Vapor-grown carbon nanofiber (VGCF) was functionalized by the covalent bonding of polylactide (PLA) in order to generate a composite known as PLA-g-VGCF. This is a multiple step process and does not produce the same composites as regular melt compounding (VGCF/PLA). This new composite was characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, TGA and TEM in order to quantify and qualify the newly prepared composites, which showed 'remarkable improvement' over the melt ...
Three different carbons (carbon black, synthetic graphite particles and carbon fiber) were added to Vectra A950RX Liquid Crystal Polymer in order to synthesize different composites for use in fuel cells. The carbon fillers were used individually and also in combination with other carbon fillers. A TPS was used to measure the thermal conductivities of the synthesized composites. It was found that the use of synthetic graphite particles as the ...
High speed microscopy was used to allow real time visualization of the movement of nanoparticles made up of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and Fe2O3. An electrostatic force was induced to the nanotube/Fe2O3 composite and caused perfect conjugate structures which result in excellent thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties. The alignment of the carbon nanotubes in nanosuspensions may offer new opportunities for the development of nanofluids....
The present study look at the creation of unfilled and carbon nanofibre (CNF)-filled polypropylene (PP) foams, and their subsequent testing of thermal and mechanical properties. The testing of thermal properties was accomplished by the TPS Technique and determined that when using up to 20 wt.% CNF as filler there was no increase in thermal conductivity of any of the sample foams. Therefore it was decided that it was the foamed ...
A one step polymer-incorporation sol-gel process coupled with a surface modification and ambient pressure drying process was developed to synthesize silica-poly(vinylpyrrolidone) composites aerogels. The properties that were investigated were: hydrophobicity, mechanical strength and thermal conductivity at high temperatures. The authors envisioned the use of these polymer composites in energy saving areas with large scale production....
