A number of micromechanical investigations have been performed to predict behaviour of composite interfaces, showing that the detailed behaviour of the material at these interfaces frequently dominates the behaviour of the composite as a whole. The interfacial interaction is an extremely complex process due to continuous evolution of interfacial zones during deformation and this is particularly true for carbon nanotubes since the interfacial interaction is confined to the discrete molecular level. The atomic strain concept based upon Voronoi tessellation allows analyzing the molecular structure atom by atom, which may give a unique insight into deformation phenomena operative at molecular level such as interface behaviour in nanocomposites.
In manufacturing industries, the selection of machine parameters is a very complicated task in a time-bound manner. The process parameters play a primary role in confirming the quality, low cost of manufacturing, high productivity, and provide the source for sustainable machining. This paper explores the milling behavior of MWCNT/epoxy nanocomposites to attain the parametric conditions having lower surface roughness (Ra) and higher materials removal rate (MRR). Milling is considered as an indispensable process employed to acquire highly accurate and precise slots. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is very trendy among the nature-stimulated metaheuristic method used for the optimization of varying constraints. This article uses the non-dominated PSO algorithm to optimize the milling parameters, namely, MWCNT weight% (Wt.), spindle speed (N), feed rate (F), and depth of cut (D). The first setting confirmatory test demonstrates the value of Ra and MRR that are found as 1:62 μm and 5.69 mm3/min, respectively and for the second set, the obtained values of Ra and MRR are 3.74 μm and 22.83 mm3/min respectively. The Pareto set allows the manufacturer to determine the optimal setting depending on their application need. The outcomes of the proposed algorithm offer new criteria to control the milling parameters for high efficiency.
The addition of hard ceramic particles of nc-(Ti,Mo)C in carbon network into Ti matrix has been proved to be an efficient way to enhance their properties. The purpose of this work was to analyze the corrosion, tribological, mechanical and morphological effects of combining nc-(Ti,Mo)C/C with titanium metal, to create a unique composite via selective laser melting technique (SLM). Composites with different weight percentage (5, 10 and 20 wt %) of ceramic phase were produced. The samples of pure Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloy were also tested, as a reference. These composites were examined for corrosion resistance in body fluid (artificial saliva solution). Moreover, the properties of titanium composites reinforced with nc-TiC powders were compared. It was stated that mechanical properties were significantly improved with increasing amount of nc-(Ti,Mo)C/C in Ti matrix. In terms of corrosion resistance, the composites showed worse properties compared to pure titanium and Ti-6Al-4V alloy, but better than TiC-reinforced composites.
A ceria loaded carbon nanotubes (CeO2/CNTs) nanocomposites photocatalyst was prepared by chemical precipitation, and the preparation conditions were optimized using an orthogonal experiment method. HR-TEM, XRD, UV-Vis/DRS, TGA and XPS were used to characterize the photocatalyst. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption was employed to determine the BET specific surface area. The results indicated that the photocatalyst has no obvious impurities. CeO2 was dispersed on the carbon nanotubes with a good loading effect and high loading efficiency without agglomeration. The catalyst exhibits a strong ability to absorb light in the ultraviolet region and some ability to absorb light in the visible light region. The CeO2/CNTs nanocomposites photocatalyst was used to degrade azo dye Acid Orange 7 (40 mg/L). The optical decolorization rate was 66.58% after xenon lamp irradiation for 4 h, which is better than that of commercial CeO2 (43.13%). The results suggested that CeO2 loading on CNTs not only enhanced the optical decolorization rate but also accelerated the separation of CeO2/CNTs and water.
Constantly developing nanotechnology provides the possibility of manufacturing nanostructured composites with a polymer matrix doped with ceramic nanoparticles, including ZnO. A specific feature of polymers, i.e. ceramic composite materials, is an amelioration in physical properties for polymer matrix and reinforcement. The aim of the paper was to produce thin fibrous composite mats, reinforced with ZnO nanoparticles and a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) matrix obtained by means of the electrospinning process and then examining the influence of the strength of the reinforcement on the morphology and optical properties of the composite nanofibers. The morphology and structure of the fibrous mats was examined by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). UV –Vis spectroscopy allowed to examine the impact of zinc oxide on the optical properties of PVP/ZnO nanofibers and to investigate the width of the energy gap.
The aim of this research was to develop a composite material to be used as an elastomeric core of the artificial intervertebral disc. Two types of polyurethane composites with non-modified SiO2 and SiO2 modified NH2 group were obtained. The composites made of these materials have different filler content. The effect of modifying fillers for the structure and properties of these materials were investigated.
This work presents a theoretical study for the distribution of nanocomposite structure of plasmonic thin-film solar cells through the absorber layers. It can be reduced the material consumption and the cost of solar cell. Adding nanometallic fillers in the absorber layer has been improved optical, electrical characteristics and efficiency of traditional thin film solar cells (ITO /CdS/PbS/Al and SnO2/CdS/CdTe/Cu) models that using sub micro absorber layer. Also, this paper explains analysis of J-V, P-V and external quantum efficiency characteristics for nanocomposites thin film solar cell performance. Also, this paper presents the effect of increasing the concentration of nanofillers on the absorption, energy band gap and electron-hole generation rate of absorber layers and the effect of volume fraction on the energy conversion efficiency, fill factor, space charge region of the nanocomposites solar cells.
