Preparation and Properties of Phenolic Resin/Montmorillonite Intercalation Nanocomposites

Phenolic resin/montmorillonite intercalation composites were prepared by using the methods of pressing intercalation and melt intercalation.Properties and structure of the composites were investigated by using XRD,TG and test of softening point.It is indicated that both the pressing intercalation and melt intercalation can be used to prepare the phenolic resin/organo-montmorillonite intercalation nanocomposites.Compared with phenolic resin,the intercalation nanocomposites have better heat-resistance,higher decomposition temperatures and less thermal weight-loss.However,these two intercalation methods have different effects on the softening point of the intercalation nanocomposites.Pressing intercalation almost does not affect the softening point of the intercalation nanocomposites,while melt intercalation significantly increases the softening point of the intercalation nanocomposites, probably due to the chemical actions happening in the process of melt intercalation.

Design of Wood/Montmorillonite (MMT) Intercalation Nanocomposite

Studying new wood composites through nano science and technology (NSC) will develop new compounding theory of wood, and accelerate the combination of new technology, wood science, material science and other disciplines. The compounding of wood and inorganic MMT on nanoscale molecular level has high potential to greatly improve the mechanical properties, fire retardance, abrasion resistance, decay resistance, dimensional stability and other properties of wood. Based on the great achievements of polymer/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites, this paper reviewed nano intercalation compounding methods (i.e. in-situ intercalative polymerization and direct polymer intercalation), and discussed the structure, properties and modification of montmorillonite (MMT). According to the main chemical components and particular structure of wood, the authors discussed the liquefaction and plasticization of wood, compared the dissolvability and meltability between wood and polymer, and then systematically put forward the basic idea, technological processes and schematic diagram to prepare wood/MMT nanocomposites (WMNC). The key technology to prepare WMNC is either to introduce delaminated MMT nanolayers into wood with the help of some intermediate polymers, or to obtain liquefied wood or plasticized wood from the complicated natural composite. It is applicable and effective to realize wood/MMT nanoscale compounding with the help of proper intercalation agent and medium polymer through the proposed 搊ne-step?or 搕wo-step?impregnating processes.

Modification of Nanocomposites by Melting Intercalation of Polypropylene in Montmorillonite

The polypropylene wax modified by ultraviolet irradiation. The polypropylene-montmorillonite nanocomposiles were prepared by direct melting intercalation oj polypropylene powders. The structure of polypropylene , the polyproprlene irradiated, montmorillinote and polypropylene-montmorillonite composites were studied by XRD, 1R and DSC. The results show that the PP molecules can are oxidized during ultraviolet irradiation , melt polypropylene can intercalate into montmorillonite layer. As a result, the layered distance ( d0.01) of montmorillonite increases, and the melt absorption peak of polypropylene in layer is eliminated.

STUDY ON INTERCALATION MECHANISM OF GELATIN/MMT NANOCOMPOSITE

A gelatin/MMT nanocomposite was prepared in an aqueous solution and investigated by XRD,FTIR and 13 C NMR,and then the intercalation mechanism was discussed.The result of XRD indicated that the gelatin molecule had already inserted into the interlayer of MMT,and the intercalation or exfoliation structure had been achieved.The result of 13 C NMR demonstrated that the ions interaction between gelatin and MMT was attributed to the driving force for intercalation.In order to confirm the role of -COO - of gelatin in the combination with MMT,lauric sodium was brought in as a model to react with MMT,and was characterized by XRD and FTIR,the result proved that there existed a kind of strong interaction between -COO - and ions of MMT.

