Role of surface chemical groups on carbon nanotubes in nucleation for polymer crystallization: Interfacial interaction and steric effect

A Micromechanical Study of Interactions of Cyanate Ester Monomer with Graphene or Boron Nitride Monolayer

Polymer composites, hailed for their ultra-strength and lightweight attributes, stand out as promising materials for the upcoming era of space vehicles. The selection of the polymer matrix plays a pivotal role in material design, given its significant impact on bulk-level properties through the reinforcement/polymer interface. To aid in the systematic design of such composite systems, molecular-level calculations are employed to establish the relationship between interfacial characteristics and mechanical response, specifically stiffness. This study focuses on the interaction of fluorinated and non-fluorinated cyanate ester monomers with graphene or a BN monolayer, representing non-polymerized ester composites. Utilizing micromechanics and the density functional theory method to analyze interaction energy, charge density, and stiffness, our findings reveal that the fluorinated cyanate-ester monomer demonstrates lower interaction energy, reduced pull-apart force, and a higher separation point compared to the non-fluorinated counterpart. This behavior is attributed to the steric hindrance caused by fluorine atoms. Furthermore, the BN monolayer exhibits enhanced transverse stiffness due to increased interfacial strength, stemming from the polar nature of B-N bonds on the surface, as opposed to the C-C bonds of graphene. These molecular-level results are intended to inform the design of next-generation composites incorporating cyanate esters, specifically for structural applications.

Effect of Interphase Properties on Isothermal and Non-isothermal Crystallization Behavior of Poly(lactic acid)/Acetylated Starch Blends

The effect of interphase properties on the crystallization behavior of blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/acetylated starch (AS) with different degrees of substitution (DSs) was investigated. Under isothermal crystallization conditions, the rate of crystallization was higher for PLA/DS0.5 and lower for PLA/DS1.5 and PLA/DS2.5 when compared to PLA. In contrast, non-isothermal crystallization behavior indicated a slower rate of crystallization of PLA/DS0.5 and a faster rate of crystallization of PLA/DS1.5 and PLA/DS2.5 compared to PLA at the highest cooling rate (5 °C/min). The potential relationship between crystallization behavior and interphase properties and interphase thickness and formation of rigid amorphous fraction in the interphase, was investigated. The formation of a rigid amorphous fraction in PLA/DS1.5 and a thick interphase in PLA/DS2.5 prevented the formation of crystals on the dispersed phase and interrupted the crystallization under isothermal conditions. Hydrogen bonding in the PLA/DS1.5 blend and hydrophobic interactions in the PLA/DS2.5 blend may facilitate the crystallization at high cooling rates under non-isothermal conditions. Small-angle X-ray scattering analysis revealed the presence of a smaller lamellar structure in PLA/AS blends. The largest amorphous phase among blends was observed for the PLA/DS1.5 blend, which can be attributed to the hydrogen bonding in the interphase region of this blend.

Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Crystallizable Polyimide-Based Nanocomposites Filled with Carbon Nanotubes: Computer Simulations and Experiments

Recently, a strong structural ordering of thermoplastic semi-crystalline polyimides near single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) was found that can enhance their mechanical properties. In this study, a comparative analysis of the results of microsecond-scale all-atom computer simulations and experimental measurements of thermoplastic semi-crystalline polyimide R-BAPB synthesized on the basis of dianhydride R (1,3-bis-(3′,4-dicarboxyphenoxy) benzene) and diamine BAPB (4,4′-bis-(4″-aminophenoxy) biphenyl) near the SWCNTs on the rheological properties of nanocomposites was performed. We observe the viscosity increase in the SWCNT-filled R-BAPB in the melt state both in computer simulations and experiments. For the first time, it is proven by computer simulation that this viscosity change is related to the structural ordering of the R-BAPB in the vicinity of SWCNT but not to the formation of interchain linkage. Additionally, strong anisotropy of the rheological properties of the R-BAPB near the SWCNT surface was detected due to the polyimide chain orientation. The increase in the viscosity of the polymer in the viscous-flow state and an increase in the values of the mechanical characteristics (Young’s modulus and yield peak) of the SWCNT-R-BAPB nanocomposites in the glassy state are stronger in the directions along the ordering of polymer chains close to the carbon nanofiller surface. Thus, the new experimental data obtained on the R-BAPB-based nanocomposites filled with SWCNT, being extensively compared with simulation results, confirm the idea of the influence of macromolecular ordering near the carbon nanotube on the mechanical characteristics of the composite material.

