Morphology and viscoelastic properties of sealing materials based on EPDM rubber.

In this applicative study, the ratio of active and inactive filler loadings was the prime factor for determining the dynamic-mechanical behaviour of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubbers. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the structure of reinforced dense and microcellular elastomeric materials. The effects of filler and blowing agent content on the morphology of composites were investigated. Microcellular samples cured in salt bath show smaller cells and uniform cell size compared with samples cured in hot air. Dynamic-mechanical thermal analysis showed appreciable changes in the viscoelastic properties by increasing active filler content, which could enable tailoring the material properties to suit sealing applications.

Kinetics and thermodynamics of adsorption of azinphosmethyl from aqueous solution onto pyrolyzed (at 600 degrees C) ocean peat moss (Sphagnum sp.).

The removal of azinphosmethyl from aqueous solution onto pyrolyzed ocean peat moss (Sphagnum sp.), as a residue, from the Rhode Island coast (USA), has been investigated at different temperatures and initial concentrations. The ocean peat moss had been pyrolyzed at 600 degrees C in nitrogen atmosphere before the adsorption process. The kinetic data obtained from batch studies have been analyzed using pseudo-first order kinetic model. The rate constants were evaluated at different temperatures. The thermodynamic parameters (DeltaG degrees , DeltaH degrees , DeltaS degrees ) for the adsorption process were calculated and the results suggest that the nature of adsorption is endothermic and the process is spontaneous and favorable. The activation energy for adsorption process was estimated, about 18.3 kJ mol(-1). According to this value the adsorption of azinphosmethyl onto pyrolyzed ocean peat moss is in the range of physical adsorption. The experimental data have been modeled using Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms. It was found that Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms give the best correlation with the experimental data.

Adsorption kinetics of azinphosmethyl from aqueous solution onto pyrolyzed Horseshoe sea crab shell from the Atlantic Ocean.

The adsorption behavior of azinphosmethyl on pyrolyzed Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus) outer shell, as a residue, from the Atlantic Ocean, collected along the Maine coast, USA, has been studied with regards to its kinetic and equilibrium conditions, taking into account adsorbate concentrations of 2 x 10(-3), 4 x 10(-3), 6 x 10(-3), and 8 x 10(-3), as well as temperatures of 30 degrees C, 40 degrees C, 50 degrees C, and 60 degrees C. The yield of adsorption of azinphosmethyl from aqueous solution ranged from 56.1% to 61% with temperature increasing. Kinetic studies showed that adsorption rate decreased as the initial azinphosmethyl concentration increased. It was found, that the adsorption reaction obeyed first-order kinetics. The overall rate constants were estimated for different temperatures. The activation energy for adsorption was about 1.52 kJmol(-1), which implies that azinphosmethyl mainly adsorbed physically onto Horseshoe Crab outer shell. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were applied to the experimental data and isotherm constants were calculated. The thermodynamic parameters DeltaG0, DeltaH0 and DeltaS0 for the adsorption reaction were evaluated based on equilibrium data and in connection with this result the thermodynamic aspects of adsorption reaction were discussed. The adsorption was found to be endothermic in nature. The adsorbent used in this study proved highly efficient for the removal of azinphosmethyl.