Microwave-synthesized freestanding iron-carbon nanotubes on polyester composites of woven Kevlar fibre and silver nanoparticle-decorated graphene

We synthesized Ag nanoparticle-decorated multilayered graphene nanosheets (Ag-graphene) from graphite nanoplatelets and silver nitrate through 90-100 s of microwave exposure, without the use of any mineral acids or harsh reducing agents. Fe nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes (Fe-CNTs) were grown on polypyrrole (PPy) deposited on woven Kevlar fibre (WKF), using ferrocene as a catalyst, under microwave irradiation. Fe-CNTs grown on WKF and Ag-graphene dispersed in polyester resin (PES) were combined to fabricate Ag-graphene/Fe-CNT/PPy-coated WKF/PES composites by vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding. The combined effect of Fe-CNTs and Ag-graphene in the resulting composites resulted in a remarkable enhancement of tensile properties (a 192.56% increase in strength and 100.64% increase in modulus) as well as impact resistance (a 116.33% increase). The electrical conductivity significantly increased for Ag-graphene/Fe-CNT/PPy-coated WKF/PES composites. The effectiveness of electromagnetic interference shielding, which relies strongly on the Ag-graphene content in the composites, was 25 times higher in Ag-graphene/Fe-CNT/PPy-coated WKF/PES than in neat WKF/PES composites. The current work offers a novel route for fabricating highly promising, cost effective WKF/PES composites through microwave-assisted synthesis of Fe-CNTs and Ag-graphene.ope

New sorbent hydrogels for removal of acidic dyes and metal ions from aqueous solutions

Poly(N-hydroxymethylacrylamide), PHMA, hydrogels were prepared by using N-hydroxymethylacrylamide, HMA, monomer and polyethyleneglycol(400)diacrylate as a crosslinking agent in aqueous medium and then amine groups were incorporated onto PHMA hydrogels by amination reaction with different diamines. The obtained hydrogels were characterized by determination of amine value, hydroxymethyl group content and FTIR spectra. The amine value of hydrogels changed from 2.23 to 4.64 mmol/g by depending on the amine compounds used in amination reaction. Their swelling degree increased at acidic pH values and they showed pH dependent swelling behaviour. They were used as sorbent for removal of indigo carmine and Cu(II) ion, as a model dye molecule and metal ion, respectively, from aqueous solutions. The adsorption properties of the hydrogels were investigated by depending on pH, time and initial indigo carmine or Cu(II) ion concentration. It was seen that the amine group incorporated hydrogels have quite high adsorption rate and adsorption capacity, and their adsorption capacities changed with pH of the solution. Langmuir isotherm model was the best fit for adsorption of both indigo carmine and Cu (II) ion

Aminofunctionalized acrylamide-maleic acid hydrogels: Adsorption of indigo carmine

Aminofunctionalized acrylamide-maleic acid hydrogels having both amine and acid groups were prepared by transamidation reaction of acrylamide-maleic acid (AAM-MA) hydrogels using ethylenediamine in non-aqueous media. Modified polymers were characterized by determination of amine value (AV), carboxylic acid group content (AGC) and FTIR spectra. The modified hydrogels obtained have the amine value of 2.81 mmol/g. Their swelling properties were changed depending upon the pH value of external medium. The modified hydrogels were used as a new sorbent for removal of indigo carmine from aqueous solution. The effects of pH, time, NaCl concentration and initial dye concentration on the adsorption capacity were investigated. Almost 70-80% of capacity was saturated within approximately 30 min and quite high adsorption capacity was observed. The adsorption capacity increased at acidic pH and also in presence of NaCl in dye solution. The adsorption isotherm models were applied to the experimental data and it was seen that the Langmuir isotherm model was the best fit for these modified AAM-MA hydrogels-indigo carmine system. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Effects of monomer composition on the mechanical and machinability properties of gel-cast alumina green compacts

In the present work, machinable green gel-cast alumina compacts were prepared by using polyethyleneglycol (400) diacrylate (P4) and polyethyleneglycol (600) dimethacrylate (P6) together with the acrylamide (AAm) comonomer. The glass transition temperatures of copolymers decreased with the increasing of P4 or P6 amount in total copolymer. The green samples obtained in an aqueous system were mechanically analyzed by means of three-point bending. Flexural strength values increased, from 2 MPa to 25 MPa, as the weight ratio of P4 or P6 in total copolymer (AAm-P4 or AAm-P6) decreased from 90% to 3.5%, respectively. The green gel-cast samples prepared by using P4 or P6 were machined easily by using a lathe, drill and milling machine without damaging the samples, which have good surface finish. The binder removal was achieved at lower temperatures than those samples prepared by using only AAm. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Enhanced swelling and adsorption properties of AAm-AMPSNa/clay hydrogel nanocomposites for heavy metal ion removal

