Masters Degrees (Chemistry and Polymer Science)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Chemistry and Polymer Science) by browse.metadata.advisor "Cloete, V."

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    Synthesis of surface active alkanes for cellulose modification
    (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2006-03) Moses, Alvira; Sanderson, R. D.; Cloete, V.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Chemistry and Polymer Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The properties and interactions of cellulose surfaces are of a great technical interest during papermaking and recycling. Sizing, the modification of fiber surfaces, e.g. with the purpose to reduce water penetration into the paper structure, plays an important role in obtaining paper with good printability and water resistance. Water resistance is the key end-property of paper being investigated in this study. Firstly a comparison was made between the degree of surface modification of cellulose by means of anionic, nonionic and reactive surfactants. The amount of surfactant adsorbed by the paperboard was determined and the paper surface evaluated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The sizing efficiency of the three industrial surfactants was evaluated in order to establish the surfactant structure best suited for sizing recycled paperboard. This was done via the Cobb test, an industrial method to measure water uptake by paper, and contact angle measurements. The reactive surfactant was found to have the best sizing efficiency and focus shifted to synthesizing selected copolymer surfactants via free radical copolymerization. Two copolymers were synthesized, with maleic anhydride as the polar part in both. Butyl methacrylate and lauryl methacrylate were selected as the hydrophobic parts in the respective copolymer systems. The unavailability of reactivity ratios for the respective copolymer systems led to the use of in situ proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy CH NMR) for the determination of the co-monomer incorporation in both copolymer systems. Quantitative 13C NMR spectroscopy was also employed in order to establish the co-monomer content of the isolated copolymers obtained during bench-scale (laboratory) experiments. Lastly, a comparison of the degree of surface modification of cellulose was made between that which was achieved with the industrial reactive surfactant and that with the two synthesized polymeric reactive surfactants. The two synthesized polymeric surfactants were found to have a better sizing efficiency than the industrial reactive surfactant, and the maleic anhydride-lauryl methacrylate copolymer system gave the best results.