M. Sánchez-Soto

Tough Polymer Aerogels Incorporating a Conformal Inorganic Coating for Low Flammability and Durable Hydrophobicity.

Both inorganic and polymeric aerogels are well-known in the materials field. Inorganic aerogels are generally susceptible to brittle fracture, while polymeric aerogels tend to exhibit low modului and high flammability. To overcome these disadvantages, we introduce a new approach to the design of aerogels. A microporous poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) aerogel/silica nanocomposite was prepared by growing a silica conformal coating onto a PVA aerogel scaffold. Such aerogel/silica nanocomposites show significant improvement in their mechanical properties over either individual component. The nanocomposites show excellent fire resistance since the silica conformal coating serves as a barrier for heat transfer and mass loss of the coated organic materials. After a fluorocarbon silane treatment, the nanocomposites also show durable superhydrophobicity.

The morphology and properties of melt-mixed polyoxymethylene/ monosilanolisobutyl-POSS composites

In this study, the morphology and thermo-mechanical behavior of composites formed by a polyoxymethylene (POM) matrix and monosilanolisobutyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (msib-POSS) filler have been studied. The msib-POSS molecules were added to the POM by direct melt blending at loadings between 0 and 10 wt.%. Hydrogen bonding interactions were detected between POM and msib-POSS Si-OH groups, increasing their mutual compatibility and leading to nanometer-size dispersion of some msib-POSS molecules. These interactions do not prevent POSS aggregation during blending, but lead to micron-scale msib-POSS domains. The thermal decomposition temperature of the composites remained practically constant under inert and oxidative conditions. The low temperature thermal transition (γ) and glass transition temperature (Tg) of POM were found to move to higher temperatures only when 2.5 wt.% of msib-POSS was added, indicating that POSS is physically linked to the POM chains, restricting their motion under those conditions. Low content (2.5 wt.%) of msib-POSS results in antiplastization, whereas higher levels of POSS lead to a decrease in the storage modulus of the polymer. The relationships among these effects and the morphological characteristics of the systems will be discussed herein.

Green bio-based aerogels prepared from recycled cellulose fiber suspensions

Recycled cellulose fibers (RCF) from waste paper were utilized to prepare bio-based aerogels through an environmentally friendly freeze-drying method. Food thickening agent sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) served as a matrix in the bio-aerogels. The microstructures and mechanical properties of the aerogels have been studied as a function of RCF/CMC content. Sodium montmorillonite (Na+-MMT) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) were added to enhance the thermal stability and flame retardancy, which were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and cone calorimetry respectively. It was found that the Na+-MMT significantly improved the fire retardancy of the aerogels and APP played a synergistic effect with it. The initial decomposition temperature increased by 15 °C and the peak of heat release rate decreased from 90 to 49.5 kW m−2 in the presence of 33% clay. Addition of APP further increased the residue amount and reduced the fire growth rate. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to analyse the char formed after cone calorimeter tests.

Thermal Degradation of Polyoxymethylene Evaluated with FTIR and Spectrophotometry

Thermooxidative degradation at and beyond processing temperatures of a polyoxymethylene copolymer has been progressively accelerated to carbonisation through oven-storage aging. The quantification of such degradation was carried out through FTIR spectrography and colour spectrophotometry methods. The state of thermo-oxidation was monitored through the FTIR spectra corresponding to the carbonyl aldehyde group (O=CH) and methylene bending (–CH2), as well as the chromaticity changes experienced on the sample surface. The results showed that the FTIR bands suggested are a reliable indicator during the initial conditions of degradation, however, the spectrophotometry becomes more appropriate method for more aggressive conditions leading to carbonisation.

Milled Glass Fiber Filled-Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate-co-Isophthalate) Composites - Thermal and Mechanical Properties

Fracture and thermal behavior of injection-molded poly (ethylene terephthalate-co-isophthalate) filled with milled glass fiber has been studied as a function of fiber content in the range 0-40% by weight. Composite Youngs modulus and tensile strength increased with fiber percentage, and good agreement was found with theoretical predictions. Low rate fracture tests were carried out on injection-molded SENB specimens. Fracture toughness (K ic ) and fracture energy (G ic ) could be obtained by applying Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM). Results seemed to indicate improved fracture toughness if compared with homopolymer poly (ethylene terephthalate) composites. The reason was attributed to a lower crystallinity developed in the matrix, which promoted higher plastic strain.

