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Polymers
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Carbon-Integrated Polymer Composites and Foams II
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Carbon-Integrated Polymer Composites and Foams II

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2024) | Viewed by 8647

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Fang-Chyou Chiu

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Interests: polymer physics; polymer blends; polymeric nanomaterials; bio-polymers; foams
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Kartik Behera

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Interests: polymer blends; blend-based nanocomposites; packaging materials; membrane; foams
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Carbon (nano)materials have attracted great attention in materials science and engineering in recent decades. Carbon nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, fullerenes, graphene, and graphene oxide have received significant interest in the field of polymer-nanocomposites because of their unique properties (high aspect ratio and excellent thermal/mechanical/electrical properties) as fillers. These carbon-integrated polymer composites are very important for advanced engineering applications because of their good thermomechanical and electrical properties. These properties are enhanced as a result of the homogeneous dispersion of carbon fillers and good interaction between the polymer matrix and fillers. These carbon-integrated polymer composites have potential applications in various fields, such as sensors, electrochemical capacitors, solar cells, transistors, conductive glue, gas storage devices, and defense purposes.

Polymeric foams continue to be an important class of commodity materials, achieving remarkable progress in different fields, such as sports gear, automobiles, orthopedics, etc. Polymeric foams exhibit good structural properties and have excellent functional features due to their complex compositions and (micro)structures in which a gaseous phase and a solid phase are combined mainly via (nano)fillers dispersed throughout the polymer matrix. Developments in new advanced foaming technologies, which have resulted in the generation of new foams with micro-, sub-micro-, and even nanocellular structures, have extended the applications of more traditional foams in terms of weight reduction, damping, and thermal and/or acoustic insulation to novel possibilities, such as electromagnetic interference shielding and advanced structural components.

Prof. Dr. Fang-Chyou Chiu
Dr. Kartik Behera
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polymer composites
  • carbon (nano)fillers
  • physical properties
  • electrical properties
  • foams

