Polymer composite material based on titanium hydride

Objective: The study aimed to characterize sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) regarding its chemical, physicochemical, thermal, structural, crystalline, and morphological properties, in order to evaluate its potential application as a mineral filler in polymer composites. Theoretical Framework: The literature highlights the relevance of agro-industrial residues as an alternative source of mineral fillers in polymers, mainly due to their availability, low cost, and sustainability aspects. SCBA is recognized for its high silica content, as well as metallic oxides that can influence mechanical and thermal properties (Barrera et al., 2021). Method: SCBA characterization was conducted using various techniques. Chemical composition was determined by XRF, while thermal stability was assessed by TGA. FTIR was employed to identify functional groups, and XRD determined the crystalline phases and degree of crystallinity of the material. Finally, particle morphology was examined using SEM. Results and Discussion: The results indicated that SCBA has a chemical composition dominated by SiO₂, followed by K₂O, Fe₂O₃, and CaO, with no toxic elements detected. Thermal analysis demonstrated high stability, while FTIR confirmed the predominance of silica. XRD revealed a crystallinity degree of 50.26%. SEM micrographs showed fibrous, rough, and porous particles, with preserved biomass structures, favoring dispersion and interfacial adhesion in polymer matrices. Overall, these results reinforce the feasibility of SCBA as an alternative mineral filler in sustainable composites. Research Implications: The findings confirm that SCBA exhibits chemical, structural, and morphological characteristics compatible with its use as a polymer filler. Its thermal stability and high silica content underscore its potential for developing sustainable materials with enhanced properties. Originality/Value: This work contributes to expanding knowledge on the use of SCBA as an alternative mineral filler, integrating different characterization techniques. Its originality lies in demonstrating its technical potential while aligning innovation, cost-effectiveness, and reduction of environmental impacts.

The experimental studies of the size characteristics of the titanium powders produced by the electrodispersion of the OT4 alloy waste in distilled water for additive machines demonstrate that the average volumetric particle diameter is 26.3 μm, the modal particle diameter is 35.41 μm, the particle size range is 2.26, the specific surface area of the particles is 13 227 cm2/cm3, and the elongation coefficient (aspect ratio) of the particles is 1.1. The spherical titanium powder materials produced by the electrodispersion of the OT4 titanium alloy waste is shown to be effectively used for additive machines.

The manufacturing of materials, in conjunction with green technology, emphasises the need to employ renewable resources to ensure long-term sustainability. Re-exploring renewable elements that can be employed as reinforcing materials in polymer composites has been a major endeavour. The research goal is to determine how well palm kernel cake filler (PKCF) performs in reinforced epoxy composites. In this study, PKCF with 100 mesh was mixed with epoxy resin (ER) in various ratios ranging from 10% to 40% by weight. Hand lay-up with an open mould is proposed as a method for fabricating the specimen test. Surface modification of PKCF with varying concentrations of NaOH (5 wt.% and 10 wt.%) will be contrasted with the untreated samples. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the effect of alkaline treatment will be examined. The tensile and maximum flexural strength of the untreated PKCF/ER composite were determined in this work, with a 30 wt.% of PKCF having the highest tensile strength of 31.20 MPa and the highest flexural strength of 39.70 MPa. The tensile and flexural strength were reduced to 22.90 MPa and 30.50 MPa, respectively, when the filler loading was raised to 40 wt.%. A 5 wt.% alkali treatment for 1 h improved the composites’ mechanical characteristics. Lastly, an alkali treatment can aid in the resolution of the problem of inadequate matrix and filler interaction. Alkaline treatment is a popular and effective method for reducing the hydroxyl group in fillers and, thus, improving interfacial bonding. Overall, palm kernel cake is a promising material used as a filler in polymer composites.

As part of our studies of structurization processes in polyurethanes (PU) synthesized in the presence of disperse fillers, the effect of surfactants on the supermolecular structure and thermophysical properties of polymeric composites was investigated. At 10 wt% of filler in the polymeric composite, an abrupt breakdown of the physical network with rigid domains acting as crosslink points takes place. By means of surfactants it is possible to increase the content of filler in the composite up to 20%, without appreciable deterioration of the degree of segregation in the polymer matrix.

In recent years, biodegradable composites have become important in various fields because of the increasing awareness of the global environment. Waste natural polymers have received much attention as renewable, biodegradable, non-toxic and low-cost filler in polymer composites. In order to exploit the high potential for residual natural loading in latex composites, different types of surface modification techniques have been applied. This review discusses the preparation and characterization of the modified waste natural fillers for latex-based composites. The potency of the waste natural filler for the latex-based composites was explored with a focus on the mechanical, thermal, biodegradability and filler–latex interaction. This review also offers an update on the possible application of the waste natural filler towards the biodegradability of the latex-based composites for a more sustainable future.

