Angelika Menner

Bio: Angelika Menner is an academic researcher from Imperial College London. The author has contributed to research in topics: Polymer & Emulsion. The author has an hindex of 19, co-authored 29 publications receiving 2276 citations. Previous affiliations of Angelika Menner include Halliburton.

High Internal Phase Emulsions Stabilized Solely by Functionalized Silica Particles

Abstract: High Internal Phase Emulsions (HIPEs) are important for a wide range of applications in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and petroleum industries. If the continuous phase is polymerizable, HIPEs can be used as templates for the synthesis of highly porous polymers with potential applications as low weight structures or scaffolds in tissue engineering. HIPEs are characterized by a minimum internal phase volume ratio of 0.74 but Lissant first defined this minimum as 0.7. HIPEs consisting of a continuous organic phase and an internal aqueous phase (w/o emulsion), are commonly stabilized by large amounts of surfactants. Particle-stabilized emulsions also known as Pickering-emulsions have recently attracted much interest. Unlike surfactants, particles irreversibly adsorb at the interface of emulsions due to their high energy of attachment which makes them good emulsifiers. The ability of particles to adsorb at the interface between the two phases is primarily dependent on the wettability of the particles. Hydrophilic particles such as metal oxides tend to stabilize o/w emulsion while hydrophobic particles such as carbon tend to stabilize w/o emulsions. Nevertheless, it is possible to modify the wettability of particles by adsorbing surfactant molecules onto the particle surfaces or by silanation. All reports on particle-stabilized emulsions deal with emulsions having internal phase levels elow 70 vol.-%. Kralchevsky et al. developed a thermodynamic model, which predicts that

Highly Permeable Macroporous Polymers Synthesized from Pickering Medium and High Internal Phase Emulsion Templates

Abstract: Various applications require macroporous materials with high permeability and a signifi cant compressive strength. For instance, the oil servicing industry is interested in utilizing a liquid medium that can be placed within the annulus between the oil bearing natural formation and a screen wrapped perforated pipe, which turns into a macroporous permeable and mechanically stable solid during a curing step. [ 1 ] The minimum requirements for the solid macroporous material are a permeability of 1 D (10 − 12 m 2 ) and a compressive strength ≥ 3.5 MPa. This challenge could be addressed by employing high internal phase emulsions (HIPE), whose continuous phase consists of monomers, as a template to produce macroporous polymers, commonly known as poly(merized)HIPEs, [ 2 ] with a well defi ned controllable pore structure. However, conventional polyHIPEs synthesized from surfactant stabilized water-in-oil (w/o) HIPEs have poor mechanical properties [ 3 , 4 ] and low permeabilities [ 5 ]

Particle-Stabilized Surfactant-Free Medium Internal Phase Emulsions as Templates for Porous Nanocomposite Materials: poly-Pickering-Foams

Abstract: We report on the successful use of particle-stabilized Medium Internal Phase Emulsion (MIPE) templates for the synthesis of porous polymer foams. In this case, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used to stabilize the minority phase as the continuous phase, through adsorption at the interface. The addition of the CNTs not only provides processing advantages (no need for traditional non-ionic molecular surfactants) but also enhances the mechanical and electrical properties of the final polyFoams. This approach allows the manufacture of both closed- and open-celled porous polymer foams in a one-pot process with porosities up to 66%.

Design and Preparation of Porous Polymers

Abstract: Dingcai Wu,*,† Fei Xu,† Bin Sun,† Ruowen Fu,† Hongkun He,‡ and Krzysztof Matyjaszewski*,‡ †Materials Science Institute, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, People's Republic of China ‡Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States

Hierarchically porous materials: synthesis strategies and structure design

Abstract: Owing to their immense potential in energy conversion and storage, catalysis, photocatalysis, adsorption, separation and life science applications, significant interest has been devoted to the design and synthesis of hierarchically porous materials. The hierarchy of materials on porosity, structural, morphological, and component levels is key for high performance in all kinds of applications. Synthesis and applications of hierarchically structured porous materials have become a rapidly evolving field of current interest. A large series of synthesis methods have been developed. This review addresses recent advances made in studies of this topic. After identifying the advantages and problems of natural hierarchically porous materials, synthetic hierarchically porous materials are presented. The synthesis strategies used to prepare hierarchically porous materials are first introduced and the features of synthesis and the resulting structures are presented using a series of examples. These involve templating methods (surfactant templating, nanocasting, macroporous polymer templating, colloidal crystal templating and bioinspired process, i.e. biotemplating), conventional techniques (supercritical fluids, emulsion, freeze-drying, breath figures, selective leaching, phase separation, zeolitization process, and replication) and basic methods (sol–gel controlling and post-treatment), as well as self-formation phenomenon of porous hierarchy. A series of detailed examples are given to show methods for the synthesis of hierarchically porous structures with various chemical compositions (dual porosities: micro–micropores, micro–mesopores, micro–macropores, meso–mesopores, meso–macropores, multiple porosities: micro–meso–macropores and meso–meso–macropores). We hope that this review will be helpful for those entering the field and also for those in the field who want quick access to helpful reference information about the synthesis of new hierarchically porous materials and methods to control their structure and morphology.

Carbon nanotube-based hierarchical composites: a review

Abstract: The introduction of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into conventional fibre-reinforced polymer composites creates a hierarchical reinforcement structure and can significantly improve composite performance. This paper reviews the progress to date towards the creation of fibre reinforced (hierarchical) nanocomposites and assesses the potential for a new generation of advanced multifunctional materials. Two alternative strategies for forming CNT-based hierarchical composites are contrasted, the dispersion of CNTs into the composite matrix and their direct attachment onto the primary fibre surface. The implications of each approach for composite processing and performance are discussed, along with a summary of the measured improvements in the mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of the resulting hierarchical composites.

New Pickering emulsions stabilized by bacterial cellulose nanocrystals

Abstract: We studied oil in water Pickering emulsions stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals obtained by hydrochloric acid hydrolysis of bacterial cellulose. The resulting solid particles, called bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (BCNs), present an elongated shape and low surface charge density, forming a colloidal suspension in water. The BCNs produced proved to stabilize the hexadecane/water interface, promoting monodispersed oil in water droplets around 4 μm in diameter stable for several months. We characterized the emulsion and visualized the particles at the surface of the droplets by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and calculated the droplet coverage by varying the BCN concentration in the aqueous phase. A 60% coverage limit has been defined, above which very stable, deformable droplets are obtained. The high stability of the more covered droplets was attributed to the particle irreversible adsorption associated with the formation of a 2D network. Due to the sustainability and low environmental impact of cellulose, the BCN based emulsions open opportunities for the development of environmentally friendly new materials.