Simple Method for the Preparation of Composites Based on PA6 and Partially Exfoliated Graphite

In the present work, the preparation of composite systems based on polyamide 6 (PA6) and exfoliated graphite was attempted by applying a simple procedure, which consists of a preliminary dispersion/exfoliation of graphite in the monomer, namely, ε- caprolactam (CL), and a subsequent polymerization of the above system. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) demonstrated specific interactions between CL and graphite surface. The dispersion of graphite in the monomer and polymer was assessed by scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy, while mechanical tests allowed to evaluate the influence of graphite on the polymer properties

On the electrospinning of PVDF: influence of the experimental conditions on the nanofiber properties

none4simixedErika Simona Cozza;Orietta Monticelli;Enrico Marsano;Peggy CebeCozza, ERIKA SIMONA; Monticelli, Orietta; Marsano, Enrico; Peggy, Ceb

Nanostructured nanofibers based on PBT and POSS: Effect of POSS on the alignment and macromolecular orientation of the nanofibers

reserved4simixedErika Simona Cozza;Qian Ma;Orietta Monticelli;Peggy CebeCozza, ERIKA SIMONA; Qian, Ma; Monticelli, Orietta; Peggy, Ceb

Preparation, characterization, and properties of nanofibers based on poly(vinylidene fluoride)and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane

none4mixedCOZZA ES; MONTICELLI O; O. CAVALLERI; MARSANO ECozza, ERIKA SIMONA; Monticelli, Orietta; Cavalleri, Ornella; Marsano, Enric

POSS vapor phase grafting: a novel method to modify polymer films

In this paper, a novel method for the preparation of surface modified polymer films is proposed, by the vaporization of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) and reaction on the polymer surface. This method was successfully applied to the grafting of an amino-functionalized POSS (POSS-NH2) on poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (PSMA), showing efficient grafting to produce a POSS-rich polymer layer on the vapor-treated surface. The thickness of this layer was found to be controlled by diffusion of POSS, allowing tailoring of the grafted layer thickness with the treatment time. The processing temperature window was found to be defined by the following conditions: (i) high enough to allow significant POSS volatilization, (ii) high enough to allow sufficient polymer chain mobility to react with POSS and (iii) low enough to avoid specimens deformation by polymer flow during the treatmen

NIR-Reflecting Properties of New Paints for Energy-Efficient Buildings

The main idea of the research is to formulate exterior building paints as smart coatings with high IR-reflectance to decrease the use of energy for cooling buildings. A vantage coming from this strategy is to broaden the range of colors of the urban aesthetic request to the dark ones, overtaking the current white-cool solutions. Starting from the evidence that black color is the most critical case for the light absorption, the study was focused on black pigments, considering its use for realizing both black paints and different shades of grey paints. Five different black colorants produced in laboratory have been mixed with commercial paints and have been compared to the standard black colorant usually used for building paints. The calculated Total Solar Reflectance (TSR) values prove the increase of the solar reflectance from 5%, in case of standard black, to values over 30% for some reflective blacks. Likewise, reflective grey offers higher TSR values than standard grey at same light shade; while, at same TSR value, reflective grey has darker color shade than standard grey. Thermal measurements and thermographic images confirm that, when TSR is higher, the surface temperature on the back of painted support is lower