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In the present work, we have developed a mesoporous silicalite-1 using CMC as a template for the removal of MB from aqueous solution. The synthesized silicalite-1 were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm (BET). XRD and FT-IR analysis confirmed the formation of crystallinity and development of MFI structure in the mesoporous silicalite-1. The adsorption of MB dye on mesoporous silicalite-1 was conducted by batch adsorption method. The effect of various parameters such as adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, contact time and temperature on the dye uptake ability of silicalite-1 was investigated. The operating parameters for the maximum adsorption are silicalite-1 dosage (0.1 wt%), contact time (240 min), initial dye concentration (10 ppm) and temperature (30 ℃). The MB dye removal onto mesoporous silicalite-1 followed pseudo-second-order kinetic and Freundlich isotherm. The silicalite-1 exhibits 86% removal efficiency even after six adsorption–desorption cycle. Therefore, the developed mesoporous silicalite-1 is an effective eco-friendly adsorbent for MB dye removal from aqueous environment.

This review highlights the influence of parameters on the drilling characteristics of biocomposites including natural fibers. The particular structure of natural fibers, including their hierarchized geometry, which potentially causes fibrillation, can result in an increased chance of irregularity of the hole and a more complex mode of delamination or, in general terms, damage to the composite. On the other hand, to attain an effective junction of the laminates in a structure, a nut–bolt procedure must be selected, which requires the performance of a drilling operation. This is becoming increasingly important since the fields of application for natural fibers and their variety have been steadily growing in the last few decades. Additionally, adequately performed drilling operations can address considerations related to circular economy. The drilling characteristics evaluated herein include thrust force, torque, surface roughness, and the delamination factor at the entry and exit of the drilling tool. The variation in tensile strength, stiffness, and strain propagation due to the presence of open holes of various sizes, the number of holes, the holes’ patterns, the effect of the type of fiber of the notches, the fiber architecture, and the fibers’ stacking sequence in biocomposites have also been discussed.

In this study, a novel PVA/SA/ZSM-5 zeolite membrane with good regeneration capacity was successfully prepared by solvent casting technique. The properties of the membranes were assessed by employing different characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), optical microscopy (OP), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), contact angle and universal testing machine (UTM). XRD, TGA and UTM results revealed that the crystallinity and thermo-mechanical performance of the membrane could be tuned with zeolite content. The successful incorporation of zeolite into the polymer matrix was confirmed by FT-IR, SEM and OP analysis. The adsorption ability of the as-prepared membrane was evaluated with a model anionic dye, Congo red. Adsorption studies show that the removal efficiency of the membrane could be tuned by varying zeolite content, initial concentration of dye, contact time, pH and temperature. Maximum dye adsorption (5.33 mg/g) was observed for 2.5 wt% zeolite loaded membrane, at an initial dye concentration of 10 ppm, pH 3 and temperature 30 °C. The antibacterial efficiency of the membrane against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) was also reported. The results show that membrane inhibits the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The adsorption isotherm was studied using two models: Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm. The results show that the experimental data fitted well with Freundlich isotherm with a high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.998). Meanwhile, the kinetic studies demonstrate that pseudo-second-order (R2 = 0.999) model describe the adsorption of Congo red onto PVA/SA/ZSM-5 zeolite membrane better than pseudo-first-order (R2 = 0.972) and intra particle diffusion model (R2 = 0.91). The experimental studies thus suggest that PVA/SA/ZSM-5 zeolite could be a promising candidate for the removal of Congo red from aqueous solution.

In recent years, researchers across the globe have switched from synthetic fibers to natural fibers for the fabrication of composites. The desirable properties of natural fibers which attracted researchers, as well as academicians, are its low density, easy availability, environmentally friendly nature, biodegradability, and high specific strength. Hence in the last decade, there is tremendous progress in the development of natural fiber-reinforced composites for various industrial applications. The current review focused on the recent progress in natural fiber-reinforced polymer composite. The natural fibers discussed in this review are derived from leaves, namely pineapple, sisal, and abaca. The extraction and processing of these fibers are briefly outlined. The properties and application of natural fiber-reinforced composites are also addressed in this review. One of the drawbacks of natural fiber is its poor compatibility with the polymer matrix. The different treatment methods to improve the fiber-matrix interaction are also summarized in the present review.

