Mou'ad A. Tarawneh

Thermal behavior of MWNT-reinforced thermoplastic natural rubber nanocomposites

This article studies the thermal properties of a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-reinforced thermoplastic natural rubber (TPNR) nanocomposite. The nanocomposite was prepared using a melt blending method. Various percentages (1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%) of MWNTs were added into TPNR to improve its thermal properties. The laser flash technique was also employed to determine the thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat capacity of the nanocomposite. The DMA result showed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) increased with the increase in MWNT content. TEM micrographs also demonstrated that a good dispersion of MWNTs was achieved in the TPNR environment.

Characterization and Morphology of Modified Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Filled Thermoplastic Natural Rubber (TPNR) Composite

Carbon nanotubes describes a specific topic within solid-state physics, but is also of interest in other sciences like chemistry or biology. Actually the topic has floating boundaries, because we are at the molecule level. In the recent years carbon nanotubes have become more and more popular to the scientists. Initially, it was the spectacularly electronic properties, that were the basis for the great interest, but eventually other remarkable properties were also discovered.

Morphology and Mechanical Properties of NiZn Ferrite/Thermoplastic Natural Rubber Composite

In this paper the polymer nanocomposite of nickel zinc (NiZn) ferrite nanoparticles incorporated into the thermoplastic natural rubber nanocomposite (TPNR) were prepared via melt blending method. The effect of different NiZn loading (2-10 wt%) on morphology, tensile and dynamic mechanical properties of the obtained composites was investigated. It was found that NiZn ferrite is well dispersed in the thermoplastic natural rubber matrix. The tensile results indicated that filler loading has improved the tensile strength and Youngs modulus of the nanocomposite. However, the elongation at break decreased with increasing the percentage of NiZn. Dynamic mechanical test showed that the highest storage modulus is at 8 wt% filler. Any further increment of the filler content leads to the formation of agglomerate hence affecting the properties. The Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) micrographs reveal aspect ratio and filler orientation in the TPNR matrix also strongly promoted interfacial adhesion between the filler and the matrix to control its properties.

Preparation and characterisation of NiZn ferrite/multiwalled nanotubes thermoplastic natural rubber composite

The NiZn ferrite and multiwalled nanotubes were mixed by the weight ratio of 1:1, then the mixture were incorporated into the thermoplastic natural rubber nanocomposite by melt blending process. The physical properties: thermal stability, magnetic properties, dynamic mechanical properties, and morphology of the obtained composites were investigated in the aspect of filler loadings effects. It was found that both NiZn ferrite and multiwalled nanotubes are well dispersed in the thermoplastic natural rubber matrix. The thermogravimetric analysis and vibrating sample magnetometer results indicate that the filler loading has improved the thermal stability and the magnetic properties of the composite. The dynamic mechanical test shows that the highest storage modulus was achieved by 8 wt% filler. Any further increment of the filler content leads to the formation of agglomerate, hence, affecting the dynamic mechanical properties.

Mechanical Properties of TPNR-MWNTs-OMMT Hybrid Nanocomposites

This paper discusses the processing of a hybrid of TPNR-MWNTs-OMMT nanocomposites with different percentages of filler to determine the optimum mechanical properties of the hybrid nanocomposites. Three types of hybrid nanocomposites with various MWNTs-OMMT compositions (1%wt MWNTs+3%wt OMMT), (2%wt MWNTs+2%wt OMMT) and (3%wt MWNTs+1%wt OMMT) were prepared. The OMMT layers were found to be separated further with higher nanotubes content as exhibited by X-ray diffraction. The result of tensile test showed that tensile strength and Youngs modulus increase in the presence of nanotubes and maximum value were obtained for the nanocomposites with highest nanotubes (3%wt) which increased about 33% and 36%, respectively compared with pure TPNR matrix. On other hand, the elongation at break considerably decreased with increasing the percentage of MWNTs. TEM micrographs revealed aspect ratio and fillers orientation in the TPNR matrix also promoted strongly to interfacial adhesion between fillers and the matrix which contributed significantly to the improvement of the mechanical properties

Thermal Conductivity, Thermal Diffusivity and Specific Heat of TPNR Hybrid Nanocomposites at Different Temperatures

This paper discusses the inclusion of hybrid nanofillers nanoclay and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) as reinforcing agents to improve the thermal properties of TPNR. The laser flash technique was also employed to determine the thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat capacity of the nanocomposite. Two types of hybrid nanofillers were introduced into TPNR, which are untreated hybrid composites (UTH) prepared from MWNTs (without acid treatment)-nanoclay and treated hybrid composites (TH), consisting of acid treated MWNTs and nanoclay. The thermal properties of treated hybrid composites are better than untreated hybrid composites. The thermal conductivity of untreated hybrid composites that were sintered at 30 to 150 oC did not show a monotonous change with MWNTs as the filler has a high thermal conductivity compared to nanoclay. The results showed that the thermal diffusivity decreased with the increasing of temperature. The specific heat of all the measured samples increases linearly with the measured temperature from 30°C to 150°C.

The effect of MWCNTs on the rubber-toughened epoxy nanocomposites

This paper investigated the mechanical properties of rubber-toughened epoxy resins reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Rubber-toughened epoxy resins were prepared using the mechanical stirring method and molded into samples with compression molding with different amount of MWCNTs (0.5wt%–3wt%). The bending modulus, bending strength and impact strength increased by almost 125%, 20% and 35% respectively, at 1%wt MWCNTs compared with rubber-toughened epoxy. A scanning electron micrograph (SEM) confirms the effect of good dispersion of MWCNTs and their interfacial bonding in the matrix.

Application of Taguchi's approach in the optimization of tensile properties of epoxy/nanoclay/MWCNT nanocomposites

This paper reports the improvement in tensile strength of epoxy by using binary hybrid nanocomposites of nanoclay and multi-wall carbon nanotube using a solution casting method. The effect of clay/MWCNT ratio, types of solvent, clay cation, composition of LENR, cure time and cure temperature on the tensile properties of epoxy nanocomposites were investigated using Taguchi Method. Orthogonal array L27 is chosen for sample preparations. Analysis of Mean (ANOM) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to identify the dominant factors and the optimum values of clay/MWCNT ratio and settings of other process parameters. Confirmation of experiment was performed with the optimum parameter settings and the measured mechanical properties were compared with the predicted results. Morphologies of the fracture surface of MWCNT/epoxy nanocomposites was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) test were employed to analyse the dispersion structure in the modified samples.

Optimization of Tensile Properties of Epoxy/Nanoclay/MWNT Nanocomposites by Taguchi Method

In this study, nanoclay and multi-wall carbon nanotubes have been used as a dual filler in an epoxy matrix. In the design of the experiment (DOE) the Taguchi Method was selected to study the effect of the factors involved in this study. The effect of the clay/MWNT ratio, types of solvent, clay cation, composition of LENR, cure time and cure temperature on tensile properties of the epoxy nanocomposites were investigated. The confirmation experiment obtained from Taguchi analysis, achieved 57% improvement in tensile strength. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the presence of intercalated and aggregated structures. Due to the lower crosslink density of the system, a decrease in decomposition temperature and glass transition temperature was observed in the optimum sample.