polymer composites – TechConnect Briefs

A Review of the Current Industrial Methods of Selecting Interfacial Coupling Agents to Enhance the Mechanical Performance of Short Fibre-Polymer Composites

Hayward M., Johnston J., Dougherty T., de Silva K., Victoria University of Wellington, NZ

Coupling agents are used in fibre-polymer composites to enhance the dispersion and adhesion of the fibres and to maximise the composite’s mechanical performance. This paper aims to review the existing approaches of selecting a coupling [...]

Discovery of the dichroic effect in cuprous oxide particles for the development of novel composite materials that change colour with direction of light source

Wrigglesworth E.G., Johnston J.H., Victoria University of Wellington, NZ

When a material displays one colour in transmitted light, but a different colour in reflected light, it is known as the dichroic effect. The oldest and most famous example of this effect is the Lycurgus [...]

Optimising the Properties of Polymer Composites: Low Weight/ High Strength Composites for Commercial Applications

Hayward M., Johnston J., Dougherty T., de Silva K., Victoria University of Wellington, NZ

Vinyl ester polymers have an excellent resistance to harsh and corrosive environments. This results in their wide-spread use as a polymer composite material for multiple applications in various industries such as marine materials, swimming pools [...]

Exploring the Interface: Improving the Mechanical Properties of Silicon Nitride Fibre – Polymer Composites

Hayward M., Johnston J., Dougherty T., deSilva K., Victoria University of Wellington, Nuenz Limited, NZ and NZ Product Accelerator, NZ

Interfacial interactions between a fibre reinforcement and a polymer matrix are a fundamental contributor towards the mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of fibre-polymer composites. Strong adhesion at the phase boundary facilitates efficient property transfer between [...]

3-D characterization of carbon nanotube-polymer composites using scanning electron microscopy and confocal Raman microscopy

Zhao M.H., Cannara R.J., National Institute of Standards and Technology, US

3D characterization of the dispersion of CNTs in a polymer matrix is a critical step toward understanding and improving the performance of CNT polymer composites. In this study, SEM and confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) were [...]

Novel In Situ Nano Fibrous Reinforced All Polymer Polypropylene-Nylon Composite

Radhakrishnan S., Jain S., Khare A., Maharashtra Institute of Technology, IN

Self reinforced polymer composites are significantly different than the conventional fiber reinforced composites since there is no external additive and the polymer itself assumes fibrous morphology during melt /solution processing. In such materials, typically liquid [...]

Subsurface characterization of high dielectric nanostructures in low dielectric polymer matrix using Electric Force Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy

Zhao M., Ming B., Stutzman P., Chen G., Gu X., Park C., Jean Y.C., Nguyen T., National Institute of Standards and Technology, US

Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) are two powerful techniques for surface characterization of nanostructures. With the development of nanotechnology, there is a growing need to nondestructively characterize nanostructures at the subsurface [...]

Utilization of SWNT-Filled Polystyrene Obtained by Miniemulsion Polymerization as a Modifier for High-Performance Epoxy Resins

Barraza H.J., Rueda O., Pompeo F., O'Rear E.A., Williams R.J.J., Resasco D.E., University of Oklahoma, US

One of the several reasons that engineering research aimed towards the purification, functionalization and incorporation of carbon nanotubes into polymeric matrices has been actively pursued for the last five years is that vastly important applications, [...]