Friday, December 19, 2014

Hindutva is Humanity & Secularism unified

“Pseudo intellectuals” & so called “secularist”, who see red on “Hindutva” word should look beyond their narrow vision and thought  paradigm to understand how much social & human activities being carried out by all these “Hindutva” bodies.
1.         Ekal Vidyalayas (across the Country) – 54,366
2.         Number of students attending - 15,26,738
3.         Number of students in NE units – 1,13,340
4.         Number of Hostels run by Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram – 7,700
5.         In touch with 51,022 villages across the country
6.      Number of Education Projects overseen by VHP across the country including Hostels, Schools, Sanskar Kendras – 2,238
7.         Students studying in “Vidya Bharati” and affiliated schools across the country – 3,137,930
             Number “Vidya Bharati” schools – 13,514
            Number of Teachers in these schools – 2,36,231
8.        Children attending “Bal Sanskar Kendra” & one –teacher schools operated by “Vidya Bharati”  -  2,37,691
9.         Near Varanasi in Chunar “Surabhi Shodh Sansthan” runs 05 residential school for the students from the north-east – 567 students at the hostels at which 308 students from Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura & Meghalaya, 110 of them are girls.
            There are many more activities done by these groups to which “hypocrites” & “cynics” find all wrong with them but not which other Fanatical religious organizations who trains “terrorism” & “anti-India activity” and carry out religious conversion.
( Ref. Hidustan Times ,Delhi Edition , 13.12.2014 )

Enough long these “intellectuals” / “secularist” / “leftist”  have tried their planned move to downgrade Hindus .No more . It must stop

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Face of Jihadi ?

Face of Jihadi ?

Maulana Asim Umar’s book “Blackwater: The Army of Antichrist” calls for the dismemberment of the modern world itself. In “The Third World War and the Dajjal,” or Antichrist, he describes omens of the reign of the Devil, he says has crept up on us: “The propaganda during his time would be so ghastly that the truth would be presented as falsehood and the falsehood would be presented as the truth, and this twisted reality broadcast to the entire world.

The Dajjal, Maulana Umar continues, obtains power by obscuring the truth of our condition from us. “This so-called civilized world,” he writes, “is built on lies; so much so that even educated people take these lies to be the truth. Even if entire books were to be written about lies, propounded through the media of the disbelievers, their authors would soon tire”. This, he says, is precisely what is happening, as a result of “polices concocted by the Jews”.

“My Lord,” he wrote, “has declared that if jihad was not carried out, the earth would be filled with fasaad. “There is no fasaad greater than the world being ruled by man-made law instead of Allah’s law ! The action needed to secure this utopia was jihad, Maulana Umar said: “Whatever system dares to stand against the world of Allsh, and whatever way of life is implemented contrary to it, must be destroyed. This earth belongs to Allah, so only Allah’s system will be implemented upon it.”


In “Adyan ka Jang “(War of Faiths): Islam aur Democracy, he wrote: “Democracy is one of the evils that has had a bad impact on the Muslim nation, replacing the system of Allah with an alternative that gives powers to human beings, who are merely the creation of Allah. Democracy is evil and if you want to fight it, you have to destroy its four essential pillars: parliament, judiciary, civil bureaucracy and media.” Ideas such as these are, in fact, rooted in the Isamist intellectual tradition. In 1939, the patriarch of South Asian Islamism, Abul Ala Maududi, argued that the existence of Allah meant “no one has the right to appoint himself ruler of men, (or) to issue orders and prohibitions on his own authority. To acknowledge the personal authority of a human being as the source of commands and prohibitions is tantamount to admitting him as a partner in the power and authority of Allah.”  In Dajjal, he wrote, the tragedy of all Islamic societies is that they grow watching devilish Christian, Jewish and Hindu media. From childhood, our children are taught to dance to English and Hindi music. In fact, small children who are brothers and sisters are made to act in plays as husband and wife”. It is necessary, Umar wrote, for parents to ask “why they are educating their children in these Christian schools, instead of Islamic schools”. Finally, there’s paranoic nationalism: Umar claims the US is using the security firm Blackwater to fulfill a secret Jewish agenda to destroy Pakistan, which he claims was authored by the Zionist leader Davia Ben-Gurion.     

Friday, October 24, 2014

Nobel Prize Winner so far

Nobel Prize Winner so far

Country
No. of Nobel
US
256
UK
93
Germany
80
France
52
Sweden
28
Russia
27
Poland
26
Japan
21
Italy
19
Austria
17
Canada
17
Netherlands
17
Switzerland
16
Denmark
12
Norway
12
China
11
Australia
10
Belgium
9
Hungary
9
Scotland
9
S. Africa
9
India
8



Before any one speaks the word “Hindu” in Hindustan, the so called “secular” brigade pounce of him accusing of communalism. This “secular” brigade does not find anything objectionable of Huriyat anti-nationalism, utterances of Owasi or Azam Khan and may such persons. What a “Hipocracy”. In a nearly 80% Hindu population country one is communal if he says that he is proud to be Hindu. These “pseudo secular politician & intelligentsia” find nothing wrong with war / destruction / abduction of school girls / rape / killing of ordinary people by Al-Queda, Taliban, Boko Haram & ISIS. Shame on them.


Starting “Series India” – hope it pricks consciousness of Indians.

I           Child Labours


2001
2011 (Census Report)
Total    →              
12,666,377
10,128,663
Urban Total            
1,321,424
2,026,322
Male
879,908
1,238,856
Female
441,516
787,466
Rural Total             
11,344,953
8,102,341
Male
5,924,428
4,390,05
Female
5,420,525
3,712,282


Their God died young

Where are the Temples, Mosques, Churches, Gurudwaras, Babajis, Mollahs etc. etc., - pseudo - Intellectuals and above all “Administration” – all are sleeping.                

Monday, August 11, 2014

Religious Terrorism


There are “spontaneous” demonstration by the so called “secular” & “intelligentsia” against Israel treatment to Gaza terrorist. It smells – preplanned financed demonstration with purpose.

