Search results for "halloysite"

Clay nanotubes for paper consolidation

2014

Pickering Emulsion Gels Based on Halloysite Nanotubes and Ionic Biopolymers: Properties and Cleaning Action on Marble Surface

2019

We have fabricated ecocompatible Pickering emulsions based on halloysite nanotubes and ionic biopolymers (chitosan and pectin) from renewable resources. The effect of pectin and chitosan on the Pickering emulsion was investigated by direct visualization of the oil droplets and by the thermodynamic characterization at the interface. Pectin enhances the Pickering emulsion stability, while a phase separation and nonhomogeneous gel was observed in the presence of chitosan. We have demonstrated that the Pickering emulsion in a pectin based gel phase is suitable for wax layer removal from a marble surface. A controlled cleaning is achieved by tuning the contact time between the gel and the marble…

Earth Bricks with Halloysite Nanoclay: Research and Experimentation for the Sustainability of Materials

2021

The paper illustrates the experimentation activities on rammed earth and nanotechnologies conducted by the authors. The experimental research was carried out with the aim of improving the performance of rammed earth bricks with clay nanotubes, creating a ‘new material’ with reduced embodied energy and low CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Specifically, the analysed performances are related to the compressive strength that expand their area of use as a building material.

Restoration of a XVII Century’s predella reliquary: From Physico-Chemical Characterization to the Conservation Process

2021

We report on the restoration of a XVII century’s predella reliquary, which is a part of a larger setup that includes a wall reliquary and a wooden crucified Christ, both belonging to the church of “Madre Maria SS. Assunta”, in Polizzi Generosa, Sicily, Italy. The historical/artistic and paleographic research was flanked successfully by the scientific objective characterization of the materials. The scientific approach was relevant in the definition of the steps for the restoration of the artefact. The optical microscopy was used for the identification of the wood species. Electron microscopy and elemental mapping by energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) was successful in the identification of the l…

Temperature-responsive hybrid nanomaterials based on modified halloysite nanotubes uploaded with silver nanoparticles

2022

New temperature-responsive hybrid nanomaterials based on modified halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) containing grafted polymer brushes with silver nanoparticles have been successfully fabricated. We used a three steps process including synthesis of the initiating coatings onto HNTs surface, fabrication of the POEGMA – poly(oligo(ethylene glycol)ethyl ether methacrylate) grafted brushes and synthesis of the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The synthesis and properties of hybrid nanomaterials were studied by FT-IR, TGA and DLS methods. It is shown that the introduction of AgNPs, formed from 0.005 M AgNO3 solution leads to a significant reduction of low critical solution temperature (LCST) of the polym…