Raghvendra Kumar Mishra

Thermogravimetric Analysis for Characterization of Nanomaterials

Abstract This chapter discusses the basics and principles involved in the instrumentation of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Different types of balances, crucibles, and furnaces used in TGA instrumentation are addressed. The basic information that can be derived from a thermogravimetry thermogram is also discussed in detail, as are advanced TGA instruments utilized for evolved gas analysis and their application in predicting the thermal decomposition mechanisms of polymer nanocomposites. Further, the application of TGA in fields such as determination of drug and functional moiety loading, gas adsorption studies, relative strength of catalysts, and thermal degradation kinetic analysis for polymer nanocomposites is addressed with appropriate case studies.

Instrumental Techniques for the Characterization of Nanoparticles

Abstract Advances in nanomaterials have opened a new era in various fields such as industrial, medical, commercial, and consumer products owing to their unique and novel physical and chemical properties. A wide variety of techniques can be used to analyze and characterize nanoparticles depending on the application of interest. Characterization refers to the study of material features such as composition, structure, and various properties such as physical, chemical, electrical, magnetic, etc. This chapter summarizes the techniques that are commonly used to investigate the size, shape, surface properties, composition, purity, and stability of nanomaterials, along with their benefits and drawbacks. Various characterization techniques such as optical (imaging), electron probe, photon probe, ion particle probe, and thermodynamic techniques are discussed briefly in this chapter.

Basic structural and properties relationship of recyclable microfibrillar composite materials from immiscible plastics blends: An introduction

Abstract For suitable sustainable development, plastic materials have to show recycling ability and excellent physical, chemical, and thermal properties to reduce plastic pollution. Recently, incorporation of fibers and the compatibilizer into the plastic matrix has been one of the widely researched areas in polymer technology. A series of fibers and fillers reinforced plastics blends and composites have been produced. Various studies with these plastics blends and composites systems have been performed to predict the performance of a material and recycling ability, in which the effects of blend composition and the morphology of plastics blends and composites have been reported. However, it was found that these composites and blends are not well suited in various perspectives such as recycling, miscibility, compatibility, etc. As a result, a new composite system was introduced in the field of polymer composites, and scientists called these microfibrillar insitu composites (MFCs); the in situ composite was derived from the immiscible blends system. Various studies extensively showed and explained the excellent mechanical, thermal, and crystallization properties of MFCs. The objective of this chapter is to describe the structural and properties relationship of MFCs, which is produced from the in situ generation of fibrils from immiscible blends system.

Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis of Polymer Nanocomposites

Abstract The objective of this chapter is to establish the use of dynamic mechanical thermal analysis in characterizing polymer nanocomposites. Dynamic mechanical analysis is a powerful tool employed to comprehend thermal transitions of viscoelastic materials by characterizing the evolution of their macromolecular relaxation as a function of temperature and loading frequency. The presence of nanofillers perturbs the relaxation of the polymer chains affecting the stiffness, rigidity, and energy absorbing capability of polymeric materials. The modifications in the viscoelastic behavior of the polymers with the inclusion of nanofillers can be effectively studied from the storage/loss moduli and damping factor spectra obtained from this analysis. In this chapter, the potential of dynamic mechanical thermal analysis is assessed by focusing on the ability of the technique to offer information not only on the viscoelastic performance of filled thermoplastic, thermosets, and elastomeric materials, but also on the miscibility and interface strengthening of polymer blends with nanoinclusions. The various theoretical equations used for modeling dynamic mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites are discussed in detail.

Small-Angle Light and X-ray Scattering in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology

Abstract This chapter deals with small-angle light scattering (SALS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques. The importance of X-ray scattering over the X-ray diffraction techniques is discussed. It is well known that the diffraction of light from an object is due to the wave nature of light, whereas scattering is considered a phenomenon of the dual (both particle and wave) nature of light. Scattering is a wave interaction but diffraction is a wave propagation phenomenon. Developments in nanoscience and nanotechnology necessitate various techniques to characterize various nanomaterials. This chapter reviews the progress in characterizing nanomaterials with SALS and SAXS along with the fundamental working principles.

