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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Functionalization, Growth And Applications Of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes, Yubing Wang Aug 2005

Functionalization, Growth And Applications Of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes, Yubing Wang

Dissertations

Because of their remarkable structural, mechanical and electrical properties, carbon nanotubes, and especially single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), represent one of the most widely investigated materials today in the emerging field of nanotechnology. The development of oriented growth of SWNTs critical for applications, novel approaches for the creation of functional SWNTs, and applications of both as-prepared and chemically functionalized SWNTs for electrochemically-induced hydrogen storage, in-situ formation of new polymer and ceramic nanocomposites with SWNTs, and the fabrication and study for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, of a SWNT-based biofuel cell and self-powered biosensor, are the thrusts …


Expandable Graphite/Polyamide-6 Nanocomposites, Fawn Marie Uhl, Qiang Yao, Hiroyoshi Nakajima, Evangelos Manias, Charles A. Wilkie Jul 2005

Expandable Graphite/Polyamide-6 Nanocomposites, Fawn Marie Uhl, Qiang Yao, Hiroyoshi Nakajima, Evangelos Manias, Charles A. Wilkie

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

Polyamide-6 (PA-6)/graphite nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending, using a variety of graphites, including virgin graphite, expandable graphites and expanded graphite. The resulting nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, cone calorimetry, and tensile mechanical analysis. Nanocomposite formation does occur, as denoted by the nanometre dispersion of graphite layers in the polymer matrix, and the dispersion depends on the graphite treatment. The material properties of the resulting composites are improved relative to the virgin/unfilled polymer; in particular, there is an enhancement of the thermal stability without any significant deterioration of the mechanical properties.


Fire Retardancy Of Vinyl Ester Nanocomposites: Synergy With Phosphorus-Based Fire Retardants, Grace Chigwada, Panchatapa Jash, David D. Jiang, Charles A. Wilkie Jul 2005

Fire Retardancy Of Vinyl Ester Nanocomposites: Synergy With Phosphorus-Based Fire Retardants, Grace Chigwada, Panchatapa Jash, David D. Jiang, Charles A. Wilkie

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

Vinyl ester (PVE) nanocomposites were prepared using both clay and polyhedral oligosilsesquioxanes (POSS) as the nano-dimensional material. From cone calorimetric data, it was shown that both POSS and clay affect the flammability of the nanocomposites to the same extent. To improve on the flame retardancy, the nanocomposites were combined with phosphorous-containing fire retardants (FRs) and the result compared to the benchmark halogen-containing system. The use of the cone calorimeter to investigate the fire properties of these nanocomposites showed a great reduction in peak heat release rate (PHRR) in the presence of phosphate and slight improvements in average mass loss rate …


Effects Of Surfactants On The Thermal And Fire Properties Of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)/Clay Nanocomposites, Panchatapa Jash, Charles A. Wilkie Jun 2005

Effects Of Surfactants On The Thermal And Fire Properties Of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)/Clay Nanocomposites, Panchatapa Jash, Charles A. Wilkie

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

Nanocomposites of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with layered silicates and with polyhedral oligosilsesquioxanes (POSS) were prepared by bulk polymerization. The thermal and fire stabilities of the various organically-modified clay and POSS nanocomposites were evaluated using both thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and cone calorimetry. Thermogravimetric analysis is not a good criteria for evaluating nanocomposite formation but cone calorimetry can be. For montmorillonite systems, when more than 4% clay is present, the expected reduction in peak heat release rate is observed. For hectorite, a minimum of 6% clay concentration is required to achieve the same reduction in peak heat release rate. POSS has the …


Synergy Between Nanocomposite Formation And Low Levels Of Bromine On Fire Retardancy In Polystyrenes, Grace Chigwada, Panchatapa Jash, David D. Jiang, Charles A. Wilkie Jun 2005

Synergy Between Nanocomposite Formation And Low Levels Of Bromine On Fire Retardancy In Polystyrenes, Grace Chigwada, Panchatapa Jash, David D. Jiang, Charles A. Wilkie

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

An organically-modified clay has been prepared using ammonium salts which contain an oligomeric material consisting of vinylbenzyl chloride, styrene and dibromostyrene. The presence of dibromostyrene enhances the flame retardancy of polystyrene nanocomposites compared to both the virgin polymer and polystyrene nanocomposites prepared from non-halogen-containing organically-modified clays. The nanocomposites were prepared both by bulk polymerization and melt blending and they were evaluated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and cone calorimetry measurements. Bulk polymerization produced nanocomposites with reduced peak heat release rate, reduced total heat release and improved thermal stability. It is noteworthy that all these improvements were obtained …


