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(HDEHP + Hexa)/SiO2-P, a silica-based adsorbent, was prepared and used to separate Y(III) from a mixed solution of Sr(II) and Y(III). The adsorption behavior of the adsorbent was investigated using batch tests. The adsorbent exhibited high adsorption performance for Y(III) in low nitric acid concentrations and weak adsorption performance for Y(III) at higher concentrations. In contrast, Sr(II) was not adsorbed in either acid concentration range. The same tendency was observed under hydrochloric acid conditions. Y(III) separation from a mixed solution of Sr(II) and Y(III) was verified by a column test. Overall, the (HDEHP + Hexa)/SiO2-P adsorbent can separate Y(III) from Sr(II).

Aiming at selective adsorption and separation of Pd(II) in nitric acid solution, a hybrid soft N and hard O donor adsorbent (TAMIA-EH+TOA)/SiO2–P (P = Polymer) was successfully synthesized. The adsorption performances of (TAMIA-EH+TOA)/SiO2–P adsorbent towards Pd(II) were systematically investigated as a function of contact time, effect of concentration of nitric acid, effect of temperature etc. Adsorption speed of Pd(II) was fairly fast and can reach equilibrium state within only 0.5 h. The distribution coefficient of Pd(II) was more than 103 when [HNO3] = 0.1. Though it decreased gradually with an increase in the concentration of HNO3, the adsorption selectivity of (TAMIA-EH+TOA)/SiO2–P adsorbent towards Pd(II) was still significant than other co-existing metal ions in the whole HNO3 range from 0.1 to 5 M. The adsorption isotherm of Pd(II) onto (TAMIA-EH+TOA)/SiO2–P adsorbent fitted well with Langmuir adsorption model but Freundlich isotherm model. The calculated results of adsorption thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption process of Pd(II) was exothermic and happened in a natural way. Furthermore, the separation chromatography experiment by utilizing (TAMIA-EH+TOA)/SiO2–P adsorbent packed column was carried out. Based on the results of plotted elution curves, it was found that the successful recovery of Pd(II) (96.27%) was achieved by eluting with thiourea solution.

There is a great demand for a dispersion evaluation method that can be applied even when a nano-sized filler is incorporated, that can evaluate a three-dimensional (3D) quantitative dispersion of a composite material, and that is not expensive and time consuming. Here, we proposed light-intensity dispersion index (LDI) to quantitatively evaluate the dispersion based on the light scattering distribution on divided optical microscopy (OM) images. Difference in the light-intensity is determined by the dispersion and agglomeration of the filler in the polymer matrix; therefore, the smaller the distribution and the number of peaks of light-intensity, the more uniform the dispersion. The reliability of the developed LDI was improved by introducing an agglomeration size weighting factor. Furthermore, the validity of the LDI was also verified in comparison with the experimental results. In conclusion, we have successfully developed a method for the 3D quantitative dispersion evaluation of nanocomposites with minimal cost and time consumption.

Adsorption and separation performances of a microporous silica-based (DAMIA-EH + TOA)/SiO2-P adsorbent towards Pd(II) were systematically investigated under the effect of contact time, temperature, concentration of nitric acid, chromatography etc. in a simulated high-level liquid waste containing 14 kinds of representative co-existing metal ions. Successful recovery of around 97.95% Pd(II) was achieved under the elution with 0.01 M Tu (pH = 2) solution in column experiment.

There is a growing demand for the development of a melt process-based nanocomposite manufacturing process capable of minimizing the incorporation of expensive carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by inducing a uniform dispersion of multi-walled CNTs (MWNTs). In this study, we proposed a nanocomposite manufacturing process that includes both physical particle mixing using high-speed rotation and anionic polymerization of e-caprolactam (CL) to induce a uniform dispersion of MWNTs. MWNTs were uniformly dispersed by powder mixing and then wrapped with polyamide 6 polymers by in-situ polymerization of CL. The synergistic effect of the two sub-processes resulted in an enhanced dispersion of MWNTs and prevented aggregation of the MWNTs. The composites fabricated by the proposed process exhibited electrical conductivities of 4.49 × 10−5 S/m and 1.45 × 10 S/m at 1 wt% and 3 wt% MWNTs, respectively, indicating that by applying the proposed process it is possible to incorporate a smaller amount of MWNT to achieve electrical conductivities applicable for electrostatic discharge (ESD) (>1 X 10−5 S/m) and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) (>10 S/m) applications. An ESD chip tray and EMI SE mobile phone case were fabricated using the prepared composite, and it was verified that the ESD and EMI SE performances can be realized.

