Archives-May 2012

Modern polymer chemistry is highly progressive in tailoring polymers to specific requirements such as mechanical, thermal and chemical stability, with better performance with wide range of pore size. Composite materials combine and maintain two or more distinct phases to produce a material that has properties far superior than either of the base materials. Nanoparticles made of chitosan, a naturally occurring polymer isolated from crab and shrimp shells, have shown to be promising as carriers of anticancer drugs, antitumor genes, and other novel therapeutic agents. Cross linking agents improve the properties of polymer and their products. Polymer nanocomposited are a class of reinforced polymer with low quantities of nanometric-sized clay particle, which improved their fair resistance, strength and its porosity deceases. Hence, in the present work nanochitosan was prepared using sodium tripolyphosphate and composite of nanochitosan were prepared with methylcellulose in the presence of clay. However, a greater understanding of the nanoscale features of clays, and the ability to disperse the ultrafine layers within other materials has led to increased interest in their application in composite materials; to provide properties to lightweight polymers that would usually only be found in heavier or more expensive materials (such as glass or metals). The formation of the polymer membrane made by the immersion precipitation process depends on a large number of material and process specific parameters such as choice of the polymer (molecular weight, molecular weight distribution), choice of the solvents, choice of the casting solution temperature and the casting atmosphere. The composites were analyzed for their thermal stability, porosity, X-ray diffraction studies, etc. The results show that the addition of clay along with the nanosized chitosan had decreased the transparency of methylcellulose and with decreased pore size suitable for developing as RO membranes.

New flame retardant compounds containing either phosphate groups or phosphate boron derivatives were prepared and the structures were proved by Infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The new back coating system containing the new flame retardant compounds improved the flammability and thermal stability of cotton and blend textile samples. The toxicity of gas products evolved during the combustion of cotton and blend textile samples were evaluated according to ASTM 1678 and NFPA 269 standards. The new back coating system succeeded in reducing the toxicity effect of burned textile on the surrounding environment especially human been.

Tribal are self-sufficient and self-contended by nature. The demand for life sustenance originates at home and ends from the supply of nature at most of the cases. Empowerment and dis-empowerment is always viewed and weighted with outside lenses. Dimension of well-being of tribal women is captured in the study through the level of household income, food security, institutional participation and access to credit facilities and leveraging resources based on the principle of inclusion of the excluded.

Sodium montmorillonite clay was successfully modified by double modification one organic modification and the other inorganic phosphate. The nanodispersion was proven by transmission electron microscope which showed mixed morphology (intercalated, exfoliated and immiscible structures) in polymer matrix. In general, the thermal stability and flammability properties were improved by loading high density polyethylene by double modified clay.

In the changing market scenario, the study of the supply chain model in a fuzzy environment is gaining phenomenal importance around the globe. In such a scenario, it is the need of the hour that a real supply chain is operated in an uncertain environment and the omission of any effects of uncertainty leads to inferior supply chain designs. This work presents a fuzzy possibilistic linear programming approach to make strategic resource – planning decisions in multi-product and multi-time period two-echelon supply chains. In this model, demand rate, holding cost, transportation cost, packing charge and toll fees are considered as triangular fuzzy numbers. The objective of the proposed model is to provide an optimal inventory level for the warehouses and distribution centers and also, minimizing the total cost related to transportation, inventory carrying, packing and toll fees of the entire supply chain for a finite planning horizon. An industrial case demonstrates the feasibility of applying the proposed model to real world problem in a two-echelon supply chain under uncertain environment. In addition to that, if the efficiency of the transportation will be increased by using the light weight eco-friendly plastic pail rather than the traditional one, then the reduction of the total cost in the supply chain is also analyzed.

This paper develops a heuristic algorithm for the multi-index fixed charge transportation problem. The efficiency of this algorithm for solving the multi-index fixed charge transportation problem has been proved by comparing the results obtained by using this algorithm with the existing exact method of solving multi-index fixed charge transportation problem. Further the proposed algorithm is extended to multi-index fixed charge fuzzy transportation problem in which all the parameters are considered as trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the proposed method.