DISPERSION AND TENSILE BEHAVIOR OF POLYPROPYLENE/MONTMORILLONITE NANOCOMPOSITES PRODUCED VIA MELT INTERCALATION

Most of the articles on polymer nanocomposites focus on the importance of chemistry used to modify the surface of the clay, usually montmorillonite (MMT), and characterization of the nano-scale structure obtained. The role and importance of processing were also discussed recently. However, few papers concerning the correlation between morphology of MMT and mechanical properties were published. In order to understand. the tensile behavior of PP/Montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites better, and to further improve the reinforcement efficiency, we first prepared the PP nanocomposites via direct melt intercalation using conventional twin-screw extrusion. The dispersion and tensile property of the composites were then investigated by SEM, XRD, TEM and a video-controlled tensile set-up. The macroscopic and microscopic dispersion of MMT in PP matrix was verified by XRD and TEM, combined with SEM. The tensile properties were obtained by video-controlled tensile set-up, which gives true stress-strain curve. It was found that a partly intercalated and partly exfoliated structure (also called incomplete exfoliation) existed in the system. Though the tensile strength of PP nanocomposites is not much improved in engineering stress-strain curves, more than 20% increase of true stress was found in a true stress-strain experiment at high true strain, which indicates that only oriented silicate layers can have a big effect on tensile properties: Not only orientation of silicate platelets but also the degree of exfoliation is a key factor to determine the reinforcement efficiency. The reinforcement efficiency of MMT has been discussed based on the 'continuum' Halpin-Tsai equations. A good agreement was found between experimental data and theoretical prediction by changing N value (number of platelets per stack) which corresponding to different state of the dispersion of MMT in PP matrix.

Nanocomposite Films of V_2O_5-MoO_3 Xerogel with Poly Ethylene Oxide Intercalation

Poly ethylene oxide(PEO) x-V 2O 5-MoO 3(x=0,0.5,1) films were prepared by the sol-gel method.The synthesis and structure of the films were investigated by XRD,TG-DTA,FTIR,etc.The results show that V 2O 5-MoO 3 xerogel has a layered structure and its interlayer space increased from 1.3181nm at x=0 to 1.7898nm at x=1 after the nanocomposite films were dried,and PEO in the interlayer changes the interface structure by forming hydrogen bonds with V=O bands.CV measurement indicates that the intercalation of PEO improves insertion/extration properties of Li+ ions in the interlayer.

THE NANOCOMPOSITE FILM OF POLYMER INTERCALATION IN V_2O_5 XEROGEL

The nanocomposite films were prepared by poly(ethylene oxide), PEO, intercalation in V2O5 xero-gel in sol-gel. The synthesis and state of the films are investigated by the XRD, IR, SEM, etc. The results show that V2O5, xerogel is a layered structure which arranges in c-direction. The mterlayer distance of V2O5 xerogel increases remarkably when PEO is intercalated in V2O5 xero-gel interlayer. PEO has strong interaction with V2O5 host. The surface of the films is homogeneous without holes and cracks.

Preparation of poly(propylene carbonate)/organophilic rectorite nanocomposites via direct melt intercalation

The completely degradable nanocomposites comprised of poly(propylene carbonate)(PPC) and organo-modified rectorite (OREC) were prepared by direct melt intercalation. The structure and mechanical properties of PPC/OREC nanocomposites were investigated. The wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) results show that the galleries distance of OREC is increased after PPC and OREC melt intercalation, which indicates that PPC molecular chain has intercalated into the layers of OREC. The PPC/OREC nanocomposites with lower OREC content show an increase in thermal decomposition temperature compared with pure PPC. The tensile strength and impact strength of PPC/OREC nanocomposites are improved. When the mass fraction of OREC is 4%, the tensile strength and impact strength of the PPC/OREC nanocomposite increase by 22.86% and 48.58% respectively, compared with pure PPC.

Application of nanotechnology to dentistry:Impact of graphene nanocomposites on clinical air quality

Concerns about air quality in dental clinics where aerosol generation during procedures poses significant health risks,have prompted investigations on advanced disinfection technologies.This editorial describes the strengths and limitations of ventilation and aerosol control measures in dental offices,especially with respect to the use of graphene nanocomposites.The potential of graphene nanocomposites as an innovative solution to aerosol-associated health risks is examined in this review due to the unique properties of graphene(e.g.,high con-ductivity,mechanical strength,and antimicrobial activity).These properties have produced promising results in various fields,but the application of graphene in dentistry remains unexplored.The recent study by Ju et al which was published in World Journal of Clinical Cases evaluated the effectiveness of graphene-based air disinfection systems in dental clinics.The study demonstrated that graphene-based disinfection techniques produced significant reductions in suspended particulate matter and bacterial colony counts,when co-mpared with traditional methods.Despite these positive results,challenges such as material saturation,frequency of filter replacement,and associated costs must be addressed before widespread adoption of graphene-based disinfection techniques in clinical practice.Therefore,there is need for further research on material structure optimization,long-term safety evaluations,and broader clinical applications,in order to maximize their positive impact on public health.