Novel type hydrogel-clay nanocomposites based on the acrylamide (AAm)-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) sodium salt and clay were synthesized via in situ copolymerization in aqueous solution. Samples were characterized by determining total basic group (TGB) content and swelling degree, XRD analysis, and FTIR spectroscopy. Effects of monomer ratio and clay amount on the swelling properties of the samples were investigated. It was found that the hydrogel/clay nanocomposites exhibited improved swelling capacity compared with the hydrogels. Samples were used to remove heavy metal ions (Cu (II), Cd (II), and Pb (II)) from aqueous solution in competitive and non-competitive conditions for the first time. The effects of time and pH of the initial metal ion solution on the adsorption capacity were investigated and selectivity properties of the samples were evaluated. It was found that incorporation of a low amount of clay (10% (wt)) into the polymer structure increased the heavy metal ion adsorption capacity of the sample. It was concluded that the AAm-AMPS/clay nanocomposites could be used as novel type, fast-responsive, and high capacity sorbent materials in heavy metal removing processes. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Structurally Enhanced Hydrogel Nanocomposites with Improved Swelling and Mechanical Properties

In this work, structurally enhanced hydrogel nanocomposites based on 2-acrylamido-2 methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS)-acrylamide (AAM) copolymer with high hydrophilic group content were prepared by in-situ copolymerization by using different types of clay (montmorillonite, mica and halloysite). Nanocomposite hydrogels were characterized by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses and determination of swelling degrees of the samples. Mechanical properties of the samples were also investigated by determination of the compressive elastic modulus. It was also found that exfoliated or highly expanded intercalated nanocomposite structure was obtained and clay incorporation into the AMPS-AAM hydrogel structure improved its swelling capacity. The highest swelling capacity (1030 g H2O/g) was observed for the nanocomposite sample prepared with the montmorillonite amount of 5% (w). Furthermore, mechanical strength of the hydrogels against compression forces was significantly improved by the clay addition. It was found that the type of clay, in other word filler geometry, affected the compressive elastic modulus (E) of the samples. It was concluded that halloysite, which is considered to be a one dimensional (1D) nanotubular filler was less effective to enhance the compressive elastic modulus (E) of such materials compared with the montmorillonite and mica having two dimensional (2D) platelet or disk-like shapes at a particular amount of clay

Preparation and characterization of SiO2-MxOy (M = V, Sn, Sb) thin films from silicic acid and metal chlorides

The preparation of SiO2-MxOy (M = V, Sn, Sb) binary oxide thin films by sol-gel method was investigated. The reaction of silicic acid with metal chloride (M = Sn and Sb) or oxychloride (M = V) formed homogeneous solutions. The dip-coating of slide glass and silicon wafer followed by heat treatment gave oxide films having Si-O-M bond. The changes of FT-IR spectra as a function of heat treatment temperature and molar composition confirmed the Si-O-M bonds. The sheet resistance of films increased with an increase on heat treatment temperature and decrease in the content of metal oxide MxOy. X-ray diffraction peaks were observed for the SiO2-V2O5 films with high V2O5 contents and heat-treated above 250 degrees C, while the others were amorphous. Oxide films heat treated at 500 degrees C had a thickness between 340-470 nm

Effects of various polyolefin copolymers on the interfacial interaction, microstructure and physical properties of cyclic olefin copolymer(COC)/graphite composites

In this study, effects of various types of functional polyolefin copolymers (FPOCs), poly(isobutylene-alt-maleic anhydride), poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene) and poly(ethylene-graft-maleic anhydride), on the microstructure formation, interfacial interaction and physical properties of cyclic olefin copolymer (COC)/graphite composites were investigated. The COC/graphite composites were prepared in a lab. scale twin screw extruder. Microstructural features of samples were studied in a field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Viscoelastic properties of samples, obtained from the rheology tests in melt state and the dynamic mechanical analysis in solid state were used to quantify interfacial interactions between the COC and graphite depending on the types of FPOC. The average aspect ratio (A(f)) values of graphite flakes in the COC phase were determined about 40-65 by SEM observation and image analysis study on the samples prepared with different types of FPOC. Based on the gas permeability measurements, tortuous diffusion model suggested that the A(f) values of graphite flakes varied between 40 and 80 depending on the amount of graphite. It was shown that the poly(isobutylene-alt-maleic anhydride) copolymer provided relatively higher interfacial interaction between the COC and graphite flakes than the other FPOCs

Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) Nanocomposites: From a Nonionic Gel to pH Sensitivity

2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-clay nanocomposites were prepared via in situ free radical polymerization using montmorillonite (MMT) as a crosslinker. The structure and surface morphology of the nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that exfoliated or highly expanded intercalated nanocomposite structure was obtained. The swelling degree was determined in distilled water and various pH buffered solutions. The highest swelling capacity in distilled water was observed for the nanocomposite sample prepared with the MMT amount of 10 % (w). It was seen that the diffusion mechanism was Fickian type in distilled water and also in various pH-buffered solutions. It is interesting that the swelling degree of nanocomposites in alkaline pH values increased by the increasing of MMT in the polymer structure. This result supports the possibility of future applications of the novel nanocomposite in systems for the controlled released of drugs. POLYM. COMPOS., 32:2062-2069, 2011. (C) 2011 Society of Plastics Engineer