Low percolation conductive graphite flakes-filled poly(urethane-imide) composites with high thermal stability via imidization self-foaming structure

In the study, the conductive graphite flakes filled poly(urethane-imide) composites (PUI/GFs) with high performance were constructed by the thermal imidization self-foaming reaction. It was found that the foaming action could promote the redistribution of GFs during curing process and the formation of stable linear conductive pathways. The percolation threshold of PUI/GFs composites was lowered from 1.26 wt% (2000 mesh GFs) or 0.86 wt% (1000 mesh GFs) to 0.79 wt% (500 mesh GFs), which were relatively low percolation thresholds for polymer/GFs composites so far. When the content of 500 mesh GFs was 4.0 wt%, the electrical conductivity of the composite was as high as 3.96 × 10^?1 S/m. Also, a poly(urethane-imide) (PUI) matrix with excellent thermal stability (T_d10%: 334.97 °C) and mechanical properties (elongation at break: 324.52%, tensile strength: 15.88 MPa) was obtained by introducing the rigid aromatic heterocycle into the polyurethane (PU) hard segments. Moreover, the zero temperature coefficient of resistivity for the composites was observed at the temperature range from 30 °C to 200 °C. Consequently, PUI/GFs composites may provide the novel strategy for considerable conductive materials with high thermal stability in electrical conductivity.     

Environmental effects on fibre reinforced polymeric composites: Evolving reasons and remarks on interfacial strength and stability

The interface between fibre and matrix of fibrous polymeric composites is most critical and decisive in maintaining sustainability, durability and also reliability of this potential material, but unfortunately a comprehensive conclusion is yet to meet the label of confidence for the engineering viability. Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are being accepted and also utilized as better and reliable alternative materials for repairing and/or replacing conventional materials, starting from tiny objects to mega structure in various engineering applications. The promise and potential of these materials are sometimes threatened in speedy replacement of conventional materials because of their inhomogeneities and inherent susceptibility to degradation due to moist and thermal environments. Environmental conditioning is traditionally believed to be a physical phenomenon but present literature has revealed that the interdiffusion between fiber and polymer matrix resin comprises of physical, chemical, mechanical, physico-chemical and mechano-chemical phenomena. The failure and fracture behavior at ambient conditions itself is a complex phenomenon till at present. The service conditions which are mostly hygrothermal in nature, along with a variation of applied loads make the mechanical behavior nearly unpredictable, far off from conclusions in evaluating the short term as well as long term durability and reliability of FRPs. It is essential to accurately simulate the initial and subsequent evolution process of this kind of damage phenomena, in order to explore the full potential of the mechanical properties of composite laminates. The present review has emphasized the need of complying scattered as well as limited literature on this front, and has focused on creating the urgency to highlight the importance of judicious uses of these materials with minimum safety factors with an aim to achieving lighter weight in enhancing specific properties.     

Selective Template Removal by Thermal Depolymerization to Obtain Mesostructured Molybdenum Oxycarbide

The carbon content of mesostructured organic‐inorganic hybrid material of a cylindrical block copolymer template of poly(2‐vinylpyridine)‐block‐poly(allyl methacrylate) (P2VP‐b‐PAMA) and ammonium paramolybdate (APM) could be reduced by thermal depolymerization. By calcination in vacuo at 320 °C the PAMA core can be completely removed while the remaining P2VP brush preserves the mesostructure. The P2VP‐APM composite can then be carburized in‐situ to MoO_xC_y in a second pyrolysis step without any additional carbon source but P2VP. The molybdenum oxycarbide nanotubes obtained, form hierarchically porous non‐woven structures, which were tested as catalyst in the decomposition of NH₃. They proved to be catalytically active at temperatures above 450 °C. The activation energy was estimated from an Arrhenius Plot to be 127 kJ · mol^–1.     

Scaling effect on the tensile properties of [±45/0/±45/0/±45] Polypropylene/Twaron laminates

The effects of scaling on the mechanical response under tension of balanced nonsymmetrical laminates were investigated for a thermoplastic composite: Polypropylene reinforced with Twaron^® fibers. The composite baseline was an 8-ply laminate which consisted of unidirectional plies arranged in the sequence [±45/0/±45/0/±45]. The influence of specimen size on the tensile properties was studied for one (thickness), two (in-plane) and three (volume) dimensional scaling. The stress-strain curves suggested some variation in laminate behavior owing to the dimensional scaling; nevertheless, a further analysis with the classical lamination theory demonstrated that the observed effect was due to small variations in the fiber volume fraction of the laminates. It was concluded that the mechanical properties of these thermoplastic laminates do not exhibit scaling effects. The failure mechanism of the laminates was studied at macroscopic level; a scale effect of the fracture mechanism was observed.     