The State-of-the-Art Functionalized Nanomaterials for Carbon Dioxide Separation Membrane

Nanocomposite membrane (NCM) is deemed as a practical and green separation solution which has found application in various fields, due to its potential to delivery excellent separation performance economically. NCM is enabled by nanofiller, which comes in a wide range of geometries and chemical features. Despite numerous advantages offered by nanofiller incorporation, fabrication of NCM often met processing issues arising from incompatibility between inorganic nanofiller and polymeric membrane. Contemporary, functionalization of nanofiller which modify the surface properties of inorganic material using chemical agents is a viable approach and vigorously pursued to refine NCM processing and improve the odds of obtaining a defect-free high-performance membrane. This review highlights the recent progress on nanofiller functionalization employed in the fabrication of gas-separative NCMs. Apart from the different approaches used to obtain functionalized nanofiller (FN) with good dispersion in solvent and polymer matrix, this review discusses the implication of functionalization in altering the structure and chemical properties of nanofiller which favor interaction with specific gas species. These changes eventually led to the enhancement in the gas separation efficiency of NCMs. The most frequently used chemical agents are identified for each type of gas. Finally, the future perspective of gas-separative NCMs are highlighted.

Impact of the Graphite Fillers on the Thermal Processing of Graphite/Poly(lactic acid) Composites

To assess the impact of graphite fillers on the thermal processing of graphite/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites, a series of the composite samples with different graphite of industrial grade as fillers was prepared by melt mixing. The average size of the graphite grains ranged between 100 µm and 6 µm. For comparative purposes, one of the carbon fillers was expandable graphite. Composites were examined by SEM, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. As revealed by thermogravimetric (TG) analyses, graphite filler slightly lowered the temperature of thermal decomposition of the PLA matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests showed that the room temperature crystallinity of the polymer matrix is strongly affected by the graphite filler. The crystallinity of the composites determined from the second heating cycle reached values close to 50%, while these values are close to zero for the neat polymer. The addition of graphite to PLA caused a slight reduction in the oxidation induction time (OIT). The melt flow rate (MFR) of the graphite/PLA composites was lower than the original PLA due to an increase in flow resistance associated with the high crystallinity of the polymer matrix. Expandable graphite did not cause changes in the structure of the polymer matrix during thermal treatment. The crystallinity of the composite with this filler did not increase after first heating and was close to the neat PLA MFR value, which was extremely high due to the low crystallinity of the PLA matrix and delamination of the filler at elevated temperature.

Rapid crystallization and mesophase formation of poly(L-lactic acid) during precipitation from a solution

Very rapid crystallization behaviors of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) are observed at room temperature when it is precipitated from a chloroform solution into a large amount of alcohols (non-solvents). The resulting crystalline phase contains both a highly ordered (α) and less ordered (α′) modifications, and the fraction of these phases depends on the alcohols used as the non-solvents: methanol tends to produce the highly ordered phase. The degree of crystallinity tends to be high for lower alcohols. When the precipitation occurs in n-hexane, almost no crystalline phase is formed, but a mesomorphic phase is formed as a precursor to the crystalline phase. The results suggest that the hydroxyl group of alcohols tends to promote the crystallization of PLLA. However, it is found that the precipitation in methanol at lower temperatures, such as 0°C, does not yield any crystalline phase. It is suggested that the present rapid crystallization during precipitation originates from the enhanced mobility of PLLA molecules in a metastable (non-equilibrium) liquid state.

Effect of benzoic acid surface modified alumina nanoparticles on the mechanical properties and crystallization behavior of isotactic polypropylene nanocomposites

The effect of benzoic acid (BA) surface modified alumina (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles (NPs) on the mechanical properties and crystallization behavior of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) nanocomposites was studied. Characterization of the modified Al₂O₃ NPs (BA-Al₂O₃) by FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed that benzoic acid molecules chemisorb on the surface of the NPs, forming benzene groups-rich microstructures. A considerable increase in the tensile strength, flexural modulus, and toughness was observed for the nanocomposites with only 0.2 wt% BA-Al₂O₃. Enhanced interfacial adhesion with the matrix was achieved, which enabled effective reinforcement of the nanocomposites. The higher crystallization temperature along with shorter crystallization halftime indicated the higher nucleation activity of BA-Al₂O₃. Furthermore, the interchain conformational ordering of iPP was significantly accelerated in the presence of the BA-Al₂O₃ NPs. The CH-π interaction between the polymer and BA-Al₂O₃ NPs was considered to facilitate the attachment of the iPP chains and stimulate conformational ordering, crystallization, as well as mechanical properties of nanocomposites.

Bifunctional polybenzoxazine nanocomposites containing photo-crosslinkable coumarin units and pyrene units capable of dispersing single-walled carbon nanotubes

A new bifunctional benzoxazine monomer possessing both coumarin and pyrene groups for photo-crosslinking and dispersing single-walled carbon nanotubes.

A free radical assisted strategy for preparing functionalized carbon nanotubes as a highly efficient nucleating agent for poly(l-lactide)

Schematic illumination of the fabrication of the CNT-OEG via free radical polymerization.

Influence of the carbon nanotube surface modification on the microstructure of thermoplastic binders

The structural properties of polymer nanocomposites based on thermoplastic polyimides filled with surface-modified carbon nanotubes (CNT) have been studied by means of fully-atomistic molecular-dynamics simulations.