Electric Field Induced Alignment of Carbon Nanotubes: Methodology and Outcomes

In the current chapter, achievement of aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) network within the matrix via various kinds of electric fields (AC and DC) was evaluated. In this case, alignment mechanism of CNTs within the matrix and two useful techniques for justification of CNT alignment throughout the matrix were examined and presented, respectively. Afterward, effective factors in matter of CNT alignment and applicable procedures for fabrication of nanocomposites containing aligned CNTs were studied and presented, respectively. At the end, significant effects of CNT alignment on overall properties of nanocomposites that include electrical and mechanical properties were evaluated. Achieved results revealed that alignment of CNTs within the matrix can lead to significant improvement in the electrical and mechanical properties of nanocomposites at the same filler loading compared with randomly distribution of CNTs within the matrix, while production steps and conditions can also highly affect the outcome data

Causal mechanism and methodology of constructivism in international relations

One of the most important theories of international relations is constructivism, which pays attention to both intellectual and cultural factors as well as material factors in the analysis of international relations and foreign policy. But is constructivism just a theory, or can a research method be derived from it? Some constructivists believe that this theory also has research method. Causal mechanisms are one of the research methods in constructivism. Some constructivists accept the causality and causal explanation, but do not offer a mechanical or positivist analysis of it. Rather, they combine it with constructivism and pay attention to a concept of causality that also considers the role of imaginary and invisible components. Thus, constructivism believes in causality, but does not consider the cause to be only material issues (such as force, power, war, etc.), It also considers intellectual, cultural and ideological components (such as tradition, religion, society, etc.) as the cause and considers them involved in explaining the caus

Development of Efficient Composites via Renewable, Recyclable, and Degradable Additives

Rapid development of composite industries raised the demand for tough, effective, practical, and sustainable composites with enhanced mechanical, electrical, thermal, and physical properties. However, several major problems such as high production cost and nonrecyclability and nondegradability of fillers and composites limited their selectivity and approaches toward their aims. Herein, our aim is to present and review the recent achievements in matter of reinforced composites with renewable, recyclable, or degradable additives toward development of composites through a mass-scale production strategy with least charges, high efficiency, and fine mechanical, thermal, and physical properties. Additionally, such aim can reduce the overall amount of nondegradable pollutions such as plastics in the nature and decline overall the charges of composite industries by reusing such materials and decreasing their demand for raw material. Last but not least, to clean up the nature from industrial wastes, green strategies should be developed to whether reuse such material or degrade them via practical strategies