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Achieving proper dispersion of pigments, dyes, or other additives, such as microcapsules or nanoparticles, within printing pastes or textile coatings is crucial for obtaining a homogeneous result. In certain specialized applications, such as coloration technology, it is possible to use colorimetry tools, visual examination, and even artificial vision to identify defects. However, none of these techniques comprehensively map the specific additive distribution. This paper proposes a novel approach: monitoring the distribution of conductive particles (graphene nanoplatelets, referred to as GNPs) within an acrylic coating paste using the Joule's effect. Four different dispersion systems (ultrasound mixer, blender, toroidal agitation, and three-roll mill) are employed. Thermographic images provide an accurate view of how conductive particles are distributed. This complements data from numerical values, such as the maximum and average temperatures recorded for each sample. In certain cases, relying solely on numerical values can be inadequate or insufficient, hence the novelty of this article emphasizing the significance of using the Joule's effect to assess the distribution of conductive particles. Concerning the mixing systems, optimal dispersion of GNPs in distilled water is most effectively achieved using an ultrasound mixer, with enhanced uniformity as dispersion time increases. For mixing the components of the coating paste, the toroidal agitation method yields the best result. Employing the three-roll mill is discouraged for this application due to its propensity to induce phase separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research work studies the self-healing ability, mechanical properties, and shape memory of the polymer Surlyn® 8940 with and without multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a nanoreinforcement. This polymer comes from a partially neutralized poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) (EMAA) ionomer copolymer. MWCNTs and the polymer went through a mixing process aimed at achieving an excellent dispersion. Later, an optimized extrusion method was used to produce a uniform reinforced filament, which was the input for the 3D-printing process that was used to create the final test samples. Various concentrations of MWCNTs (0.0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 wt.%) were used to evaluate and compare the mechanical properties, self-healing ability, and shape memory of unreinforced and nanoreinforced materials. Results show an enhancement of the mechanical properties and self-healing ability through the addition of MWCNTs to the matrix of polymer, and the specimens showed shape memory events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coating is a technique widely used in the textile industry for different purposes, mainly in coloring and functional finishes. Graphene is usually applied to fabrics using coating techniques to provide such fabrics with properties like thermal or electrical conductivity. All woven fabrics have peaks and valleys in their structure, generated by the warp and weft threads interlacing. When spreading the graphene coating, the paste is placed in the fabric's interstices, and the connection between conductive particles is only produced when the height of the coating is sufficient to connect the different areas where it is deposited. This article analyzes three types of satin weave with three interlacing coefficients (ICs) (0.4, 0.25, 0.17) and two sets of weft yarns each (20 and 71.43 tex). For a blade gap of 1.5 mm, the electrical resistance of samples with weft yarn count of 20 tex and IC of 0.4 is 534.33 Ω, while for IC = 0.25 electrical resistance is 36.8% higher and for IC = 0.17 this parameter increases 249.3%. For samples with weft yarn count of 71.43, the sample with IC = 0.40 exhibits an electrical resistance of 1053 Ω, for IC = 0.25 this value rises to 33.9% and for IC = 0.17 the electrical resistance value increases a total of 78.9%. This finding can be of interest for coatings where continuity is crucial, and for the application of substances that need to be protected from external factors, for which fabrics with deep interstices can be designed to house said products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetragonal zircon-type codoped Yb, Ln–GdVO4 (Ln=Tm, Ho, Er) upconverting nanocrystals with square and rectangular sections were prepared through an efficient low-temperature hydrothermal synthesis. Further processing that combined annealing at 600 °C followed by coating of the surface with a uniform 5 nm-shell of SiO2 resulted in a significant improvement of the intensity of the upconverted emitted visible light following near-infrared (∼980 nm) diode laser excitation with respect to raw hydrothermal nanocrystals. Strong tunable color and bright visible light composed of red–green, blue and green emissions from Ho3+, Tm3+ and Er3+, respectively, were generated by adjusting the Yb–Ln composition of these silica-coated nanocrystals. Based on calculations of CIE color coordinates, nearly ideal white upconversion light was achieved for samples of composition Gd0.829Yb0.15Tm0.01Ho0.009Er0.002VO4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]