Dynamic mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of silane-treated montmorillonite reinforced polycarbonate nanocomposites

Enhancement of mechanical properties of natural rubber–clay nanocomposites through incorporation of silanated organoclay into natural rubber latex

In this study, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) modified montmorillonite (MMT) which is called as organoclay (OMMT) was mixed with natural rubber, and masterbatches were produced using the acid-free co-coagulation (AFCC) method in the presence of a combined gelling agent, a mixture of CTAB and sodium dodecyl sulfate. The OMMT was further modified by grafting of bis(triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide as to reduce the surface energy in silanated organoclay (OMMT-S). As expected, the nanocomposites prepared with OMMT-S compared to those with OMMT exhibited greater mechanical properties due to the development of rubber–clay interactions and due to proper dispersion of small clay layers in the rubber matrix combined with the gelling agent. The improvement of elongation at break, hardness and tear strength of the nanocomposites with OMMT/OMMT-S was an added advantage when the nanocomposites are prepared using the AFCC method without having any adverse effect from the combined gelling agent.

Improved performance of dye-sensitized solar cells based on modified kaolin/PVDF-HFP composite gel electrolytes

The DSSCs based on modified kaolin/PVDF-HFP composite gel electrolyte have excellent efficiency.

Melt processing and property testing of a model system of plastics contained in waste from electrical and electronic equipment

In the present research, blending of polymers used in electrical and electronic equipment, i.e. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer, polycarbonate and polypropylene, was performed in a twin-screw extruder, in order to explore the effect process parameters on the mixture properties, in an attempt to determine some characteristics of a fast and economical procedure for waste management. The addition of polycarbonate in acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer seemed to increase its thermal stability. Also, the addition of polypropylene in acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer facilitates its melt processing, whereas the addition of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer in polypropylene improves its mechanical performance. Moreover, the upgrading of the above blends by incorporating 2 phr organically modified montmorillonite was investigated. The prepared nanocomposites exhibit greater tensile strength, elastic modulus and storage modulus, as well as higher melt viscosity, compared with the unreinforced blends. The incorporation of montmorillonite nanoplatelets in polycarbonate-rich acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer/polycarbonate blends turns the thermal degradation mechanism into a two-stage process. Alternatively to mechanical recycling, the energy recovery from the combustion of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer/polycarbonate and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer/polypropylene blends was recorded by measuring the gross calorific value. Comparing the investigated polymers, polypropylene presents the higher gross calorific value, followed by acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer and then polycarbonate. The above study allows a rough comparative evaluation of various methodologies for treating plastics from waste from electrical and electronic equipment.

Chemically exfoliated nanosilicate platelet hybridized polymer electrolytes for solid state dye sensitized solar cells

Exfoliated MMT nanoplatelet incorporated PEO/PVdF–HFP electrolyte and TiO₂/ZnO photoanode based DSSCs showed an improved solar energy conversion efficiency of about 3.8%.

Polysilsesquioxane-reinforced phosphorous containing bis(4-maleimidophenyl)benzoxazine hybrid nanocomposites

In this study, octa(aminophenyl)silsesquioxane (OAPS), octakis(dimethylsiloxypropylglycidylether) silsesquioxane (OG) and phosphorous skeletal bis(4-maleimidophenyl)benzoxazine were synthesized and characterized. The polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) derivative (OAPS and OG)-reinforced polybenzoxazine (PBZ) hybrid nanocomposites were prepared by thermal method. The chemical reactions between POSS and PBZ were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effect of the incorporation of POSS derivatives on the properties including thermal, dielectric properties and water absorption behaviour of POSS/PBZ hybrids was analyzed and discussed systematically. The test results indicate that the addition of POSS into PBZ increased the thermal stability and decreased the values of dielectric constant and dielectric loss. The morphology of the POSS-PBZ hybrid nanocomposites was characterized using x-ray diffraction, confocal optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.