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 5699 KiB  
Article
High-Performance PEEK/MWCNT Nanocomposites: Combining Enhanced Electrical Conductivity and Nanotube Dispersion
by Sofia Silva, José M. Barbosa, João D. Sousa, Maria C. Paiva and Paulo F. Teixeira
Polymers 2024, 16(5), 583; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym16050583 - 21 Feb 2024
Viewed by 796
Abstract
High-performance engineering thermoplastics offer lightweight and excellent mechanical performance in a wide temperature range. Their composites with carbon nanotubes are expected to enhance mechanical performance, while providing thermal and electrical conductivity. These are interesting attributes that may endow additional functionalities to the nanocomposites. [...] Read more.
High-performance engineering thermoplastics offer lightweight and excellent mechanical performance in a wide temperature range. Their composites with carbon nanotubes are expected to enhance mechanical performance, while providing thermal and electrical conductivity. These are interesting attributes that may endow additional functionalities to the nanocomposites. The present work investigates the optimal conditions to prepare polyether ether ketone (PEEK)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites, minimizing the MWCNT agglomerate size while maximizing the nanocomposite electrical conductivity. The aim is to achieve PEEK/MWCNT nanocomposites that are suitable for melt-spinning of electrically conductive multifilament’s. Nanocomposites were prepared with compositions ranging from 0.5 to 7 wt.% MWCNT, showing an electrical percolation threshold between 1 and 2 wt.% MWCNT (107–102 S/cm) and a rheological percolation in the same range (1 to 2 wt.% MWCNT), confirming the formation of an MWCNT network in the nanocomposite. Considering the large drop in electrical conductivity typically observed during melt-spinning and the drawing of filaments, the composition PEEK/5 wt.% MWCNT was selected for further investigation. The effect of the melt extrusion parameters, namely screw speed, temperature, and throughput, was studied by evaluating the morphology of MWCNT agglomerates, the nanocomposite rheology, and electrical properties. It was observed that the combination of the higher values of screw speed and temperature profile leads to the smaller number of MWCNT agglomerates with smaller size, albeit at a slightly lower electrical conductivity. Generally, all processing conditions tested yielded nanocomposites with electrical conductivity in the range of 0.50–0.85 S/cm. The nanocomposite processed at higher temperature and screw speed presented the lowest value of elastic modulus, perhaps owing to higher matrix degradation and lower connectivity between the agglomerates. From all the process parameters studied, the screw speed was identified to have the higher impact on nanocomposite properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Integrated Polymer Composites and Foams II)
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11 pages, 3405 KiB  
Article
An Ultrasensitive Laser-Induced Graphene Electrode-Based Triboelectric Sensor Utilizing Trapped Air as Effective Dielectric Layer
by Tapas Kamilya, Doohyun Han, Jaehee Shin, Soongeun Kwon and Jinhyoung Park
Polymers 2024, 16(1), 26; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym16010026 - 20 Dec 2023
Viewed by 872
Abstract
Air, a widely recognized dielectric material, is employed as a dielectric layer in this study. We present a triboelectric sensor with a laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrode and an air-trapped pad using silicone rubber (SR). A very thin device with a thickness of 1 [...] Read more.
Air, a widely recognized dielectric material, is employed as a dielectric layer in this study. We present a triboelectric sensor with a laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrode and an air-trapped pad using silicone rubber (SR). A very thin device with a thickness of 1 mm and an effective gap for contact–separation between the films of silicone rubber and polyimide (PI) of 0.6 mm makes the device extremely highly sensitive for very low amplitudes of pressure. The fabrication of LIG as an electrode material on the surface of PI is the key reason for the fabrication of the thin sensor. In this study, we showed that the fabricated air-trapped padded sensor (ATPS) has the capability to generate an output voltage of ~32 V, a short-circuit current of 1.2 µA, and attain a maximum power density of 139.8 mW m−2. The performance of the ATPS was compared with a replicated device having a hole on the pad, allowing air to pass through during contact–separation. The observed degradation in the electrical output suggests that the trapped air in the pad plays a crucial role in enhancing the output voltage. Therefore, the ATPS emerges as an ultra-sensitive sensor for healthcare sensing applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Integrated Polymer Composites and Foams II)
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16 pages, 6456 KiB  
Article
Modifications of Phase Morphology, Physical Properties, and Burning Anti-Dripping Performance of Compatibilized Poly(butylene succinate)/High-Density Polyethylene Blend by Adding Nanofillers
by Kartik Behera, Chien-Hsing Tsai, Yen-Hsiang Chang and Fang-Chyou Chiu
Polymers 2023, 15(22), 4393; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym15224393 - 13 Nov 2023
Viewed by 851
Abstract
A twin-screw extruder was used to fabricate poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blends (7:3 weight ratio) and blend-based nanocomposites. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), and organoclays (15A and 30B) served as the nanofiller, while maleated HDPE (PEgMA) acted as an efficient compatibilizer [...] Read more.
