Engineering Commons^™

Effect Of Graphitic Carbon Nanomodifiers On The Electromagnetic Shielding Effectiveness Of Linear Low Density Polyethylene Nanocomposites, Byron Villacorta Hernandez

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Conductive polymer composites have become alternative materials for providing electromagnetic and electrostatic shielding where metals are not suitable. In this study, the effect of crystallinity, morphology, concentration and orientation of carbon nanomodifiers on shielding provided by their polyethylene-based composites has been investigated relative to their transport properties.

First, the electrical properties and EM SE of composites consisting of heat-treated carbon nanofibers (Pyrograf^® -III PR-19 CNF) in a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrix were assessed. Heat treatment (HT) of CNF at 2500°C significantly improved their graphitic crystallinity and intrinsic transport properties, thereby increasing the EM SE of the nanocomposites. …

Advanced Biomaterials From Renewable Resources: An Investigation On Cellulose Nanocrystal Composites And Co2 Extraction Of Rendered Materials, Jose Orellana

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The annual global consumption of petroleum-based plastics is approximately 280 million tons and is impacting the sustainability of our planet and prosperity of future generations. One solution is the development of bio-based polymer materials with advanced properties for commercial applications. Therefore, the ultimate goal of this dissertation is to investigate the properties of new bio-based materials for broader applications. This dissertation includes two research areas: cellulose nanocomposites, and CO₂ extractions of rendered fat. In the first half, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), which exhibit excellent mechanical and optical properties, were investigated for the reinforcement of a biodegradable polymer. The properties of …

Investigation Of Structure And Properties Of Novel Multi-Layer Clay Nanocomposite Films Produced Controllably By Continuous Chaotic Advection Blending, Chaitra Mahesha

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Polymer nanoclay composites have been studied extensively in the past decade due to the excellent combination of properties they can offer at low loadings of clay. Despite robust research, the potential enhancements that nanoclays are theoretically predicted to offer have not been achieved. Such potential improvements in mechanical and gas barrier properties are realized only when the internal structure of the nanocomposite is optimized in terms of arrangement and orientation of nanoclay within the matrix. The mixing-based approach and the accompanying complex flow fields of conventional processing techniques widely used to produce nanoclay composites are unable to control the internal …