Biocomposites reinforced with natural fibers: 2000–2010

Recent advances in graphene based polymer composites

http://staff.ulsu.ru/moliver/ref/polymers/pott11.pdf

Graphene-based polymer nanocomposites

This paper provides an overview of recent progress made in the area of cellulose nanofibre-based nanocomposites. An introduction into the methods used to isolate cellulose nanofibres (nanowhiskers, nanofibrils) is given, with details of their structure. Following this, the article is split into sections dealing with processing and characterisation of cellulose nanocomposites and new developments in the area, with particular emphasis on applications. The types of cellulose nanofibres covered are those extracted from plants by acid hydrolysis (nanowhiskers), mechanical treatment and those that occur naturally (tunicate nanowhiskers) or under culturing conditions (bacterial cellulose nanofibrils). Research highlighted in the article are the use of cellulose nanowhiskers for shape memory nanocomposites, analysis of the interfacial properties of cellulose nanowhisker and nanofibril-based composites using Raman spectroscopy, switchable interfaces that mimic sea cucumbers, polymerisation from the surface of cellulose nanowhiskers by atom transfer radical polymerisation and ring opening polymerisation, and methods to analyse the dispersion of nanowhiskers. The applications and new advances covered in this review are the use of cellulose nanofibres to reinforce adhesives, to make optically transparent paper for electronic displays, to create DNA-hybrid materials, to generate hierarchical composites and for use in foams, aerogels and starch nanocomposites and the use of all-cellulose nanocomposites for enhanced coupling between matrix and fibre. A comprehensive coverage of the literature is given and some suggestions on where the field is likely to advance in the future are discussed.

/pdf/review-current-international-research-into-cellulose-vduhai1vrx.pdf

Review: current international research into cellulose nanofibres and nanocomposites

Zinc oxide can be called a multifunctional material thanks to its unique physical and chemical properties. The first part of this paper presents the most important methods of preparation of ZnO divided into metallurgical and chemical methods. The mechanochemical process, controlled precipitation, sol-gel method, solvothermal and hydrothermal method, method using emulsion and microemulsion enviroment and other methods of obtaining zinc oxide were classified as chemical methods. In the next part of this review, the modification methods of ZnO were characterized. The modification with organic (carboxylic acid, silanes) and inroganic (metal oxides) compounds, and polymer matrices were mainly described. Finally, we present possible applications in various branches of industry: rubber, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, textile, electronic and electrotechnology, photocatalysis were introduced. This review provides useful information for specialist dealings with zinc oxide.

Zinc Oxide-From Synthesis to Application: A Review.

Surface modification of zinc oxide nanoparticle by PMAA and its dispersion in aqueous system

A facile method with the advantage of using only one single solvent throughout the whole processing was introduced to prepare graphite nanoplatelet (GNP) filled thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposites. Morphological studies showed that the employed method could provide the uniform dispersion of GNPs in the TPU matrix. Storage modulus of the nanocomposites was increased with increasing GNP content, and the improvement was more obvious at temperatures below the glass transition temperature (Tg) of TPU. For the nanocomposite that contains 3.9 vol% (the maximum loading employed in this study) of GNP, it still showed a long elongation at break of over 600%. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the incorporation of GNPs could improve the thermal stability of the nanocomposites. In addition, cone calorimetry results showed that the GNPs could act as intumescent flame retardant and significantly reduced the heat release rate (HRR), thus improved the flame retardancy of the TPU matrix.

Facile preparation and thermal degradation studies of graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) filled thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposites

Biodegradation behavior of polycaprolactone/rice husk ecocomposites in simulated soil medium

Flame retardancy of rice husk-filled high-density polyethylene ecocomposites

Silica-coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been prepared by the sol–gel polymerization of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in the presence of the acid-oxidized MWCNTs at room temperature, followed by oxidizing the MWCNTs templates at high temperature in air to produce hollow silica nanotubes. The thickness and architectures of silica shell were well controlled by rationally adjusting the concentration of TEOS, and by adding cationic surfactant as a structure-directing agent. These results also give a clear answer to prove the fact that the structures of spherical silica particles can be fully “copied” to the coating shell and the wall of silica nanotubes when prepared by the same method as the synthesis of silica particles in the presence of templates.

Qiang Zhao

Papers

Surface modification of zinc oxide nanoparticle by PMAA and its dispersion in aqueous system

Facile preparation and thermal degradation studies of graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) filled thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposites

Biodegradation behavior of polycaprolactone/rice husk ecocomposites in simulated soil medium

Flame retardancy of rice husk-filled high-density polyethylene ecocomposites

A facile method to fabricate silica-coated carbon nanotubes and silica nanotubes from carbon nanotubes templates