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Polymers
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Mechanical Reinforcement and Multifunctionality of Polymer Nanocomposites
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Mechanical Reinforcement and Multifunctionality of Polymer Nanocomposites

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 20006

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Rumiana Kotsilkova

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Mechanics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: hybrid polymer nanocomposites; design, processing and characterization; structure-property relationships; 3D and 4D printing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The properties of polymer nanocomposites are strongly dependent on their degree of dispersion and intrinsic interactions, which are related to characteristics of fillers, polymers, and processing conditions. Rheology and microscopic visualization techniques can be used for the control of the dispersion process, as well as for the evaluation of interparticle and interfacial interactions. Nanofiller distribution in the matrix polymer, the formation of a segregated or random structure, as well as filler properties and their structural features play an important role in mechanical reinforcement and multifunctionality. Good examples are carbon nanotubes and graphene, which can transfer their unique properties to the matrix polymer, resulting in mechanical reinforcement, high thermal and electrical conductivity, and electromagnetic shielding efficiency in a wide frequency range. It is critical to understand the main factors and the structure–property relationships that govern both reinforcement and multifunctionality in order to design nanocomposites with controlled structures and desired properties.
This Special Issue “Mechanical Reinforcement and Multifunctionality of Polymer Nanocomposites” focuses on the latest progress in the development and application of polymer nanocomposites incorporating nanoparticles of various natures, sizes, and shapes.
Authors are welcome to submit their latest research in the form of original full articles, communications, or reviews on this topic.