In this study, we report polyvinyl alcohol/carboxymethyl cellulose/gelatin/ZSM-5 zeolite (PVA/CMC/GEL/ZSM-5) membrane for anionic dye (rhodamine B, Rh B) removal from aqueous solution. The prepared membrane was characterized using different techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy (OM), universal testing machine (UTM) and water contact angle respectively. XRD, FT-IR and SEM analysis indicates successful incorporation of zeolite into PVA/CMC/GEL membrane. The improved hydrophobicity of the zeolite loaded membrane was confirmed by contact angle analysis. The Rh B removal efficiency of zeolite loaded PVA/CMC/GEL membrane was investigated through batch adsorption technique. The effect of different parameters such as initial dye concentration, zeolite dosage, contact time, temperature and pH on the adsorption was examined. Rh B dye adsorption onto the membrane followed Freundlich isotherm model. The kinetic studies revealed that Rh B dye adsorption on the membrane could be explained using pseudo-second-order model. Finally, the recyclability test revealed that the membrane exhibits good recycle efficiency and is stable after 6 recycle.

Biofillers based on cellulose, chitin, starch, and their composites have been topics of interest during the last few decades because of their eco-friendliness, low-cost, and good thermomechanical properties. The biofillers based on plant fibers are hydrophilic that reduce the compatibility with rubber matrix. In this manuscript, an effort has been made to review cellulose, chitin, and starch, focusing on their preparation and properties of natural rubber (NR) based composites reinforced with these fillers. The main characterization properties of NR based composites, such as mechanical, thermal, and biodegradability were discussed. The filler-NR interactions were also explored. The small size of the filler improved the physical interaction between the filler and matrix, and consequently, mechanical, thermal, sorption, crystallinity, and biodegradability of the biofillers/NR composites were found to be improved. Finally, the applications of NR-based composites reinforced with cellulose, chitin, and starch were reviewed in different areas such as medical, food packaging, footwear, sensors and water purification to study their practical uses.

In this work, graphene was used as a filler for banyan aerial root fibers reinforced epoxy composites at various compositions. The synergetic effect of graphene and banyan fibers, on the physical a...

Designing environmentally friendly materials from natural resources represents a great challenge in the last decade. However, the lack of fundamental knowledge in the processing of the raw materials to fabricate the composites structure is still a major challenge for potential applications. Natural fibers extracted from plants are receiving more attention from researchers, scientists and academics due to their use in polymer composites and also their environmentally friendly nature and sustainability. The natural fiber features depend on the preparation and processing of the fibers. Natural plant fibers are extracted either by mechanical retting, dew retting and/or water retting processes. The natural fibers characteristics could be improved by suitable chemicals and surface treatments. This survey proposes a detailed review of the different types of retting processes, chemical and surface treatments and characterization techniques for natural fibers. We summarize major findings from the literature and the treatment effects on the properties of the natural fibers are being highlighted.

In this work, we have developed super tough ternary polymer blends and composites composed of polystyrene (PS), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (SEBS) and exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets (xGnP). A 50/50 composition of PS and LDPE was selected for making the binary blend. The addition of xGnP in the binary blend reduces the tensile strength, elongation at break and tensile toughness considerably due to the unfavorable interactions existing between PS, LDPE, and xGnP. On the other hand, the mechanical properties of PS/LDPE binary blends are considerably improved by the addition of SEBS at the expense of modulus. The best results were obtained for a 33/33/33 (PS/LDPE/SEBS) composition. Further, different concentrations of xGnP were incorporated in the ternary blend with 33/33/33 composition. Interestingly, the composites show a significant improvement in mechanical properties especially for 2.91 wt% xGnP modified ternary blend. The DMA studies revealed that the stress with in the ternary composites are minimum when compared with binary blends and their composites. The variation in the phase morphology of the binary blends by the addition of SEBS and xGnP is responsible for the dramatic changes in mechanical and viscoelastic properties. This study validates large improvement in mechanical properties of the PS/LDPE polymer blends by the careful selection of SEBS and xGnP. Keywords: Polystyrene, Low-density polyethylene, Polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene, Exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets, Toughened plastics

