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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the mechanical, thermal and colour properties of solvent-containing two-component polyurethane (PU) coating.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and observation of dispersion stability were used to assess the effects of acid treatment on CNTs. The CNTs and PU composite coating was synthesised by in situ polymerisation and bending polymerisation, and the mechanical, thermal and colour appearance properties of coating were characterised.

It was found that desirable modifications to CNTs occurred after acid treatment; thus, mainly carboxylic acid groups were introduced onto the surface of CNTs. And the acid-treated CNTs could improve the mechanical and thermal properties of PU coating, and the properties of composite coating was improved more successfully by in situ polymerisation than by blending polymerisation.

The investigation established a method to synthesise CNTs and PU composite coating. The mechanical and thermal properties of PU coating could be improved by the inclusion of CNTs.

This study established a method to synthesise CNTs and PU composite coating by in situ polymerisation and blending polymerisation; the effects of CNTs on modifying mechanical, thermal and colour properties of PU coating were investigated and compared in detail.

Since carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were discovered by Iijima in 1991, they have gained more and more attention by people because of their unique physical and chemical properties. The CNTs have one-dimensional nanostructure, high surface adsorption capacity, good conductivity and electronic ballistic transmission characteristics and therefore have excellent mechanical, electrical, physical and chemical properties. CNTs are ideal basic materials to make nanometer gas sensors. Nanometallic materials function as to enhance electrode activity and promote the electron transfer, so if composite nanometallic materials M (such as Au, Pt, Cu and Pd) and CNTs are used, all kinds of their characters of components would have coeffect. Electrochemical sensors by use of such composite as electrode would have a higher detection sensitivity.

CNTs were synthesized via chemical vapor deposition technique and were purified afterward. CNTs-M(Pt,Au) suspension was prepared by chemical deposition using spinning disc processor (SDP) and was coated on gold electrode. The modified electrodes were constructed, based on immobilization of glucose oxidase on an Au electrode by electrostatic effect. CNTs-Pt/ glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) electrodes were made by electrochemically deposition of platinum particles on GCE modified by CNTs. The microstructures of the harvested CNTs, CNTs-M (M = Au, Pt) were analyzed under scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The application of the sensor in medical detection has been evaluated.

The results shown that CNTs-Au biosensors exhibit good reproducibility, stability and fast response to glucose detection, it can be used in the clinic detection of glucose concentration in human serum. Using CNTs-Pt/GCE for formaldehyde detection exhibited high sensitivity and good reproducibility.

This study modified CNTs by using self-assembled techniques through SDP with nano Pt and Au by electrodeposition for the first time. CNTs-Pt/GCE electrode was prepared by depositing platinum particles electrochemically on GCE modified by CNTs. CNTs-Au-modified electrode was prepared by immobilization of glucose oxidase on an Au electrode first by electrostatic effect. Electrochemical behaviors of glucose at CNTs-Au and formaldehyde at CNTs-Pt/GCE were investigated by cyclic voltammetry.

This study aims to discuss the effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the mechanical properties of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) composites fabricated by additive manufacturing (AM). Insight into the energy-dissipation mechanisms introduced and/or enhanced by the addition of CNTs is presented in this study.

ABS/CNT filaments were fabricated with different concentrations of CNTs. Using a fused deposition modeling approach, unidirectional specimens were printed using a MakerBot Replicator 2X (MakerBot Industries, Brooklyn, NY, USA). Specimens were tested under static and dynamic conditions, with the loading coinciding with the printing direction, to determine elastic modulus, strength and viscoelastic properties.

A CNT reinforcing effect is evident in a 37 per cent increase in elastic modulus. Likewise, the strength of the composite increases by up to 30 per cent with an increase in weight fraction of CNTs. At low dynamic strain amplitudes (0.05 per cent), a correlation between dissipated strain energy of the butadiene phase and strength of the composite is found such that less dissipation, from constraint of the butadiene particles by the CNTs, leads to higher strength of the composite. At higher dynamic strains, the presence of a high concentration of CNT leads to increased energy dissipation, with a maximum measured value of 24 per cent higher loss factor compared to baseline specimens. Because the trend of the composite behavior is similar (with a higher absolute value) to that of neat ABS, this study’s results indicate that well-established polymer/CNT dissipation mechanisms (such as stick-slip) are not significant, but that the CNTs amplify the dissipation of the ABS matrix by formation of crazes through stress concentrations.

This study provides knowledge of the dissipation behavior in additively manufactured ABS/CNT composites and provides insight into the expansion to new printable materials for dynamics applications.

The purpose of this paper is the development of a multiscale model which simulates the effect of the dispersion, the waviness, the interphase geometry as well as the agglomerations of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the Young’s modulus of a polymer filled with 0.4 Vol.% MWCNTs.