A twin-screw extruder was used to fabricate poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blends (7:3 weight ratio) and blend-based nanocomposites. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), and organoclays (15A and 30B) served as the nanofiller, while maleated HDPE (PEgMA) acted as an efficient compatibilizer for the blend. In the composites, individual nanofillers were mostly localized in HDPE domains, but some fillers were also observed at PBS–HDPE interfaces. The sea–island morphology of the compatibilized blend evolved into a pseudo-co-continuous morphology in the composites. Differential scanning calorimetry results confirmed that PEgMA with HDPE evidently accelerated the crystallization of PBS in the blend. The possible nucleation effect of added fillers on PBS crystallization was obscured by the formation of quasi-connected HDPE domains, causing fewer PBS nucleation sites. The presence of nanofillers improved the thermal stability and burning anti-dripping behavior of the parent blend. The anti-dripping efficiency of added fillers followed the sequence CNT > 15A > 30B > GNP. The rigidity of the blend was increased after the formation of nanocomposites. In particular, adding GNP resulted in 19% and 31% increases in the Young’s modulus and flexural modulus, respectively. The development of a pseudo-network structure in the composites was confirmed by measurement of rheological properties. The electrical resistivity of the blend was reduced by more than six orders of magnitude at 3 phr CNT loading, demonstrating the achievement of double percolation morphology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Integrated Polymer Composites and Foams II)
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14 pages, 8469 KiB  
Article
Effect of Reinforcement with Short Carbon Fibers on the Friction and Wear Resistance of Additively Manufactured PA12
by Abdelrasoul Gadelmoula and Saleh Ahmed Aldahash
Polymers 2023, 15(15), 3187; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym15153187 - 27 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1042
Abstract
Reinforcing thermoplastic materials for additive manufacturing with either short, long, and continuous fibers or micro/nanoparticles is a sound means to enhance the mechanical/tribological properties of functional 3D printed objects. However, despite the fact that reinforced thermoplastics are being used extensively in modern applications, [...] Read more.
Reinforcing thermoplastic materials for additive manufacturing with either short, long, and continuous fibers or micro/nanoparticles is a sound means to enhance the mechanical/tribological properties of functional 3D printed objects. However, despite the fact that reinforced thermoplastics are being used extensively in modern applications, little data are found in open literature regarding the effect of such reinforcements on the friction and wear characteristics of additively manufactured objects. Therefore, this article presents a comparative study that aims to investigate the friction and wear behavior of carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide 12 (CF-PA12) as compared to pure polyamide 12 (PA12). The test specimens were prepared by selective laser sintering (SLS) at five different build orientations and examined using a pin-on-disc tribometer in dry sliding mode. The coefficient of friction (COF), interface temperature, friction-induced noise, and specific wear rate were measured. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to inspect the tribo-surfaces. The results revealed that both the COF and contact temperature of CF-PA12 are orientation-independent and are lower than those of pure PA12. Also, it was found that, compared with pure PA12, CF-PA12 has 25% smaller COF and 15–40% higher wear resistance. Further, the SEM of tribo-surfaces showed that adhesive wear dominates the surface of pure PA12, while both adhesive and abrasive wear patterns coexist in CF-PA12. Moreover, fiber crushing and thinning were observed, and this, under some circumstances, can result in a considerable increase in frictional noise. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Integrated Polymer Composites and Foams II)
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16 pages, 2210 KiB  
Article
Free Vibration Responses of Functionally Graded CNT-Reinforced Composite Conical Shell Panels
by Jin-Rae Cho
Polymers 2023, 15(9), 1987; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym15091987 - 22 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1115
Abstract
Functionally graded CNT (carbon nanotube)-reinforced composites (FG-CNTRCs) are intensively studied because the mechanical behaviors of conventional composites can be dramatically improved. Only a small amount of CNTs are appropriately distributed through the thickness. However, the studies on conical shell panels have been poorly [...] Read more.
Functionally graded CNT (carbon nanotube)-reinforced composites (FG-CNTRCs) are intensively studied because the mechanical behaviors of conventional composites can be dramatically improved. Only a small amount of CNTs are appropriately distributed through the thickness. However, the studies on conical shell panels have been poorly reported when compared with beams, plates and cylindrical shells, even though more parameters are associated with the mechanical behaviors of conical shell panels. In this context, this study intends to profoundly investigate the free vibration of FG-CNTRC conical shell panels by developing an effective and reliable 2-D (two-dimensional) numerical method. The displacement field is expressed using the first-order shear deformation shell theory, and it is approximated by the 2-D planar natural element method (NEM). The conical shell surface is transformed into the 2-D planar NEM grid, and the approach for MITC3+shell element is employed to suppress the shear locking. The developed numerical method is validated through the benchmark experiments, and the free vibration responses of FG-CNTRC conical shell panels are investigated with respect to all the associated parameters. It is found from the numerical results that the free vibration of FG-CNTRC conical shell panels is significantly influenced by the volume fraction and distribution pattern of CNTs, the geometry parameters of the conical shell, and the boundary condition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Integrated Polymer Composites and Foams II)