Use of graphene nanocomposites for air disinfection in dental clinics:A game-changer in infection control

This manuscript features the promising findings of a study conducted by Ju et al,who used graphene nanocomposites for air disinfection in dental clinics.Their study demonstrated that,compared with conventional filters,graphene nanocom-posites substantially improved air quality and reduced microbial contamination.This manuscript highlights the innovative application of graphene materials,emphasizing their potential to enhance dental clinic environments by minimizing secondary pollution.On the basis of the unique antimicrobial properties of gra-phene and the original study’s rigorous methodology,we recommend using gra-phene nanocomposites in clinical settings to control airborne infections.

Layered Potassium Titanium Niobate/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite as a Potassium‑Ion Battery Anode

With graphite currently leading as the most viable anode for potassium-ion batteries(KIBs),other materials have been left relatively underexamined.Transition metal oxides are among these,with many positive attributes such as synthetic maturity,longterm cycling stability and fast redox kinetics.Therefore,to address this research deficiency we report herein a layered potassium titanium niobate KTiNbO5(KTNO)and its rGO nanocomposite(KTNO/rGO)synthesised via solvothermal methods as a high-performance anode for KIBs.Through effective distribution across the electrically conductive rGO,the electrochemical performance of the KTNO nanoparticles was enhanced.The potassium storage performance of the KTNO/rGO was demonstrated by its first charge capacity of 128.1 mAh g^(−1) and reversible capacity of 97.5 mAh g^(−1) after 500 cycles at 20 mA g^(−1),retaining 76.1%of the initial capacity,with an exceptional rate performance of 54.2 mAh g^(−1)at 1 A g^(−1).Furthermore,to investigate the attributes of KTNO in-situ XRD was performed,indicating a low-strain material.Ex-situ X-ray photoelectron spectra further investigated the mechanism of charge storage,with the titanium showing greater redox reversibility than the niobium.This work suggests this lowstrain nature is a highly advantageous property and well worth regarding KTNO as a promising anode for future high-performance KIBs.

Preparation of the Thermoplastic Starch/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites by Melt-intercalation

In this paper, the conception of melt-intercalation was introduced into the natural polymer field, and the thermoplastic starch/ethanolamine-activated montmorillonite (TPS/EMMT) nanocomposites were prepared by extruding the composites of EMMT and TPS, plasticized with ethanolamine/formamide. Wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) revealed that TPS was intercalated into the layers of EMMT successfully and formed the intercalation nanocomposites with EMMT. When EMMT content was wt.10%, the mechanical testing indicated that the tensile stress of the nanocomposites reached 9.69 MPa, and the tensile strain reached 74.07%, Youngs modulus increased from the 47.23 MPa of TPS to 184.11 MPa of TPS/EMMT nanocomposites, and breaking energy increased from 1.34 N·m to 2.15 N·m after they had been stored at RH25% for 14 days.

Efficacy of graphene nanocomposites for air disinfection in dental clinics: A randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND Aerosols containing disease-causing microorganisms are produced during oral diagnosis and treatment can cause secondary contamination.AIM To investigate the use of graphene material for air disinfection in dental clinics by leveraging its adsorption and antibacterial properties.METHODS Patients who received ultrasonic cleaning at our hospital from April 2023 to April 2024.They were randomly assigned to three groups(n=20 each):Graphene nanocomposite material suction group(Group A),ordinary filter suction group(Group B),and no air suction device group(Group C).The air quality and air colony count in the clinic rooms were assessed before,during,and after the procedure.Additionally,bacterial colony counts were obtained from the air outlets of the suction devices and the filter screens in Groups A and B.RESULTS Before ultrasonic cleaning,no significant differences in air quality PM2.5 and colony counts were observed among the three groups.However,significant differences in air quality PM2.5 and colony counts were noted among the three groups during ultrasonic cleaning and after ultrasonic treatment.Additionally,the number of colonies on the exhaust port of the suction device and the surface of the filter were significantly lower in Group A than in Group B(P=0.000 and P=0.000,respectively).CONCLUSION Graphene nanocomposites can effectively sterilize the air in dental clinics by exerting their antimicrobial effects and may be used to reduce secondary pollution.