For the determination of the homogenized elastic properties of the hybrid material representative unit cells (RUCs) have been used. The predicted homogenized elastic properties were used for the prediction of the Young’s modulus of the filled material by simulating a finite element (FE) model of a tensile specimen. Moreover, the model has been validated by comparing the predicted values of the numerical analysis with experimental tensile results.

As the MWCNT agglomerates increase, the results showed a remarkable decrease of the Young’s modulus regarding the polymer filled with aligned MWCNTs while only slight differences on the Young’s modulus have been found in the case of randomly oriented MWCNTs. This might be attributed to the low concentration of the MWCNTs (0.4 Vol.%) into the polymer. For low MWCNTs concentrations, the interphase seems to have negligible effect on the Young’s modulus. Furthermore, as the MWCNTs waviness increases, a remarkable decrease of the Young’s modulus of the polymer filled with aligned MWCNTs is observed. In the case that MWCNTs are randomly dispersed into the polymer, both numerical and experimental results have been found to be consistent regarding the Young’s modulus.

The methodology used can be adopted by any system containing nanofillers.

Although several studies on the effect of the MWCNTs distribution on the Young’s modulus have been conducted, limited results exist by using a more realistic RUC including a periodic geometry of more than 20 MWCNTs with random orientation and a more realistic waviness of MWCNTs with aspect ratio exceeding 150.

One of the intensively developed in recent years new materials are hybrid textiles modified with carbon nanotubes (CNT). In this paper, CNTs was modified by grafting dimethyl phosphite and perfluorohexyl iodine. It was applied to the cotton to obtain the flame-retardant, water-repellent, ultraviolet-resistant and conductive multifunctional fabric.

The modified CNTs were loaded onto cotton fabric by impregnation and drying. The CNTs-multi was synthesized by grafted dimethyl phosphite and perfluorohexyl chain and applied to the cotton by dipping-drying method. The surface chemistry of functionalized CNTs was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The combustion properties were evaluated using a microscale combustion calorimeter, match test and TGA analysis. Surface hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of fabric surface was characterized by static contact angle, and the UV resistance of the fabric was represented by the UPF value.

Dimethyl phosphite and perfluorohexyl chain were grafted on the surface of CNTs successively. The quantity of each component on the surface of CNTs was calculated according to XPS results. According to miniature combustion calorimeter data, both the value of maximum heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) of CNTs -multi/cotton was about 65% lower than that of untreated cotton fabric. The residue after combustion of CNTs -multi/ cotton in the match test was more compact. The electrical conductivity of multi/ cotton is 225.6 kΩ/□, which is better than that of untreated cotton fabric. The UPF value of CNTs-multi/cotton reached 121, which was indicated that the anti-ultraviolet performance of CNTs-multi was greatly improved.

Modifying method to increase the functional component amuount on the CNTs surface still need to be explored, which could increase the hydrophobicity. How to further improve the functional effect and the general synthetic steps will be of great significance to the preparation of multifunctional modified cotton fabric.

This modifying method can be used in any of multifunctional textile preparation process. The UV-resistant and flame retardant cotton fabric was revealed as a sample for use in outdoor sports such as clothes and tents.

To meet the needs of multifunctional cotton fabric, the modification of CNTs with dimethyl phosphite and perfluorohexyl iodine has not been reported. The modified fabric has flame-retardant, UV-resistant conductive and conductive properties.

The purpose of this paper is to study the wear behaviour of copper matrix composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) prepared by powder metallurgy route.

The CNTs were treated by sulphuric acid and nitric acid to deagglomerate the CNTs prior mixing with copper powder. The composites comprised 0 to 4 Vol.% pristine CNTs (PCNTs) and also after acid-treated CNTs (ACNTs). The optimum value (pure Cu, 3 Vol.% PCNTs, 3 Vol.% ACNTs) evaluated by micro-hardness test was selected for wear test analysis.

The results showed that the enhancement of hardness, weight loss, coefficient of friction, wear depth and surface roughness (Ra) was due to the effect of homogenous distribution of ACNTs in Cu matrix and significant bonding compared to pure Cu and Cu-reinforced PCNTs. The scanning electron microscopy micrograph of worn surfaces and wear depth of the specimens also showed that the addition of ACNTs in Cu resulted in better wear performances.

CNTs were treated prior processing to improve hardness and wear properties of Cu/CNTs composites.