The aim of this study is to investigate natural cellulosic fibers extracted from Tridax procumbens plants. The obtained fibers were alkali treated for their effective usage as reinforcement in composites. The physical, chemical, crystallinity, thermal, wettability and surface characteristics were analyzed for raw, and alkali treated Tridax procumbens fibers (TPFs). The test results conclude that there was an increase in cellulose content with a reduction in hemicellulose, lignin, and wax upon alkali treatment. This enhanced the thermal stability, tensile strength, crystallinity, and surface roughness characteristics. The contact angle was also lesser for treated TPFs which prove its better wettability with the liquid phase. The Weibull distribution analysis was adopted for the analysis of the fiber diameter and tensile properties. Thus the considerable improvement in the properties of alkali treated TPFs would be worth for developing high-performance polymer composites.

Bio adsorbents have received tremendous attention due to their eco-friendly, cheap and non-toxic nature. Recently, bio-adsorbent-based membranes have been frequently employed for water treatment. The work reports the preparation of a novel adsorbent membrane from hierarchical zeolite, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethyl cellulose and agar. The fabricated membrane was characterized spectroscopically and microscopically with several techniques such as XRD, UTM, TGA, optical microscopy and FT-IR, as well as contact-angle studies. The result showed that the hierarchical-zeolite-loaded membrane is superior in terms of thermal stability, mechanical properties and surface roughness. The fabricated membrane was investigated for its efficiency in the removal of Congo red dye in aqueous conditions. The influence of pH, temperature, contact period and the initial concentration of dye and zeolite loading on the adsorption process are also explored. The adsorption results highlighted the maximum sorption property of Congo red on agar/zeolite/carboxymethyl cellulose/polymer biomembrane was found to be higher (15.30 mg/g) than that of zeolite powder (6.4 mg/g). The adsorption isotherms and kinetic parameters were investigated via Langmuir, Freundlich and pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and the intraparticle diffusion model, respectively. The adsorption isotherms fitted well for both considered isotherms, whereas pseudo-second order fitted well for kinetics. The thermodynamic parameter, ΔG at 303 K, 313 K and 323 K was −9.12, −3.16 and −0.49 KJ/mol, respectively. The work further explores the antibacterial efficacy of the prepared membrane and its reusability.

In this work, fillers of waste chicken feather and abundantly available lignocellulose Ceiba Pentandra bark fibers were used as reinforcement with Biopoxy matrix to produce the sustainable composites. The aim of this work was to evaluate the mechanical, thermal, dimensional stability, and morphological performance of waste chicken feather fiber/Ceiba Pentandra bark fiber filler as potential reinforcement in carbon fabric-layered bioepoxy hybrid composites intended for engineering applications. These composites were prepared by a simple, low cost and user-friendly fabrication methods. The mechanical (tensile, flexural, impact, hardness), dimensional stability, thermal stability, and morphological properties of composites were characterized. The Ceiba Pentandra bark fiber filler-reinforced carbon fabric-layered bioepoxy hybrid composites display better mechanical performance compared to chicken feather fiber/Ceiba Pentandra bark fiber reinforced carbon fabrics layered bioepoxy hybrid composites. The Scanning electron micrographs indicated that the composites exhibited good adhesion at the interface of the reinforcement material and matrix system. The thermogravimetric studies revealed that the composites possess multiple degradation steps, however, they are stable up to 300 °C. The thermos-mechanical studies showed good dimensional stability of the composites. Both studied composites display better thermal and mechanical performance compared to neat bioepoxy or non-bioepoxy thermosets and are suitable for semi-structural applications.