Prof. Rumiana Kotsilkova
Guest Editor

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 nanocomposites;
  • Mechanical properties at macro,- micro-, and nanoscales;
  • Tribology;
  • Nanoindentation;
  • Thermal properties;
  • Physical properties;
  • Rheology;
  • Structure and morphology;
  • Structure–property relationships;
  • Modeling of reinforcement;
  • Multifunctionality.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 5730 KiB  
Article
THz Spectroscopy as a Versatile Tool for Filler Distribution Diagnostics in Polymer Nanocomposites
by Gleb Gorokhov, Dzmitry Bychanok, Igor Gayduchenko, Yuriy Rogov, Elena Zhukova, Sergei Zhukov, Lenar Kadyrov, Georgy Fedorov, Evgeni Ivanov, Rumiana Kotsilkova, Jan Macutkevic and Polina Kuzhir
Polymers 2020, 12(12), 3037; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12123037 - 18 Dec 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2277
Abstract
Polymer composites containing nanocarbon fillers are under intensive investigation worldwide due to their remarkable electromagnetic properties distinguished not only by components as such, but the distribution and interaction of the fillers inside the polymer matrix. The theory herein reveals that a particular effect [...] Read more.
Polymer composites containing nanocarbon fillers are under intensive investigation worldwide due to their remarkable electromagnetic properties distinguished not only by components as such, but the distribution and interaction of the fillers inside the polymer matrix. The theory herein reveals that a particular effect connected with the homogeneity of a composite manifests itself in the terahertz range. Transmission time-domain terahertz spectroscopy was applied to the investigation of nanocomposites obtained by co-extrusion of PLA polymer with additions of graphene nanoplatelets and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The THz peak of permittivity’s imaginary part predicted by the applied model was experimentally shown for GNP-containing composites both below and above the percolation threshold. The physical nature of the peak was explained by the impact on filler particles excluded from the percolation network due to the peculiarities of filler distribution. Terahertz spectroscopy as a versatile instrument of filler distribution diagnostics is discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Reinforcement and Multifunctionality of Polymer Nanocomposites)
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19 pages, 1722 KiB  
Article
Thermal and Electromagnetic Properties of Polymer Holey Structures Produced by Additive Manufacturing
by Philippe Lambin, Aliaksandr Liubimau, Dzmitry Bychanok, Luca Vitale and Polina Kuzhir
Polymers 2020, 12(12), 2892; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12122892 - 02 Dec 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2177
Abstract
Multifunctional 3D-printed holey structures made of composite polymers loaded with nanocarbon were designed to serve simultaneously as GHz-radiation absorbing layers and heat conductors. The geometry of the structures was devised to allow heat to be easily transferred through, with special attention paid to [...] Read more.
Multifunctional 3D-printed holey structures made of composite polymers loaded with nanocarbon were designed to serve simultaneously as GHz-radiation absorbing layers and heat conductors. The geometry of the structures was devised to allow heat to be easily transferred through, with special attention paid to thermal conductivity. Numerical calculations and a simple homogenization theory were conducted in parallel to address this property. Different structures have been considered and compared. The electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of the produced holey structures was measured in the microwave range. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Reinforcement and Multifunctionality of Polymer Nanocomposites)
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25 pages, 9783 KiB  
Article
Dielectric Spectroscopy and Thermal Properties of Poly(lactic) Acid Reinforced with Carbon-Based Particles: Experimental Study and Design Theory
by Giovanni Spinelli, Rumiana Kotsilkova, Evgeni Ivanov, Vladimir Georgiev, Radost Ivanova, Carlo Naddeo and Vittorio Romano
Polymers 2020, 12(10), 2414; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12102414 - 20 Oct 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3345
Abstract
In the present study, polylactic acid (PLA) enriched with carbonaceous particles like multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), graphene nanoplates (GNPs) or a combination of both up 12 wt % of loading are used for producing 3D-printed specimens with fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology which [...] Read more.
In the present study, polylactic acid (PLA) enriched with carbonaceous particles like multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), graphene nanoplates (GNPs) or a combination of both up 12 wt % of loading are used for producing 3D-printed specimens with fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology which are then experimentally and theoretically investigated. The goal is to propose a non-conventional filaments indicated for additive manufacturing process with improved dielectric and thermal properties, compared to the performances exhibited by the unfilled polymer. In the light of the above, a wide dielectric spectroscopy and a thermal analysis, supported by a morphological investigation, are performed. The results highlight that the introduction of 1-dimensional filler (MWCNTs) are more suitable for improving the dielectric properties of the resulting materials, due to the enhancement of the interfacial polarization and the presence of functionalized groups, whereas 2-dimensional nanoparticles (GNPs) better favor the thermal conduction mechanisms thanks to the lower thermal boundary resistance between the two phases, polymer/filler. In particular, with a loading of 12 wt % of MWCNTs the relative permittivity reaches the value of 5.35 × 103 much greater than that of 3.7 measured for unfilled PLA while for the thermal conductivity the enhancement with 12 wt % of GNPs is about 261% respect the thermal behavior of the neat polymer. The experimental results are correlated to theoretical findings, whereas a design of experiment (DoE) approach is adopted for investigating how the different fillers influence the dielectric and thermal performances of the 3D-printed parts, thus assisting the design of such innovative materials that appear promising for development and applications in the electromagnetic (EM) field and heat transfer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Reinforcement and Multifunctionality of Polymer Nanocomposites)
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10 pages, 4516 KiB  
Communication
Urethane-Acrylate/Aramid Nanocomposites Based on Graphenic Materials. A Comparative Study of Their Mechanical Properties
by Israel Gago, Manuel del Río, Gerardo León and Beatriz Miguel
Polymers 2020, 12(10), 2388; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12102388 - 16 Oct 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1892
Abstract
Urethane-acrylate thermoset resins (UATR) are a new type of polymeric matrix that have recently made a strong breakthrough in the composites sector. This is because of their properties, which make them an advantageous alternative to epoxy resins, especially if they are reinforced with [...] Read more.
Urethane-acrylate thermoset resins (UATR) are a new type of polymeric matrix that have recently made a strong breakthrough in the composites sector. This is because of their properties, which make them an advantageous alternative to epoxy resins, especially if they are reinforced with high-performance fibers such as aramids. Graphene-based nanocomposites are one of the most dynamic research fields in nanotechnology, because graphenic materials greatly improve the properties of traditional composites. This work represents a comparative study of the effect of adding three types of graphenic materials on the mechanical properties of UATR/aramid composites. Several UATR polymeric matrices were doped at 2% w/w with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and pristine few-layer graphene (FLG), and reinforced with Twaron CT709 para-aramid fibers. The obtained laminates showed low density (1.38 g·cm−3), a high volumetric fiber–resin ratio (80:20), homogeneous dispersion of the nanoreinforcement, high reproducibility, and easy scalability. The tensile, flexural and impact strength properties of the undoped composite and the graphene-doped nanocomposites were determined. FLG-doped nanocomposites showed the highest increase in all the mentioned mechanical properties and attained a very significant relative improvement over the undoped laminate (up to 134.4% in aCU). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Reinforcement and Multifunctionality of Polymer Nanocomposites)
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Graphical abstract