Polyethylene And Polypropylene Nanocomposites Based Upon An Oligomerically-Modified Clay, Jinguo Zhang, David D. Jiang, Charles A. Wilkie Jan 2005

Polyethylene And Polypropylene Nanocomposites Based Upon An Oligomerically-Modified Clay, Jinguo Zhang, David D. Jiang, Charles A. Wilkie

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

Montmorillonite clay was modified with an oligomeric surfactant, which was then melt blended with polyethylene and polypropylene in a Brabender mixer. The morphology was characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, while thermal stability was evaluated from thermogravimetric analysis and the fire properties by cone calorimetry. The nanocomposites are best described as mixed immiscible/intercalated/delaminated systems and the reduction in peak heat release rate is about 40% at 5% inorganic clay loading.


Magnetic Properties Of (Γ-Fe₂O₃)₈₀Ag₂₀ Nanocomposites Prepared In Reverse Micelles, Joan A. Wiemann, Jianbiao Dai, Jinke Tang, Gary J. Long, Leonard Spinu Jan 2005

Magnetic Properties Of (Γ-Fe₂O₃)₈₀Ag₂₀ Nanocomposites Prepared In Reverse Micelles, Joan A. Wiemann, Jianbiao Dai, Jinke Tang, Gary J. Long, Leonard Spinu

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The magnetic properties of nanoparticles of gamma-Fe2O3 prepared by reverse micelles have been studied by dc magnetization, transverse ac susceptibility, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The nanoparticles of gamma-Fe2O3 in the nanocomposite (gamma-Fe2O3)80Ag20 exhibit superparamagnetic behavior. The blocking temperatures determined by the three methods indicate the superparamagnetic nature of (gamma-Fe2O3)80Ag20 above 70-80 K and show correlation with measuring time. The average particle diameter obtained by transmission electron microscopy of the gamma-Fe2O3 particles is ~10 nm and that of the Ag particles is ~20 nm. The average particle size determined from the magnetic analyses for the gamma-Fe2O3 particles is ~12 nm. Mössbauer spectra …


Shear Induced Orientation In Polymer-Clay Solutions And Their Influence On The Structure In Multilayered Films, Matthew Michael Malwitz Jan 2005

Shear Induced Orientation In Polymer-Clay Solutions And Their Influence On The Structure In Multilayered Films, Matthew Michael Malwitz

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The influence of shear on viscoelastic solutions of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and clay (Cloisite, CNA) was investigated by rheology and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) under shear. These measurements determined the shear-induced orientation of the clay and the polymer as well as their relaxation behavior after cessation of shear. Comparison of PEO-CNA solutions (~100 nm diameter platelets) to previously studied PEO-Laponite gels (~30 nm diameter platelets) found that the orientation of CNA platelets occurs at much lower shear rates. Additionally, the relaxation times were much longer for CNA platelets than for Laponite platelets. From these solutions and gels, multilayered nanocomposite …


Polystyrene Nanocomposites Based On Carbazole-Containing Surfactants, Grace Chigwada, David D. Jiang, Charles A. Wilkie Jan 2005

Polystyrene Nanocomposites Based On Carbazole-Containing Surfactants, Grace Chigwada, David D. Jiang, Charles A. Wilkie

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

New organically-modified clays containing a carbazole unit were prepared and the number of long alkyl chains on the surfactant was varied. The clay was used to prepare polystyrene nanocomposites by both bulk polymerization and melt blending. The dispersion of these clays in the polymer matrix was evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermal stability of the clays and the nanocomposites were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) while the fire properties were evaluated by cone calorimetry. If more than two alkyl chains were present, the gallery spacing is apparently overcrowded, leading to poor dispersion. Bulk polymerization …


Methyl Methacrylate Oligomerically-Modified Clay And Its Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) Nanocomposites, Xiaoxia Zheng, David D. Jiang, Charles A. Wilkie Jan 2005

Methyl Methacrylate Oligomerically-Modified Clay And Its Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) Nanocomposites, Xiaoxia Zheng, David D. Jiang, Charles A. Wilkie

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

A methyl methacrylate oligomerically-modified clay was used to prepare poly(methyl methacrylate) clay nanocomposites by melt blending and the effect of the clay loading level on the modified clay and corresponding nanocomposite was studied. These nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and cone calorimetry. The results show a mixed intercalated/delaminated morphology with good nanodispersion. The compatibility between the methylacrylate-subsituted clay and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) are greatly improved compared to other oligomerically-modified clays.