Search results for "Composites"

A clickable NHC–Au(i)-complex for the preparation of stimulus-responsive metallopeptide amphiphiles

2018

We report the synthesis of an alkyne functionalised NHC-Au(i)-complex which is conjugated with amphiphilic oligopeptides using a copper(i) catalysed cycloaddition. The resulting Au(i)-metalloamphiphiles are shown to self-assemble into charge-regulated stimulus-responsive supramolecular polymers in water via a weakly cooperative polymerisation mechanism.

Enantioselective self-assembly of antiferromagnetic hexacopper(ii) wheels with chiral amino acid oxamates

2013

The Cu(2+)-mediated self-assembly of oxamato-based ligands derived from either the (S)- or (R)-enantiomers of the amino acid valine leads to the formation of two antiferromagnetically coupled homochiral anionic hexacopper(II) wheels in the presence of templating tetramethylammonium countercations.

Computer simulations of undercooled fluids and the glass transition

2000

Abstract Two model studies are presented that attempt to describe the static and dynamic properties of glass-forming fluids via molecular dynamics simulations: The first model is an atomistically realistic model of SiO 2 , the second model provides a coarse-grained description of polymer liquids, i.e., typical `fragile' glassformers, while SiO 2 is the prototype of a `strong glassformer'. For both models, attention is given to the questions as to which range of temperatures are properties in equilibrium, and whether such simulations can help to interpret experiments and/or check theoretical predictions. While in the simulation of SiO 2 using the potential of van Beest, Kramer and van Santen…

Processing and Mechanical Properties of Natural Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Starch Biocomposites

2007

Natural fiber reinforced starch polymers are processed by compression molding. Potato, sweet potato, and corn starch are used as matrices. Three types of natural fibers, namely sisal, jute, and cabuya, are used in concentrations varying from 2.5 to 12.5% w/w in the composites. Different plasticizers are used for the starch polymers, such as water and glycerol. Mechanical properties are assessed by tensile and impact tests. In both cases, improved mechanical properties are obtained at increasing fiber contents. Tensile strength appears to be markedly improved with the addition of 10% by weight of sisal fibers, while the best results for impact strength are obtained for cabuya fibers.

Time–carbonyl groups equivalence in photo-oxidative aging of virgin/recycled polymer blends

2004

AbstractThe photo-oxidation behaviour of polymers is strongly dependent on the initial amount of carbonyl groups along the chains. The growing use of recycled post-consumer polymers coming from products used outdoors and then photo-oxidised, both pure and blended with the same virgin polymer, gives rise to an unpredictable behaviour of weathering resistance of products made with these materials. The present work shows that the carbonyl group–exposure time curves can be shifted along the time axis to give a single generalised master plot. It is then possible to predict the formation of the new carbonyl groups by knowing only the initial amount of the same carbonyl groups. The same shift fact…

Corrigendum to “Biomolecule-corona formation confers resistance of bacteria to nanoparticle-induced killing: Implications for the design of improved …

2020

A giant hybrid organic-inorganic octahedron from a narrow rim carboxylate calixarene.

2020

Here we discovered an unprecedented giant octahedral coordination compound bearing 16 Zn2+, 12 Na+, 8 O2-, 4 OH-, 13 H2O and 6 L4- ligands [L4- = fully deprotonated tetra(carboxymethoxy)calix[4]arene]. Its structure was elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. This compound, Zn8Na6L6⊃Zn8Na6O8(OH)4(H2O)13 (external⊃internal), has eight tetrahedral zinc ions forming the coordination vertices of an outermost cube where carboxylate groups from the sodium calixarenes are anchored. Its core consists of eight Zn2+, six Na+, eight O2-, and four OH- distributed over three layers, besides thirteen coordinated H2O molecul…

Functionalization of P3HT with Various Mono- and Multidentate Anchor Groups

2018

Due to its favorable optoelectronic properties and the accessibility via Grignard metathesis (GRIM) polymerization, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is one of the most applied conjugated polymers. The ‘living' nature of GRIM polymerization enables the modification of the polymer and the installation of desired properties. In the present study, two versatile approaches for the synthesis of anchor group-modified P3HT have been developed, which enable the functionalization of various inorganic nanoparticles. Depending on the polymerization conditions, mono- and bifunctional ethynyl-terminated P3HT or solely monofunctionalized aldehyde-terminated P3HT was synthesized. Afterwards, the quantitative …

Polyethylene composites filled with n‐alkyl‐functionalized siloxane‐silsesquioxane resins and sol‐gel silicas

2019

High‐density polyethylene (HDPE) composites filled with silicon‐based fillers were prepared by melt blending. The use of non‐functionalized and n‐octyl‐functionalized siloxane‐silsesquioxane resins and the sol‐gel silicas as fillers allowed us to evaluate the influence of functionalization of the fillers on the properties of the composites. The melting and crystallization temperatures of the composites were found to be only slightly affected by the addition of the silicon‐based fillers. In turn, the crystallization degree values were increased, in particular for the materials containing non‐functionalized fillers. The free‐volume properties of the composites did not change significantly in …

Morphological Characterisation of Bacterial Cellulose-Starch Nanocomposites

2008

Acetobacter sp. growing medium was modified in order to produce bacterial cellulose (BC) nanocomposites using a bottom-up technique that allowed starch to be introduced into the cellulose network. The BC-starch mats were hot-pressed to obtain nanocomposites sheets. Morphological characterisation was carried out using Atomic Force Microscopy and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy. The images obtained from microscopy were then processed using image analysis. Network properties, such as mesh size and fibre orientation were characterised. Fracture surfaces of these new nanocomposites were analysed.