In the present work, we have developed a mesoporous silicalite-1 using CMC as a template for the removal of MB from aqueous solution. The synthesized silicalite-1 were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm (BET). XRD and FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of crystallinity and development of MFI structure in the mesoporous silicalite-1. The adsorption of MB dye on mesoporous silicalite-1 was conducted by batch adsorption method. The effect of various parameters such as adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, contact time and temperature on the dye uptake ability of silicalite-1 was investigated. The operating parameters for the maximum adsorption are silicalite-1 dosage (0.1 wt%), contact time (240 min), initial dye concentration (10 ppm) and temperature (30℃). The MB dye removal onto mesoporous silicalite-1 followed pseudo-second-order kinetic and Freundlich isotherm. The silicalite-1 exhibits 86% removal efficiency even after six adsorption-desorption cycle. Therefore, the developed mesoporous silicalite-1 is an effective eco-friendly adsorbent for MB dye removal from aqueous environment.

In the present work, we modified ZSM-5 zeolite using a bio polymer poly (diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) and employed it for the removal of cationic dye, methylene blue from aqueous solution. The chemical and physical properties of the modified ZSM-5 zeolite were investigated using XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, nitrogen adsorption, TGA and 27Al NMR. Modified ZSM-5 zeolite possesses high surface area and pore diameter which was confirmed from SEM, TEM and nitrogen adsorption analysis. Adsorption of methylene blue on zeolite was investigated by batch adsorption technique. The effect of different parameters such as zeolite dosage, initial methylene blue concentration, temperature, pH and contact time on the adsorption process was discussed. Maximum adsorption capacity (4.31 mg/g) was achieved using 0.1g of modified ZSM-5 zeolite at the optimum conditions (initial dye concentration: 10 mg/L, pH: 10, temperature:30oC and contact time: 300 min). The experimental data were fitted into Langmuir and Freundlich models and the results indicate that the adsorption process followed Freundlich isotherm. Kinetic data were investigated using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. Kinetic analysis indicates that pseudo-second-order model is more suitable to describe adsorption of MB on modified ZSM-5 zeolite. The reusability test suggests that the adsorbent could be reused at least six times without significant loss in removal efficiency.

Here the fabrication of a novel PVA/CMC/halloysite nanoclay membrane for the effective adsorption of cationic dye (methylene blue, MB) from aqueous environment is reported. The membranes were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy (OM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), contact angle and universal testing machine (UTM) analysis. The adsorption behavior of the membrane in terms of nanoclay loading, contact time, initial concentration of MB, pH and temperature were also discussed. The membrane exhibits excellent removal efficiency (99.5%) for MB in the optimal conditions such as nanoclay dose = 6 wt%, initial dye concentration = 10 ppm, contact time = 240 min, pH = 10 and temperature = 30 °C. Three isotherm models (Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin) were employed to analyze the dye adsorption data. The results revealed that the adsorption process could be described well with both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm model. The kinetics of MB adsorption onto membrane follows pseudo-second-order model while thermodynamic parameter indicate that adsorption is feasible and endothermic in nature. The antibacterial studies revealed that the PVA/CMC/halloysite nanoclay membrane possess notable antibacterial property. Finally, the desorption studies showed that the membrane have good reusability even after four recycles.

Graphene nanoplatelet derived from human nail was synthesized through a novel synthetic in-situ methodology by using ferric chloride. XPS was performed to scrutinize defects and the percentage of saturated and unsaturated bonds of carbon. Pseudo second order kinetic equation vividly described the nature of the sorption of As(III) on GN surface. Response surface methodology and analysis of variance were used to optimize the reaction parameters. The Langmuir isotherm equation explicitly demonstrated layer dependant sorption phenomenon. The sorption efficiency by GN at lower As (III) concentration range, was observed to be ~99% (247.22 mmol.kg−1) at 300 K, whereas the sorption reaction was endothermic (ΔH0 = +15.09 kJ mol−1) as well as spontaneous (ΔG0 = −0.90 to −3.16 kJ mol−1, and the positive entropy (ΔS0 = +0.05 kJ mol−1K−1) at interface was the driving force of the adsorption reaction.