Chapter 13 – Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is an effective tool in determining the chemical structure of a variety of species. In the new global economy, characterization of nanomaterials has become a central issue for scientists and researchers. Since 2007, various investigations have been conducted to explore the NMR techniques for analyzing a variety of nanomaterials. This chapter presents an exhaustive review of these studies and suggests a direction for future developments.

Conducting Polyurethane Composites

Abstract Conducting polyurethane-based nanocomposites have been identified as one of the promising class of materials which find considerable attractive applications in various fields, such as construction, packaging, automotive, aerospace, military, medical, and electrical and electronics. In this chapter various aspects of conducting polyurethane nanocomposites are addressed, starting with their fabrication and ending with their applications. This chapter discusses various conducting polyurethane nanocomposites reinforced with various conducting fillers, such as carbon black, carbon nanotube, and graphene and also discusses a large variety of applications of composites which include shape memory, actuator sensors, and electromagnetic interference shielding fields.

Conducting Polyurethane Blends: Recent Advances and Perspectives

Abstract Polyurethane (PU) is a very important material with versatile properties. Melt blending of polyurethane with an intrinsic conducting polymer can improve the polyurethane properties such as electrical conductivity, corrosion protection, and electromagnetic shielding. The properties of blends are dependent upon the compatibility of the blend constituents. The main aim of this chapter is to explain the various properties and application of conducting polyurethane blends which are produced by mixing conducting polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, or polythiophene with polyurethane. The rapid development of the new generation of electronic devices such as power sources, displays, and sensors requires intensive research on conducting polymer blends to improve the conductivity of insulating polymers and hence a wider application in fields such as electronics, electrical, automotive, aerospace, and the military.Polyurethane (PU) is a very important material with versatile properties. Melt blending of polyurethane with an intrinsic conducting polymer can improve the polyurethane properties such as electrical conductivity, corrosion protection, and electromagnetic shielding. The properties of blends are dependent upon the compatibility of the blend constituents. The main aim of this chapter is to explain the various properties and application of conducting polyurethane blends which are produced by mixing conducting polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, or polythiophene with polyurethane. The rapid development of the new generation of electronic devices such as power sources, displays, and sensors requires intensive research on conducting polymer blends to improve the conductivity of insulating polymers and hence a wider application in fields such as electronics, electrical, automotive, aerospace, and the military.

Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy Techniques for Nanomaterial

The aim of this chapter is to an overview on the energy-dispersive X-ray technique for nanomaterials and lightweight elements. The energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) shows a spectrum and spectra peaks related to the existing constituent and their composition in the sample. After studying this chapter, you will be able to understand the energy-dispersive X-ray technique, advantage, drawback, and recent advancement. This chapter describes the recent advancement including combined EDX and the electron microscopy, etc. This chapter will also be concerned with the important features of the EDX to get the information of various nanomaterials. The point of this chapter is to explain emerging technology in the field of EDX spectroscopy, as part of the chapters discussion, EDX is an analytical technique, which is used for elaborating the chemical composition of nanomaterials.

Preparation, morphology, static and dynamic mechanical properties, and application of polyolefins and poly(ethylene terephthalate) based microfibrillar and nanofibrillar composites

This chapter discusses the properties of micro and nanofibrillar composites prepared from blends of polyolefins and polyethylene terephthalate by a three-step protocol, namely melt extrusion, continuous drawing of extruded strands, followed by isotropization (annealing). These composites are unique in nature as the reinforcing fibrils are formed in situ during the melt blending process. The morphology development of the blends during each stage of preparation is analyzed by microscopic techniques. The static mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation at break are examined. Dynamic mechanical properties analysis carried out gives information on the storage modulus, loss modulus, damping factor, and transition temperatures of in situ microfibrillar composites. The effect of draw ratio and blend ratio on the microstructure development is discussed in detail. The consequence of compatibilizer addition on the various properties of the in situ composites is reported. It is observed that an optimum draw ratio and blend ratio is imperative for maximizing the aspect ratio of the micro/nanofibrils which controls the strength and stiffness of the composite.