Silica aerogels have attracted great interest for several decades because of their super thermal insulation property, but their fragility has limited their application in every-day products. Here we describe a method to fabricate flexible and thermally-insulated composites by using a flexible poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) matrix and by preventing matrix impregnation of the silica aerogel pores. The silica aerogel was first mixed with ethanol to prevent impregnation of the silica aerogel pores with PDMS molecules. After composite fabrication, the ethanol was removed. The optimum PDMS composite had super thermal insulation (0.018 W/m·K) and was flame-retardant, in addition to being flexible. This method described here will facilitate the application of silica aerogel-incorporated composites as thermal insulation materials for products that require flexibility and flame-retardant properties.

Techniques for optimizing the dispersion of carbon nanotubes in composites by applying small amounts of additives in a simple manner are recognized as one of the most important core technologies in nanocomposite engineering. In this study, we reported the feasibility of phenyl glycidyl ether (PGE) as an effective noncovalent functionalization agent and suggested a facile and low-temperature process that applied high-speed rotation based on a planetary centrifugal mixer to improve the dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) in the polyamide 6 (PA6) composite. PGE molecules were introduced on MWCNTs based on the π-π* interaction, resulting in enhanced MWCNT dispersion by preventing of the aggregation between the MWCNTs due to the van der Waals force. The tensile strength of the PA6 composite fiber filled with 1 wt% MWCNTs was improved up to 31.8% by the PGE treatment, indicating that PGE molecules were an effective noncovalent functionalization agent.

We herein propose a facile approach to fabricate foldable and coatable silica aerogel polyurethane composites (APCs). For the flexibility control, the soft segment of polyurethane (PU) is manipulated. The change in soft segment length induces a difference in overall glass transition temperature of PU. When the silica aerogel content is increased, the PU with a shorter soft segment length shows brittle fracture behavior, while the PU with a longer soft segment length shows no breakage after bending. The thermal insulation properties of APCs were enhanced by 72% reduction in thermal conductivity upon 30 wt% aerogel loading and theoretically verified by a micromechanics-based thermal conductivity model considering the effects of interface and agglomeration. In addition, for the combustion behavior measurements, heat release rate and heat release capacity are substantially reduced for the APCs compared to neat PUs. Those enhanced thermal insulation properties may have a commercial impact on thermal insulation applications.

The thermally insulating, fire-retardant, smokeless and flexible polymer nanofiber is an incredibly important material for mankind. This polymer nanofiber is expected to breed technological innovations in applications such as thermally insulated clothing and building materials. Here, we propose an electrospinning process to fabricate silica aerogel-filled polymer nanofibers by modifying the typical sol–gel chemistry process for the synthesis of silica aerogel. Silica aerogel-filled polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) nanofiber webs, fabricated using the proposed process, were fire-retardant, smokeless and flexible; they also exhibited a low thermal conductivity of 0.028 W·m−1·K−1, which was 26.3% lower than that of pure PVdF nanofiber webs. To study the unique thermal characteristics of nanofibers theoretically, a micromechanics-based, two-scale multiphase model was proposed, with consideration of fiber structure including nano and micro pores. These developments make an important contribution to bringing silica aerogel products to everyday life.

Adhesive materials for carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have attracted the interest of researchers as an effective means to bond newly developed lightweight and high-performance composite structures. In this study, we developed a novel method to overcome these critical problems through a silica particle coating. Four-step bonding procedures were proposed to bind heterogeneous materials, where various concentrations of silica particles were introduced to coat CFRP composite surfaces uniformly in order to serve as a reinforcement and as a protection barrier layer against CFRP fractures. Experimental evaluations of the mechanics and fractography studies were conducted to clarify the correlations among the silica concentrations, adhesive strength levels, coating properties, and CFRP surface fractures. It was demonstrated that the introduction of the silica surface coating improves the adhesive strength by approximately 20% while also reducing CFRP surface fractures significantly by around 90%.

Electrophoresis can be an effective approach for depositing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the surface of carbon fiber (CF). Nevertheless, it has been rarely reported on polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) composites filled with CFs surface-modified by CNTs based on electrophoresis. In this study, we investigated the electrophoresis process conditions that can completely coat CF with multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) using self-manufactured electrophoresis equipment, and the enhancement of interfacial, electrical and flexural properties of PPS composites by introducing CFs coated with MWCNTs based on electrophoresis. In particular, interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the PPS composites was measured by microbond tests and improved by about 41.7% due to the MWCNTs introduced on the surface of CFs. These enhancements were theoretically explained by an interface-modified CF-based micromechanical model. Introducing MWCNTs on the CF surface based on electrophoresis was demonstrated to be an effective method for improving the interfacial, electrical and flexural properties of PPS composites.