Those “secular intelligentsia” do not think it is worth to protest against “Boko Haram kidnapping of school girls for ulterior motive” & systematic destruction of any kind of system over a wide range of countries – Syria, Iraq, Kurds, Nigeria, Yemen, touching Jordan & Turkey by “Al Queda & so called ISIS” or “Religious Yatra of Hindus in Kashmir stopped by fanatics” and so may incidences against other religions.  ISIS Sunni Muslims are carrying out genocide against Yazdi population and forceful conversion by different Islamic group are being regularly reported from different parts of the world.

All these seriously harming economy, industry, education & health facility etc. over wide area of humanity ultimately who are to benefit from all kind of development activity. Religious blindness & fanatics have repeatedly destroyed in past, but none learn from history.

As the famous Bengali Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam said,
 “………..listen oh blinded by religion,
 it is (religion) brought by humanity,
 and not the other way, humanity by religion”.  













Tuesday, June 10, 2014

TECHNOLOGY AND MODERN LIFE

28.04.2014
TECHNOLOGY AND MODERN LIFE

Dr. S. N. Chakravarty
President
Elastomer Technology Development Society
C/o. Polym Consultants 812, Devika Tower , 6 Nehru Place ,
New Delhi 110019, E-mail: polymcon@gmail.com


12 Technologies that can be Game Changers in 2014
Technologies that have been knocking at our doors and are all ready to storm the market. Together, these will disrupt industries worth $10-20 trillion over the decade.

1.         IT and Computing SMAC :
As the most disruptive force ever in the industry of the IT industry, the unique power of SMAC ( social, mobile, analytics and cloud) comes from the way it combines different technologies. Individual SMAC technologies have developed well over the last few years, and the combination is now ripe for causing big shifts. Mobile phones are selling in large numbers, and networks have matured. Cloud computing is package that is powerful.

2.         Life Sciences and Healthcare - Whole Genome Sequencing :
The complete deconstruction of a human being’s DNA is the most rapidly developing technology ever. It is now also ready for large-scale commercial use, as the cost has come down to a few thousand dollars per genome. A whole genome can now be sequenced in two weeks, and will soon be the basis of prevention and treatment of many diseases. It will be a life-saver for cancer patients, who can hope to get the correct drug based on the genetic basis of the tumor. At some point, whole genome sequencing will be as common as vaccinations for newborns.

3.         Energy / Transport: Electric Car :
Driven by the Tesla Model S, electric cars had a good 2013 in the US. Next year, Tesla will expand to other countries, and other companies – Honda, BMW, GM, Volkswagen – are expected to launch new models. Electric cars are predicted to grow steadily till 2020, and dominate after that. In 2014, gear boxes will disappear in some cars, batteries will shrink and range on a single charge will increase. Charging time will shrink too, though still not to the ideal.

4.         Manufacturing : Internet of Things 
Internet of things, or M2M, is jargon for a network of machines. It is actually a set of sensors and motors connected to each other, one for feeding information and the other to act upon this information. Often a hyped technology, Internet of Things will begin to become real next year. Its impact will be left most in the manufacturing sector, as it improves productivity by bringing an exquisite sense of timing to global supply chains.  


5.         IT and Computing : Cognitive Computing
Cognitive Computing is a process by which computers learn as they do their tasks and engage with humans like humans. This term was coined by IBM to distinguish it from the more popular term artificial intelligence, and to stress the fact that there is nothing artificial about cognitive computing. IBM’s Watson is the most advanced cognitive computing platform, but few others are also being developed, mostly by startups. Some advances that have long-term significance are likely.

6.         Life Sciences and Healthcare: Wearable Devices
Personal health monitoring is growing in developed markets and even in India, as people monitor their sleep, exercise impact, heart, and progress of pregnancy. The next year will make a significant advance as these devices begin to be connected to hospitals. A wearable devices network can be considered an Internet of Things, and will be influenced by SMAC, and is thus a good illustration how cutting-edge technologies reinforce each other. Wearable device are not just for health monitoring. Watch out for Google Glass.

7.         Energy and Transport : New Batteries
Battery breakthroughs are essential for renewable energy to take off, and the world has waited for long. We need better batteries in electric cars, in solar farms to provide steady power. Now, there are a few candidates that could make a difference to the world of renewable. Some are ready for commercialization, some are early prototypes, some are just proof of concepts. There is a good chance now that one of them could prove to be a winner.

8.         Manufacturing : 3D Printing
3D Printing had an inventing year. As technology has advanced rapidly, gun models for printing were downloaded over 100,000 tomes. 3D printing is set to revolutionize manufacturing, as big players around the world announce their intention to switch to the technique in a big way. Companies doing 3D printing have good revenues and profits, and their stocks are riding high. It is even coming to life sciences, as biotech forms are working printing body parts.

9.         IT computing: Graphene chip
Graphene a single layer of carbon atoms. It was discovered only 2004, but has since shown extraordinary properties in the lab. It is the thinnest and the strongest material that we know, and is also very good conductor of heat and electricity. These properties make it great for computing. Computing needs a breakthrough soon: the copper wiring inside the chip cannot be shrunk for too long. An all-graphene chip would be a great development, as MIT and IBM have already shown that the idea can work, in photo-detectors to begin with. Definitely in the wish list for 2014.

10.       Life Science and healthcare:
Nano-medicine is the application of nanotechnology manipulation of matter at the smallest scale-to medicine. As an area of research is not new, but there have been no game-changing commercial applications yet for nanomedicine. Experts believe that there will be one soon, at some point the next few years. Drug delivery using nanoparticles is one of the most promising areas of nanomedicine. Next year could see some important results in the clinical tails currently going on using nanoparticles for delivery. Watch out for some of them in India too.
11.       Energy: Perovskites
Perovskites are a kind of mineral made of calcium titanium oxide discovered in the 19th century. They have now become a hot research material for solar cells because they are cheap and abundant. Perovskites now work at 15% efficiency in the lab. Efficiencies of 25% are not impossible at some point, considering the pace at which research is advancing. It still has some barriers to cross. For example, perovskite cells contain lead, are toxic to the environment if let lose. But it is certainly one the materials to watch materials for in 2014. 