A facile approach to prepare bionanocomposites of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is reported in this paper. The effect of different wt% of hemp/Sihemp, carbon nanofiber (CNF) and silver nanoparticle (Ag-NPs) on the density, water absorption, melting and crystallization behavior, thermal stability, mechanical properties and morphology was investigated. The density of the composites was reduced except for Ag-NPs reinforced nanocomposites while diffusion coefficient and maximum water absorption were decreased for Sihemp reinforced composites making it a suitable material to replace conventional polymers. Significant improvement in tensile strength (TS) and tensile modulus (TM) was observed for the PBAT/Sihemp composites. For CNF and Ag-NPs reinforced nanocomposites, mechanical properties were retained at lower filler concentration. But as the concentration increased, there was a tendency for the nanofillers to agglomerate, which resulted in a reduction in mechanical properties.

In this paper, we report on the effect of amphiphilic poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymer (TBCP) on the miscibility, phase separation, thermomechanical properties and surface hydrophobicity of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA)/4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) system. The blends were nanostructured. The phase separation occurred via self-assembly of PPO blocks followed by the reaction induced phase separation of PEO blocks. The surface roughness increased with increase in concentration of TBCP due to increased phase separation of PEO blocks at higher concentration. The phase separated PEO blocks formed the crystalline phase in the amorphous crosslinked epoxy matrix. The TBCP has a strong plasticizing effect on the matrix and decreased the glass transition temperature (T-g) and modulus of the thermoset. The incorporation of TBCP improved impact strength and tensile properties and 5 phr TBCP content was found to be optimum to achieve balanced mechanical performance. Moreover, the thermal stability of the epoxy system was retained while hydrophobicity was improved in the presence of TBCP. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The increase in awareness of the damage caused by synthetic materials on the environment has led to the development of eco-friendly materials. The researchers have shown a lot of interest in developing such materials which can replace the synthetic materials. As a result, there is an increase in demand for commercial use of the natural fiber-based composites in recent years for various industrial sectors. Natural fibers are sustainable materials which are easily available in nature and have advantages like low-cost, lightweight, renewability, biodegradability, and high specific properties. The sustainability of the natural fiber-based composite materials has led to upsurge its applications in various manufacturing sectors. In this paper, we have reviewed the different sources of natural fibers, their properties, modification of natural fibers, the effect of treatments on natural fibers, etc. We also summarize the major applications of natural fibers and their effective use as reinforcement for polymer composite materials.

Zeolite are porous material with high surface area and adsorption capacity. It has been employed for the removal of organic contaminants from aqueous system. Here, we report the synthesis of mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolite using a bio template, cellulose. The adsorbent was investigated in detail by different characterization techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and 27Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. The crystalline and MFI nature of the mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolite was confirmed by XRD and FTIR analysis. N2 adsorption/desorption result showed that mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolite has high surface area and pore diameter which was later confirmed through morphological characterization such as SEM and TEM. The adsorption ability of the mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolite was evaluated using methyl orange (MO), an anionic azo dye. The effect of initial dye concentration, adsorbent amount, contact time, temperature and pH on the MO removal process was reviewed. The percentage removal of mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolite is 94.3 % which is much higher than that of the conventional ZSM-5 zeolite (73.2 %). Adsorption isotherm studies were interpreted using two different models i.e., Langmuir and Freundlich model. The result indicates that the adsorption could be well described by Freundlich isotherm model. Meanwhile, kinetic data were best described by pseudo-second-order model. The recyclability test suggest that the synthesized adsorbent has superior regeneration capacity and is stable even after eight adsorption-desorption cycle. Thus, our results show that mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolite is a promising competitor for the removal of dye from aqueous medium.

