluation of some functionalized imidazoles and 1,2,4-triazoles as antioxidant additives for industrial lubricating oils and correlating the results with the structures of additives using empirical AM1 calculations

AbstractFunctionalized 4,5-diphenyl-imidazoles, 4,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazoles and 5-(o-hydroxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoles at the 2-position with thiol, thiomethyl and thiobenzyl groups, have been tested as antioxidant additives for lubricating oils. Whereas the thiomethyl groups in such compounds increased the antioxidant property than the thiol group, the corresponding thiobenzyl groups did the reverse. The results can be explained, based on correlating the electron donating and withdrawing abilities of the substituents with the oxidation stability. The triazoles carrying a phenolic hydroxyl group have more antioxidant power than those without such a group. The imidazoles gave the oils more oxidation stabilities than the two types of triazoles with the same functionalities. The 4,5-diphenyl-2-thiomethyl-imidazole (2), as an additive, has the highest antioxidant property, reaching the level of standard one when its concentration is 1.0% wt. instead of the 0.8% wt. of the standard. The correlation of the antioxidant character of the heterocyclic additives with their structures has been investigated using the semiempirical gas phase AM1 calculations for the studied heterocycles. The relative stability of the imidazoles 1 and 3 compared to 2 were in the order 2>1>3. Similarly, the relative stability of the triazoles are in the same order where 5>4>6 and 8>7>9

Effect of fiber loading on the mechanical and physical properties of “green” bagasse–polyester composite

The main aim of this work is to fill unsaturated polyester resin with bagasse agricultural waste, as reinforcement, to prepare green wooden–polymer composites. Bagasse fibers were treated with 5% sodium hydroxide and then with dilute sulfuric acid. Bagasse–polyester composites were prepared by addition of 5, 10 and 15% of untreated and alkali treated bagasse fibers to polyester. The crosslinking reaction was performed using methyl ethyl ketone peroxide as a catalyst and cobalt octoate as an accelerator. The prepared composites were then exposed to post-curing at elevated temperature for completely crosslinking. The flexural behavior of the prepared composites was studied. An enhancement in the mechanical properties was achieved after chemical treatment. In addition, water absorption and chemical resistance were conducted showing that the produced bagasse–polyester composite with appreciable mechanical and physical properties is a new partner and cost effective material for many advanced industrial applications in addition to their environmental friendly behavior