Abdulhadi A. Al-Juhani

Effect of –COOH Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes on Mechanical, Dynamic Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polypropylene Nanocomposites

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were functionalized on treatment with nitric acid and the surface-modified CNT was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/CNT composites at different CNT loadings (i.e., 0.1, 0.25, 1.00, and 5.00 wt%) were prepared by melt blending in a mini blender. The differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) studies showed the nucleating effect of CNTs on the crystallization behavior of iPP. Results of X-ray diffraction studies are in conformity with the results of DSC studies. Results of stress–strain measurements reveal that Youngs modulus increases, while elongation at break decreases with increase in CNT loading and the ductility of the composites is adversely affected at high loading of CNTs (>1.0 wt%). Functionalization of CNTs causes an improvement in Youngs modulus, at all loadings studied, but elongation at break increases only up to 0.25%. At higher loading, the elongation at break drops down. Storage modulus increases with increase in CNT loading and the effect is greater in the case of functionalized CNTs. Tan δ shows a decrease with increase in CNT loading, but the effect is less pronounced at high CNT loading (>0.1 wt%).

Effect of aspect ratio, surface modification and compatibilizer on the mechanical and thermal properties of ldpe-mwcnt nanocomposites

Abstract In this work, nanocomposites of low density polyethylene (LDPE) / multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared using melt blending. The effects of CNT aspect ratio, CNT loading, CNT chemical modification and the presence of a compatibilizer (maleated polyethylene) on morphology, mechanical and thermal properties of the CNT/LDPE composites were studied. Different MWCNTs were used: long CNT (LCNT); COOH modified CNT (MCNT) and short CNT (SCNT). FE-SEM images of produced nanocomposites show agglomeration of the MWCNTs. Addition of compatibilizer to both LCNT and MCNT nanocomposites improved their dispersion in the LDPE matrix. Yield strength and modulus increased with loading of various MWCNTs. However, ultimate strength, percent elongation and toughness reduced significantly for CNT loadings of 2% CNT and higher. The addition of maleated PE resulted in improvements of Young’s modulus, yield strength and ultimate strength but no impact on elongation at break or toughness. Addition of compatibilizer did not affect the crystallinity of the produced nanocomposites. In general, the use of CNT with high aspect ratio and the addition of compatibilizer and chemical modification improved the dispersion of MWCNTs and consequently improved most of the mechanical properties except elongation at break and toughness.

Effect of Modified and Nonmodified Carbon Nanotubes on the Rheological Behavior of High Density Polyethylene Nanocomposite

This paper reports the results of studies on the rheological behavior of nanocomposites of high density polyethylene (HDPE) with pristine multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT) as well as phenol and 1-octadecanol (C18) functionalized CNT at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 wt% loading. The viscosity reduction at 1 wt% CNT follows the order, pristine CNT < phenol functionalized CNT < C18 functionalized CNT. As the filler loading increases from 1 to 2, 3, and 4 wt%, neat HDPE and filled HDPE systems show similar moduli and viscosity, particularly in the low frequency region. As the filler loading increases further to 5 and 7 wt%, the viscosity and moduli become greater than the neat HDPE. The storage modulus, tan, and the Cole-Cole plots show that CNT network formation occurs at higher CNT loading. The critical CNT loading or the rheological percolation threshold, where network formation occurs is found to be strongly dependant on the functionalization of CNT. For pristine CNT, the rheological percolation threshold is around 4 wt%, but for functionalized CNT it is around 7 wt%. The surface morphologies of CNT and functionalized CNT at 1 wt% loading showed good dispersion while at 7 wt% loading, dispersion was also achieved, but there are few regions with agglomeration of CNT.

Simulation of a Combined Isomerization Reactor & Pressure Swing Adsorption Unit

The Total Isomerization Process developed by Union Carbide in 1970 (Gary, 1987) for the conversion of normal paraffins to their isomers consists of a reactor followed by a PSA unit each operating at similar pressures and temperatures. The combination of these two operations in one unit in a Pressure Swing Adsorption Reactor (PSAR) process may provide an increased throughput and a significant cost saving in ancillary equipment.The simulation of a mathematical model linking the catalyst packed-bed and the adsorbent packed-bed is reported. The catalyst is a Pd/Y-zeolite and the adsorbent is 5A zeolite. The simulated feed consists of 17% each of n- and isopentane with the remainder being hydrogen. The mathematical model assumes dispersed plug-flow in both sections, constant velocity in the reactor section but varying in the adsorber, with mass transfer in the adsorber section due to external fluid film resistance and macropore diffusion in series. The fraction of the total column length occupied by the catalyst (denoted by ω) is accounted for in the model by solving numerically using orthogonal collocation on finite elements. Parameters varied are the ratio of catalyst/column length (ω), temperature range (506–533 K), high pressure (15–20 bars), with the low pressure held constant at 2 bars. The catalyst/column ratio has a strong effect at low temperatures. The optimum catalyst/column length ratio appears to be controlled by the low pressure step and occurs at ω = 0.7 for the assumptions used in this work.

Rheology, Mechanical Properties, and Thermal Stability of Maleated Polyethylene Filled with Nanoclays

Maleated polyethylene (MAPE) was used in this study as a model matrix for hosting hydrophobic nanoclay (C15A) and hydrophilic nanoclay (C30B), to investigate the effect of nanoclay loading on the bulk properties of the composites. Composites were prepared by melt-blending technique, with varying the loading from 0 to 9 wt.%. Tensile, oxidative TGA, and FE-SEM tests were employed for both C15A-filled polymer and C30B-filled polymer, which confirmed that C15A had better dispersion and was much superior to C30B for enhancing the mechanical properties and thermal stability of MAPE. Consequently, XRD and melt rheology tests were performed for C15A-filled polymer only. XRD confirmed the formation of nanocomposite structure, which could be the main reason for the significant increase in the thermal stability and viscosity. For example, compared to the neat polymer, the degradation temperature at the 20% mass loss was increased by 72°C after the addition of 5 wt.% C15A. Based on rheological analysis, the percolation threshold was around 3 wt.% loading of C15A. Fitting the viscosity data to the Cross model suggested that increasing C15A loading had a strong effect for increasing the shear thinning index and relaxation time of the nanocomposites.