Polymeric parts produced by 3D stereolithography (SL) process have poorer mechanical properties as compared to their counterparts fabricated via conventional methods, such as injection or compression molding. Adding nanofillers in the photopolymer resin for SL could help improve mechanical properties. This study aims to achieve enhancement in mechanical properties of parts fabricated by SL, for functional applications, by using well-dispersed nanofillers in the photopolymers, together with suitable post-processing.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have high strength and Young’s modulus, making them attractive nanofillers. However, dispersion of CNTs in photopolymer is a critical challenge, as they tend to agglomerate easily. Achieving good dispersion is crucial to improve the mechanical properties; thus, suitable dispersion mechanisms and processes are examined. Solvent exchange process was found to improve the dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in the photopolymer. The UV-absorbing nature of CNTs was also discovered to affect the curing properties. With suitable post processing, coupled with thermal curing, the mechanical properties of SL parts made from CNTs-filled resin improved significantly.

With the addition of 0.25 wt.% CNTs into the photopolymer, tensile stress and elongation of the 3D printed parts increased by 70 and 46 per cent, respectively. With the significant improvement, the achieved tensile strength is comparable to parts manufactured by conventional methods.

This allows functional parts to be manufactured using SL.

In this paper, an improved procedure to incorporate CNTs into the photopolymer was developed. Furthermore, because of strong UV-absorption nature of CNTs, curing properties of photopolymer and SL parts with and without CNT fillers were studied. Optimized curing parameters were determined and additional post-processing step for thermal curing was discovered as an essential step in order to further enhance the mechanical properties of SL composite parts.

Copper matrix composites are widely used in high-voltage switches, electrified railways and other electric friction fields. The purpose of this study is to improve its wear resistance and investigate the effect of hybrid carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and titanium diboride (TiB₂) particles reinforced copper matrix composites on electrical wear performance.

CNTs and TiB₂ particles were introduced into copper matrix simultaneously by powder metallurgy combined with electroless copper plating. Electrical wear performance of the composites was studied on self-made pin on disk electrical wear tester.

The results show that the friction coefficient and wear rate of (1CNTs–4TiB₂)/Cu composite are respectively reduced by 40% and 25.3%, compared with single TiB₂/Cu composites. The micron-sized TiB₂ particles can hinder the plastic deformation of composites, and bear part of the load to weaken the wear rate of composites. CNTs with the self-lubricating property can form lubricating layer to reduce the friction coefficient of composites.

This work can provide a design method for further improving the wear properties of TiB₂/Cu composites.

The purpose of this paper was to provide a simple method for the preparation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by pyrolysing sunflower seed hulls and sago and to evaluate the application of such CNTs in supercapacitors.

The CNTs were obtained by pyrolysing sunflower seed hulls and sago at 800°C. The prepared CNTs were studied by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammograms, galvanostatic charge and discharge and electrochemical impedance spectra methods.

The CNTs had large surface areas as determined by the methylene blue method and the Brunauer – Emmett – Teller method. And the CNTs that were prepared by pyrolysing the natural sunflower seed hulls (denoted as CNTs-1) and sago (denoted as CNTs-2) had capacitances of 86.9 F/g and 26.7 F/g, respectively.

The capacitances of CNTs can be further improved.

The exceptional electronic and mechanical properties of CNTs prepared lend the CNTs to diverse applications including electrocatalysts, hydrogen storage, photovoltaic devices actuators, energy storage, field-emitting flat panel displays and composites.

Currently, CNTs have not yet been used in the industry at a mass production scale due to high costs associated. The outcomes of the study reported in this article could provide a convenient method in aid of industrialisation of the production of CNTs.

The purpose of this study is to model the theory of the low-velocity impact (LVI) process on sandwich beams consisting of flexible cores and face sheets reinforced with functionally graded carbon nanotubes (CNTs).

A series of parameters derived from molecular dynamics are used to consider the size scale in the mixture rule for the combination of CNTs and resin. A procedure involving the use of the first-order shear deformation theory of the beam is used to provide the displacement field of the sandwich beam. The energy method and subsequently the generalized Lagrange method are used to derive the motion equations. Due to the use of Hertz’s nonlinear theory to calculate the contact force, the equations of motion are nonlinear. Validation of the problem is carried out by comparing natural frequencies with other papers.

The influence of a series of parameters such as CNTs distributions pattern in the face sheets, the influence of the CNTs volume fraction and the influence of the core thickness to the face sheets thickness ratio in the issue of LVI on sandwich beams with clamped-clamped boundary conditions is investigated. The result shows that the type of CNTs pattern in the face sheet and the CNTs volume fraction have a very important effect on the answer to the problem, which is caused by the change in the value of the Young’s modulus of the beam at the contact surface. Changes in the core thickness to the face sheets thickness ratio has little effect on the impact response.

Considering the important application of sandwich structures in vehicles, aviation and ships, in this research, sandwich beams consisting of flexible core and CNTs-reinforced face sheets are investigated under LVI.