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Carbon-Based Polymer Composites

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 21595

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole BH12 5BB, UK
Interests: synthesis and applications of nanomaterials; electrochemical energy storage devices; polymer nanocomposites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh KSA, Saudi Arabia
2. Chemistry Departemnt, Faculty of Scienc, Port Said University, Port Fuad, Egypt
Interests: nanotechnology; polymer; solar cells; thermoelectric polymers; water treatment; polymeric membranes; conducting polymers; polymer composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
1. Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh KSA, Saudi Arabia
2. Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
Interests: process intensification; transport phenomena; nanotechnology; polymers; water treatment; polymeric membrane; thermoelectric polymers; elelctrochemical reactors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center of Nanotechnology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Interests: Carbon nanomaterials; Thermoelectric; Conducting polymers.

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Carbon nanomaterials are amongst the most investigated and used fillers for polymer nanocomposites. Composites and hybrids based on nanostructured carbon have been used in aerospace applications, water desalination and purification, energy conversion and storage, the automobile industry, medical and electronic devices, and other emerging applications. Several Special Issues on carbon-based polymer composites and their applications have been published. The oldest Special Issue is entitled "Modeling and Characterization of Nanostructured Materials" and was published in 2003 following U.S. President Bill Clinton’s announcement of the United States National Nanotechnology Initiative. However, in light of the rapid development of the field, we feel that the time is right to organize a new Special Issue. We also feel that Polymers is the natural choice for the new Special Issue based on the success of recently published themed issues. This Special Issue focuses on recent advances in research on carbon-based nanocomposites, including (but not limited to) CNT-, graphene-, CNF-, and naturally derived carbon-based nanocomposites. Contributions (both original research articles and comprehensive reviews) will cover the most recent developments in the design, concepts, and properties of nanocomposites and recent advances in their application.

Dr. Amor M. Abdelkader
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Shafick Zoromba
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Helmy Abdel-Aziz
Prof. Dr. Numan Salah
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • carbon nanotubes
  • graphene
  • fabrication
  • characterization
  • environmental application
  • energy application.

