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13 pages, 1912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Piezoelectric Enhancement of Piezoceramic Nanoparticle-Doped PVDF/PCL Core-Sheath Fibers

by Zhangbin Feng, Ke Wang, Yukang Liu, Biao Han and Deng-Guang Yu

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071243 - 31 Mar 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2509

Abstract

Electrospinning is considered to be an efficient method to prepare piezoelectric thin films because of its ability to transform the phase of the polymers. A core-sheath structure can endow fibers with more functions and properties. In this study, fibers with a core-sheath structure [...] Read more.

Electrospinning is considered to be an efficient method to prepare piezoelectric thin films because of its ability to transform the phase of the polymers. A core-sheath structure can endow fibers with more functions and properties. In this study, fibers with a core-sheath structure were prepared using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) included with nanoparticles (NPs) as the shell layer and polycaprolactone (PCL) as the core layer. Their mechanical and piezoelectric properties were studied in detail. During the course of the electrospinning process, PVDF was demonstrated to increase the amount of its polar phase, with the help of nanoparticles acting as a nucleating agent to facilitate the change. PCL was chosen as a core material because of its good mechanical properties and its compatibility with PVDF. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) assessments revealed that the fibers have a core-sheath structure, and shell layers were loaded with nanoparticles. Mechanical testing showed that the core layer can significantly improve mechanical properties. The XRD patterns of the core-sheath structure fibers indicated the β phase domain the main component. Piezoelectric testing showed that the doped nanoparticles were able to enhance piezoelectric performances. The increases of mechanical and piezoelectric properties of core-sheath structure fibers provide a feasible application for wearable electronics, which require flexibility and good mechanical properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Nano Polymer Composites)

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16 pages, 3148 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Effects of Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes on Rheology and Flow Instability for Designing Printable Polymer Nanocomposites

by Rumiana Kotsilkova and Sonia Tabakova

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(5), 835; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13050835 - 23 Feb 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1961

Abstract

Nowadays, a strong demand exists for printable materials with multifunctionality and proper rheological properties to overcome the limitations to deposit layer-by-layer in additive extrusion. The present study discusses rheological properties related to the microstructure of hybrid poly (lactic) acid (PLA) nanocomposites filled with [...] Read more.

Nowadays, a strong demand exists for printable materials with multifunctionality and proper rheological properties to overcome the limitations to deposit layer-by-layer in additive extrusion. The present study discusses rheological properties related to the microstructure of hybrid poly (lactic) acid (PLA) nanocomposites filled with graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to produce multifunctional filament for 3D printing. The alignment and slip effects of 2D-nanoplatelets in the shear-thinning flow are compared with the strong reinforcement effects of entangled 1D-nanotubes, which govern the printability of nanocomposites at high filler contents. The mechanism of reinforcement is related to the network connectivity of nanofillers and interfacial interactions. The measured shear stress by a plate–plate rheometer of PLA, 1.5% and 9% GNP/PLA and MWCNT/PLA shows an instability for high shear rates, which is expressed as shear banding. A rheological complex model consisting of the Herschel–Bulkley model and banding stress is proposed for all considered materials. On this basis, the flow in the nozzle tube of a 3D printer is studied by a simple analytical model. The flow region is separated into three different regions in the tube, which match their boundaries. The present model gives an insight into the flow structure and better explains the reasons for printing enhancement. Experimental and modeling parameters are explored in designing printable hybrid polymer nanocomposites with added functionality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Nano Polymer Composites)

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20 pages, 11345 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving the Ablation Properties of Liquid Silicone Rubber Composites by Incorporating Hexaphenoxycyclotriphosphonitrile

by Hao Zhang, Jinfeng Tian, Liwei Yan, Shengtai Zhou, Mei Liang and Huawei Zou

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(3), 563; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13030563 - 30 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2249

Abstract

The ablative properties of epoxy-modified vinyl silicone rubber (EMVSR) composites containing hexaphenoxycyclotriphosphonitrile (HPCTP) have been systematically studied. The strength of the ablation char layer was greatly enhanced with the addition of HPCTP, which induced the formation of a more complete, denser, and thicker [...] Read more.

