Catalytic synthesis of boron nitride nanotubes at low temperatures.

KFeO2 is demonstrated to be an efficient catalyst for the formation of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) by thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD). This alkali-based catalyst enables the formation of crystalline, multi-walled BNNTs with high aspect ratio at temperatures as low as 750 °C, significantly lower than those typically required for the product formation by TCVD.

MWCNTs/P(St-co-GMA) composite nanofibers of engineered interface chemistry for epoxy matrix nanocomposites.

Strengthened nanofiber-reinforced epoxy matrix composites are demonstrated by engineering composite electrospun fibers of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and reactive P(St-co-GMA). MWCNTs are incorporated into surface-modified, reactive P(St-co-GMA) nanofibers by electrospinning; functionalization of these MWCNT/P(St-co-GMA) composite nanofibers with epoxide moieties facilitates bonding at the interface of the cross-linked fibers and the epoxy matrix, effectively reinforcing and toughening the epoxy resin. Rheological properties are determined and thermodynamic stabilization is demonstrated for MWCNTs in the P(St-co-GMA)-DMF polymer solution. Homogeneity and uniformity of the fiber formation within the electrospun mats are achieved at polymer concentration of 30 wt %. Results show that the MWCNT fraction decreases the polymer solution viscosity, yielding a narrower fiber diameter. The fiber diameter drops from an average of 630 nm to 460 nm, as the MWCNTs wt fraction (1, 1.5, and 2%) is increased. The electrospun nanofibers of the MWCNTs/P(St-co-GMA) composite are also embedded into an epoxy resin to investigate their reinforcing abilities. A significant increase in the mechanical response is observed, up to >20% in flexural modulus, when compared to neat epoxy, despite a very low composite fiber weight fraction (at about 0.2% by a single-layer fibrous mat). The increase is attributed to the combined effect of the two factors the inherent strength of the well-dispersed MWCNTs and the surface chemistry of the electrospun fibers that have been modified with epoxide to enable cross-linking between the polymer matrix and the nanofibers.

Engineering chemistry of electrospun nanofibers and interfaces in nanocomposites for superior mechanical properties.

The novelty of this work is based on designing the chemistry of the electrospun nanofibers, so that the resultant composites substantially benefit from cross-linking between the nanofibers and the polymer matrix. Specifically, the solution of in-house synthesized copolymers polystyrene-co-glycidyl methacrylate P(St-co-GMA) is electrospun to produce mats of surface reactive nano-to-submicron scale fibers that are accompanied later by spraying over the ethylenediamine (EDA) as a supplementary cross-linking agent for epoxy. The P(St-co-GMA)/EDA fiber mats are then embedded into an epoxy resin. Analysis of the three-point-bending mode of the composites reveals that the storage modulus of P(St-co-GMA)/EDA nanofiber-reinforced epoxy are about 10 and 2.5 times higher than that of neat and P(St-co-GMA) nanofiber-reinforced epoxy, respectively, even though the weight fraction of the nanofibers was as low as 2 wt %. The significant increase in the mechanical response is attributed to the inherently cross-linked fiber structure and the surface modification/chemistry of the electrospun fibers, that results in cross-linked polymer matrix-nanofiber interfacial bonding.