Fibers from Nanocomposites

Polymer nanocomposites based on the incorporation of inorganic or organic filler have attracted considerable attention not only from researchers but also from polymer producers [258 260]. Nanocomposites of polypropylene have been prepared by in situ polymerization or 

FIGURE 3.71 Plot of average PS phase diameter versus distance along the radial direction in the cross section of PP-PS drawn composite fiber. Diameter is calculated from the area of an equivalent circle of PS phase in the fiber cross section. (From Xing, Q. Wang, Y.H. Zhu, M.F. Chen, Y.M. Pionteck, J. Adler, H.J. lUPC, 2004, pp. 43-206. With permission.) 

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This work has demonstrated that we have been successful in extruding fibers from these polymer nanocomposites, knit them into textiles, and test their flammability. These prototype nanocomposite FR fiber-forming polymers and textile materials based upon them could be taken forward by interested parties for scale-up and commercial development. 

Martinez-Hemandez AL, Velasco-Santos C (2012) Keratin fibers from chicken feathers structure and advances in polymer composites. Nova Publishers, New York, pp 149-211 Martinez-Hemandez AL, Velasco-Santos C, de-Icaza M, Castano VM (2007) D5mamical-mechanical and thermal analysis of polymeric composites reinforced with keratin biofibers from chicken feathers. Compos Part B Eng 38 405 10 Mathew AP, Dufresne A (2002) Morphological investigation of nanocomposites from sorbitol plasticized starch and tunicin whiskers. Biomacromolecules 3 609-617 Md. Islama S, Hamdana S, Talibb ZA, Ahmeda AS, Md. Rahmana R (2012) Tropical wood polymer nanocomposite (WPNC) The impact of nanoclay on dynamic mechanical thermal properties. Compos Sci Technol 72 1995-2001... 

Studies on randomness of filler distribution in polymethylacrylate nanocomposite are interesting. In this experiment, siUca particles were formed both before and after matrix polymerization. The results indicated that the concentration of silica was a controlling factor in the stress-strain relationship rather than the uniformity of particle distribution. Also, there was no anisotropy of mechanical properties regardless of the sequence of filler formation. This outcome cannot be expected to be duplicated in all other systems. For example, when nickel coated fibers were used in an EMI shielding application." When compounded with polycarbonate resin, fibers had a much worse performance than when a diy blend was prepared first and then incorporated into the polymer (Figure 7.1). In this case, pre-blending protected the fiber from breakage. 

Figure 2.19 Schematic representation of the different hierarchical nanocomposites (from left to right, conventional plant fibers-reinforced nanocomposites, BC coated fiber-reinforced nanocomposites and BC coated fibers-reinforced hierarchical nanocomposites). Reproduced with permission from [170].

Kumar, S., Doshi, H., Srinivasarao, M., Park, J.O., Schiraldi, D.A. Fibers from polypropylene/nano carbon fiber composites . Polymer 43(5) (2002), 1701-1703 Chatterjee, A., Deopura, B.L. High modulus and high strength PP nanocomposite filament . Comp. Part A 31(5) (2006), 813-817... 

Ergungor describes the application of on-line Raman spectroscopy and neural networks to the simultaneous prediction of temperature and crystallinity of nylon-6 nanocomposites as a function of cooling rate. The authors prefer their neural network approach because they make use of information in the entire spectrum rather than from a few bands as most studies have done.84 Van Wijk etal. of Akzo Nobel obtained a patent on the use of a Raman spectrum of a polymeric fiber to determine dye uptake and other structural or mechanical properties based on previously developed models.85... 

Recently, Foo et al. (2006) produced some novel nanocomposites from spider silk-silica fusion (chimeric) proteins. The composite morphology and structure could be regulated by controlling processing conditions to produce films and fibers. Silk and biomineralization being natural inspiration sources will allow production of numerous new materials in various fields of application. 

For polyester, the reported work82 done in Sichuan University of China, involves adding MMT clay in a copolymer of poly(ethyleneterephthalate), which with a phosphorus-containing monomer could produce PET with higher thermal stability and char-forming tendency. However, fibers were not produced from this PET-nanocomposite polymers. 

This chapter is an overview of the synthesis and properties of PVA/ nanotube composites. Various films and fibers have been processed from carbon nanotube and PVA dispersions. Compared to other polymers, PVA exhibit particularly strong interaction with single-walled as well as multiwalled carbon nanotubes. This leads to unique properties which are not observed in other nanotube polymer nanocomposites. In particular, this literature review confirms... 

Brinker et al. developed a simple evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) process that allows the rapid production of patterned porous or nanocomposite materials in the form of films, fibers, or spheres. Starting from a homogeneous solution of soluble silica and surfactant below the critical micellar concentration, evaporation of ethanol increased surfactant concentration, driving self-assembly of silica-surfactant micelles and their further organization. By... 

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