Inorganic–organic hybrids are a group of materials that have recently become the subject of intense scientific research. They exhibit some of the specific properties of both highly durable inorganic materials (e.g., titanium dioxide, zinc) and organic products with divergent physicochemical traits (e.g., lignin, chitin). This combination results in improved physicochemical, thermal or mechanical properties. Hybrids with defined characteristics can be used as fillers for polymer composites. In this study, three types of filler with different MgO/lignin ratio were used as fillers for polypropylene (PP). The effectiveness of MgO-lignin binding was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The fillers were also tested in terms of thermal stability, dispersive-morphological properties as well as porous structure. Polymer composites containing 3 wt.% of each filler were subjected to wide angle X-ray diffraction tests, differential scanning calorimetry and microscopic studies to define their structure, morphology and thermal properties. Additionally, tensile tests of the composites were performed. It was established that the composition of the filler has a significant influence on the crystallization of polypropylene—either spherulites or transcrystalline layers were formed. The value of Young’s modulus and tensile strength remained unaffected by filler type. However, composites with hybrid fillers exhibited lower elongation at break than unfilled polypropylene.

The surface of a powdered glass has been treated to optimize its performance as a filler in polymer composites cast from solution. The aim has been to enhance acid-base interactions between the functional sites of polymers and the surface sites of the glass particles so as to insure complete coverage of the glass particles by adsorbed polymer molecules, and to thereby enhance both the adhesion and dispersion of the filler. The glass chosen for this study is a magnesium aluminum silicate of very low alkali metal content, and its surface sites have negligible basicity and only moderate acidity, as evidenced by weak adsorption of polymethylmethacrylate and negligible adsorption of chlorinated polyvinylchloride from solution in methylene chloride. Because of the negligible surface basicity of the filler, acidic polymers such as polyvinylbutyral and polyvinyl chloride are not adsorbed sufficiently to promote adhesion or dispersibility, and brittle or weak composites result.Surface treatments to enhance surface acidity or basicity of the glass particles were evaluated by electrophoresis in organic solvents, in which acidic particles had negative zeta-potentials and basic particles had positive zeta-potentials; untreated glass particles had zero zetapotentials. The most effective treatments were done with silane coupling agents; amino-silanes provided strong negative zeta-potentials and methacryloxy-silanes provided strong positive zeta-potentials. Angleresolved ESCA spectra showed that the adsorbed amino-silanes averaged about a monolayer in thickness and that half of the nitrogens bonded to the surface as ammonium groups and half were in the outer surface as basic amine groups; the carbonyl oxygens of the methacryloxy-silanes appeared to be bonded to the surface.Heavily-loaded polymer composites were made with the silane-treated and with untreated glass powders, using two acidic binders and a basic binder. The acidic binders were a polyvinylbutyral (PVB) binder cast from solution in a methanol-MIBK mixture, and a post-chlorinated polyvinylchloride (CPVC) binder cast from solution in a mixture of cyclohexane and tetrahydrofuran (THF): the glass transition temperature (Tg) for CPVC is about 140 C, but for PVB it is only about 35 C. The basic polymer (PEHM, polyethyl-hexylmethacrylate) has a Tg well below room temperature. Thus the extension to break in tensile tests was about 1% for CPVC, 10% for PVB, and 20 % for PEHM. About ten stress-strain Instron tests were made on each composite, and the composites with appreciable acid-base interactions between the matrix polymer and the surface sites of the treated glass fillers were in all cases much tougher than those without such acid-base interactions. The brittleness of the polyvinylbutyral composites filled with untreated glass powders was not observed at all on silane-treated glass powders.

Fillers or reinforcing components are an integral part of composite materials. A classification of composites according to structural features and fineness has been adopted. Ideas about the effect of fillers on the physical, mechanical and operational characteristics of composite materials and products have been defined and are constantly being deepened. In this regard, the use of volcanic rocks as fillers is noteworthy. The prospects for the use of certain types of volcanic rocks as disperse fillers of polymer composites are justified by their significant distribution and accumulation of fine fractions of screenings as waste during their extraction and processing. At the same time, the achievement of the effectiveness of such raw materials requires a deepening of ideas about the composition and physico-chemical properties, in the direction of which this work has been done. Physical and chemical studies in terms of evaluating the suitability of volcanic rocks (perlite, zeolite, andesite) as ingredients of polymer composite materials made it possible to obtain quantitative data on their chemical and mineralogical composition, hydrophilic-lyophilic balance and energy state of their surface. The interpretation of the obtained results concerning the potential interaction of the studied materials with polymeric binders is given taking into account the above features of their composition, structure and quantitative IR spectroscopy data in terms of structure-forming bonds Si–O–Si, S –O–Al, hydroxyl groups and adsorbed water. These features indicate the possibility of choosing volcanic rocks as fillers for polymer composites with the required lyophilic-lyophobic balance and energy state of their surface and providing an unlimited level of interaction with polymer binders as a factor in shaping the structure and properties of composites.