To separate heat-generating Cs from high-level liquid waste (HLLW), the extraction of Cs(I) using 1,3-[(2,4-diethylheptylethoxy)oxy]-2,4-crown-6-calix[4]arene (calix[4]arene-R14) in combination with 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) ionic liquids ([C n mim][NTf2], where n = 2, 4, and 6) was investigated. Under moderately acidic conditions, the calix[4]arene-R14/[C n mim][NTf2] system showed a higher extraction efficiency (ECs) than that exhibited by the conventional calix[4]arene-R14/dichloromethane system. All extraction processes reached equilibrium within 5 min. Slope analysis revealed that the Cs:calix[4]arene-R14 inclusion complex has a 1:1 stoichiometry. The extraction was found to be exothermic and influenced by the presence of Na(I). These extraction systems exhibited high efficiency and selectivity for Cs(I) in simulated HLLW.

To separate Mo(VI) from high-level liquid waste, a silica-based (anti-DEHDO + Dodec)/SiO2-P adsorbent was synthesized by impregnating an anti-isomer of 5,8-dietyl-7-hydroxy-6-dodecanonoxime (DEHDO) as a hydroxyoxime-type extractant and a molecule modifier of 1-dodecanol into a SiO2-P support, where “P” indicates the polymerized styrene–divinylbenzene inside macroporous SiO2 particles. Adsorption and separation behaviors of Mo(VI) in HNO3 solutions onto the adsorbent were investigated by batch and column methods, respectively. The adsorbent can effectively adsorb Mo(VI) in both methods. In addition, Pd(II) and Zr(IV) contained in the simulated high-level liquid waste were successfully isolated by the adsorbent packed column, respectively.

The importance of the thermal conductivity of engineering plastics reinforced with nanofillers is increasing in various industries, and the need for a model with which to make reliable predictions continues. We propose a micromechanics-based multiscale model that considers multi-shaped nanofillers to predict the thermal conductivity of composites. The distribution of each phase is assumed to be probabilistically distributed, and the Kapitza resistance at the interface between the filler and matrix was calculated by means of a molecular dynamics simulation. A polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) composite system embedded with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was used in a specific simulation. Composites containing MWCNTs of different lengths were also fabricated to obtain appropriate experimental results for the verification of the proposed model. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning microscopy (FE-SEM) were carried out to confirm that the selected materials could suitably be compared. Finally, the proposed model was applied to the finite element method to examine the heat flux of the composites according to the constitutive properties, and their results were compared to the experimental results.

Numerous studies have been reported on thermal interface materials based on synergistic hybrid effects, however, most of them contain only fragmentary experimental results and the related model has been rarely proposed to explain the effects exactly. Herein, the thermal conductivities of the composites were systematically evaluated according to various filler contents and ratios. It was found that the fraction of the secondary filler inducing the maximum synergistic effect decreased as the total filler content increased. In addition, when the fraction was higher than the optimum fraction, the anti-synergistic effect occurred. At the optimum fraction, effective phonon transfer was induced due to the improved filler network formation of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)-carbon nanotube (CNT), thereby achieving high thermal conductivity of 7.69 W/m·K at fGNP = 27.69 vol% and fCNT = 0.57 vol%. Moreover, the Kim-Jang-Lee (KJL) model for the synergistic effect was proposed by introducing filler-ratio variables into the critical percolation equation reported previously, and the KJL model for the anti-synergistic effect was proposed based on the rule of mixture of composites filled with the optimal connected filler network and filled with the excessive secondary filler.

To estimate the applicability of thiodiglycolamide-type extractant-impregnated adsorbents to separation of the platinum group metals (PGMs) from high-level liquid waste, radiation effects on the adsorption behavior of PGMs onto a macroporous silica-based (Crea-TOA)/SiO 2 -P absorbent and on the stability of the adsorbent were investigated by using γ-rays emitted from 60 Co, and the results were compared with those obtained using (MOTDGA-TOA)/SiO 2 -P. A difference in adsorption behaviors of PGMs onto the two adsorbents was not observed with or without irradiation up to 100 kGy of the absorbed dose. Decomposition of the impregnated extractants and degradation of the adsorption capability increased with increasing absorbed dose, but the distribution coefficient of Pd remained >10 2 up to approximately 250 kGy. The retention ratio of loaded PGMs gradually decreased with increasing absorbed dose. From these results, the adsorbents were considered to be useful for the adsorption of PGMs irrespective of whether the adsorption system was irradiated, except for when the adsorbent was irradiated by a very large dose.