Lightweight Dual‑Functional Segregated Nanocomposite Foams for Integrated Infrared Stealth and Absorption‑Dominant Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Lightweight infrared stealth and absorption-dominant electromagnetic interference(EMI)shielding materials are highly desirable in areas of aerospace,weapons,military and wearable electronics.Herein,lightweight and high-efficiency dual-functional segregated nanocomposite foams with microcellular structures are developed for integrated infrared stealth and absorption-dominant EMI shielding via the efficient and scalable supercritical CO_(2)(SC-CO_(2))foaming combined with hydrogen bonding assembly and compression molding strategy.The obtained lightweight segregated nanocomposite foams exhibit superior infrared stealth performances benefitting from the synergistic effect of highly effective thermal insulation and low infrared emissivity,and outstanding absorption-dominant EMI shielding performances attributed to the synchronous construction of microcellular structures and segregated structures.Particularly,the segregated nanocomposite foams present a large radiation temperature reduction of 70.2℃ at the object temperature of 100℃,and a significantly improved EM wave absorptivity/reflectivity(A/R)ratio of 2.15 at an ultralow Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) content of 1.7 vol%.Moreover,the segregated nanocomposite foams exhibit outstanding working reliability and stability upon dynamic compression cycles.The results demonstrate that the lightweight and high-efficiency dual-functional segregated nanocomposite foams have excellent potentials for infrared stealth and absorption-dominant EMI shielding applications in aerospace,weapons,military and wearable electronics.

A Generic Strategy to Create Mechanically Interlocked Nanocomposite/Hydrogel Hybrid Electrodes for Epidermal Electronics

Stretchable electronics are crucial enablers for next-generation wearables intimately integrated into the human body.As the primary compliant conductors used in these devices,metallic nanostructure/elastomer composites often struggle to form conformal contact with the textured skin.Hybrid electrodes have been consequently developed based on conductive nanocomposite and soft hydrogels to establish seamless skin-device interfaces.However,chemical modifications are typically needed for reliable bonding,which can alter their original properties.To overcome this limitation,this study presents a facile fabrication approach for mechanically interlocked nanocomposite/hydrogel hybrid electrodes.In this physical process,soft microfoams are thermally laminated on silver nanowire nanocomposites as a porous interface,which forms an interpenetrating network with the hydrogel.The microfoam-enabled bonding strategy is generally compatible with various polymers.The resulting interlocked hybrids have a 28-fold improved interfacial toughness compared to directly stacked hybrids.These electrodes achieve firm attachment to the skin and low contact impedance using tissue-adhesive hydrogels.They have been successfully integrated into an epidermal sleeve to distinguish hand gestures by sensing mus-cle contractions.Interlocked nanocomposite/hydrogel hybrids reported here offer a promising platform to combine the benefits of both materials for epidermal devices and systems.

Bio-inspired Hydroxyapatite/Gelatin Transparent Nanocomposites

Hydroxyapatite(HA)nanoparticles impart outstanding mechanical properties to organicinorganic nanocomposites in bone.Inspired by the composite structure of HA nanoparticles and collagen in bone,a high performance HA/gelatin nanocomposite was first developed.The nanocomposites have much better mechanical properties(elongation at break 29.9%,tensile strength 90.7 MPa,Young’s modulus 5.24 GPa)than pure gelatin films(elongation at break 9.3%,tensile strength 90.8 MPa,Young’s modulus 2.5 GPa).In addition,the composite films keep a high transmittance in visible wavelength range from 0%to 60%of the HA solid content.These differences in properties are attributed to the homogeneous distribution of HA nanoparticles in the gelatin polymer matrix and the strong interaction between the particle surfaces and the gelatin molecules.This protocol should be promising for HA-based nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties for biomedical applications.

Increasing the toughness while reducing the viscosity of carbon nanotube/ polyether imide/polyether ether ketone nanocomposites

Polyether ether ketone(PEEK)has good mechanical properties.However,its high viscosity when molten limits its use because it is hard to process.PEEK nanocomposites containing both carbon nanotubes(CNTs)and polyether imide(PEI)were pre-pared by a direct wet powder blending method using a vertical injection molding machine.The addition of an optimum amount of PEI lowered the viscosity of the molten PEEK by approximately 50%while producing an increase in the toughness of the nanocom-posites,whose strain to failure increased by 129%,and fracture energy increased by 97%.The uniformly dispersed CNT/PEI powder reduced the processing difficulty of PEEK nanocomposites without affecting the thermal resistance.This improvement of the strength and viscosity of PEEK facilitate its use in the preparation of thermoplastic composites.