Experimental study on the fiber pull-out of composites using digital gradient sensing technique

A method to measure the stress field at the fiber tip in the fiber pull out test was proposed by using a digital gradient sensing technique. First, the principle of digital gradient sensing is introduced, and the non-contact optical system of digital gradient sensing developed. Then, a fiber reinforced composite model specimen, where a nail was inserted in epoxy resin to act as a fiber, was performed, and a pull out test was conducted on the specimen using the digital gradient sensing technique. Finally, the angular deflections contour at the fiber tip was obtained, and the stress intensity factor was extracted from the angular deflections. The results show that the stress intensity factor at the fiber tip extracted from the angular deflections agreed with the results calculated by the finite element method.     

Effect of nano-fillers on conductivity of polyethylene/low melting point metal alloy composites

A novel method for preparing conductive polyethylene(PE) composites has been developed. In the method, the powder of low melting point metal alloy(LMPA) is filled into the PE matrix by using twin screw extruder at a temperature below the melting point of the LMPA, and followed by a die drawing process at a temperature around the melting point of the metal alloy. It has been found that die drawing process, repeating the die drawing process and adding nano-fillers, such as montmorillonite(MMT) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs), all help reduce the metal particle size in the PE matrix, thus improve the conductivity of the composite. The conductivity improvement is attributed to an increased number of the smaller metal particles. Therefore, conductive composites of polymer/metal alloy/nano-filler with high conductivity are possible to be prepared by using the new method.     

Sandwich‐Structured Graphene–Nickel Silicate–Nickel Ternary Composites as Superior Anode Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

We report the synthesis of sandwich‐structured graphene–nickel silicate–Ni ternary composites by using the solvothermal method followed by a simple in situ reduction procedure. The composites show an interesting structure with graphene sandwiched between two layers of well‐dispersed Ni nanoparticles (NPs) anchored on ultrathin nickel silicate nanosheets. These ternary composites exhibit enhanced performance as anode materials owing to the synergistic effect between the graphene matrix and electrochemically inert Ni nanoparticles, an effect that holds promise for the design and fabrication of other advanced electrode materials.     

碳纤维自焊接骨架结构的形成及其复合材料性能研究

报道了一种将短切碳纤维(CF)自发焊接成三维网络结构的新方法.研究发现,尼龙6(PA6)与CF具有较强的相互作用,SEM照片及储能模量高温平台表明,添加少量PA6能够在PS基体中形成耐高温的CFPA6自焊接骨架结构,PA6用量越多,高温储能模量越高,自焊接骨架结构强度越大.研究证明,这种自焊接骨架结构能够大幅度提高PS/CF复合体系的热变形温度,碳纤维具有优异的导电导热性能,碳纤维骨架结构能够降低导电临界浓度,增强面内导热系数.进一步分析表明,PA6在碳纤维表面定向聚集是一个动力学过程,CF-PA6自焊接骨架强度与PA6黏附率NPA6呈线性关系;扩大PA6与PS的黏度差,延长热压时间均有利于提高NPA6,进而大幅提高网络结构强度.     

Ag-BiVO_4复合光催化剂的制备及其可见光光催化机理的研究

BiVO4是一种优良的可见光光催化剂,但是低电荷分离效率和表面吸附性差能严重地制约了其光催化活性的提高.我们通过简单易行的一步水热法制备了银-钒酸铋复合光催化剂(Ag-BiVO4).通过XRD、EDS、XPS、SEM、DRS、PL和BET等手段对其结构和光化学性质进行了详细表征.结果表明,银以Ag和Ag2O的形态存在于催化剂表面.在可见光照射下(λ≥420nm),以染料罗丹明B(Rhodamine B,RhB)和无色小分子水杨酸(Salicylic acid,SA)为模型污染物,考察了Ag-BiVO4和BiVO4的光催化活性.结果表明:Ag的引入能有效提高BiVO4的可见光催化活性,当Ag掺杂量为1.44%时,其光催化效率最高.吸附实验表明Ag的存在极大地加强了RhB在光催化剂表面的吸附.进一步实验表明Ag2O和Ag的相互协同作用使Ag/Ag2O-BiVO4可见光催化活性得到显著提高,其中Ag2O因与BiVO4形成p-n型异质结对其催化活性起到主导作用.     

Behavior of biodegradable composites based on starch reinforced with modified cellulosic fibers

The aims of this study were to develop composite films based on potato starch and cellulose modified with toluenediisocyanate, to investigate their morphology and structure, and to evaluate their behavior to enzymatic hydrolysis and their potential use to manufacture of biodegradable seedling pots. The effects of modified cellulosic fibers upon mechanical properties and biodegradability of composite materials based on starch matrix were investigated by tensile strength tests, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and dynamic vapor sorption. The behavior of the films to enzymatic hydrolysis with amylase and cellulase was studied; the kinetic of enzymatic hydrolysis and characterization of materials are reported. Chemical modification of cellulose improves tensile strength with about 47%, and decreases the biodegradability of composites making them more resistant to microbial attack, thus prolonging their shelf life. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.