4’4’(5’)-di( tert -butylcyclohexano)-18-crown-6 (DtBuCH18C6) modified with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoro methylsulfonyl) imide ([C 2 mim][NTf 2 ]) was loaded onto porous silica/polymer composite support (SiO 2 -P) particles with a mean diameter of 50 μm and used to extract Sr(II) from HNO 3 solutions. The effect of HNO 3 concentration on the equilibrium kinetics and thermodynamic properties of Sr(II) uptake were investigated by batch methods. The adsorbent exhibited excellent adsorption selectively for Sr(II) over a wide range of HNO 3 concentrations. The adsorption of Sr(II) in the presence of 3 M HNO 3 on (DtBuCH18C6+[C 2 mim][NTf 2 ])/SiO 2 -P attained equilibrium within 1 h, and a relatively large distribution coefficient ( K d ) of ca. 30 cm 3 ·g −1 was obtained. Kinetic data were successfully modeled using pseudo-second-order kinetics. The adsorption of Sr(II) was a spontaneous and exothermic process. The uptake isotherm of Sr(II) for (DtBuCH18C6+[C 2 mim][NTf 2 ])/SiO 2 -P followed a Langmuir-type adsorption equation.

In this study, electrospun Nylon-6,6 nanofiber (Nylon-6,6 NFs) reinforced cyclic butylene terephthalate (CBT) composites were prepared by electrospinning process followed by hot press method and compared with the pristine Nylon-6,6 nanofiber in terms of tensile properties and light transparency. The formation of hydrogen bonds between CBT and nylon-6,6 molecules results enhancement of the mechanical property of the composite. Further, the high optical transmittance of the composite was achieved.

The use of hybrid fillers consisting of phycochemically different nanoparticles has been widely investigated to realize synergistic improvement of thermal conduction behaviors. The enhancement of thermal conductivity of composites is often limited by the thermal contact resistance of the reinforcing particles. We prepare a series of hybrid nanofiller reinforced composites composed of two-dimensional boron nitrides and one-dimensional multiwalled carbon nanotubes to investigate the interfacial thermal resistances of the composites by a finite element method. The interfacial thermal resistances calculated by the finite element modeling are implemented into a Mori–Tanaka homogenization scheme to predict the thermal conductivities of the composites with perfect and imperfect interfaces. The prediction by the Mori–Tanaka method was in good agreement with the finite element simulation and the experimental results.

We report the rare-earth-free Sr2YSbO6 (SYS):Mn4+ phosphors with excellent photoluminescence performance for indoor illuminations. The phase structure, elemental composition, luminescence behavior, thermal stability, lifetime, color purity, and quantum yield (QY) were analyzed in detail. The resultant sample showed a broadband excitation wavelength in the range of 250–450 nm, and the optimal doping concentration was 0.5 mol%. Under the suitable excitation wavelength of 307 nm, the SYS:0.005Mn4+ phosphor emitted a deep-red emission with the Commission Internationale de I'Eclairage chromaticity coordinate of (0.708, 0.290) and a high color purity of 93.34%. The emission intensity was found to be about 59.45% at 423 K while the activation energy was 0.28 eV. Moreover, the lifetime and QY of the optimal sample were measured to be 641.58 µs and 38.37%, respectively. Eventually, the white lighting-emitting didoes (LEDs) exhibited a strong white light with good color-rendering index (CRI) and correlated color temperature (CCT) values. Besides that, the novel LED structure based on the SYS:0.005Mn4+-polydimethylsiloxane film could also emit a warm white region while the CRI and CCT values were measured to be about 81.39 and 3091 K.

Self-reinforced composites (SRCs) are easy to recycle because the matrix and reinforcement are composed of the same material. However, the narrow processing window makes it difficult to optimize the relationship between the internal structure and the mechanical properties. In this study, we adopted a strategy to control the melting temperature and flowability of the matrix to expand the processing window of a polypropylene (PP)-based SRC. To experiment with this strategy, 1500% drawn PP fiber was used as the reinforcement, while a PP/low-density polyethylene (LDPE) blend, PP/ethylene copolymer, or PP/ethylene/butene terpolymer were adopted as the matrix. The tensile strength of the PP-based SRC prepared by applying the copolymer matrix under optimized processing conditions was improved by 22.3%, as compared to that of the SRC prepared using the raw PP matrix. As a result, the design rule used to obtain optimum processing conditions for SRC production with outstanding mechanical properties was proposed.

