Browsing by Author "Ndiritu, F. G."

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“Effect of AC Helmholt magnetic field on the mass of Rosecoco deans”
(Taylor and Francis Online, 2011-06-09) Kamweru, P. K.; Ndiritu, F. G.; Kinyanjui, T. K.; Muthui, Z. W.; Ngumbu, R. G.; Odhiambo, P. M.
Plastic bags mostly made of polyethylene (PE) cause pollution as solid waste due to their non-degradability nature. Initiation of a degradative process by enhanced photo-oxidation is a possible method for an accelerated degradation. This paper presents temperature treatment effects on PE films where photodegradation was initiated using ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in the ranges of 200–300 nm and 300–400 nm for 2 hr. Effects of temperature of 40°C and 55°C on non-UV-irradiated and UV-irradiated PE films processed by conventional methods were investigated and evaluated after 50 hr, 150 hr, and 350 hr of temperature exposure. The effects of UV wavelength range irradiation on the degradation were deduced. Measuring the dynamic moduli using a dynamic mechanical analyzer monitored the degradation. The decrease in average storage modulus was 62% with treatment at 55°C, higher than the 16% drop at 40°C for unirradiated samples after 350-hr exposure. Cross-linking in UV-exposed samples, characterized by an increase in dynamic modulus (stiffening), was observed followed by a reduction of storage modulus. Temperature treatment at 55°C together with 300–400-nm UV range irradiation resulted in the largest increase, i.e., 22% after 150 hr, followed by the largest reduction of storage modulus, i.e., 74.6% for a cumulative 350-hr exposure.
Study of Humidity and UV wavelength effects on degradation of photo irradiated polyethylene films using DMA
(2012-03-12) Kamweru, P. K.; Ndiritu, F. G.; Kinyanjui, T. K.; Muthui, Z. W.; Ngumbu, R. G.; Odhiambo, P. M.
Plastic bags, mostly made of polyethylene, cause pollution as solid waste due to their nondegradable nature. Accelerated degradation, as a solution to mitigate the menace, can be achieved through moisture enhanced photolysis. This study evaluated the effect of three relative humidity environments, i.e., 25%, 40%, and 60% RH, at a constant temperature of 55°C. The effect was studied for ultraviolet (UV) irradiated and nonirradiated samples of polyethylene (PE) films processed under conventional ways. Photodegradation was initiated using ultraviolet irradiation in the ranges (200–300) nm and (300–400) nm for two hours and the effects of subsequent humidity treatment analyzed. Dynamic mechanical analysis was used to measure the dynamic storage modulus to monitor degradation. For nonirradiated samples, there was essentially no change in storage modulus at the three relative humidity environments after 550 hrs. Irradiation in the (300–400) nm range showed faster degradation than for the (200–300)nm range with the highest drop in storage modulus being 67% after 550 hrs. Raising the humidity from 25% to 40% and 60% RH resulted in 41%, 62%, and 67% drop of storage modulus, respectively, at the 550 hrs.
Study of Humidity and UV Wavelength Effects on Degradation of Photo-Irradiated Polyethylene Films Using DMA
(2011-06-09) Kamweru, P. K.; Ndiritu, F. G.; Kinyanjui, T. K.; Muthui, Z. W.; Ngumbu, R. G.; Odhiambo, P. M.
Plastic bags, mostly made of polyethylene, cause pollution as solid waste due to their nondegradable nature. Accelerated degradation, as a solution to mitigate the menace, can be achieved through moisture enhanced photolysis. This study evaluated the effect of three relative humidity environments, i.e., 25%, 40%, and 60% RH, at a constant temperature of 55°C. The effect was studied for ultraviolet (UV) irradiated and nonirradiated samples of polyethylene (PE) films processed under conventional ways. Photodegradation was initiated using ultraviolet irradiation in the ranges (200–300) nm and (300–400) nm for two hours and the effects of subsequent humidity treatment analyzed. Dynamic mechanical analysis was used to measure the dynamic storage modulus to monitor degradation. For nonirradiated samples, there was essentially no change in storage modulus at the three relative humidity environments after 550 hrs. Irradiation in the (300–400) nm range showed faster degradation than for the (200–300)nm range with the highest drop in storage modulus being 67% after 550 hrs. Raising the humidity from 25% to 40% and 60% RH resulted in 41%, 62%, and 67% drop of storage modulus, respectively, at the 550 hrs.
Study of Temperature and UV wavelength Range Effects on degradation of Photo Irradiated polyethylene films using DMA
(2011-06-09) Kamweru, P. K.; Ndiritu, F. G.; Kinyanjui, T. K.; Muthui, Z. W.; Ngumbu, R. G.; Odhiambo, P.M.
Plastic bags mostly made of polyethylene (PE) cause pollution as solid waste due to their non-degradability nature. Initiation of a degradative process by enhanced photo-oxidation is a possible method for an accelerated degradation. This paper presents temperature treatment effects on PE films where photodegradation was initiated using ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in the ranges of 200–300 nm and 300–400 nm for 2 hr. Effects of temperature of 40°C and 55°C on non-UV-irradiated and UV-irradiated PE films processed by conventional methods were investigated and evaluated after 50 hr, 150 hr, and 350 hr of temperature exposure. The effects of UV wavelength range irradiation on the degradation were deduced. Measuring the dynamic moduli using a dynamic mechanical analyzer monitored the degradation. The decrease in average storage modulus was 62% with treatment at 55°C, higher than the 16% drop at 40°C for unirradiated samples after 350-hr exposure. Cross-linking in UV-exposed samples, characterized by an increase in dynamic modulus (stiffening), was observed followed by a reduction of storage modulus. Temperature treatment at 55°C together with 300–400-nm UV range irradiation resulted in the largest increase, i.e., 22% after 150 hr, followed by the largest reduction of storage modulus, i.e., 74.6% for a cumulative 350-hr exposure.