Improvement of interaction in and properties of PMMA-MWNT nanocomposites through microwave assisted acid treatment of MWNT

Soluble derivatives of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) embedded in a poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) matrix forming thick, homogeneous and transparent nanocomposites, were prepared and characterized. A new photo-assisted method using microwaves, to purify the MWNTs from amorphous carbon and synthesis catalyst clusters, was tested in a sulphonitric mix. This method shortened the processing time compared to other methods. Pristine and functionalized MWNTs were introduced into the MMA, then in situ photo-polymerized. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD), as well as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), Raman and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy w…

Microwave applications in the synthesis of nanostructured materials and in organic extractions

Cobalt hexacyanoferrate–poly(methyl methacrylate) composite: Synthesis and characterization

Abstract The preparation of cobalt hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles–poly(methyl methacrylate) (CoHCF–PMMA) composites are described together with their characterization and thermochromic properties. CoHCF nanoparticles – investigated by dynamic light scattering – were prepared by optimizing solvent composition and temperature to obtain nanoparticles with a reduced degree of aggregation. The nanoparticles were embedded in a PMMA matrix to obtain a transparent coloured composite which was studied by transmission electron microscopy. The nanoparticle chromic features, enhanced by their reduced sizes, were investigated by UV–vis and FT-IR spectroscopy.

Influence of Temperature on Calcium Hydroxyapatite Nanopowders

The aim of this work is to investigate the effects of thermal treatment, in the range of temperature between 80°C - 900°C, on crystallinity, morphology and particles size of calcium hydroxylapatite nanopowders (HAp). A complete study was carried out applying 31P Magic Angle Spinning NMR, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen porosimetry and Transmis- sion Electron Microscopy techniques. HAp specimens were prepared by chemical precipitation in an aqueous solution of calcium nitrate and ammonium hydrogen phosphate. The thermal treatment performed, showed the formation of crystals whose appearance has three main morphologies and different particles size. HAp treated up to 500°C showed a set of needle-li…

Synthesis and Characterization of Nanostructured Cobalt Hexacyanoferrate

Cobalt hexacyanoferrate (CoHCF) nanoparticles have been synthesized by mixing aqueous solutions of K3Fe(CN)6 and CoCl2 under vigorous stirring at different temperatures and following two different procedures, drop-by-drop or immediate mixing. The resulting CoHCF nanoparticles, with dimensions of several tens of nanometers, were characterized using TEM, SEM-EDX, IR, and XRD. Their electrochemical behavior was investigated in comparison with the CoHCF powder bulk compound. The CoHCF nanoparticles exhibit an electrochemically driven conversion to the bulk one that has been investigated by a chemometric approach in order to establish the best synthetic parameters. The rate and the degree of con…

Macro-micro relationship in nanostructured functional composites

This paper examines the results of the characterization of two functional composites: Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-Ce:YAG (yttrium aluminium garnet doped with cerium) and PMMA-cobalt hexacyanoferrate (CoHCF). The composites were prepared as possible emitters in the fields of lighting thermal sensors. The prepared composites were char- acterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, thermogravi- metric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) analyses to study the correlation between micro and macro characteristics. We found that the molecular interactions of the two different fill…

Ce:YAG nanoparticles embedded in a PMMA matrix: preparation and characterization

A Ce:YAG-poly(methyl methacrylate) composite was prepared using in situ polymerization by embedding the Ce:YAG nanopowder in a blend of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2-methacrylic acid (MAA) monomers and activating the photopolymerization using a radical initiator. The obtained nanocomposite was yellow and transparent. Its characterization was performed using transmission electron microscopy, small angle X-ray scattering, (13)C cross-polarization magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Results showed that Ce:YAG nanoparticles are well dispersed in the polymeric matrix whose structure is organized in a lamellar shape. The luminescence properties o…