Experiments have assessed various polymer composites for radiation shielding in diverse applications. These composites are lighter and non-toxic when compared to lead (Pb), making them particularly effective in diagnostic imaging for shielding against low-energy photons. This study demonstrates the fabrication of four composites by combining a base material, specifically a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) polymer, with 10% and 20% silicon (Si) and silicon carbide (SiC), respectively. Additionally, 5% molybdenum (Mo) was incorporated into the composites as a heavy metal element. The composites obtained were fabricated into 20 disks with a uniform thickness of 2 mm each. Discs were exposed to radiation from a low-energy X-ray source (32.5-64.5 keV). The chemical and physical properties of composites were assessed. The shielding ability of samples was evaluated by determining the linear and mass attenuation coefficients (μ and μm), radiation protection efficiency (RPE), half-value layer (HVL), and mean free path (MFP). According to our findings, supplementing HDPE with additives improved the attenuation of beams. The μm values showed that composite X-ray shielding characteristics were enhanced with filler concentration for both Si and SiC. Polymer composites with micro-molecule fillers shelter X-rays better than polymers, especially at low energy. The HVL and MFB values of the filler are lower than those of the pure HDPE sample, indicating that less thickness is needed to shield at the appropriate energy. HC-20 blocked 92% of the incident beam at 32.5 keV. This study found that increasing the composite sample thickness or polymer filler percentage could shield against low-energy radiation.

Carbon nanotubes, which consist of rolled graphene sheets built from sp(2) hybridized carbon atoms, are now attracting scientists from various disciplines due to their fascinating physico-chemical properties. In this account, we will review the recent progress on the synthetic techniques for the large-scale production of carbon nanotubes, especially focusing on the floating-catalyst method used in the chemical vapour deposition (CVD) process. We will also describe effective purification methods avoiding structural damage, and discuss the electrochemical applications of these systems including the fabrication of: (i) lithium-ion secondary batteries; (ii) lead-acid batteries; (iii) electric double-layer capacitors; (iv) fuel cells; and (v) multifunctional fillers in polymer composites. We foresee that carbon nanotubes will find numerous applications and take an important place in the development of emerging technologies in the near future.

Biocompatible and biodegradable polymer composite systems, featuring electrical and mechanical functionalities, have been studied as a means to enable biointegrated electronics, facilitating the acquisition of diverse valuable data. This involves establishing dependable connections with the pliable, irregular surfaces of human skin and organs to obtain a range of useful information. Previously, biodegradable conductive organic/inorganic materials such as conducting polymers and metal derivatives have been reviewed as a filler for polymer composites; however, there are no reviews about the utilization of conductive, semiconductive, and dielectric composites with various electrical/functional properties as electronic components for biomedical applications. These composites show considerable functions such as biodegradability, compatibility, electrochemical properties, magnetism, and photoluminescence. This review introduces the recent advances in biodegradable electronic devices using conductors, semiconductors, and dielectric‐based composites besides their materials, and fabrication methods for monitoring physiological signals, therapeutic systems, energy storage, and drug delivery, as well as substrate and encapsulation materials.

Sub-micron spherical carbon particles with hollow cores from lignin-based hybrid precursors: preparation, characterization, and electrostatic dissipative application

Composites are widely used due to their excellent mechanical and physical properties. The trend has shifted from using synthetic fillers to natural fillers nowadays as they are more environmentally friendly and biodegradable. Malaysia is one of the largest producers of oil palm, generates abundant by-products such as oil palm fronds that can be valorized as fillers in polymer composites. In this study, different loading of oil palm fronds ash (OPFA) and alkali-activated oil palm fronds ash (AAOPFA) were added into polypropylene (PP) matrix to produce PP/OPFA and PP/AAOPFA composites through injection molding. The alkaline activation (AA) was carried out using 10 M sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate at a liquid-to-liquid (L/L) ratio of 2.5 and a solid-to-liquid ratio of 0.6. The tensile properties, water absorption, morphological, spectroscopy, thermal degradation and electrical conductivity of the composites were analyzed. Results showed that PP/AAOPFA composites at 10 parts per hundred resin (phr) exhibited the highest tensile strength with a 22.3% improvement, and the lowest water uptake, with a 14.5% reduction compared to PP/OPFA composites. Less void and filler pull-out were observed in the micrograph of PP/AAOPFA composites in comparison to PP/OPFA composites. The PP/AAOPFA composites enhanced the electrical conductivity of 2.5% and exhibited better thermal stability compared to PP/OPFA at any filler loading. These findings highlight the potential of PP/AAOPFA composites for sustainable applications in packaging and automotive industries.

Synthesis of sea urchin-like particles of carbon nanotubes directly grown on stainless steel cores and their effect on the mechanical properties of polymer composites

Management and valorization of aluminum saline slags: Current status and future trends