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Individual perfect multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) can exhibit exceptional properties, such as an elastic modulus of ~1 TPa. However, integration of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in bulk ceramic composites has not yet resulted in the significant improvements in mechanical properties that such data suggest to be achievable. Composites with aligned and continuous CNTs and with high CNT volume fractions might be expected to maximise the improvements. We have produced aligned MWCNT preforms by chemical vapour deposition and fabricated dense, aligned and continuous 20% MWCNT/glass composites. This was achieved by infiltration of a ceramic precursor sol into the interstices of a MWCNT preform and consolidation by hot-pressing. The elastic modulus was measured using microcantilever tests and showed a 32% improvement over that of glass. The Young's modulus inferred for the MWCNTs in the composite was 200 ± 20 GPa. The load-displacement curves showed a nonlinear and hysteretic behaviour which was attributed to interwall sliding within the MWCNTs. Apparent bridging of the cracks by the MWCNTs and a load maximum preceding failure

The sol-gel technique was used to prepare the nanocatalyst from waste egg shells for the production of yellow oleander biodiesel. In this study, the physicochemical and catalytic properties of the nanocatalysts were investigated using: X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) model to quantify the pore structure of the samples, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) to calculate the exact surface area were the techniques used. The results of the EDX, and XRF analysis showed that the synthesized nanocatalyst was majorly CaO. At 90.46 ± 1.73%, this was higher than the control for incinerated eggshells. From TEM images the particles were spherical in shape with particle sizes ranging from ≈ 7 to 41 nm. BET analysis results indicated that the nanocatalyst was mesoporous with surface area, average pore diameter, and pore volume was; 5.54 ± 0.48 m2/g, 18.57 ± 2.16 nm, and ≈ 0.016 ± 0.0 – 0.017 ± 0.0 cm³/g, respectively. The surface area to volume ratios were 3.27 ± 108 m-1, 2.52 ± 108, and 1.95 ± 108 m-1, respectively. Incinerated eggshells highest followed the synthesized nanocatalyst and CaO, respectively. The synthesized eggshell nanocatalyst was found to be a potential nanocatalyst.