A series of polyketone (PK) nanocomposite films with varying content of noncovalently functionalized graphene nanoplatelet with 1-aminopyrene (GNP/APy) is prepared by solution blending with a solvent of hexafluoro-2-propanol. GNP/APy, prepared by a facile method, can effectively induce specific interaction such as hydrogen bonding between the amine functional group of GNP/APy and the carbonyl functional group of the PK matrix. With comparison of GNP and GNP/Py as reference materials, intensive investigation on filler-matrix interaction is achieved. In addition, the dispersion state of the functionalized GNP (f-GNPs; GNP/Py and GNP/APy) in the PK matrix is analyzed by three-dimensional nondestructive X-ray microcomputed tomography, and the increased dispersion state of those fillers results in significant improvement in the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). The enhancement in WVTR of the PK/GNP/APy nanocomposite film at 1 wt % loading of filler leads to a barrier performance approximately 2 times larger compared to that of PK/GNP nanocomposite film and an approximately 92% reduction in WVTR compared to the case of pristine PK film. We expect that this facile method of graphene functionalization to enhance graphene dispersibility as well as interfacial interaction with the polymer matrix will be widely utilized to expand the potential of graphene materials to barrier film applications.

We proposed a solvent-free melting process for fabricating high-conductivity polymer composite films filled with highly dispersed GNP fillers. The excellent dispersion of GNP fillers in the composite films was observed using X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), a non-destructive three-dimensional (3D) analysis technique that helps to analyze the internal structures of composite films with precision. The excellent dispersion of GNP fillers also confirmed by the fact that experimentally determined electrical and thermal conductivity values of the composite films were well consistent with the theoretical calculations obtained with a Mori-Tanaka method. The composite films exhibited an electrical conductivity on the order of 101 S/m and the in-plane thermal conductivity of 7.1 W/m·K when they contained 20 wt% GNP fillers.

We found that the thermal conductivity of the polycarbonate (PC) composite filled with both 9.9 wt% expanded graphite (EG) and 0.1 wt% multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) fillers was synergistically improved by 49% compared to that of the PC composite filled with 10 wt% EG alone. In order to induce the optimal internal structure favorable for thermal conduction by enhancing the dispersion of the second MWCNT fillers, we applied a two-step melt-compounding to fabricate composites using a MWCNT masterbatch based on a polymerizable oligomer resin, cyclic butylene terephthalate (CBT), which is characterized by ultra-low viscosity and excellent impregnability during initial melting. Three-dimensional (3D) non-destructive characterization using X-ray micro computed tomography (micro-CT) was utilized to demonstrate the synergistic enhancement and to verify dispersion and 3D thermal network of the fillers in the composites accurately. The synergistic enhancement was significantly affected by the formation of the efficient thermally conductive pathways and dispersion of the second MWCNT fillers.

The nanoscopic characteristics of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) used in composites are crucial for attempting to understand and design nanocomposites of a novel class. We investigate the correlations between the nanofiller properties and effective electrical properties of MWCNT-embedded polycarbonate composites by theoretical and experimental approaches. A probabilistic computational model is proposed to predict the influence of MWCNT morphology on the electrical behaviors of MWCNTs-embedded polymer composites. A parameter optimization method in accordance with a genetic algorithm is then applied to the model, resulting that the ideal sets of model constant for the simulation are computationally estimated. For the experimental validation purpose, a comparison between the present theoretical and experimental results is made to assess the capability of the proposed methods. In overall, good agreement between the predictions and experimental results can be observed and the electrical performance of the composites can be improved as the MWCNT length increases.

The recharge fractions of injection water in combined abstraction-injection wells (AIW) were determined using continuous radon monitoring and radon mass balance model. The recharge system consists of three combined abstraction-injection wells, an observation well, a collection tank, an injection tank, and tubing for heating and transferring used groundwater. Groundwater was abstracted from an AIW and sprayed on the water-curtain heating facility and then the used groundwater was injected into the same AIW well by the recharge system. Radon concentrations of fresh groundwater in the AIWs and of used groundwater in the injection tank were measured continuously using a continuous radon monitoring system. Radon concentrations of fresh groundwater in the AIWs and used groundwater in the injection tank were in the ranges of 10,830–13,530 Bq/m3 and 1500–5600 Bq/m3, respectively. A simple radon mass balance model was developed to estimate the recharge fraction of used groundwater in the AIWs. The recharge fraction in the 3 AIWs was in the range of 0.595–0.798. The time series recharge fraction could be obtained using the continuous radon monitoring system with a simple radon mass balance model. The results revealed that the radon mass balance model using continuous radon monitoring was effective for determining the time series recharge fractions in AIWs as well as for characterizing the recharge system.

