Saltan, Fehmi; Saltan, Gözde Murat; İlktaç, Raif; Özdokur, Kemal Volkan

A new type polymeric adsorbent, poly(allylphenol-co-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-vinyl imidazole) (PAHV), is synthesized in this study. 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate is used as complementary monomers along with 1-vinyl imidazole and allylphenol monomers. The photopolymerization method is preferred as a synthesis method and benzophenone is used as the photoinitiator. The effectiveness of the PAHV against bacterial species such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus is investigated by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) disk diffusion method. The inhibition areas of PA1H1V3 and PA1H1V1 derivatives against E. coli and S. aureus are measured as 25 mm ± 0.25 mm and 7 mm ± 0.1 mm; 20 mm ± 0.25 mm, and 5 mm ± 0.1 mm, respectively. Sorption efficiencies (%) at pH = 6 (selected optimum pH) for 100 μg/L Cd and Cr of the PA1H1V1, PA1H3V1, and PA1H1V3 derivatives are found to be 69.0 ± 2.7 and 58.3 ± 6.7, 66.8 ± 6.2 and 75.8 ± 5.5, and 97.2 ± 3.7 and 97.7 ± 3.2 (n = 3), respectively. Adsorption studies revealed that the PA1H1V3 polymer can be used as an alternative for the sorption of cadmium and chromium. The pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm model fits for both adsorption processes. The adsorption capacities obtained from the Langmuir isotherm model for chromium and cadmium sorption are 52.63 and 68.49 μg g−1, respectively.

Gültekin, Kürşat; Uğuz, Gediz; Topcu, Yıldıray; Özel, Adnan

In the presented study, the structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated by doping silanized hexagonal boron carbide (h-B4C) nanoparticles in varying proportions (0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%) into the epoxy resin by weight. For this purpose, the surfaces of h-B4C nanoparticles were silanized by using 3-(glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GPS) to improve adhesion between h-B4C nanoparticles and epoxy matrix. Then, the silanized nanoparticles were added to the resin by ultrasonication and mechanical stirring techniques to produce nanocomposites. The bond structure differences of silanized B4C nanoparticles (s-B4C) and nanoparticle doped composites were investigated by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) technique was used to examine the distribution of nanoparticles in the modified nanocomposites. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis techniques were used to determine the thermal properties of the neat and s-B4C doped nanocomposites. The tensile test and dynamic mechanical analysis were performed to determine the mechanical properties. When the experimental results were examined, changes in the bonding structure of the s-B4C nanoparticles doped nanocomposites and significant improvements in the mechanical and thermal properties were observed. The optimum doping ratio was determined as 2% by weight. At this doping ratio, the Tg, tensile strength and storage modulus increased approximately 18%, 35%, and 44% compared to the neat composite, respectively.

Gültekin, Kürşat; Uğuz, Gediz; Özel, Adnan

Investigations on the production and development of nanoparticle-reinforced polymer materials have been attracted attention by researchers. Various nanoparticles have been used to improve the mechanical, chemical, thermal, and physical properties of polymer matrix composites. Boron compounds come to the fore to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of polymers. In this study, mechanical, thermal, and structural properties of structural adhesive have been examined by adding nano hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) to epoxy matrix at different percentages (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5%). For this purpose, nano h-BN particles were functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to disperse the h-BN nanoparticles homogeneously in epoxy matrix and to form a strong bond at the matrix interface. Two-component structural epoxy adhesive was modified by using functionalized h-BN nanoparticles. The structural and thermal properties of the modified adhesives were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis techniques. Tensile test and dynamic mechanical analysis were performed to determine the mechanical properties of the adhesives. When the results obtained from analysis were examined, it was seen that the nano h-BN particles functionalized with APTES were homogeneously dispersed in the epoxy matrix and formed a strong bond. In addition that, it was concluded from the experimental results that the thermal and mechanical properties of adhesives were improved by adding functionalized nano h-BN particles into epoxy at different ratios.

Tutak, Mustafa; Oktay Özdemir, Agah

The cationization of cotton fibers is emerging as an effective tool for solving the environmental problems associated with the dyeing of cotton fabrics with anionic dyes. In this study, the dyeing performance of cationizing agents (Rucomor Bur, Kemifix REA, Optifix F, and Optifix RSL) were examined, and we found that this method had better results compared with normal or existing methods of reactive dyeing. The dye-bath exhaustion and fixation were determined by the help of an ultraviolet-visible absorbance spectrophotometer on the basis of the maximum absorbance wavelength. Better fixation values were found with the cationizing process than with salty dyeing. The washing and rubbing fastness results were as the same as those of traditional dyeing.