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 4946 KiB  
Article
Physicochemical Modifications on Thin Films of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) and Its Nanocomposite with Expanded Graphite Nanostructured by Ultraviolet and Infrared Femtosecond Laser Irradiation
by René I. Rodríguez-Beltrán, Javier Prada-Rodrigo, Ana Crespo, Tiberio A. Ezquerra, Pablo Moreno and Esther Rebollar
Polymers 2022, 14(23), 5243; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14235243 - 1 Dec 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2247
Abstract
In this work, the formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on the surfaces of thin films of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and PET reinforced with expanded graphite (EG) was studied. Laser irradiation was carried out by ultraviolet (265 nm) and near-infrared (795 nm) [...] Read more.
In this work, the formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on the surfaces of thin films of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and PET reinforced with expanded graphite (EG) was studied. Laser irradiation was carried out by ultraviolet (265 nm) and near-infrared (795 nm) femtosecond laser pulses, and LIPSS were formed in both materials. In all cases, LIPSS had a period close to the irradiation wavelength and were formed parallel to the polarization of the laser beam, although, in the case of UV irradiation, differences in the formation range were observed due to the different thermal properties of the neat polymer in comparison to the composite. To monitor the modification of the physicochemical properties of the surfaces after irradiation as a function of the laser wavelength and of the presence of the filler, different techniques were used. Contact angle measurements were carried out using different reference liquids to measure the wettability and the solid surface free energies. The initially hydrophilic surfaces became more hydrophilic after ultraviolet irradiation, while they evolved to become hydrophobic under near-infrared laser irradiation. The values of the surface free energy components showed changes after nanostructuring, mainly in the polar component. Additionally, for UV-irradiated surfaces, adhesion, determined by the colloidal probe technique, increased, while, for NIR irradiation, adhesion decreased. Finally, nanomechanical properties were measured by the PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping method, obtaining maps of elastic modulus, adhesion, and deformation. The results showed an increase in the elastic modulus in the PET/EG, confirming the reinforcing action of the EG in the polymer matrix. Additionally, an increase in the elastic modulus was observed after LIPSS formation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Polymer Composites)
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11 pages, 3877 KiB  
Article
Dioctyl Phthalate-Modified Graphene Nanoplatelets: An Effective Additive for Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber
by Linh Nguyen Pham Duy, Chuong Bui, Liem Thanh Nguyen, Tung Huy Nguyen, Nguyen Thanh Tung and Duong Duc La
Polymers 2022, 14(13), 2541; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14132541 - 22 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2586
Abstract
Graphene has been extensively considered an ideal additive to improve the mechanical properties of many composite materials, including rubbers, because of its novel strength, high surface area, and remarkable thermal and electron conductivity. However, the pristine graphene shows low dispersibility in the rubber [...] Read more.
Graphene has been extensively considered an ideal additive to improve the mechanical properties of many composite materials, including rubbers, because of its novel strength, high surface area, and remarkable thermal and electron conductivity. However, the pristine graphene shows low dispersibility in the rubber matrix resulting in only slightly enhanced mechanical properties of the rubber composite. In this work, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were modified with dioctyl phthalate (DOP) to improve the dispersibility of the graphene in the natural rubber (NR). The distribution of the DOP-modified GNPs in the NR matrix was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. The effect of the modified GNPs’ contents on the mechanical properties of the GNPs/NR composite was studied in detail. The results showed that the abrasion resistance of the graphene-reinforced rubber composite significantly improved by 10 times compared to that of the rubber without graphene (from 0.3 to 0.03 g/cycle without and with addition of the 0.3 phr modified GNPs). The addition of the modified GNPs also improved the shear and tensile strength of the rubber composite. The tensile strength and shear strength of the NR/GNPs composite with a GNPs loading of 0.3 phr were determined to be 23.63 MPa and 42.69 N/mm, respectively. Even the presence of the graphene reduced the other mechanical properties such as Shore hardness, elongation at break, and residual elongation; however, these reductions were negligible, which still makes the modified GNPs significant as an effective additive for the natural rubber in applications requiring high abrasion resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Polymer Composites)
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20 pages, 5745 KiB  
Article
A Novel Trace-Level Ammonia Gas Sensing Based on Flexible PAni-CoFe2O4 Nanocomposite Film at Room Temperature
by Rima D. Alharthy and Ahmed Saleh
Polymers 2021, 13(18), 3077; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13183077 - 12 Sep 2021
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4084
Abstract
In this study, we developed a new chemi-resistive, flexible and selective ammonia (NH3) gas sensor. The sensor was prepared by depositing thin film of polyaniline-cobalt ferrite (PAni-CoFe2O4) nanocomposite on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) through an in situ [...] Read more.
In this study, we developed a new chemi-resistive, flexible and selective ammonia (NH3) gas sensor. The sensor was prepared by depositing thin film of polyaniline-cobalt ferrite (PAni-CoFe2O4) nanocomposite on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) through an in situ chemical oxidative polymerization method. The prepared PAni-CoFe2O4 nanocomposite and flexible PET-PAni-CoFe2O4 sensor were evaluated for their thermal stability, surface morphology and materials composition. The response to NH3 gas of the developed sensor was examined thoroughly in the range of 1–50 ppm at room temperature. The sensor with 50 wt% CoFe2O4 NPs content showed an optimum selectivity to NH3 molecules, with a 118.3% response towards 50 ppm in 24.3 s response time. Furthermore, the sensor showed good reproducibility, ultra-low detection limit (25 ppb) and excellent flexibility. In addition, the relative humidity effect on the sensor performance was investigated. Consequently, the flexible PET-PAni-CoFe2O4 sensor is a promising candidate for trace-level on-site sensing of NH3 in wearable electronic or portable devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Polymer Composites)