The ablative properties of epoxy-modified vinyl silicone rubber (EMVSR) composites containing hexaphenoxycyclotriphosphonitrile (HPCTP) have been systematically studied. The strength of the ablation char layer was greatly enhanced with the addition of HPCTP, which induced the formation of a more complete, denser, and thicker char during oxyacetylene ablation tests. Moreover, the HPCTP-containing EMVSR composites demonstrated lower thermal conductivity and pyrolysis rate when compared with those without HPTCP. At the same time, the thermal insulation properties of HPCTP-filled composites were improved under low heat flow ablation scenarios. The reduction of graphitic carbon content, the formation of phosphate-like crystals as well as the increase of SiC content contributed to strengthening the char layer, which was critical for improving the ablation properties. The optimum char layer strength and thermal insulation properties were achieved when the content of HPCTP was 15 phr, whereas an optimum ablation resistance was achieved at 25 phr HPCTP. This suggests that HPCTP-modified EMVSR composites can be used for thermal protection purposes, especially in the fields of aerospace and aeronautics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Nano Polymer Composites)

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12 pages, 4574 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of UV-Curable Nano-WO₃Coating and Its Infrared Shielding Properties

by Zhengjie Wang, Rong Zhong, Ting Lai and Tianlei Chen

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(21), 3920; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12213920 - 7 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1900

Abstract

Nano-WO₃ particles are expected to find use in new shielding materials because of their significant absorption of near-infrared light in the 1400–1600 nm and 1900–2200 nm bands and high transmittance of visible light. In this study, WO₃ was ground and dispersed [...] Read more.

Nano-WO₃ particles are expected to find use in new shielding materials because of their significant absorption of near-infrared light in the 1400–1600 nm and 1900–2200 nm bands and high transmittance of visible light. In this study, WO₃ was ground and dispersed using high-energy ball-milling to prepare a nano-WO₃ dispersion using BYK331 as the dispersant and ethanol as the solvent. The prepared nano-WO₃ dispersion was added to a photo-curing system and cured using UV irradiation to form films. The cured films were characterized using FT-IR, SEM, XRD, and TGA. The results showed that the nano-WO₃ powder was evenly dispersed in the coating. The infrared blocking rate of the film continuously improved and the visible light transmission rate continuously decreased with increasing amounts of nano-WO₃.For the film containing 6 wt%nano-WO₃, the infrared blocking rate of the coating is 90%, the visible light transmittance is 70%, the hardness of the coating is 3B, and the adhesion is 3H. The thermal stability of the coating is also improved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Nano Polymer Composites)

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11 pages, 5753 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fly Ash-Incorporated Polystyrene Nanofiber Membrane as a Fire-Retardant Material: Valorization of Discarded Materials

by Mira Park, Yun-Su Kuk, Oh Hoon Kwon, Jiwan Acharya, Gunendra Prasad Ojha, Jae-Kyoung Ko, Ha-Sung Kong and Bishweshwar Pant

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(21), 3811; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12213811 - 28 Oct 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1902

Abstract

Reusing or recycling waste into new useful materials is essential for environmental protection. Herein, we used discarded polystyrene (PS) and fly-ash (FA) particles and a fabricated fly-ash incorporated polystyrene fiber (FA/PS fiber) composite. The electrospinning process produced continuous PS fibers with a good [...] Read more.

Reusing or recycling waste into new useful materials is essential for environmental protection. Herein, we used discarded polystyrene (PS) and fly-ash (FA) particles and a fabricated fly-ash incorporated polystyrene fiber (FA/PS fiber) composite. The electrospinning process produced continuous PS fibers with a good distribution of FA particles. The prepared nanofibers were characterized by state-of-the-art techniques. The performances of the composite nanofibers were tested for fire-retardant applications. We observed that the incorporation of FA particles into the PS fibers led to an improvement in the performance of the composite as compared to the pristine PS fibers. This study showed an important strategy in using waste materials to produce functional nanofibers through an economical procedure. We believe that the strategy presented in this paper can be extended to other waste materials for obtaining nanofiber membranes for various environmental applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Nano Polymer Composites)

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16 pages, 8151 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Created Excellent Thermal, Mechanical and Fluorescent Properties by Doping Eu³⁺-Complex-Anchored Carbon Nanotubes in Polycyanate Resins

by Ziyao Hu, Dong Zhao, Yao Wang, Linjun Huang, Shichao Wang, Sui Mao, Olga Grigoryeva, Peter Strizhak, Alexander Fainleib and Jianguo Tang

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(12), 2040; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12122040 - 14 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1757

Abstract

In the blending process of the composites, the clustering of MWCNTs under high concentration leads to poor dispersion and difficult complexing with luminescent elements. Cyanate ester resins (CERs) have a brittle network structure when cured caused by a conjugation effect that forms a [...] Read more.