In submerged arc welding (SAW), selecting appropriate values for process variables is essential in order to control heat-affected zone (HAZ) dimensions and get the required bead size and quality. Also, conditions must be selected that will ensure a predictable and reproducible weld bead, which is critical for obtaining high quality. In this investigation, mathematical models were developed to study the effects of process variables and heat input on various metallurgical aspects, namely, the widths of the HAZ, weld interface, and grain growth and grain refinement regions of the HAZ. The color metallography technique and response surface methodology were also used.The thermal effect of Submerged Arc that specially depends on the electrical arc, flux type and temperature field of it in workpiece, is the main key of analysis and optimization of this process, from which the main goal of this paper has been defined. Numerical simulation of welding process in SIMPELC method and by ANSYS software for gaining the temperature field of copper, the effect of parameter variation on temperature field and process optimization for different cases of Submerged Arc are done. The influence of the welding parameter for each mode on the dimensions and shape of the welds and on their ferrite contents is investigated.

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the effect of ? -irradiation dose, polyvinyl alcohol content and nano-calcined clay ratios of PVA-NCC-cement mortar composite. PVA-NCC-cement mortar composite was prepared by the addition of PVA on blended cement mortar with different percentages namely 2, 4, 6 and 8% by wt. of blended cement. The fresh composites were first cured at 100% relative humidity for 24 hours and then subjected to ? -irradiation dose namely 10, 20, 30 and 50 KGy. The irradiated composites were cured in water for 28 days. Physico-mechanical properties such as compressive strength, bulk density, total porosity and water absorption were tested according to standard specifications. XRD, SEM, TGA were carried out on some selected samples to evaluate the effect of different factors on crystallinity, microstructural and thermal behaviour of the composites. Results showed that, compressive strength and bulk density of the composites increased with increasing the absorbed dose and PVA contents for certain values and then decreased while, total porosity and water absorption behave in an opposite direction. XRD, SEM, TGA confirmed these conclusions.

Soft skills is the important skills that need to being apply in order to reduce the numbers of jobless among graduates. One of the reasons for soft skills seldomly applied in teaching and learning process is lack of information among lecturers and the polytechnic administrator to identify the suitable methods and ways to apply soft skills in teaching and learning process. This study was conducted to identify the level of leadership skills apply in engineering programmes’ curriculum for civil, electric and mechanical engineering students in Politeknik Port Dickson, Politeknik Kota Bharu and Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah. By using descriptive study in purpose survey, the samples for this study involving 297 number of students from the selected polytechnic and using questionnaire and interview. Researcher found that there is moderate level of leadership skills applied in engineering programmes’ curriculum by using analysis of mean and variance and ANOVA test. Lecture method is the most teaching and learning method being used to applied leadership skills in engineering programmes’ curriculum. There is statistically significantly difference between the levels of leadership skills applied in engineering programmes’ curriculum during teaching and learning process in polytechnic and the type of engineering programmes being taught. Researcher hope a module being construct as a guideline for lecturers to apply soft skills in engineering programmes’ curriculum at PPD, PKB and POLISAS.

Consumers are deeply concerned about how their health care is managed, administered and priced. They are frustrated with the expensive, high-tech disease treatment approach predominantly in modern medicine. Positioned at the interface between food and drugs, a growing body of products is assuming importance; the consumer is now looking for complementary or alternative beneficial products and that’s why nowadays they are using nutraceuticals. Increasingly, they are using natural dietary supplements and other forms of nutraceuticals as part of a tremendous surge to have physiological benefits or to provide protection against diseases. Functional foods and nutraceutical products represent a value added growth opportunity both domestically and internationally. Development of better characterized and research proven products will help enhance consumer confidence in nutraceutical and functional food products in the world. This article briefly discusses about the basic information about the nutraceuticals and its importance.