http://utw10193.utweb.utexas.edu/Archive/RuoffsPDFs/160.pdf

Synthesis of graphene-based nanosheets via chemical reduction of exfoliated graphite oxide

Department of Materials Science, University of Patras, 26504 Rio Patras, Greece, Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vass. Constantinou Avenue, 116 35 Athens, Greece, Institut de Biologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire, UPR9021 CNRS, Immunologie et Chimie Therapeutiques, 67084 Strasbourg, France, and Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Universita di Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy

Chemistry of Carbon Nanotubes

Graphene based materials: Past, present and future

Biocomposites reinforced with natural fibers: 2000–2010

Carbon nanotube–polymer composites: Chemistry, processing, mechanical and electrical properties

Studies on mechanical performance of biofibre/glass reinforced polyester hybrid composites

Thermo-physical and impact properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced by single-wall carbon nanotubes

Environmentally-benign powder impregnation processing is adopted in fabricating bio-composites from chopped natural fibers and powder polypropylene. The surface modifications of natural fibers involving alkali treatment and treatment with maleated polyolefins are found to be very effective in improving fiber-matrix adhesion. Bast fiber (kenaf) based composites showed best tensile and modulus properties while leaf fiber (henequen) based biocomposites showed best impact behavior. Through a blend of surface-treated bast and leaf fibers, 'engineered natural fibers' (ENFs) can be designed and such ENFs on reinforcement with a polymer matrix result in biocomposites with superior physico-mechanical properties.

Engineered natural fiber reinforced polypropylene composites: influence of surface modifications and novel powder impregnation processing

This paper deals with the development of a cellulose acetate biopolymer. Plasticization of this biopolymer under varying processing conditions to make it a suitable matrix polymer for bio-composite applications was studied. In particular, cellulose acetate was plasticized with varying concentrations of an eco-friendly triethyl citrate (TEC) plasticizer, unlike a conventional, petroleum-derived phthalate plasticizer. Three types of processing were used to fabricate plasticized cellulose acetate parts: compression molding, extrusion followed by compression molding, and extrusion followed by injection molding. The processing mode affected the physico-mechanical and thermal properties of the cellulosic plastic. Compression molded samples exhibited the highest impact strength, tending towards the impact strength of a thermoplastic olefin (TPO), while samples that were extruded and then injection molded exhibited the highest tensile strength and modulus values. Increasing the plasticizer content in the cellulosic plastic formulation improved the impact strength and strain to failure while decreasing the tensile strength and modulus values. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the cellulose acetate increased with increasing amounts of plasticizer. Plasticized cellulose acetate was found to be processable at 170-180°C, approximately 50°C below the melting point of neat cellulose acetate.

Lawrence T. Drzal

Papers

Studies on mechanical performance of biofibre/glass reinforced polyester hybrid composites

Thermo-physical and impact properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced by single-wall carbon nanotubes

Engineered natural fiber reinforced polypropylene composites: influence of surface modifications and novel powder impregnation processing

Development of Renewable Resource-Based Cellulose Acetate Bioplastic: Effect of Process Engineering on the Performance of Cellulosic Plastics

Thermo-Physical and Impact Properties of Epoxy Containing Epoxidized Linseed Oil, 1