ZA – Page 3 – TechConnect Briefs

Designing nanomaterials mechanical properties from the observable nanostructure features

Tengen T.B., Vaal University of Technology, ZA

Recent findings report that both mean grain size and dispersion should be used to design nanomaterials with desired mechanical properties. Grain size deals with “equivalent radius” that assumes that grains are spherical. But two grains [...]

‘In situ polymerization and composite formation’ (IPCF): An important synthesis route in advanced materials science

Mallick K., Witcomb M.J., Strydom A.M., Mintek, ZA

‘In situ polymerization and composite formation’ (IPCF) types of reactions for the synthesis of ‘metal-polymer composite material’ have a potential advantage in the area of ‘synthetic material science’ since both the polymer and the nanoparticles [...]

Luminescent mechanism of bulk and nano ZnS:Mn2+ phosphors

Biggs M.M., Ntwaeaborwa O.M., Swart H.C., Hoffman M.J.H., University of the Free State, ZA

In this study ZnS nanophosphors, with or without different concentrations of Mn2+ activator ions, were synthesized by using the chemical precipitation method. Luminescent properties of the samples were determined by photoluminescence (PL) measurements. Two peaks [...]

Metal-polymer hybrid material: A unique coordination for carbon-carbon coupling reactions

Islam R.U., Witcomb M.J., Mallick K., Mintek, ZA

A method for making poly-aminophenol based hybrid material by in-situ polymerization of aminophenol using palladium acetate as the oxidant is described. The oxidative polymerization of aminophenol leads to the formation of poly-aminophenol, while the reduction [...]

Magnetic Properties of Multi- and Sigle-Domain Particles of CuxNi1-xFe2O4 Ferrites

Msomi J.Z., Moyo T., University of the Free State, ZA

The crossover effect from multi- to single-domain particles on the magnetic properties of CuxNi1-xFe2O4 oxides due to grain size reduction to nanometre scale is investigated. The properties of the bulk and nanosized oxide have been [...]

Safety, Health, and Environmental Awareness in Nanotechnology Training

Iyuke S.E., University of the Witwastersrand, ZA

The statistical evaluation of the SHE survey strongly supports nine out of the twenty nine test statements to be addressed by practicing nanotechnologists with regards to safety, health and the environment, which are: (1)Sizes, aspect [...]