The size of expanded graphite (EG) was controlled using a high-speed crusher because a hybrid of differently sized fillers can induce a synergistic enhancement of the thermal conductivity in polymer composites. We found that the thermal conductivity of a polymer composite filled with both 10 wt% EG and 10 wt% high-speed crusher treated EG (wEG) was synergistically improved by 12.0 and 20.7% compared to that of polymer composites filled with 20 wt% EG and 20 wt% wEG alone, respectively. A three-dimensional (3D) non-destructive analysis using X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was applied to explain the synergistic enhancement and to identify the dispersion and 3D network of EG fillers in the composites accurately. According to the non-destructive analysis results, the synergistic enhancement was caused by the formation of efficient thermally conductive pathways due to the hybrid of the differently sized EG and wEG fillers.

It is very important to predict any defects occurring by undesired fiber deformations to improve production yields of resin transfer molding, which has been widely used for mass production of carbon fiber reinforced composite parts. In this study, a simple and efficient analytic scheme was proposed to predict deformations of a multi-layered fiber preform by comparing the forces applied to the preform in a mold of resin transfer molding. Friction coefficient of dry and wet states, permeability, and compressive behavior of unidirectional (UD) and plain woven (PW) carbon fabrics were measured, which were used to predict deformations of the multi-layered fiber preforms with changing their constitution ratios. The model predicted the occurrence, type, and position of fiber deformation, which agreed with the experimental results of the multi-layered preforms.

We found that the thermal conductivity of polymer composites was synergistically improved by the simultaneous incorporation of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) fillers into the polycarbonate matrix. The bulk thermal conductivity of composites with 20 wt% GNP filler was found to reach a maximum value of 1.13 W/m K and this thermal conductivity was synergistically enhanced to reach a maximum value of 1.39 W/m K as the relative proportion of MWCNT content was increased but the relative proportion of GNP content was decreased. The synergistic effect was theoretically estimated based on a modified micromechanics model where the different shapes of the nanofillers in the composite system could be taken into account. The waviness of the incorporated GNP and MWCNT fillers was found to be one of the most important physical factors determining the thermal conductivity of the composites and must be taken into consideration in theoretical calculations.

In this study, simultaneous separation and recovery of Cs(I) and Sr(II) from nitric acid solution was investigated using a silica-based hybrid adsorbent. The adsorbent was prepared by successive impregnation and fixing of two supramolecular recognition agents namely, 1,3-[(2,4-diethylheptylethoxy)oxy]-2,4-crown-6-Calix[4]-arene(Calix[4]arene-R14) and 4',4' (5")-di(tert-butylcyclohexano)-18-crown-6, onto a silica-based polymer support(SiO2-P). Uptake properties, characterization, equilibrium kinetics, and dynamic adsorption properties of Cs(I) and Sr(II) were then assessed. Distribution coefficients (Kd) higher than 102 cm3/g for Cs(I) and Sr(II) were obtained using 3 M HNO3 at 298 K, and the Kd values decreased with increasing temperature. Adsorption kinetics and equilibrium studies fitted well with pseudo-second-order model and Redlich–Peterson isotherm model, respectively. The constant total organic carbon values in the aqueous phase were obtained after adding 10−3 ∼ 4 M HNO3. Results of the dyn...

We used X-ray computed tomography (CT) using characteristic X-rays produced in micro-particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) to investigate the internal structure of silt particles and develop new methods to decontaminate soil containing radioactive cesium. We obtained 3D attenuation coefficient images of silt particles with a diameter of approximately 100 μm for V K and Cr K X-rays. Owing to the absorption edges of the Cs L-shell, the differences between the V K and Cr K X-ray images revealed the spatial distribution of Cs atoms in the silt particles. Cs atoms were distributed over the surfaces of the silt particles to a thickness of approximately 10 μm. This information is useful for the decontamination of silt contaminated by radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.