Analysis and Thermo-Mechanical Characterization of Mixed Plastic Wastes

The rejected fraction of plastics from different sorting plants has been studied in terms of composition, processability and enhancement potential. This waste stream consists of a coarse range of plastics families, polyethylene constituting the most abundant one. Blends with two recycled polyethylenes in different proportions were analyzed. The results showed that the mixed fraction was easy to process although it showed a brittle behavior. The addition of recycled polyethylene caused limited ductility improvements, although acceptable levels were achieved in certain mixing ratios. This work demonstrates that mixed plastic wastes can be transformed into a useful material.

Effects of vacuum infusion processing parameters on the impact behavior of carbon fiber reinforced cyclic butylene terephthalate composites

Carbon fiber reinforced cyclic butylene terephthalate composites have been processed by vacuum infusion under two different non-isothermal processing routes starting from a one-component cyclic butylene terephthalate resin system. One of them was processed under a short cycle with fast cooling, and another one was processed under a long cycle with slow cooling. Both the micro-structure and low-energy impact properties of the composites have been investigated. On one hand, the fast cooling generates randomly dispersed voids and porosities in the resin-rich regions during the crystallization-induced shrinkage. On the other hand, the slow cooling generates a highly crystalline and brittle matrix without porosity. However, many micro-cracks appear in the resin-rich regions due to the combination of the brittleness and longitudinal shrinkage of the matrix. The critical delamination energy of the slow cooled composite is slightly higher than that of the fast cooled one, whereas this latter absorbs over 25% more energy before being penetrated, as well as performing in a less brittle way. The lower interlaminar shear strength of the fast cooled composite is suggested to be the origin of its higher energy absorbing capability and less brittle behavior.

Properties of POSS blends with pCBT, PMMA, PC and POM thermoplastics

The influence of the functionalisation of fully or partially condensed POSS cages on the properties of engineering thermoplastic-based nanocomposites is studied. POSS with different organic substituents were selected in accordance with the structure and chemical composition of the host polymer and melt mixed with the corresponding matrix. In general, good dispersion at the nanoscale level was achieved upon the addition of some functionalised POSS, leading to a remarkable increase on the thermal decomposition temperature under nitrogen atmosphere. However, for the polymers having high decomposition temperatures, there were no significant changes on the thermal properties of the nanocomposites. On the other hand, the dispersion of the POSS, whatever its functionalisation was, led to the presence of micron-sized aggregates. The relationships among these effects and the morphological characteristics of the systems were analysed.

Poly(Amide-imide) aerogel materials produced via an ice templating process

Low density composites of sodium montmorillonite and poly(amide-imide) polymers have been created using an ice templating method, which serves as an alternative to the often-difficult foaming of high temperature/high performance polymers. The starting polymer was received in the poly(amic acid) form which can be cured using heat, into a water insoluble amide-imide copolymer. The resulting materials have densities in the 0.05 g/cm3 range and have excellent mechanical properties. Using a tertiary amine as a processing aid provides for lower viscosity and allows more concentrated polymer solutions to be used. The concentration of the amine relative to the acid groups on the polymer backbone has been found to cause significant difference in the mechanical properties of the dried materials. The synthesis and characterization of low density versions of two poly(amide-imide) polymers and their composites with sodium montmorillonite clay are discussed in the present work.

The relation between the rheological properties of gels and the mechanical properties of their corresponding aerogels

A series of low density, highly porous clay/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite aerogels, incorporating ammonium alginate, were fabricated via a convenient and eco-friendly freeze drying method. It is significant to understand rheological properties of precursor gels because they directly affect the form of aerogels and their processing behaviors. The introduction of ammonium alginate impacted the rheological properties of colloidal gels and improved the mechanical performance of the subject aerogels. The specific compositions and processing conditions applied to those colloidal gel systems brought about different aerogel morphologies, which in turn translated into the observed mechanical properties. The bridge between gel rheologies and aerogel structures are established in the present work.