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of available peer-reviewed literature in which graphene and/or its derivatives are incorporated into a polymer matrix in order to enhance the final properties and functionalities of the three dimensional (3D) printed structure. Research in which graphene derivatives have been incorporated into plastic 3D printing technologies such as Fused deposition modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), Selective laser sintering, Inkjet 3D printing, Extrusion-based printing and Binder-jet printing is presented. For certain design requirements and applicability of the material, great care needs to be taken to select the appropriate printing method. Factors which play a key role in final performance of the printed parts are identified, including dispersion of graphene or its derivatives in matrix, interfacial interaction between graphene or its derivatives and matrix, printing orientation, nanofiller's aspect ratio, reduction of graphene oxide and ink viscosity. In fact, the multifunctional applications of the 3D printed structures based on graphene or graphitic filler composites open up the countless possibilities of current research. Although great progress has been made in exploring the mechanical, electrical, optical and thermal, characteristics of these materials, significant research and development need to be done to fully fetch their inherent potential. This article serves the purpose to researchers to improve latest research outcomes and explore new graphene–based nanocomposites for different applications.

This article presents a comprehensive review on the recent development of graphene and its derivatives in the design and engineering of smart sensors, actuators and soft robotics. Comparing with traditional materials used in the fabrication of sensors and actuators, graphene and its derivatives obviously improved the sensitivity and selectivity of the devices due to their unique properties stemmed from graphene. In this article, we summarized mechanisms, design and engineering, and development of different graphene-based sensors actuators and soft robotics. We also selectively discussed on different techniques and methodologies to improve the performance of graphene-based sensors actuators and soft robotics, especially sensitivity and selectivity. To yield significant improvement and extend the field of applications, scientists have to improve the production of high-quality graphene, enhance the interface and interaction between graphene and other materials, develop multi-functional sensors or actuators, and finally achieve industrial production. Finally, the current challenges, prospective and potential soft robot application of various graphene-based sensors and actuators have been highlighted in detail.

Epoxy resin/4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS) system was modified by the incorporation of poly(e-caprolactone)-block-poly(dimethyl siloxane)-block-poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL–PDMS–PCL) triblock copolymer (TBCP). Morphology, viscoelasticity, thermo-mechanical and surface properties of these blends were investigated. All the blends were opaque after curing. PCL blocks of the TBCP were miscible with epoxy resin while the PDMS fraction was immiscible. However in the cured state, both PCL and PDMS blocks were phase separated from epoxy/DDS matrix. The blends exhibited matrix-droplet morphology in which TBCP phase dispersed as spherical domains in epoxy matrix. Addition of TBCP had profound impact on the cure reaction kinetics. Storage modulus and glass transition temperature (Tg) decreased while impact strength significantly increased. Incorporation of 15 phr of TBCP resulted in 80% improvement in impact strength. Further, thermal stability was unaffected while surface hydrophobicity of the blends increased.

Effects of blend composition and compatibilizer concentration on the thermal degradation and crystallization characteristics of polyolefin blends are reported. Phase morphology and therefore, blend composition played a crucial role in the thermal degradation behaviour of the blends. Although compatibilization significantly improved the thermal stability of the blends, melting and crystallization parameters of the polymers were only marginally affected. Compatibilized blends with co-continuous morphology exhibited a type of “co-degradation” and “co-crystallization”.

Mechanical and physical properties of polypropylene (PP)/polystyrene (PS) blend, PP/PS/polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (SEBS) ternary blend and their composites with carbon nanofibers (CNF) were investigated. Composites of ternary blend exhibited superior properties compared to those of binary blends. Mechanical performance of nanocomposites was intimately related to their phase morphology. PP/PS/SEBS/0.1 wt% CNF hybrid composites exhibited excellent impact strength (Four-fold increase compared to PP/PS blend) and ductility (12-fold increase in elongation at break, with respect to PP/PS blend). Moreover, these composites displayed good tensile strength and modulus (15% increase in Young's modulus, compared to PP/PS/SEBS blend) and are suitable for various end-use applications including automobile applications. Although crystallinity of PP phase is decreased by the incorporation of CNF, thermal stability of the composites remained almost unaffected. Contact angle measurements revealed that ternary composites exhibited maximum hydrophobicity.