Preparation and characterization of new electrically conductive composites based on expanded graphite with potential use as remote environmental detectors

The presented paper is focused on studying electrically conductive composites based on an elastomeric matrix and expanded graphite as the filler. A potential application as an environmental remote detector was studied. The influence of filler particle size, film thickness, detector length, temperature, and the amount of oil on the detector response rate were explored. Peel tests were performed in order to investigate the adhesion of prepared detector films to different materials. Expanded graphite with average particle size 5 µm was chosen for the experiments due to its fastest response. Decreasing the detector film thickness has caused an increase in the response rate but also a decrease in the signal measured. The response rate of the detector system was in a practical range even for lower temperatures. From the obtained data, the proposed detector seems to be suitable for a practical application

Graphene oxide reduction during surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate: Controlling electro-responsive properties

Unique grafting of the poly(glycidyl methacrylate) from the surface of graphene oxide (GO) with the controllable reduction of GO particles was performed in a single-step reaction using atom transfer radical polymerization technique. The control of the GO surface reduction and modification can be achieved by appropriate selection of the ratio between tertiary amine and GO particle contents. Finely tuned electrical conductivity of the GO-PGMA particles enables simple tailoring of electro-responsive properties of their silicone oil suspensions. © 2015 Elsevier B.V.Operational Program Research and Development for Innovations; European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); National Budget of the Czech Republic, within the framework of the project Centre of Polymer Systems [CZ.1.05/2.1.00/03.0111

Light-induced actuation of poly(dimethylsiloxane) filled with Graphene oxide grafted with Poly(2-(trimethylsilyloxy)ethyl Methacrylate)

This study serves to combine two approaches into one single step, to achieve a significant improvement of the light-induced actuation capabilities. Graphene oxide (GO) is an inert material, from the electrical and thermal conductivity point of view, and is incompatible with the usually-used poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) matrix. During surface-modification by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization, the GO was transformed into a conducting and compatible material with the PDMS showing enormous light-induced actuation capability. The GO surface-modification with poly(2-(trimethylsilyloxy)ethyl methacrylate) (PHEMATMS) chains was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis, with an on-line monitoring of gasses using FTIR. The improved compatibility was elucidated using contact angle and dielectric properties measurements. The PHEMATMS shell was investigated using gel permeation chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance. The improved electric conductivity was measured using the four-point probe method and by Raman spectroscopy. The very important mechanical properties were elucidated using dynamic mechanical analysis, and with the help of thermo-mechanic analysis for the light-induced actuation. The excellent actuation capabilities observed, with changes in the length of around 0.8% at 10% pre-strain, are very promising from the point of view of applications. © 2018 by the authors

Electrical Conductivity of Rubber Composites with Varying Crosslink Density under Cyclic Deformation

Studies addressing electroconductive composites based on rubber have attracted great interest for many engineering applications. To contribute to obtaining useful materials with reproducible behavior, this study focused on understanding the mechanism of conductivity changes during mechanical deformation for rubber composites based on styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) or ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) vulcanized for various times. The composites were characterized by static electrical conductivity, tensile testing, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), and crosslink density measurements. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus were found to increase significantly with rising vulcanization time. Higher static conductivity values of the composites were observed with the increase in vulcanization time. The most important aspect of this investigation consisted in the electrical current measurement online with recording the stress-strain curves, revealing the details of the uniaxial cyclic deformation effect on changes in the structure of conductive pathways indirectly. The electrical conductivity during five runs of repeated cyclic mechanical deformations for SBR composites increased permanently, although not linearly, whereas EPDM composites showed a slight increase or at least a nearly constant current, indicating healing of minor defects in the conductive pathways or the formation of new conductive pathways

Structure and Properties of Nanocomposites based on PTT-block-PTMO Copolymer and Graphene Oxide prepared by in Situ Polymerization