In the blending process of the composites, the clustering of MWCNTs under high concentration leads to poor dispersion and difficult complexing with luminescent elements. Cyanate ester resins (CERs) have a brittle network structure when cured caused by a conjugation effect that forms a strong emission peak in the ultraviolet-visible region and quenches the luminescent elements of the fluorescent nanofillers. In this paper, by anchoring of the Eu complex (Eu(TTA)₃Phen, ETP) on a surface of longitudinal split unzipped carbon nanotubes (uMWCNTs); fluorescent nanoparticles were prepared as ETP anchor unzipper carbon nanotubes (ETP-uCNTs). Dicyanate ester of bisphenol E (CER-E monomer) is cured to polycyanurate at a lower temperature to achieve a high conversion, promoting a uniform blend with ETP-uCNTs, providing the fluorescence environment with high color purity. Studies show the ETP-uCNTs solve the agglomeration of MWCNTs and improve the interface binding ability. Compared with the pure CER-E, the tensile strength, bending strength and impact strength of CER-E/0.8 wt.% ETP-uCNT hybrid nanocomposites are increased by 94.6%, 92.8% and 101.1%, respectively. The carbon residue rate of CER-E/ETP-uCNTs is up to 47.14% at 800 °C, the temperature of the maximum reaction rate decreases by 67.81 °C, and the partial absorption of ultraviolet light is realized between 200 and 400 nm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Nano Polymer Composites)

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17 pages, 4140 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Advanced Nanomechanical Characterization of Biopolymer Films Containing GNPs and MWCNTs in Hybrid Composite Structure

by Todor Batakliev, Evgeni Ivanov, Verislav Angelov, Giovanni Spinelli and Rumiana Kotsilkova

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(4), 709; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12040709 - 21 Feb 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2274

Abstract

Nanomechanical definition of the properties of composite specimens based on polylactic acid (PLA) was made in the present study. Research activities with accent on biodegradable polymer nanocomposites have fundamental significance originated from the worldwide plastic waste pollution. To receive hybrid nanocomposites with high [...] Read more.

Nanomechanical definition of the properties of composite specimens based on polylactic acid (PLA) was made in the present study. Research activities with accent on biodegradable polymer nanocomposites have fundamental significance originated from the worldwide plastic waste pollution. To receive hybrid nanocomposites with high level of homogeneity, the low cost and environmentally friendly melt extrusion method has been applied. The role of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as reinforcing nanoparticles dispersed in the polymer matrix was thoroughly investigated. Quasi-static nanoindentation analysis was enriched by performance of accelerated property mapping and nanodynamic mechanical testing in order to fully describe the nanoscale surface homogeneity and stress relaxation behavior of the nanocomposite specimens. That novelty of the research approach had a well-marked contribution over the detection of the new samples’ nanomechanical features as a function of the type of carbon nanofiller. Refined nanoscratch experiments uncovered the resistance of the materials against notches by means of measurement of the coefficient of friction and accurate estimation of the residual penetration depth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Nano Polymer Composites)

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Review

Jump to: Research

36 pages, 14238 KiB

Open AccessReview

From Ionic Nanoparticle Organic Hybrids to Ionic Nanocomposites: Structure, Dynamics, and Properties: A Review

by Argyrios V. Karatrantos, Clement Mugemana, Lyazid Bouhala, Nigel Clarke and Martin Kröger

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13010002 - 20 Dec 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2179

Abstract

Ionic nanoparticle organic hybrids have been the focus of research for almost 20 years, however the substitution of ionic canopy by an ionic-entangled polymer matrix was implemented only recently, and can lead to the formulation of ionic nanocomposites. The functionalization of nanoparticle surface [...] Read more.

Ionic nanoparticle organic hybrids have been the focus of research for almost 20 years, however the substitution of ionic canopy by an ionic-entangled polymer matrix was implemented only recently, and can lead to the formulation of ionic nanocomposites. The functionalization of nanoparticle surface by covalently grafting a charged ligand (corona) interacting electrostatically with the oppositely charged canopy (polymer matrix) can promote the dispersion state and stability which are prerequisites for property “tuning”, polymer reinforcement, and fabrication of high-performance nanocomposites. Different types of nanoparticle, shape (spherical or anisotropic), loading, graft corona, polymer matrix type, charge density, molecular weight, can influence the nanoparticle dispersion state, and can alter the rheological, mechanical, electrical, self-healing, and shape-memory behavior of ionic nanocomposites. Such ionic nanocomposites can offer new properties and design possibilities in comparison to traditional polymer nanocomposites. However, to achieve a technological breakthrough by designing and developing such ionic nanomaterials, a synergy between experiments and simulation methods is necessary in order to obtain a fundamental understanding of the underlying physics and chemistry. Although there are a few coarse-grained simulation efforts to disclose the underlying physics, atomistic models and simulations that could shed light on the interphase, effect of polymer and nanoparticle chemistry on behavior, are completely absent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Nano Polymer Composites)

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