12.       Manufacturing : Printed Electronics
Printed electronics is certain rewrite industries. The only question is when. A beginning could be made next year with printed solar cells, as several novel techniques have been shown to work in the labs this year. Soon, as costs drop, printed could be everywhere on food packets, on newspapers and magazines, manufactured goods and so on. One day, this newspaper could have a video that could cut food waste, generate cheap electricity, power medical devices in our bodies, and so on. And that could spring a surprise next year. 

 5 Wonder Materials that Could Change the World
The history of materials is a history of mistakes, says Mark Miodownik, a materials scientist at University College, London. But the chance discovery of useful materials might not carry on for much longer. Scientists are now turning to computers to design materials and work out their properties before going anywhere near a laboratory or workshop.

Wonder Materials and their possible use

Property

Possible use
Graphene
Immensely, strong, flexible, transparent and conductive
In next generation electronic devices, sewn into our clothing, slapped on drinks bottles and cans of food or rolled and tucked in our pockets

Metamaterials
Can – to some extent – bend light around an onject, rendering that object invisible

Cloaking devices
Shrilk
Without water the materials stiff, but with water the coating becomes very flexible

Boidegradable trash bags
Stanene
Insulator on the inside, and a conductor on the outside
Natural successor to copper interconnects in computers

Spider Silk
Exquisite material, immensely extensible
Yet to be worked out. But is definitely an inspiration to make better materials
Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov at Manchestter University were playing around with Scotch tape and lump of graphite tape when they found they could make sheets of carbon one atom thick. That was in 2004. They have since shared the Nobel Prize, become Sirs and been reward with a £61m National Graphene Institute.

Spider Silk could be the perfect material from which to manufacture bulletproof vests. The application was found around after researchers teased out the silk’s molecular structure and from that came to understand its strength and flexibility.

Enormously competitive microchip industry, has refined manufacturing at the nano scale. Metamaterials are made with the same technology, but their design is so precise that scientists can control how electrons inside the materials respond when light – or other electromagnetic waves – strike them. This makes it possible to manipulate radiation like never before. And says, metaterials can – to some extent – bend light around object invisible.

Shrilk was inspired by research into the tough skins of insects. The coating made from layers of a material called chitin and a protein called fibroin. Simple tweaks to the material changed its behavior dramatically. Without water the material is stiff, but with water the coating becomes very flexible. Shrilk is an environmentally friendly alternative to plastics.

Stanene ( material designed on a computer ) is an insulator on the inside, and a conductor on the outside.

Brighetning Moon to Save Electricity ?
A Sweden-based  company has proposed a bizarre new method to eliminate the need for streetlights – brighten the surface of the Moon. The idea is to use materials already on the Moon to lighten its surface. The goal is to reflect slightly more sunlight onto Earth, making the night sky brighter.

A brighter night sky would mean less need for streetlights, which could potentially translate into less electricity usages and thus fewer globe warming carbon emission.

New Tyre Concept
Things to come in future - AIRLESS TYRES, it was developed for the military. Amazing new tires. Michelin Tires presented absolutely scary looking tyres




Those are 'spoke' like connections to the inner part of the tire from the outside tread 'wrap!' The picture shows how odd it looks in motion.






These tires are airless and are scheduled to be out on the market very soon.
Just think of the impact on existing technology:

a)         No more air valves.
b)         No more air compressors at gas stations.
c)         No more repair kits.
d)         No more flats.

Trelleborg's Brawler OTR Tire


.
"Brawler is particularly suited to the waste and recycling industries, where many customers are switching from either pneumatics or foam-filled pneumatics to solid tires on large applications," and require tires that last longer, need little maintenance and deliver the best total cost of ownership over their whole life.
Goodyear's Atlanta tire is a game-changer
The new tire Goodyear is providing for upcoming races at Atlanta Motor Speedway represents one of the most significant advancements in the construction of racing tires in the company's history. The inboard shoulder of the tire, roughly the inner third, and the area that receives the most stress at an oval such as Atlanta, features a firmer, more heat-tolerant compound. The outer portion of the tire features a softer tread designed to provide more grip.
Renewable tires could be here by 2020
 Continental A.G. is predicting car tires could be made of 100 percent renewable raw materials by 2020, but at the same time cautioned that finding acceptable substitutes for materials used widely today is a "rocky road."

The non-oil-based materials content of modern-day tires already is at about 45 percent, but increasing that to 100 percent is not a straight-forward process. "Not all raw materials in tires can simply be replaced by renewable materials," he said.

Bridgestone eyes 100% sustainable tires by 2050

Bridgestone Corp. is committing itself to develop tires made with 100-percent sustainable raw materials by 2050..  Initiatives are natural rubber alternatives Guayule and Russian dandelion, processes to develop synthetic rubber, carbon black and rubber compounding agents from biomass materials and practical application of new cellulose fibers to produce yarns that would substitute for petroleum-derived polyester and nylon., butadiene—used in SBR synthetic rubber—produced from bioethanol and has developed carbon black from intermediate materials created from biomass materials. ,
Bridgestone fuel-efficient tire debuts   
Latest development in the fuel-efficiency  is the "large and narrow"" concept tire to operate at higher air pressure. The tire maker claims the large/narrow design, coupled with the use of the "most appropriate" materials, yields a roughly 30-percent reduction in the rolling-resistance coefficient .Making tires narrower also reduces air resistance,.





Monday, April 28, 2014

Secularism ?

Mr. David Cameron, British PM, told that Britain is a Christian state. All Muslim countries have declared that they are Islamic state. Thailand, Mynmar, Cambodia, Japan etc. are Buddhist state. And all claim to be neutral & secular. 

Only 8% Hindu majority India con't tell that she is Hindu state. Then "Secularism"  will be in peril what a wonderful or disgusting situation. Without "Secularism" certain political group & politician can't reap their votes their "vote banks".

Bernard show rightly said that "politics is the last refuge of the scoundrels".

