The effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) functionalization in altering the properties of Epoxy-CNT composites is presented. The presence of functional groups effectively influenced the colloidal behavior of CNTs in the precursor epoxy resin and the hardener triethylenetetramine (TETA), which affected the synthesis process and eventually the interfacial interactions between the polymer matrix and the CNTs. The physical, thermal and electrical properties of the composites exhibited strong dependence on the nature of functionalization. At a 0.5 wt% CNTs loading, the enhancement in tensile strength was found to be 7.2, 11.2, 11.4 and 14.2 percent for raw CNTs, carboxylated CNTs, octadecyl amide functionalized CNTs and hydroxylated CNTs, respectively. Glass transition temperatures (Tg) also varied with the functionalization and composite prepared using hydroxylated CNTs showed the maximum enhancement of 34%.

No abstract

Pervaporation (PV) has been considered as one of the most active and promising areas in membrane technologies in separating close boiling or azeotropic liquid mixtures, heat sensitive biomaterials, water or organics from its mixtures that are indispensable constituents for various important chemical and bio-separations. In the PV process, the membrane plays the most pivotal role and is of paramount importance in governing the overall efficiency. This article evaluates and collaborates the current research towards the development of next generation nanomaterials (NMs) and embedded polymeric membranes with regard to its synthesis, fabrication and application strategies, challenges and future prospects.

No abstract

No abstract