Kenan Song

Structural Polymer-Based Carbon Nanotube Composite Fibers: Understanding the Processing–Structure–Performance Relationship

Among the many potential applications of carbon nanotubes (CNT), its usage to strengthen polymers has been paid considerable attention due to the exceptional stiffness, excellent strength, and the low density of CNT. This has provided numerous opportunities for the invention of new material systems for applications requiring high strength and high modulus. Precise control over processing factors, including preserving intact CNT structure, uniform dispersion of CNT within the polymer matrix, effective filler–matrix interfacial interactions, and alignment/orientation of polymer chains/CNT, contribute to the composite fibers’ superior properties. For this reason, fabrication methods play an important role in determining the composite fibers’ microstructure and ultimate mechanical behavior. The current state-of-the-art polymer/CNT high-performance composite fibers, especially in regards to processing–structure–performance, are reviewed in this contribution. Future needs for material by design approaches for processing these nano-composite systems are also discussed.

Tailoring polyacrylonitrile interfacial morphological structure by crystallization in the presence of single-wall carbon nanotubes.

In order to improve stress transfer between polymer matrixes and nanofillers, controlling the structure development in the interphase region during composite processing is a necessity. For polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) composites, the formation of the PAN interphase in the presence of the SWNT as a function of processing conditions is studied. Under these conditions, three distinct interfacial coating morphologies of PAN are observed on SWNT. In the semidilute polymer concentration regime subjected to shearing, PAN extended-chain tubular coatings are formed on SWNT. Dilute PAN/SWNT quiescent solutions subjected to cooling yields hybrid periodic shish-kebab structures (first observation for PAN polymer), and dilute PAN/SWNT quiescent solutions subjected to rapid cooling results in the formation of an irregular PAN crystalline coating on the SWNT.

Advances of drag-reducing surface technologies in turbulence based on boundary layer control

Our living environment is surrounded by turbulence, which is also a concern of the global energy consumption and the greenhouse gas emission, and the viscous force on the solid-liquid/solid-gas interface is an important part of the turbulence. Reducing friction force in turbulence to the greatest extent is becoming an urgent issue to be resolved at present. In this paper, the various state-of-the-art approaches of drag-reducing and energy-saving technologies based on the boundary layer control are reviewed, focusing on the polymer drag reduction additives, the micro-morphology, the super-hydrophobic surface, the micro air bubbles, the heating wall, the vibrant flexible wall and the composite drag reduction methods. In addition, the mechanisms of different drag reductions based on the boundary layer control and the potential applications in fluid engineering are discussed. This paper aims not only to contribute to a better understanding of drag reduction mechanisms, but also to offer new perspectives to improve the current drag-reducing and energy saving technologies.