Effect of the sizes and shapes of the diverse carbon allotropes such as carbon black, carbon nanotube, graphene nanoplatelet, graphite, pitch-based carbon fiber (PCF), and expanded graphite (EG) on the thermal conductivity of polymer composites is investigated. Effective improvement of the thermal conductivity of composites with microsized one-dimensional (1D) PCF and EG including the intercalation spacing is observed due to efficient formation of thermal transfer networks and little phonon scattering at the interfaces by the reduction of the interfaces. The excellent bulk and in-plane thermal conductivity of the composites with 20 wt% EG fillers of 1.9 and 6.7 Wm−1K−1 is observed.

A macroporous silica-based (Calix[4]+Dodecanol)/SiO2-P absorbent for separation of Cs(I) from HNO3 solution was prepared by impregnating the 1,3-[(2,4-Diethylheptylethoxy)oxy]-2,4-crown-6-calix[4]arene and its molecule modifier 1-dodecanol into a macroporous silica/polymer composite support. To establish its application into partitioning of Cs(I) from High Level Liquid Waste (HLLW), the adsorption properties and radiation effects on the adsorbent were investigated. The adsorbent showed a relatively large distribution coefficient of Cs(I) and fast equilibrium time in simulated HLLW. Additionally, the adsorbent under the gamma-ray field was found to be able to selectively adsorb Cs(I) with similar behavior to the adsorption without irradiation up to at least 170 kGy.

Despite the benefits of recycling, impact resistance, and lightweightness, polypropylene (PP) self-reinforced composites (SRCs) still suffer from a lack of research, especially in continuous manufacturing processes. Herein we report a comprehensive study, from the four-step high-ratio drawing of PP-tapes to the continuous manufacturing of SRCs. The mechanical properties of the PP-tape depend strongly on the final draw ratio with the intermediate drawing history having a negligible effect. Mechanical improvements accompany increases in melting temperature and crystallinity, and a decrease in density. PP-SRC was manufactured by continuous double-belt pressing, with optimum performance attained when processed with a 87-148-80 (°C) temperature profile. Structural integrity was not attained at lower temperatures due to poor impregnation, whereas higher temperatures degraded the mechanical properties of the PP-SRC by relaxing the highly drawn PP-tapes. Finally, an analytical approach based on micro-computed tomography, PP-tape relaxation, and rule-of-mixture calculations led to accurate predictions of experimental moduli.

Achieving high filler dispersion in a polymer composite is very important for effectively and efficiently imparting several advantages of functional fillers to the composite. To this end, we have suggested a synthesis of polyamide 6 via in situ ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolactam and edge-selectively functionalized graphene nanoplatelets without defects on its basal plane synthesized by a ball-mill process with dry ice. As a consequence, the final graphene nanocomposite possesses highly dispersed filler and has enhanced electrical conductivity due to its undistorted sp2 hybridization after functionalization. This approach is a promising way of incorporating filler into polymer composites, effectively implementing highly electrical conducting graphene without its aggregation and damage to its inherent properties after functionalization.

With the recent demand for miniaturization and integration of electronic devices, there has been a growing interest in device malfunction due to high temperature. In this study, a experimental and theoretical study on the composites with improved thermal conductivity by dispersing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in the thermoplastic resin was carried out. A micromechanical model was derived based on the ensemble volume-averaging method and the modified Eshelby’s tensor reflecting the interface properties. The effects of the waviness, interface, and orientation of fillers on the thermal conductivity of composites were numerically analyzed. A computational intelligence-based particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm was adopted to the proposed model for optimizing the model constants. The thermal conductivity of the polymerized cyclic butylene terephthalate (pCBT)/MWCNT composites was experimentally measured according to the content of MWCNT. Finally, the experimentally measured data were utilized in the PSO to improve the predictive capability of the proposed model.

In order to develop a nanocomposite film based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as an electromagnetic wave shielding material, we propose a solvent-free melting process for fabricating highly dispersed MWCNT-filled polymer composite films with high electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI)-shielding properties. By observing aggregates (particles larger than 0.7 μm) using X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), the uniform dispersion of the MWCNT fillers in the composite films was confirmed. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity and EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) values calculated using percolation and Simon's equations, respectively, were confirmed to agree with experimental data, indicating excellent MWCNT dispersion. The fabricated composites exhibited excellent electrical conductivity, EMI SE, and EMI specific SE (SSE) values of 4.33 S/cm, 30 dB, and of 24.8 dBcm3g−1, respectively, and the EMI SSE value was as good as metal levels. The proposed solvent-free process can be contributed to the commercialization of EMI SE composite films based on MWCNTs.