Tuesday, April 8, 2014




Reinforcement of Rubber & Latex Compounds with Nanofiller 

S. N. Chakravarty* 

KPS Consultants & Impex Pvt. Ltd.,
 812, Devika Tower, 6 Nehru Place, New Delhi -110019, (India)
E-mail : kpspltd@gmail.com 

Abstract

Nano CaCO3 is one of the many emerging applications of nanotechnology that is already finding successful commercial application. Reinforcing effect of Nano CaCO3 in different compounds – NR and NR / NBR blend used in Sports Goods (laminated sheet for inflated balls), NR based cycle tube, bromobutyl based pharmaceutical closures and CPE / CSM blend used for coated fabric was studied with one characteristics in mind that is to improve barrier properties as all these products have requirement of one common property – air retention. Rheometric study and physical properties of the vulcanized compounds have been reported.

 What is Nanotechnology 

Take a random selection of scientists, engineers, investors and the general public and ask them what nanotechnology is and you will receive a range of replies as broad as nanotechnology itself. For many scientists, it is nothing startlingly new; after all we have been working at the nanoscale for decades, through electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopies or simply growing and analysing thin films. For most other groups, however, nanotechnology means something far more ambitious, miniature submarines in the bloodstream, little cogs and gears made out of atoms, space elevators made of nanotubes, and the colonization of space.

The term nanotechnology was coined in 1974 by the Japanese scientist Norio Taniguchi who defined nanotechnology as manufacturing of materials at the nanometer level. A nanometer is one billionth of one meter (10 –9)   and thousandth part of a m (micron). A more contemporary definition of nano technology is the science and technology of devices fabricated from single atoms and molecules.  One might say that nanotechnology is a hybrid science, combining science as well as engineering to control single atoms and molecules by various means in order to build a desired devices from the “ bottom up “.


*President – Elastomer Technology Development Society, India


A more contemporary definition of nano technology is the science and technology of devices fabricated from single atoms and molecules. One might add nanotechnology is a hybrid science, combining science as well as engineering to control single atoms and molecules by various means in order to build desired materials / devices from the “ bottom up”.

The term, “nanocomposite” refers to every type of materials having fillers in the nanometer size range, at least in one dimension. More specifically, polymers that are reinforced with rigid inorganic/organic particles, which have at least one dimension in the nanometer size-range are termed as polymer nanocomposites.

Nanofillers are necessarily nanoscopic and have high specific surface area. The specific surface area is one of the reasons why the nature of reinforcement is different in nanocomposites and is manifested even at very low filler loadings (< 10 wt%). Nanotechnology refers to the technology of rearranging and processing of atoms and molecules to fabricate materials to nano specifications such as a nanometer. The technology will enable scientists and engineers to see and manipulate matter at the molecular level, atom by atom, create new structures with fundamentally new molecular organisation and exploit the novel properties at that scale. Matter at the nanoscale is different from its bulk form; its chemical, biological, electrical, magnetic and other properties are different from the properties of macromatter.

What is the nanoscale?

Although a metre is defined by the International Standards Organization (ISO) as `the length of the path traveled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299 792 458 of a second' and a nanometre is by definition 10- 9 of a metre, this does not help scientists to communicate the nanoscale to non-scientists. It is in human nature to relate sizes by reference to everyday objects, and the commonest definition of nanotechnology is in relation to the width of a human hair.
The mechanical and thermal properties of polymers and composite structures can be improved through the usage of various kinds of fillers. Micron size fillers usually cause decrease in strength, impact resistance, and processibility. Application of nanotechnology in rubber nanocomposites shows significant improvement in the modulus, strength, toughness, and resistance to chemical attack, gas impermeability in polymer composite.

Nanocomposite show superior physical and mechanical behavior over their conventional microcomposites. The inorganic nanofillers drastically improve the physical and mechanical microscopic properties of polymers even though their amount is small.

With the rapid emergence of the field of nanotechnology, regulations to nanomaterials are under development. One of the key issues hindering regulation is a lack of agreement on the definition of what constitutes a nanomaterial. Currently, the most comprehensive and internationally recognized definition distinguishes between two subgroups, nano-objects and nanostructured materials, and defines them as follows:

Nano-objects are materials that exit in defined singular form that have at least one dimension in the nano-scale, < 100 nm. These include nano-particle ( 3 dimensions in nano-scale ), nanofibers ( 2 dimensions ) and nano-plates ( 1 dimension ).
Nanostructured materials are materials that have structural features on the nano-scale that primarily exit in aggregated and / or agglomerated forms.

The nanotechnology industry

Many of the companies working with nanotechnology are simply applying our knowledge of the nanoscale to existing industries, whether it is improved drug delivery mechanisms for the pharmaceutical industry, or producing nanoclay particles for the plastics industry. In fact nanotechnology is an enabling technology rather than an industry in its own right. Nanotechnology is a fundamental understanding of how nature works at the atomic scale. New industries will be generated as a result of this understanding.
What is a Nanofiller ?

Presently the nanoscale materials have inspired the scientist and technologist, in the field of composites, by the fact that they often give rise to dramatically improved properties than their macro counterpart (1, 2). Nanocomposites possess unique properties such as stiffness, strength and barrier action depending on their dispersion structure in the matrix (3, 4). The nano particles are often used in a blending with polymers but this direct blending can not avoid the clustering tendency and the polymer matrix must have good process properties. Clay has been used enormously as filler for rubber and plastic in conventional microcomposites. Wang et al (5) while preparing and characterizing the rubber – clay nano – composites, suggested the latex method as most convenient in order to use clay promising reforming agent.

Filler like calcium carbonate, clay etc. with average particle size in the range 20 to 60 nanometer may be defined as a nanofiller. Unlike traditional fillers, nanofillers are used in relatively smaller amounts ( 5 – 10 parts) in order to provide substantial improvement in physical / mechanical properties.