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate-block-tetramethylene oxide) (PTT-PTMO) copolymer/graphene oxide nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization. From the SEM and TEM images of PTT-PTMO/GO nanocomposite, it can be seen that GO sheets are clearly well-dispersed in the PTT-PTMO matrix. TEM images also showed that graphene was well exfoliated into individual sheets, suggesting that in situ polymerization is a highly efficient method for preparing nanocomposites. The influence of GO on the two-phase structure, melt viscosity and mechanical properties of PTT-PTMO block copolymer was examined by using DSC, ARES rheometer and tensile tests. The DSC results imply that the introduction of GO did not affect the glass transition temperature of PTMO-rich soft phase, melting temperature of PTT hard phase and degree of crystallinity of the nanocomposites. As the graphene oxide loading in the nanocomposites increase, the enhanced Young’s modulus and yield stress was observed. The tensile strength slightly increased with the increase of GO from 0 to 0.5 wt% when elongation at break was higher or comparable to the value of neat PTT-PTMO copolymer

Towards Improving the Durability and Overall Performance of PV-ETICS by Application of a PCM Layer

The main goal of the paper was to numerically analyse the risk of overheating of the Energy Activated External Thermal Insulation Composite System (En-ActivETICS) as an example of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). The analyses were conducted with the coupled power flow method (thermal and electrical) for 20 European cities. All locations were analysed considering the local climate in the context of building performance simulation as well as electricity production. The obtained results allowed for the determination of the risk of overheating, which can influence system durability, accelerated thermal ageing, and overall performance. It was revealed that the risk of overheating above 80 °C is possible in almost all locations; however, the intensity considerably differs between southern and northern Europe. The effect of latent heat storage for better thermal stabilization and overall performance was determined numerically for all locations. Finally, the improved solution with a phase change material (PCM) layer beside the PV panel was proposed individually for specific climatic zones, considering the required heat capacity. The maximum panel temperature for improved En-ActivETICS does not exceed 85 °C for any location

Electrospun copolyamide mats modified by functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes

In this article, we report the preparation and properties of electro-conductive mats based on the commercial copolyamide (Vestamelt X1010) and multiwall carbon nanotubes functionalized by amino groups. Vestamelt X1010 is easily soluble in n-propanol at room temperature up to a concentration of 18 wt%. This is a significant advantage of this system because n-propanol is considered to be a safe and relatively environmentally friendly solvent compared with the organic solvents and acids frequently used for electrospinning of common synthetic polymers. The co-polyamide nanofibers were modified by multiwall carbon nanotubes grafted by amino groups to enhance their electrical conductivity at low filler content. The percolation threshold was found to be 0.33 vol%. Some applications of these mats were demonstrated such as the capability for sensing a selected vapor (acetone) and for oil/water separation. It was shown that neat Vestamelt X1010 mats remove around 85 wt% of oil (100 ppm of vegetable oil dispersed in water), whereas the addition of 1 wt% of CNTs enhances this ability up to 95 wt%. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1451–E1460, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers. © 2018 Society of Plastics EngineersQatar Foundation; Qatar National Research Fund [7-1724-3-438

Antibacterial photodynamic activity of hydrophobic carbon quantum dots and polycaprolactone based nanocomposite processed via both electrospinning and solvent casting method

Inhabitation of various types of bacteria on different surfaces causes vital health problems worldwide. In this work, a wound dressing defeating bacterial infection had been fabricated. The antibacterial effect of polycaprolactone and hydrophobic carbon quantum dots (hCQDs) based nanocomposite has been presented. The nanocomposite was fabricated both via solvent casting and electrospinning method. Nanocomposites with and without hCQDs had been investigated. A detailed study on their morphology and surface properties were performed by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Prepared nanocomposites had been evaluated by the contact angle, UV-Vis spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and antibacterial activity. It was found that nanocomposites were able to produce singlet oxygen upon blue light irradiation at 470 nm, and they were effective in the eradication of Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacteria. © 2021Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic; Slovak Academy of Sciences [VEGA 2/0051/20]; Czech Science FoundationGrant Agency of the Czech Republic [20-28732S]; SERB-DSTDepartment of Science & Technology (India)Science Engineering Research Board (SERB), India [TAR/2020/000088]TAR/2020/000088; Slovenská Akadémia Vied, SAV: VEGA 2/0051/20; Grantová Agentura České Republiky, GA ČR: 20-28732S; Ministerstvo školstva, vedy, výskumu a športu Slovenskej republik