In this study, we have investigated the ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence properties of a phosphor (YPO4:Gd) sample from the irradiation of a scanning proton beam to evaluate its usefulness as a staining agent of ion-beam-induced fluorescence microscopy (IBIF). The phosphor was prepared using a co-precipitation method. Owing to the irradiation, the sample exhibited UV fluorescence with a peak wavelength of 312 nm. In the emission spectrum, the FWHM of the UV peak ≈ 6 nm. The light emission in the UV region and the narrow peak bandwidth are characteristics that are effective at minimizing the background fluorescence and allow high-sensitivity IBIF imaging. Moreover, it was confirmed that the phosphor had a considerable radiation endurance. In addition, we successfully obtained IBIF images and elemental maps simultaneously for a test sample containing YPO4:Gd powder. These results demonstrate that the prepared phosphor is suitable for IBIF.

In spite of active studies on multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-incorporated polymer, MWCNTs of different thickness and lengths have been employed. Here, the effects of MWCNT morphology, specifically its length, on the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of MWCNT/polymer composites were examined in comparison with theoretical modeling. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography observations revealed that short MWCNTs were dispersed more uniformly than long MWCNTs in a polyamide 6 (PA6) polymer. Correlation of this result with the tensile performance revealed that at low MWCNT concentrations the long-MWCNT/PA6 composite showed superior tensile properties since the effect of length was dominant. However, at high MWCNT concentrations, the short-MWCNT/PA6 showed superior tensile properties to the long-MWCNT/PA6 due to the better dispersion of the former. The thermal conductivity gradually improved with increasing MWCNT concentration, showing larger improvement for the long-MWCNT/PA6, while the electrical conductivity reached percolation threshold at 1 wt% for both MWCNTs.

There is growing interest in carbon fibre fabric reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites based on a thermoplastic matrix, which is easy to rapidly produce, repair or recycle. To expand the applications of thermoplastic CFRP composites, we propose a process for fabricating conductive CFRP composites with improved electrical and thermal conductivities using an in-situ polymerizable and thermoplastic cyclic butylene terephthalate oligomer matrix, which can induce good impregnation of carbon fibres and a high dispersion of nanocarbon fillers. Under optimal processing conditions, the surface resistivity below the order of 10+10 Ω/sq, which can enable electrostatic powder painting application for automotive outer panels, can be induced with a low nanofiller content of 1 wt%. Furthermore, CFRP composites containing 20 wt% graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were found to exhibit an excellent thermal conductivity of 13.7 W/m·K. Incorporating multi-walled carbon nanotubes into CFRP composites is more advantageous for improving electrical conductivity, whereas incorporating GNPs is more beneficial for enhancing thermal conductivity. It is possible to fabricate the developed thermoplastic CFRP composites within 2 min. The proposed composites have sufficient potential for use in automotive outer panels, engine blocks and other mechanical components that require conductive characteristics.

To investigate the effect of continuous multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the thermal and mechanical properties of composites, we propose a fabrication method for a buckypaper-filled flexible composite film prepared by a two-step process involving buckypaper fabrication using vacuum filtration of MWCNTs, and composite film fabrication using the dipping method. The thermal conductivity and tensile strength of the composite film filled with the buckypaper exhibited improved results, respectively 76% and 275% greater than those of the individual MWCNT-filled composite film. It was confirmed that forming continuous MWCNT fillers is an important factor which determines the physical characteristics of the composite film. In light of the study findings, composite films using buckypaper as a filler and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a flexible matrix have sufficient potential to be applied as a heat-dissipating material, and as a flexible film with high thermal conductivity and excellent mechanical properties.

One of the most important physical factors related to the thermal conductivity of composites filled with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) is the dimensions of the GNPs, that is, their lateral size and thickness. In this study, we reveal the relationship between the thermal conductivity of polymer composites and the realistic size of GNP fillers within the polymer composites (measured using three-dimensional (3D) non-destructive micro X-ray CT analysis) while minimizing the effects of the physical parameters other than size. A larger lateral size and thickness of the GNPs increased the likelihood of the matrix-bonded interface being reduced, resulting in an effective improvement in the thermal conductivity and in the heat dissipation ability of the composites. The thermal conductivity was improved by up to 121% according to the filler size; the highest bulk and in-plane thermal conductivity values of the composites filled with 20 wt% GNPs were 1.8 and 7.3 W/m·K, respectively. The bulk and in-plane thermal conductivity values increased by 650 and 2,942%, respectively, when compared to the thermal conductivity values of the polymer matrix employed (0.24 W/m·K).