Underlying principle - Nanofillers

When a particle is downsized to nano scale, it becomes an agglomerate of limited number of atoms or molecules, and shows different surface properties from normal sized particles, as particularly indicated by the significant increase in specific surface area and surface energy.

a)         Nano sized particles (average diameter 40 nano meter) form a very fine and homogenous distributed system in polymer matrix. As compared to micron size filler particles the nano size filler particles are able to occupy substantially greater number of sites in the polymer matrix. The significant increase in specific surface area of filler particles contributes to the enhanced physical property of the polymer matrix.

b)         Same weight of nano size filler will have 1000 times more number of particles (that are able to occupy substantially greater number of sites in the polymer matrix) as compared to micron size filler. Hence, to achieve same level of physical property in the reinforced polymer the dosage of nano size filler can be one fourth to one third that of micron size filler

c)         Nano sized fillers increase barrier properties by creating a maze or “tortuous path” that slows the progress of gas molecules through the polymer matrix thereby substantially improving the gas permeability of the polymer.


d)         Nano sized fillers in polymer matrix substantially improve surface properties like gloss, surface finish, grip (friction) etc.

Carbon Black

Carbon black is the best example of nano filler used in polymer / elastomer since very long time. The particle size of carbon blacks is in nano meter but the filler is in the form of granules which helps in handling and prevent in flying loss & environment check.


Carbon black was produced and used as pigment by the ancient Chinese and Egyptians more than 2000 years ago. Carbon Black was manufactured, which today is known as lamp black, by burning fats and oils in a lamp, soot from which got deposited on the surface of the inverted pottery plate which used to provide pigment in inks & cosmetics (Kajol in India). Today, carbon black usage as pigment is negligible and it is primarily used to provide reinforcement and other properties to rubber articles.


Carbon black is a very fine particulate form of elemental carbon arranged in a less ordered manner than other forms of carbon such as diamond or graphite. Carbon black consists of planes of carbon atoms fused together randomly to form spherical particles, which in turn form structures or aggregates. These aggregates are often bound together to form secondary structures, or agglomerates. Most important characteristics of carbon black are surface area (which tells about particle size) and structure (which tells about  the degree of particle aggregation ). These two characteristics are dependent on the type of and can be controlled by the process of manufacture of carbon black.

Carbon black is a particulate form of elemental carbon, similar to graphite in its microstructure. Most of the world’s carbon black is produced by the oil furnace process. In the oil furnace process carbon black is produced by the incomplete combustion of liquid, aromatic hydrocarbons. The resulting black grades are used in rubber as reinforcing agents and in plastic, printing inks, coatings, sealants and a variety of other products for pigmentation, electrical conductivity, rheology control and UV protection.

During the first split second of the combustion reaction, carbon nodules are formed with dimensions from approximately 5 to 100 nm, depending on the grade of carbon black to be produced. On the basis of the proposed definitions for nanomaterials, these nodules may be considered nano-objects. However, the lifespan of these nodules is very short as they immediately cluster together to form aggregates of sizes between approximately 70 and 500 nm.

The effect of carbon black filler (CB) (loading 60-100 phr) on the cure kinetics, mechanical properties, morphology and thermal stability of acrylonitrile butadiene/ethylene-propylene-diene (NBR/EPDM) rubber blends have been studied by others. The determination of cure characteristics was estimated by Rheometer R-100& Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus at 200 and 300% elongation, hardness , have been measured. Morphology of the cross linked system was carried out by scanning electron microscope (SEM).. From the results of NBR/EPDM/CB (80/20/70) nano-composite, a correlation between mechanical properties and calculated activation energy of cross link (Eac) and reversion (Ear) process can be concluded.

Carbon blacks are produced either by incomplete combustion or thermal decomposition of a hydrocarbon feedstock. Five types of carbon black, with corresponding feed stocks and particle sizes (particle diameters are given in nanometers (nm, 109 m) are listed below.

Chemical Process
Carbon Black Type
D (nm)
Feedstock
Incomplete
Combustion
Lamp black
50-100
Coal tar hydrocarbons

Channel Black
10-30
Natural gas

Furnace Black
10-80
Natural gas ,Liquid aromatic
Thermal
Decomposition
Thermal Black
150-500
Natural gas

Acetylene Black
35-70
Acetylene

In this talk it is not intended to talk about Carbon black in detail as lot has been talked & published about it.

Non Black Nano filler

Nano CaCO3 is one of the many emerging applications of nanotechnology that is already finding successful commercial application . The inorganic nano particles such as CaCO3 have unique functions in the reinforcement of polymers & control of reheological properties

Filler like calcium carbonate, clay etc. with average particle size in the range 01 to 100 nanometer may be defined as a nanofiller. Unlike traditional fillers, mainly used for cost reduction, nanofillers are performance-enhancing fillers used in relatively small amounts (5 - 10%) in order to provide substantial improvements in physical and other properties.

Nano sized particles (average diameter around 40 nano meter) form a very fine and homogenous distributed system in polymer matrix. As compared to micron size filler particles the nano size filler particles are able to occupy substantially greater number of sites in the polymer matrix. The significant increase in specific surface area of filler particles contributes to the enhanced physical property of the polymer matrix.

Nano sized fillers increase barrier properties by creating a maze or “tortuous path” that slows the progress of gas molecules through the polymer matrix thereby substantially improving the gas / air permeability of the polymer. Nano sized fillers in polymer matrix substantially improve surface properties like gloss, surface finish, grip (friction) etc.

Knowledge of rheological properties of elastomers is of considerable importance in predicting and comprehending their processing characteristics. Both the viscous and elastic behavior of an elastomer can be analyzed and correlated with its flow behavior. The viscous flow is related to the output rate, whereas the elastic behavior corresponds to the dimensional.

Nano-CaCO is the cheapest commercially available nanofiller, and has the additional advantages of a low aspect ratio and a large surface area. Several researchers have prepared CaCO3 nano particles and studied the mechanical properties of the reinforced rubber composites.
Micron-sized calcium carbonate has been historically used to lower the cost of relatively expensive polymer resins. It has very limited effects on property improvement due to the poor particle-Polymer interaction. However, due to the larger interfacial area in nano-sized CaCO3 / polymer, its properties are expected to be better than the micron-sized CaCO3 / polymer composites.

