Search results for "NANOCOMPOSITE"

2017

For the last decades, nanocomposites materials have been widely studied in the scientific literature as they provide substantial properties enhancements, even at low nanoparticles content. Their performance depends on a number of parameters but the nanoparticles dispersion and distribution state remains the key challenge in order to obtain the full nanocomposites’ potential in terms of, e.g., flame retardance, mechanical, barrier and thermal properties, etc., that would allow extending their use in the industry. While the amount of existing research and indeed review papers regarding the formulation of nanocomposites is already significant, after listing the most common applications, this r…

Study of polyethylene nanocomposites with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanofillers—from structural characteristics to mechanical properties a…

2017

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) nanocomposites filled with octakis({alkyl}dimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxanes (POSS) were prepared by the melt blending method. The effects of the structure and the content of POSS nanofillers on free-volume properties and structural characteristics of nanocomposites were investigated by the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and X-ray diffraction methods: wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Incorporation of POSS nanofillers into polyethylene matrices modified the arrangement of the polymer chains and affected the size and number of free-volume holes in nanocomposites.…

Incorporation of Silica Nanospherical Particles in Epoxy–Amine Crosslinked Materials II. Dynamic Mechanical Measurements of Epoxy Matrix-Silica Nanoc…

2009

The mechanical strengths of epoxy composites reinforced with silica nanospheres, unfunctionalised or functionalised with either amine or epoxy groups, increase up to a proportion of 5 wt.% of filler, as reflected in a study of the shear storage modulus carried out in dynamic mechanical analysis. This improvement is observed in both glassy and rubbery states, moderately affecting the glass transition temperature of the material. From this percentage of strengthening substance the mechanical properties begin to deteriorate, but keeping (up to 10 wt.% of strengthening material), a greater storage modulus in shear than that of the pristine epoxy resin. A trend can be discerned as the percentag…

Dynamic Mechanical Measurements of Epoxy Matrix-Silica Nanocomposites II

2009

The mechanical properties of epoxy-silica nanocomposites have been studied; the silica nanosphere fillers used were un-functionalised, functionalised with amine, with epoxy, or a mixture of both kinds. Dynamic mechanical analysis measurements revealed an increase in the shear storage modulus, for all samples with a filler content of 3–5%. Improvements were observed in the glassy and rubbery states, without affecting the glass transition temperature of the materials. Above these strengthening percentages, the mechanical properties began to deteriorate, but in all cases they remained superior to those of the pristine epoxy resin. For low strengthening percentages, samples reinforced with bot…

Morphology, flexural, and thermal properties of sepiolite modified epoxy resins with different curing agents

2006

A bisphenol A-based epoxy resin was modified with 5 wt% organically modified sepiolite (Pangel B40) and thermally cured using two different curing agents: an aliphatic diamine (Jeffamine D230, D230) and a cycloaliphatic diamine (3DCM). The morphology of the cured materials was established by scanning and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The thermal stability, thermo-mechanical properties, and flexural behaviour of the sepiolite-modified matrices were evaluated and compared with the corresponding neat matrix. The initial thermal decomposition temperature did not change with the addition of sepiolite. The flexural modulus of the epoxy matrix slightly increases by the incorporation o…

EVA-montmorillonite nanocomposites: effect of processing condition

2004

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of the compounding apparatus and of processing conditions on the properties of an organoclay-poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl acetate)] (EVA) nanocomposite. The filled materials were prepared using either a discontinuous batch mixer, a single screw extruder, a counter rotating intermeshing twin-screw compounder or a corotating intermeshing twin-screw extruder. The characterization of the obtained nanocomposites was performed by XRD, thermogravimetry, mechanical and rheological measurements. The study has shown the possibility of producing nanocomposites based on EVA and a commercial organoclay (Cloisite 15A) by several mixing equipments. In fact all the…

Injection molding of syndiotactic polystyrene/clay nanocomposites

2006

This study aims at exploring the effect of a commercial organoclay montmorillonite (MMT) on the final properties of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) injection-molded samples. To this goal, injection-molded specimens made from neat sPS and commercial MMT modified with various organic compounds were prepared in different molding conditions. Dispersion of clay was attained via melt blending, directly in the injection chamber of the injection-molding machine. The obtained specimens were analyzed by IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and differential thermal analysis, with the aim of elucidating the effect of clay on the microstructures of the samples. Results clearly show that,…

One-pot synthesis of PbS NP/sulfur-oleylamine copolymer nanocomposites via the copolymerization of elemental sulfur with oleylamine

2014

A novel synthetic and processing strategy for converting elemental sulfur into polymeric and nanocomposite materials is reported. We describe a facile one-pot reaction using elemental sulfur and oleylamine as comonomers to prepare high sulfur content copolymers and lead sulfide nanoparticle (PbS NP) nanocomposites. This process enables the preparation of solution processable copolymers and nanocomposites, where the loading and dispersion of PbS NP inclusions could be precisely controlled. We demonstrate the dual roles of oleylamine with sulfur for both the copolymerization of sulfur copolymers as well as the in situ synthesis of PbS NPs in a one-pot fashion.

Polyamide/carbonaceous particles nanocomposites fibers: Morphology and performances

2015

In this work, the influence of carbonaceous particles with different sizes and shapes on the morphology and mechanical performances of polyamide (PA)-based fibers was investigated. Graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) are compared with spherical and rod-like carbon fillers such as carbon black (CB) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The increments of the complex viscosity as well as elastic and loss moduli, in the melt state, assessed by rheological analysis, are reduced by modifying polyamide (PA) matrix with nanofillers in a following order: CNTs > GNP > CB. All the nanocomposites, however, show viscosity and moduli higher than those of neat PA. The CB loading causes a mere increase of the vi…

Mechanical properties and water vapor permeability of starch/montmorillonite nanocomposites

2009

Results of an investigation into an unmodified-montmorillonite (MMT)-filled nanocomposite based on plasticized starch are reported. Data on the influence of MMT content on the tensile mechanical properties of the material are presented. Particular attention is given to the water vapor permeability of the nanocomposite. It is found that the resistance to water permeation of plasticized starch can be improved considerably by introducing a rather small amount of the filler into it. Data on the influence of MMT content on the coefficients of moisture diffusion, solubility, and permeability are reported. Also, a simple method for determining the effect of irregularly oriented platelike filler pa…