V. E. Yudin

Wet spinning of fibers made of chitosan and chitin nanofibrils

Biocompatible and bioresorbable composite fibers consisting of chitosan filled with anisotropic chitin nanofibrils with the length of 600-800 nm and cross section of about 11-12 nm as revealed by SEM and XRD were prepared by coagulation. Both chitin and chitosan components of the composite fibers displayed preferred orientations. Orientation of chitosan molecules induced by chitin nanocrystallites was confirmed by molecular modeling. The incorporation of 0.1-0.3 wt.% of chitin nanofibrils into chitosan matrix led to an increase in strength and Young modulus of the composite fibers.

Effect of the SO2 group in the diamine fragment of polyimides on their structural, thermophysical, and mechanical properties

Experimental and theoretical investigations, including an all-atom computer simulation, are performed for block samples of thermoplastic polyimides, amorphous R-BAPS (based on R dianhydride 1,3-bis(3′,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzene and diamine BAPS 4,4′-bis(4″-aminophenoxy)biphenyl sulfone), and crystallizable R-BAPB (based on R dianhydride and diamine BAPB 4,4’-bis(4″-aminophenoxy)biphenyl), which differ in either the presence or absence of the sulfone group in the repeating unit of the polyimide macromolecule. The features of thermophysical, structural, and mechanical properties of R-BAPS and R-BAPB are related to the formation of associates from sulfur and oxygen atoms of the sulfone group that are stabilized by electrostatic interactions.

Carbonization behaviour of some polyimide resins reinforced with carbon fibers

Abstract It was shown that the low weight loss makes the polyimide resins based on acetyl derivatives of aromatic diamines a promising candidate for carbon–carbon composites. The weight loss of this polyimide resin can reach about 30% in the composite, which is 1.5 times lower than that of the phenol-formaldehyde resin. It is suggested that the lower weight loss of the matrix in carbon fiber reinforced polyimide is due to strong fiber–matrix interaction, which can result from cross-linking between the fiber surface and the matrix. On the other hand due to this strong fiber–matrix interaction carbon–carbon composites can undergo brittle failure with crack propagation normal to the fibers.

Influence of the carbon nanofiller surface curvature on the initiation of crystallization in thermoplastic polymers

Experimental results have shown that graphitizated carbon nanofibers initiate crystallization in R-BAPB polyimides twice as fast as single-wall carbon nanotubes (CNT) leading to the hypothesis that nanofiller curvature influences polyimide crystallization. Therefore, atomistic molecular-dynamics simulations have been performed for R-BAPB in the presence of a flat graphene sheet and the results were compared with those obtained in the presence of a small-radius CNT. The polyimide chain segments tend to lie parallel to the nanofiller surface and this tendency is stronger and the segments are closer to the graphene surface than to the CNT one. Moreover, the density of the polyimide in the near-surface layer is higher for composites filled with graphene than with CNT. This confirms the assumption that the nanofiller surface curvature is indeed a factor influencing the polymer patterning structure, and that a smaller curvature (i.e. flat surface) provides an enhanced initiation of polymer ordering.

Effect of the structure and shape of filler nanoparticles on the physical properties of polyimide composites

Model nanocomposites on the basis of specially synthesized amorphous and semicrystalline polyimide matrices, silicate (natural and synthetic) and carbon nanoparticles with different morphology (tubes, platelets, discs, and spheres) have been developed. The influence of nanoparticle morphology on the rheological behavior of nanocomposite melts at the stage of their processing has been investigated.

Modification of films of heat-resistant polyimides by adding hydrosilicate and carbon nanoparticles of various geometries

The possibility of modifying the properties of poly(4,4′-oxydiphenylene)pyromellitimide films by introducing into prepolymer solutions nanoparticles of various compositions and structures [hydrosilicate nanoparticles in the form of layered structures (montmorillonite) and nanotubes; carbon nanofibers] was examined. New intercalating agents, tetranuclear aromatic diamines, were suggested for pretreatment of montmorillonite prior to introduction into heat-resistant polymers. The mechanical characteristics of the nanocomposites with hydrosilicate nanotubes can be optimized by chemical pretreatment of the nanotubes prior to introduction into the polymer matrix. Introduction of the above-named nanoparticles into the polymer matrix appreciably increases the elastic modulus of the material. The largest increase in the elastic modulus is observed with hydrosilicate nanotubes of the chrysotile structure, coated with an aromatic modifier.

Electrical conductivity of polypropylene fibers with dispersed carbon fillers

Polypropylene fibers with fillers in the form of carbon nanoparticles of four types (technical carbon, graphitized carbon nanofibers, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and single-walled carbon nanotubes) have been synthesized. For all types of fillers, the electrical conductivity of the fibers has been measured as a function of the concentration of nanoparticles and the percolation thresholds have been determined. A correlation between the nanoparticle concentration and the electrical conductivity of the percolation cluster at the percolation threshold with the cross section, the axial ratio, and the shape of the nanoparticles dispersed in the polymer matrix has been discussed. The dependence of the electrical conductivity of the composite material with carbon nanofibers on the temperature has been measured.

Carbon/carbon composites based on a polyimide matrix with coal tar pitch

Abstract Blending of coal tar pitch with a polyimide precursor based on acetyl derivatives of aromatic diamines during its synthesis leads to a homogeneous, highly thermostable matrix for carbon fibre reinforced composites. If the weight content of the pitch in the polyimide matrix does not exceed 40%, the mechanical properties (flexural strength, shear modulus and fracture toughness) of these composites are comparable to those of similar composites based on a pure polyimide matrix. Carbonisation and graphitisation of the composites with a properly blended matrix precursor leads to carbon fibre reinforced carbon composites with lower open porosity and higher density, elastic modulus and flexural strength than those of composites based on a pure polyimide matrix.

Specific features of chitosan-montmorillonite interaction in an aqueous acid solution and properties of related composite films

The rheological properties of chitosan solutions in a 2% aqueous solution of acetic acid with added montmorillonite nanoparticles and the mechanical properties and structural organization of chitosan-based composite films are studied. The interaction between the polymer functional groups and surface charges of nanoplatelets is confirmed by conductometric and potentiometric measurements. With the use of a X-ray diffraction analysis, it is shown that the nanoparticles in films are in the exfoliated and intercalated states. The incorporation of up to 10 wt % modified montmorillonite nanoparticles into the chitosan matrix results in a successive increase in rigidity and a decrease in the elongation at break.

Effect of single-walled carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers on the structure and mechanical properties of thermoplastic polyimide matrix films

The effects of additives of single-walled carbon nanotubes prepared via electric-arc synthesis and carbon nanofibers produced via gas-phase synthesis on the crystallization capacities and mechanical and electric properties of composite films of a thermoplastic polyimide (PI) matrix based on 1,3-bis-(3,3′, 4,4′-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzene and 4,4′-bis-(4-aminophenoxy)biphenyl after their uniaxial drawing and additional annealing are studied. The use of these fillers induces the heterogeneous nucleation of a crystalline phase of PI on the nanoparticle surface. A higher specific interface area in the case of addition of carbon nanotubes relative to that of carbon nanofibers leads to the formation of the crystalline structure of PI with a small crystallite size and high imperfection. Uniaxial drawing leads to the formation of a supermolecular structure that is optimum for crystallization during additional annealing and removes the kinetic hindrances to crystal growth. The properties of these fillers have a significant effect on the orientation of the nanoparticles and the matrix macromolecules during the uniaxial drawing of the films, which is accompanied by an increase in the elastic modulus with an increase in the draw ratio and the ability of the composite films to undergo orientational crystallization during additional annealing.