 Usage of Nano Fillers in Solid rubber

Nanocomposites consisting of an elastomer and a small amount (~5 wt%) of different nanofillers frequently exhibit remarkably improved mechanical and material properties when compared to those of pristine elastomers. Improvements include a higher modulus, increased strength and heat resistance, decreased gas permeability and flammability.

Natural rubber is widely used in different application. The literature search shows that several research groups have prepared nanocomposites based on natural rubber rubber. The effect of different nanoclays on the mechanical properties of NR based nanocomposites was studied. Mechanical properties and cure characteristics of NR nanocomposites were studied by several researchers.(5,6)

Superior barrier properties given by the platy / flake type nanofillers like, clay, applications demanding low solvent and /or vapor permeability will always have scopes for nanocomposites. Thus, in near future tire inner liners can be made of nanocomposites. As the silicate type of nanofillers can enhance the flame and fire retardancy of elastomers, cable jacketing elastomer compounds can contain nanoclays.

Nano (precipitated ) calcium carbonate has been used in polymers & elastomers based products like Cycle & Auto tubes, Auto & Cycle tyre ,Car tyre carcass & inner liner , LPG tubing , Hot Water Bag ( improvement in hot tear property ) , Hose cover etc compounds. In all these cases air barrier property is important.



CYCLE TIRE & TUBE


Studies with specific compounds reinforced with Nano CaCO3 were carried out with one characteristic in mind i.e. to improve barrier properties.  NR and NR / NBR blend compounds are used in sports goods (e.g. laminated sheet for inflated balls), cycle tube compound, bromobutyl compounds used in pharmaceutical closures and CPE / CSM blend compound used for coated fabric which in turn is used in the manufacture of inflated boat & container. All these have requirement of one common property – air retention which is expected to improve by the usage of Nano CaCO3 in the compound.



Experimental

Typical properties of Nano CaCO3 used for the studies are given in Table I

Nano size Calcium Carbonate (with Hexagonal Calcite Crystalline structure)


Typical Properties
CC - 301
Moisture, (%)
< 0.6
Bulk Density (gm / cu. cm.)
0.65 – 0.70
Whiteness (KETT-C100)
94
pH
8.6 – 9.0
Average particle diameter (nm)
40
Specific Gravity
2.52
Oil absorption (ml / 100g)
33 – 36
CaO (%)
54
MgO (%)
0.2
SiO2 (%)
0.1
Iron & Aluminium Oxide (%)
0.2
Ignition Loss (%)
45

Mixing of compounds was carried out with open laboratory mixing mill (200 mm X 400 mm, friction ratio 1:1.1, approx.70°C) following standard procedure of mixing. Compound formulations are given in Table 1

Table – 1   Compound Formulation

Compounds

Ingredients
I
I A
II
II A
III
IIIA
IIIB
NR  (RMA-5)
100
100
--
--
30
30
30
Pale Crepe
--
--
100
100
--
--
--
NBR (33% ACN)
--
--
--
--
70
70
70
Peptiser
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
--
--
--
Zinc Oxide
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
Stearic Acid
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
Ppt. Silica (VN-3)
15
--
15
--
15
--
10
Nano CaCO3
--
5.0
--
5.0
--
5.0
5.0
China Clay
30
30
--
--
30
30
30
Paraffinic Oil (245)
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
--
--
--
DOP
--
--
--
--
5.0
5.0
5.0
Sulfur
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.0
2.0
2.0
CBS
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
TMTM
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2

Table – 2   Rheometric Study at 150°C ( Chart time 12 mints )


I
IA
II
IIA
IIIA
III
MH (Max. Torque)
65.55
59.16
77.4
75.1
49.33
48.22
TS5 (Opt. Cure Time)
3.42
3.15
4.55
3.87
4.48
4.62
TC90 (Opt. Cure Time)
4.73
4.38
5.4
5.15
6.08
6.1
Cure Rate
64.52
68.97
60
65.22
47.24
53.57
Reversion Time
8.33
7.85
10.2
8.77
10.42
11.95

Table – 3   Physical Properties of Compounds


Compounds
S. No
Properties
I
IA
II
IIA
III
III A
IIIB
1
T.S. – Original (Kg/cm²)
159
150
218
200
105
100
112

After Ageing (Kg/cm²)
108
(-32%)
107
(-29%)
141
(-35%)
140
(-30)
78
(-26%)
77
(-23%)
87
(-22%)









2
M-300% Original (Kg/cm²)
51
50
42
43
40
39
39

After Ageing
(Kg/cm²)
43
(-16%)
42
(-16%)
28
(-33%)
37
(-14%)
58
(+45%)
55
(+41%)
55
(+41%)









3
E.B – Original (%)
559
534
621
610
587
581
559

After Ageing
(%)
415
(-26%)
408
(24%)
304
(-51%)
380
(-38%)
377
(-36%)
372
(-36%)
374
(-33%)









4
Angular Tear – Original (Kg/cm)
47
42
--
--
17
20
18

After Ageing
(Kg/cm)
19
(-60%)
20
(-52%)
--
--
11
(-35%)
15
(-25%)
15
(-17%)









5
SH – Original
(Shore A)
54
50
52
50
58
54
60

After Ageing
(Shore A)
50
(-4)
48(-2)
46(-6)
48(-2)
62(+4)
58(+4)
60
(± 0)









6
Resilience – Original(%)
48
44
60
55
25
21
23

After Ageing (%)
38

36

46

44

20

19

19


Note : Ageing done at 100°C for 48 hrs, Values in brackets are % drop in respective properties

Rheometery of the compound was carried out with Oscillating Disc Rheometer (Monsanto R-100, 3º arc, upgraded with computer interface & software) at 150°C from which optimum cure time (t90) was taken for slab cure. Physical testing was carried out as per ASTM D different specification using Instron 4301.

