Tomasz Rozmanowski

Functional polypropylene composites filled with ultra-fine magnesium hydroxide

Abstract Magnesium hydroxide was prepared under controlled conditions from aqueous Mg(NO3)2 and NaOH solutions. The small, nanoplate-shaped particle size distribution was monomodal from 164 to 459 nm. Functional polypropylene/Mg(OH)2 and polypropylene/polypropylene 1% maleic anhydride/Mg(OH)2 composites were prepared containing 10% or 30% Mg(OH)2. The composites have a high Young’s modulus (twice that of polypropylene) and comparable tensile strength but less ductility. EDX examination of the fractured composite surfaces suggested a homogeneous Mg(OH)2 distribution for composites produced with the addition of polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride. The polypropylene/Mg(OH)2 composites showed good antibacterial activity. The polypropylene/polypropylene 1% maleic anhydride/Mg(OH)2 composites were less effective. Graphical Abstract

Preparation and electrochemical properties of EG/Fe2O3/C composite

The present paper deals with the studies concerning electrochemical properties of the expanded graphite/iron oxide/carbon (EG/Fe2O3/C) composite produced by deep cathodic reduction. The electrochemical activity of EG/Fe2O3/C composite was investigated in alkaline solution by cyclic voltammetry technique. Electrochemical features of EG/Fe2O3/C were found to be strongly influenced by the conditions under which the measurements were performed. The interpretation of electrochemical measurements was supported by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation revealing the appearance of carbon fibers of a different diameter as the main component of the carbon layer within the examined EG/Fe2O3/C composite. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) analysis have confirmed the presence of Fe2O3 layer within the EG/Fe2O3/C composite. Additionally, the latter analysis has provided information on changes within the chemical composition of EG/Fe2O3/C caused by electrochemical treatment.