We employed an easy and direct method to measure the thermal conductivity of epoxy in the liquid (nanofluid) and solid (nanocomposite) states using both rodlike and platelet-like carbon-based nanostructures. Comparing the experimental results with the theoretical model, an anomalous enhancement was obtained with multiwall carbon nanotubes, probably due to their layered structure and lowest surf...

Low solar absorptivity, space environmentally stable polymeric materials possessing sufficient electrical conductivity for electrostatic charge dissipation (ESD) are of interest for potential applications on spacecraft as thin film membranes on antennas, solar sails, large lightweight space optics, and second surface mirrors. One method of imparting electrical conductivity while maintaining low...

The preparation of a high-strength and highly transparent nacre-like nanocomposite via layer-by-layer assembly technique from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and Na+-montmorillonite clay nanosheets is reported in this article. We show that a high density of weak bonding interactions between the polymer and the clay particles: hydrogen, dipole-induced dipole, and van der Waals undergoing break-reform ...

In relation to some inorganic membranes, polymeric membranes have relatively low separation performance. However, the processing flexibility and low cost of polymers still make them highly attractive for many industrial separation applications. Polymer–inorganic hybrid membranes constitute an emerging research field and have been recently developed to improve the separation properties of polyme...

In previous part of this work factors influencing the thermal stability of polymer nanocomposite materials were indicated, such as chemical constitution of organic modifier, filler content, nanocomposites’ structure and the processing-dependent degree of homogenization of nanofiller, were presented. In this part the basic changes in thermal behaviour of different polymeric matrixes (e.g. polyol...

Polymeric liquid bridges are known to fail during extension. This phenomenon of failure seemingly calls into question the operating principle filament stretching rheometers. In these devices, a polymeric sample is initially placed between two plates. The then stretched bridge by moving plates apart in specified way. We here show that steady extensional viscosity can be measured if separated suc...

The aging of aerospace structures is a major current concern of civilian and military aircraft operators. Piezoelectric active sensors offer special opportunities for developing sensor arrays for in-situ health monitoring of aging aircraft fleet, because they are small, non-invasive, inexpensive and easily wired into sensor arrays. This paper presents work done on developing and utilizing piezo...

Magnetic CuFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by a facile microwave-assisted reaction between Cu(NO3)2 and Fe(NO3)3. The magnetic nanoparticles were added to starch to make magnetic polymeric nanocomposite. The nanoparticles and nanocomposites were characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The magn...