 For Cycle tube compounds Rheometery was carried out at 150° & 160°C using Moving Die Rheometer ( Flexys make ) with 1° ARC and 12 mints chart.
Compound slab of 150 X 150 mm was cured at 150°C in an electrically heated laboratory hydraulic press (platen size 300 X 300 mm, operating pressure 1.5 tons) for specific time & temperature as mentioned in the Tables. Slabs were cooled at lab temperature (27+-2°C, 65+-5% RH) for 16 hrs after which dumbbells (Type 1 ) were punched. Physical properties of cured slabs were determined with the help of Tensile Tester (Instron 4301) – both before & after ageing in circulating hot air oven at 100 ± 2 °C for 48 hrs.

Results & Discussion

The use of particulate fillers in polymer / elastomer is known since very long time and their usage continue to play very important role, especially with respect to reinforcement of properties and product cost. Selection and use of such particulate fillers are guided by different factors like cost, particle size and shape, filler surface structure etc. (1, 2)

The inorganic nanoparticle such as Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) has unique functions in the reinforcement of polymers and control of rehological properties. The effect of nano CaCO3, having mean size of 40-nano meter (nm), on properties of PVC has been investigated and reported in the literature. There is hardly any work reported on the effect of nano CaCO3 on natural rubber compound in the literature, through some work has been reported about its effect on EPDM, SBS etc. (3)

Evaluation of Nano Calcium Carbonate was carried out in different compounds, Natural rubber (RMA 5 and Pale Crepe) and Nitrile & Natural rubber blend in 70:30 ratio. Formulations are given in Table –1. Studies were carried out in NR and / or NBR + NR blend in non-black compound keeping in mind type of rubber & such non black compounds are used in the manufacture of Sports goods like Sheets for inflated balls, Play balls, Table Tennis bats etc.

While discussing the results reported here one has to keep in mind that pptd. Silica (15 phr) used in the compound was replaced by one third (5 phr) of Nano Calcium Carbonate (nano CaCO3). This is to remind that one third of Nano Calcium Carbonate imparting similar reinforcement characteristics to that of pptd. Silica filler at much higher proportion.

Rheometry of the Compounds were done at 150°C using a Monsanto R-100 Oscillating Disc Rheometer (3º arc, upgraded with computer interface & software) for 12 mints Chart time. This is presented in Table –2

From the Rheometry it is observed that replacement of 15-phr pptd. Silica by 5-phr nano CaCO3 has minor effect on different characteristics like Max. Torque, TS 5 (Scorch time), TC 90 (Optimum cure time), Cure Rate and Reversion time of different compounds in RMA 5 and Pale Crepe and blend of NR with Nitrile rubber (33% ACN content). These characteristics are closely comparable in most of the cases; there is a minor effect on scorch time (minor lower tendency) and cure rate (minor slowing down) with compound containing Nano Calcium Carbonate, which might be due to alkalinity factor.

Physical properties, before and after ageing, of compounds are given in Table-3. All tests were carried out as per IS-3400, different parts.

It can be seen from the values of different physical properties presented in Table–3, that these are quite close with Silica and with Nano Calcium Carbonate containing compounds though in later case only one third quantity of filler was used replacing Silica. These values clearly indicate the superior reinforcing effect of Nano Calcium Carbonate compared to pptd. Silica. 

Nano Calcium Carbonate containing compounds give little lower hardness compared to Silica compound. This could be modified by adjusting to higher proportion of nano CaCO3 or other cheaper filler, as the case may be, in the compound.

Drop in values of different properties after ageing clearly indicate superior trend with nano CaCO3 compounds indicating better performance of the product based on Nano Calcium Carbonate.

Values in bracket, which are percentage drop in properties on ageing at 100°C for 48 hrs, clearly indicate that compounds with nano CaCO3 retains the properties at a higher level compared to compounds with pptd. silica filler only. May be, this effect will be more pronounced with higher level of nano calcium carbonate.

Further work was carried out with NR + NBR blend (30:70 ) compound (III B ) as reported in Table – 3 wherein part of the pptd. Silica filler was replaced by Nano Calcium Carbonate (10 phr pptd. Silica+5phr Nano Calcium Carbonate). Results, given in Table – 3, clearly indicate that part replacement of pptd Silica by Nano Calcium Carbonate gives rise to improved physical properties in all respects compared to alone pptd. Silica reinforced compound. Such combination will also give rise to cost saving.

Replacing Silica with Nano Calcium Carbonate in the compound will result in lowering of weight of the product like Automotive components where saving in weight is the international trend and will be welcome. However, for general rubber products, question about compound cost may arise because of lower filler content. In such cases the balance portion of the Silica filler may be replaced by cheaper fillers like China Clay, Aluminium Silicate, pptd. Calcium Carbonate etc.  This will give further cost saving. Incidentally Nano Calcium Carbonate is expected to be not costlier than pptd. Silica filler presently marketed in the country.

Usage of Nano Filler in Latex

To the elastomer latex, pristine clay can be added directly or as its aqueous dispersion (slurry). The clays are strong hydrophilic and adsorb water molecules which is associated with an expansion of their inter-gallery spacing.
Latex compounding has been successfully applied for dispersing nano calcium carbonate in NR latex,(4)

Calcium carbonate-NR latex nanocomposites are prepared by adding nano-CaCO3, whose surface had been treated with natural rubber latex before sulfuration.(2) The physical properties , thermo oxidative aging & thermal degradation properties and the ultra-microstructure were analyzed. The structures and properties of nanocomposites could be clearly improved by natural rubber latex mixed with surface-treated nano CaCO3. pH of supernatant layer of aqueous dispersion of precipitated Silica and Nano Calcium Carbonate was measured and found to be 6.5 – 7.0 and 7.5 – 8.0 respectively.

FOOTBALL BLADDER – INFLATED & UNINFLATED

Latex Products – Ultra-fine calcium carbonate has been used successfully in the manufacture of football bladder, household gloves etc in bulk quantity. It can be used in surgical gloves, latex thread, balloons etc. Benefits are - reduced volume formulation cost, increased product volume and tensile strength, improved air impermeability of gloves, balloons, bladder etc. and smoother surface of the product. Large quantity of ultra-fine CaCO3 has been used in the manufacture of Football bladder in India.