10 pages, 2567 KiB  
Article
The Role of Interfacial Interactions on the Functional Properties of Ethylene–Propylene Copolymer Containing SiO2 Nanoparticles
by Iman Taraghi, Sandra Paszkiewicz, Izabela Irska, Krzysztof Pypeć and Elżbieta Piesowicz
Polymers 2020, 12(10), 2308; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12102308 - 09 Oct 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1615
Abstract
In this paper, the mechanical properties, thermal stability, and transparency of ethylene–propylene copolymer (EPC) elastomer modified with various weight percentages (1, 3, and 5 wt.%) of SiO2 nanofillers have been studied. The nanocomposites were prepared via a simple melt mixing method. The [...] Read more.
In this paper, the mechanical properties, thermal stability, and transparency of ethylene–propylene copolymer (EPC) elastomer modified with various weight percentages (1, 3, and 5 wt.%) of SiO2 nanofillers have been studied. The nanocomposites were prepared via a simple melt mixing method. The morphological results revealed that the nanofillers were uniformly dispersed in the elastomer, where a low concentration of SiO2 (1 wt.%) had been added into the elastomer. The FTIR showed that there are interfacial interactions between EPC matrix and silanol groups of SiO2 nanoparticles. Moreover, by the addition of 1 wt.% of SiO2 in the EPC, the tensile strength and elongation at break of EPC increased by about 38% and 27%, respectively. Finally, all samples were optically transparent, and the transparency of the nanocomposites reduced by increasing the content of SiO2 nanoparticles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Reinforcement and Multifunctionality of Polymer Nanocomposites)
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18 pages, 10087 KiB  
Article
On the Synergistic Effect of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Nanoplatelets to Enhance the Functional Properties of SLS 3D-Printed Elastomeric Structures
by Gennaro Rollo, Alfredo Ronca, Pierfrancesco Cerruti, Xin Peng Gan, Guoxia Fei, Hesheng Xia, Gleb Gorokhov, Dzmitry Bychanok, Polina Kuzhir, Marino Lavorgna and Luigi Ambrosio
Polymers 2020, 12(8), 1841; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12081841 - 17 Aug 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5098
Abstract
Elastomer-based porous structures realized by selective laser sintering (SLS) are emerging as a new class of attractive multifunctional materials. Herein, a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) powder for SLS was modified by 1 wt.% multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) or a mixture of MWCNTs and graphene [...] Read more.
Elastomer-based porous structures realized by selective laser sintering (SLS) are emerging as a new class of attractive multifunctional materials. Herein, a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) powder for SLS was modified by 1 wt.% multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) or a mixture of MWCNTs and graphene (GE) nanoparticles (70/30 wt/wt) in order to investigate on both the synergistic effect provided by the two conductive nanostructured carbonaceous fillers and the correlation between formulation, morphology, and final properties of SLS printed porous structures. In detail, porous structures with a porosity ranging from 20% to 60% were designed using Diamond (D) and Gyroid (G) unit cells. Results showed that the carbonaceous fillers improve the thermal stability of the elastomeric matrix. Furthermore, the TPU/1 wt.% MWCNTs-GE-based porous structures exhibit excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical strength. In particular, all porous structures exhibit a robust negative piezoresistive behavior, as demonstrated from the gauge factor (GF) values that reach values of about −13 at 8% strain. Furthermore, the G20 porous structures (20% of porosity) exhibit microwave absorption coefficients ranging from 0.70 to 0.91 in the 12–18 GHz region and close to 1 at THz frequencies (300 GHz–1 THz). Results show that the simultaneous presence of MWCNTs and GE brings a significant enhancement of specific functional properties of the porous structures, which are proposed as potential actuators with relevant electro-magnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Reinforcement and Multifunctionality of Polymer Nanocomposites)
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Graphical abstract

21 pages, 3771 KiB  
Article
Essential Nanostructure Parameters to Govern Reinforcement and Functionality of Poly(lactic) Acid Nanocomposites with Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes for 3D Printing Application
by Rumiana Kotsilkova, Evgeni Ivanov, Vladimir Georgiev, Radost Ivanova, Dzhihan Menseidov, Todor Batakliev, Verislav Angelov, Hesheng Xia, Yinghong Chen, Dzmitry Bychanok, Polina Kuzhir, Rosa Di Maio, Clara Silvestre and Sossio Cimmino
Polymers 2020, 12(6), 1208; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12061208 - 26 May 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2886
Abstract
Poly(lactic) acid nanocomposites filled with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are studied, varying the filler size, shape, and content within 1.5–12 wt.%. The effects of the intrinsic characteristics of nanofillers and structural organization of nanocomposites on mechanical, electrical, thermal, and [...] Read more.
Poly(lactic) acid nanocomposites filled with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are studied, varying the filler size, shape, and content within 1.5–12 wt.%. The effects of the intrinsic characteristics of nanofillers and structural organization of nanocomposites on mechanical, electrical, thermal, and electromagnetic properties enhancement are investigated. Three essential rheological parameters are identified, which determine rheology–structure–property relations in nanocomposites: the degree of dispersion, percolation threshold, and interfacial interactions. Above the percolation threshold, depending on the degree of dispersion, three structural organizations are observed in nanocomposites: homogeneous network (MWCNTs), segregated network (MWCNTs), and aggregated structure (GNPs). The rheological and structural parameters depend strongly on the type, size, shape, specific surface area, and functionalization of the fillers. Consequently, the homogeneous and segregated network structures resulted in a significant enhancement of tensile mechanical properties and a very low electrical percolation threshold, in contrast to the aggregated structure. The high filler density in the polymer and the low number of graphite walls in MWCNTs are found to be determinant for the remarkable shielding efficiency (close to 100%) of nanocomposites. Moreover, the 2D shaped GNPs predominantly enhance the thermal conductivity compared to the 1D shaped MWCNTs. The proposed essential structural parameters may be successfully used for the design of polymer nanocomposites with enhanced multifunctional properties for 3D printing applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Reinforcement and Multifunctionality of Polymer Nanocomposites)
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