Using Electrodeposition of Carboxylated Chitosan for Green Preparation of Copper Nanoclusters and Nanocomposite Films

On the basis of coordinated electrodeposition of carboxylated chitosan(CCS),we presented a green method to prepare Cu NCs and Cu NCs/CCS nanocomposite films.The method shows a range of benefits,such as the convenient and eco-friendly process,mild conditions,and simple post-treatment.The experimental results reveal that a homogeneous deposited film(Cu NCs/CCS nanocomposite film)is generated on the Cu plate(the anode)after electrodeposition,which exhibits an obvious red florescence.The results from TEM observation suggest there are nanoparticles(with the average particle size of 2.3 nm)in the deposited film.Spectral analysis results both demonstrate the existence of Cu NCs in the deposited film.Moreover,the Cu NCs/CCS film modified electrode is directly created through electrodeposition of CCS,which enables promising application in the electrochemical sensing.By means of fluorescence properties of Cu NCs,the Cu NCs/CCS film also owns the potential in fluorescence detection.Therefore,this work builds a novel method for the green synthesis of Cu NCs,meanwhile it offers a convenient and new electrodeposition strategy to prepare polysaccharide-based Cu NCs nanocomposites for uses in functional nanocomposites and bioelectronic devices.

Novel multifunctional epoxy based graphitic carbon nitride/silanized TiO_(2)nanocomposite as protective coatings for steel surface against corrosion and flame in the shipping industry

The chemical compound 3-(N-ethylamino)isobutyl)trimethoxysilane(EAMS)modified titanium dioxide(TiO_(2)),producing EAMS-TiO_(2),which was encased in graphitic carbon nitride(GCN)and integrated into epoxy resin(EP).The protective properties of mild steel coated with this nanocomposite in a marine environment were assessedusing electrochemical techniques.Thermogravimetric analysis(TGA)and Cone calorimetry tests demonstrated thatGCN/EAMS-TiO_(2)significantly enhanced the flame retardancy of the epoxy coating,reducing peak heat release rate(PHRR)and total heat release(THR)values by 88%and 70%,respectively,compared to pure EP.Salt spray testsindicated reduced water absorption and improved corrosion resistance.The optimal concentration of 0.6 wt%GCNEAMS/TiO_(2)yielded the highest resistance,with the nanocomposite achieving a coating resistance of 7.50×10^(10)Ω·cm^(2)after 28 d in seawater.The surface resistance of EP-GCN/EAMS-TiO_(2)was over 99.9 times higher than pure EP after onehour in seawater.SECM analysis showed the lowest ferrous ion dissipation(1.0 nA)for EP-GCN/EAMS-TiO_(2)coatedsteel.FE-SEM and EDX analyses revealed improved breakdown products and a durable inert nanolayered covering.Thenanocomposite exhibited excellent water resistance(water contact angle of 167°)and strong mechanical properties,withadhesive strength increasing to 18.3 MPa after 28 d in seawater.EP-GCN/EAMS-TiO_(2)shows potential as a coatingmaterial for the shipping industry.

Predicting the Mechanical Behavior of a Bioinspired Nanocomposite through Machine Learning

The bioinspired nacre or bone structure represents a remarkable example of tough,strong,lightweight,and multifunctional structures in biological materials that can be an inspiration to design bioinspired high-performance materials.The bioinspired structure consists of hard grains and soft material interfaces.While the material interface has a very low volume percentage,its property has the ability to determine the bulk material response.Machine learning technology nowadays is widely used in material science.A machine learning model was utilized to predict the material response based on the material interface properties in a bioinspired nanocomposite.This model was trained on a comprehensive dataset of material response and interface properties,allowing it to make accurate predictions.The results of this study demonstrate the efficiency and high accuracy of the machine learning model.The successful application of machine learning into the material property prediction process has the potential to greatly enhance both the efficiency and accuracy of the material design process.