INFLATED BALLS

Nano Clay

Polymer nanocomposites is one of the most interesting fields of research in mater in the recent years. Numeruous literatures are available on this topic, which describe various nanofillers in polymer matrices.  Synthesis and characterization of a series clay nanocomposites have been reported on development of  novel rubber / silica hybrid nanocomposites from acrylic rubber (ACM) and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) using the solgel technique.

Knowledge of rheological properties of elastomers is of considerable importance in predicting and comprehending their processing characteristics. Both the viscous and elasticity of an elastomer can be analysed and correlated with its flow behavior. The viscous flow is related to the output rate, whereas the elastic behavior corresponds to the dimensional. Elastomer nanocomposites are characterized by better filler dispersion within matrix compared to the conventional filed systems.

Silica  Nano Filler

The surfaces of silicas possess siloxane and silanol groups, which make the filler acidic and moisture adsorbing. This causes detrimental effects such as unacceptably long cure times and slow cure rates, and also loss of crosslink density in sulfur-cured rubbers. For these reasons, the use of silica in rubber products was hampered until bi-functional organosilanes such as TESPT were available. These materials can be used as primers for treating silica surfaces to make the filler more suitable for use in rubber. TESPT is used to improve the reinforcing capability of precipitated silicas, and also forms an internal part of curing systems to improve crosslinking network properties. This silane possesses tetrasulfane and ethoxy reactive groups. The tetrasulfane groups are rubber reactive and react in the presence of accelerators at elevated temperatures, with or without elemental sulfur being present, to form crosslinks in unsaturated rubbers for instance SBR. The ethoxy groups react with the silanol groups on the surfaces of these fillers during compounding and this leads to the formation of stable covalent filler / TESPT bonds.

It was concluded that the coupling agent played a major role in promoting the crosslinking of the rubber by the filler, but alone was not capable of crosslinking the rubber phase.

Vulcanized natural rubber is well known as an exceptionally tough elastomer because it exhibits high tensile stress, larger hysteresis loss and crystallization upon stretching. The peculiar strength of natural rubber has been attributed to this strain – induced crystallizability.

To quantitatively determine the different stages of stress optical behavior including the critical conditions for the crystallization to take place in unfilled NR and NR filled with 5 phr and 10 phr of nanosilica particles.

The unfilled compounds exhibit a hysteresis loss in the stress – strain curves. This has been related to the occurrence of strain-induced crystallization in the NR.

Unlike the unfilled counterparts, the filled 5 phr and the 10 phr silica compounds exhibit significant hyesteresis even at low deformation levels. The samples stretched to high stretch ratios exhibit much larger hysteresis loops as compared to the stretched and retracted unfilled counterparts. The values of maximum stress reached in the case of filled compounds, both for 5 phr silica and 10 phr silica , are much higher than the maximum stresses reached by the unfilled sample: more than two times for the 5 phr silica filled compound and more than three times for the 10 phr silica filled compound as expected since the silica acts as a reinforcing agent. Notice that although the stress is increased, the true strain values remain essentially the same as for the unfilled samples.

It is evident the hysteresis in the filled compounds is much larger than unfilled counterparts.

The higher the amount of silica, the higher is the average number of silica particles that are present between the polymer chains causing a reduced mobility and ability to orient themselves to become parallel to each other to promote crystallization.

The nanosilica helps the orientation process possibly providing stiff regions that help transmit forces to local chains that in turn increase their orientation. However, for the same strain level, the 10 phr filled sample shows the lowest birefringence compared to unfilled and 5 phr filled system. This may be as a result of two “dilution” effects in the presence of nanosilica:

1.         In the presence of nanofillers, the average distance between polymer chains increase; this, in turn, should reduce the crosslink density negatively impacting network density;

2.         In the presence of large amount of nanosilica, the polymer chains cannot come together to crystallize as they are physically separated by the nanoparticles.

We suspect that both mechanisms become dominant at high nanosilica helps the local polymer chain orientation process.

Hybrid CB silica

The carbon black-silica dual phase filler has particle morphology similar to that of carbon black, but contains both silica and carbon black moieties, grafted together in a flame process (5). By incorporating both silica and carbon black domains into the same particle, the filler-filler network is reduced. In this filler, the carbon black is grafted with 10% silica by weight, which provides benefit to hysteresis without detriment to abrasion resistance. Compounds with the carbon black-silica dual phase may exhibit lower filler-filler interaction, as evidenced by lower Payne effect, which will result in lower hysteresis and better fuel economy.

Overall, the broad aggregate carbon black has a specific surface area approximately midway between that of N 375 and N 220, yet the filler particles of different aggregate sizes are not able to pack as closely together as filler particles of uniform size, and therefore have a larger average spacing between particles (5). In the rubber system, the inter-particle spaces allow the polymer chains access to the filler surface, resulting in less filler-filler intetaction and hence, less hysteresis. In addition, carbon black with a broad particle size distribution has been shown to provide higher abrasion resistance, leading to longer tread-life.

The hybrid CB silica compound exhibited longer ts2 scorch time relative to the carbon black control due to the acidic nature of the silica portion of the filler which tends to retard cure and increase scorch safety.  

 References

  1. Rapra Handbook, Particulate filled polymer composites, 2nd Ed.
  2. Inorganic nanoparticle filled polymer nanocomposites – Prof. Jian Feng Chen, Research Centre of the Ministry of Education for High Gravity Engineering & Technology , Dec. 2002
  3. Ultrafine Precipitated Calcium Carbonate & its Function as Rubber Additive. – S.Tsutsui ,Shirashi Central Laboratories Co. Ltd. , Nippon Gomu Kyokaishi ( 2005 ) ,78 (6) , 218 – 233.
  4. Nano Calcium Carbonate – as performance filler in Rubber & Plastics- A. Chakravarty. Rubber India (Nov.2005, p 23).
  5. M.Morris and T.Al, Theo , Rubber World , 2010 ,41(5),15-18,25




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