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22 pages, 5079 KiB  
Article
Incorporating Graphene Nanoplatelets and Carbon Nanotubes in Biobased Poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate): Fillers’ Effect on the Matrix’s Structure and Lifetime
by Dimitra Kourtidou, Dimitrios Karfaridis, Thomas Kehagias, George Vourlias, Dimitrios N. Bikiaris and Konstantinos Chrissafis
Polymers 2023, 15(2), 401; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym15020401 - 12 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1554
Abstract
Poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF) nanocomposites reinforced with Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were in situ synthesized in this work. PEF is a biobased polyester with physical properties and is the sustainable counterpart of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). Its low crystallizability affects the processing [...] Read more.
Poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF) nanocomposites reinforced with Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were in situ synthesized in this work. PEF is a biobased polyester with physical properties and is the sustainable counterpart of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). Its low crystallizability affects the processing of the material, limiting its use to packaging, films, and textile applications. The crystallization promotion and the reinforcement of PEF can lead to broadening its potential applications. Therefore, PEF nanocomposites reinforced with various loadings of GNPs, CNTs, and hybrids containing both fillers were prepared, and the effect of each filler on their structural characteristics was investigated by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy—attenuated total reflectance (FTIR–ATR), and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The morphology and structural properties of a hybrid PEF nanocomposite were evaluated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The thermo-oxidative degradation, as well as lifetime predictions of PEF nanocomposites, in an ambient atmosphere, were studied using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Results showed that the fillers’ incorporation in the PEF matrix induced changes in the lamellar thickness and increased crystallinity up to 27%. TEM analysis indicated the formation of large CNTs aggregates in the case of the hybrid PEF nanocomposite as a result of the ultrasonication process. Finally, the presence of CNTs caused the retardation of PEF’s carbonization process. This led to a slightly longer lifetime under isothermal conditions at higher temperatures, while at ambient temperature the PEF nanocomposites’ lifetime is shorter, compared to neat PEF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Integrated Polymer Composites and Foams II)
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14 pages, 4791 KiB  
Article
Experimental Investigation of Electro-Mechanical Behavior of Silver-Coated Teflon Fabric-Reinforced Nafion Ionic Polymer Metal Composite with Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Nanoparticles
by Ch Sridhar Yesaswi, Santosh Kumar Sahu and P S Rama Sreekanth
Polymers 2022, 14(24), 5497; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14245497 - 15 Dec 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1446
Abstract
Ionic Polymer Metal Composites (IPMCs) are in high demand owing to the ongoing advancements in technology for various applications. New fabrication techniques and a quick retort towards the applied load are the significant reasons for considering IPMCs in smart devices. Here, a Teflon [...] Read more.
Ionic Polymer Metal Composites (IPMCs) are in high demand owing to the ongoing advancements in technology for various applications. New fabrication techniques and a quick retort towards the applied load are the significant reasons for considering IPMCs in smart devices. Here, a Teflon fabric-reinforced Nafion (TFRN) membrane is used to create an IPMC. The materials employed as electrodes are silver and nanofillers. The basement membrane, Nafion 438 (N-438), is sandwiched between the electrodes using a chemical decomposition technique. Subsequently, the electromechanical properties (actuation) of the membrane are tested. The micro and molecular structure of the IPMC membrane coated with Silver (Ag), Ag-Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and Ag-Graphene nanoparticles samples are examined with the help of SEM and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The membrane scratch test is carried out to evaluate the abrasion and wear resistance of the membrane. The lowest coefficient of friction is shown by N438 + Ag + Graphene (0.05), which increased by 300% when compared to a pure N438 membrane. The hydration and tip deflection test were also performed to understand the water uptake percentage. At 90 °C, the highest water uptake was observed for N438 + Ag + Graphene (0.05), which decreased by 60, 42, 23, 14 and 26% when compared to N438, N438 + Ag, N438 + Ag + CNT (0.01), N438 + Ag + CNT (0.05) and N438 + Ag + Graphene (0.01), respectively. A proportional relationship between hydration level and tip deflection is observed and the highest bending performance is observed for the N438 + Ag + Graphene (0.05) membrane. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Integrated Polymer Composites and Foams II)
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