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13 pages, 1963 KiB  
Article
Simulation of Light Distribution in Gamma Irradiated UHMWPE Using Monte Carlo Model for Light (MCML) Transport in Turbid Media: Analysis for Industrial Scale Biomaterial Modifications
by Ali Rizwan, Muhammad Saleem, Suhail H. Serbaya, Hemaid Alsulami, Aqsa Ghazal and Malik Sajjad Mehmood
Polymers 2021, 13(18), 3039; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13183039 - 9 Sep 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2319
Abstract
(1) Background: This study investigated the miscibility of carbon-based fillers within industrial scale polymers for the preparation of superior quality polymer composites. It focuses on finding the light distribution in gamma irradiated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). (2) Methods: The Kubleka–Munk model (KMM) [...] Read more.
(1) Background: This study investigated the miscibility of carbon-based fillers within industrial scale polymers for the preparation of superior quality polymer composites. It focuses on finding the light distribution in gamma irradiated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). (2) Methods: The Kubleka–Munk model (KMM) was used to extract the optical properties, i.e., absorption coefficients (μa) and scattering coefficients (μs). Samples amounting to 30 kGy and 100 kGy of irradiated (in the open air) UHMWPE from 630 nm to 800 nm were used for this purpose. Moreover, theoretical validation of experimental results was performed while using extracted optical properties as inputs for the Monte Carlo model of light transport (MCML) code. (3) Conclusions: The investigations revealed that there was a significant decrease in absorption and scattering coefficient (μa & μs) values with irradiation, and 30 kGy irradiated samples suffered more compared to 100 kGy irradiated samples. Furthermore, the simulation of light transport for 800 nm showed an increase in penetration depth for UHMWPE after gamma irradiation. The decrease in dimensionless transport albedo  μs(μa+μs) from 0.95 to 0.93 was considered responsible for this increase in photon absorption per unit area with irradiation. The report results are of particular importance when considering the light radiation (from 600 nm to 899 nm) for polyethylene modification and/or stabilization via enhancing the polyethylene chain mobility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Polymer Composites)
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16 pages, 4364 KiB  
Article
One-Dimensional Nanocomposites Based on Polypyrrole-Carbon Nanotubes and Their Thermoelectric Performance
by Neazar Baghdadi, M. Sh. Zoromba, M. H. Abdel-Aziz, A. F. Al-Hossainy, M. Bassyouni and Numan Salah
Polymers 2021, 13(2), 278; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13020278 - 16 Jan 2021
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 3715
Abstract
Conducting polymers have attracted significant attention due to their easy fabrication, morphology modification, and their electrical properties. Amongst them, polypyrrole (PPy) has attractive thermoelectric (TE) properties. Engineering of this polymer in one-dimensional (1D) nanostructured form is found to enhance its TE performance. This [...] Read more.
Conducting polymers have attracted significant attention due to their easy fabrication, morphology modification, and their electrical properties. Amongst them, polypyrrole (PPy) has attractive thermoelectric (TE) properties. Engineering of this polymer in one-dimensional (1D) nanostructured form is found to enhance its TE performance. This was achieved in the present work by using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a core template to direct the self-assembly of PPy and also to further enhance its TE performance. The growth of PPy on the sidewalls of MWCNTs was performed in an acidic medium based oxidative in situ polymerization. Various concentrations of MWCNTs within the range 1.1–14.6 wt.% were used to form the MWCNTs/PPy nanocomposites in 1D core-shell structures. The morphology and microstructure results of the produced nanocomposite samples showed that this MWCNTs were successfully coated by thick and thin layers of PPy. At low concentrations of MWCNTs, thick layers of PPy are formed. While at high concentrations thin layers are coated. The formed 1D nanocomposites have enhanced TE performance, particularly those containing higher contents of MWCNTs. The power factor and figure of merit values for the formed 1D nanocomposites recorded around 0.77 µV/mK2 and 1 × 10−3 at room temperature (RT), respectively. This enhancement was attributed to the perfect coating and good interaction between PPy and MWCNT through π–π stacking between the polymer chains and these nanotubes. These results might be useful for developing future TE materials and devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Polymer Composites)
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Review

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18 pages, 6524 KiB  
Review
A Mini-Review on Recent Developments in Anti-Icing Methods
by Adelya Kenzhebayeva, Baglan Bakbolat, Fail Sultanov, Chingis Daulbayev and Zulkhair Mansurov
Polymers 2021, 13(23), 4149; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13234149 - 27 Nov 2021
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4666
Abstract
An aggressive impact of the formed ice on the surface of man-made objects can ultimately lead to serious consequences in their work. When icing occurs, the quality and characteristics of equipment, instruments, and building structures deteriorate, which affects the durability of their use. [...] Read more.
An aggressive impact of the formed ice on the surface of man-made objects can ultimately lead to serious consequences in their work. When icing occurs, the quality and characteristics of equipment, instruments, and building structures deteriorate, which affects the durability of their use. Delays in the adoption of measures against icing endanger the safety of air travel and road traffic. Various methods have been developed to combat de-icing, such as mechanical de-icing, the use of salts, the application of a hydrophobic coating to the surfaces, ultrasonic treatment and electric heating. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the field of anti-icing and analyze the role of various additives and their operating mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Polymer Composites)
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