The paper presents the results of research on nanocomposite nickel/graphene oxide (Ni / GO) coatings produced by electrochemical reduction method on a steel substrate. Discussed is the method of manufacturing composite coatings with nickel matrix and embedded graphene oxide flakes. For comparative purposes, the studies also included a nanocrystalline Ni coating without embedded graphene oxide flakes. Graphene oxide was characterized by Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy. Results of studies on the structure of nickel and composite Ni/GO coatings deposited in a bath containing different amount of graphene oxide are presented. The coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The adhesion of the prepared coatings to the substrate was examined by the scratch method. The microhardness of the coatings was measured using the Vickers method on perpendicular cross-sections to the surface. Corrosion tests of the coatings were investigated using the potentiodynamic method. The influence of graphene oxide on the structure and properties of composite coatings deposited from baths with different content of graphene oxide was determined.
Nowadays, titanium is one of the most popular materials for aeronautical applications due to its good corrosion resistance, formability and strength. In this paper, rutile reinforced titanium matrix composites were produced via powder metallurgy. The steps included high energy ball milling of raw titanium and rutile powders in a planetary ball mill, which was followed by cold-pressing and sintering without external pressure. For the characterization of the milled powders and the sintered composites, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and compressive strength examinations were carried out. The results showed that the rutile has a strengthening effect on the titanium matrix. 1 wt% rutile increased the compressive strength compared to the raw titanium. Increasing the milling time of the metal matrix decreased the compressive strength values.
A series of nanocomposite graphene/CoFe2O4 and graphene/NiFe2O4 hybrid materials was synthesized via facile, one-pot solvothermal route. The materials were obtained using two pressure methods: synthesis in the autoclave and synthesis in the microwave solvothermal reactor. The use of a microwave reactor enabled to significantly shorten the synthesis time up to 15 min. All the syntheses were carried out in a solution of ethanol. The effect of processing conditions and composite composition on the physicochemical properties and electric conductivity was studied. The specific surface area, density, morphology, phase composition, thermal properties and electric conductivity of the obtained composites were investigated. The results of studies of composites obtained in an autoclave and in a microwave reactor were compared.
Photoactive nanofilled nematic is proposed. Stable three-component photoresponsive nanocomposite was prepared from photo-insensitive nanofilled nematic by inclusion of 3 wt.% azobenzene-containing photoactive mesogen 4-(4′-ethoxyphenylazo)phenyl hexanoate (EPH). The host nanofilled nematic was produced from the room-temperature nematic liquid crystal 4-n-heptyl cyanobiphenyl (7CB) and 3 wt.% filler of Aerosil 300 hydrophilic silica nanospheres of size 7 nm. Apparent effect of stimulation with a relatively weak continuous illumination by UV light (375 nm wavelength) takes place for both the alternating-current electric field-dependent optical transmittance and the electro-optic amplitude-frequency modulation by thin films (25 µm thick) of the EPH/aerosil/7CB nanocomposite. The light-stimulated electro-optics of EPH-doped aerosil/7CB films and the corresponding reversible light control are achieved through trans-cis-trans photoisomerization of the photoactive agent EPH. As such, the initial electro-optical response of the studied photoactive nanocomposites is recovered with continuous blue-light illumination. The examined EPH/aerosil/7CB nanocomposites exhibit photo-controllable electro-optical response that is of practical interest.
The dispersion of nanoparticles in the host matrix is a novel approach to enhance the thermoelectric performance. In this work, we incorporate the TiC (x = 0, 1 and 2 wt.%) nanoparticles into a p-type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 matrix, and their effects on microstructure and thermoelectric properties were systematically investigated. The existence of TiC contents in a base matrix was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. The grain size decreases with increasing the addition of TiC content due to grain boundary hardening where the dispersed nanoparticles acted as pinning points in the entire matrix. The electrical conductivity significantly decreased and the Seebeck coefficient was slightly enhanced, which attributes to the decrease in carrier concentration by the addition of TiC content. Meanwhile, the lowest thermal conductivity of 0.97 W/mK for the 2 wt.% TiC nanocomposite sample, which is ~16% lower than 0 wt.% TiC sample. The maximum figure of merit of 0.90 was obtained at 350 K for the 0 wt.% TiC sample due to high electrical conductivity. Moreover, the Vickers hardness was improved with increase the addition of TiC contents.
Y2O3-MgO nanocomposites are one of the most promising materials for hypersonic infrared windows and domes due to their excellent optical transmittance and mechanical properties. In this study, influence of the calcination temperature of Y2O3-MgO nanopowders on the microstructure, IR transmittance, and hardness of Y2O3-MgO nanocomposites was investigated. It was found that the calcination temperature is related to the presence of residual intergranular pores and grain size after spark plasma sintering. The nanopowders calcined at 1000°C exhibits the highest infrared transmittance (82.3% at 5.3 μm) and hardness (9.99 GPa). These findings indicated that initial particle size and distribution of the nanopowders are important factors determining the optical and mechanical performances of Y2O3-MgO nanocomposites.
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