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New poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) based composites have been fabricated by the incorporation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) using melt processing. Their structure, morphology, thermal and mechanical properties have been investigated. Scanning electron microscopy observations demonstrated a more uniform distribution of the CNTs for samples prepared following a processing route based on polymer ball milling and CNT dispersion in ethanol media. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated a remarkable improvement in the thermal stability of the matrix by the incorporation of SWCNTs. Differential scanning calorimetry showed a decrease in the crystallization temperature with increasing SWCNT content, whilst no significant changes were observed in the melting of the composites. The

Several samples of palladium-loaded single-wall carbon nanotubes and palladium-loaded MAXSORB activated carbon were prepared by means of the reaction of the raw carbon support with Pd2(dba)3.CHCl3. When carbon nanotubes were used as the support, the palladium content in the samples reached 13-31 wt % and fine particles of 5-7 nm average size were obtained. In the case of the samples with MAXSORB as the support, the palladium content was higher (30-50 wt %) and the particle size larger (32-42 nm) than in the nanotube samples. At 1 atm and room temperature, the hydrogen capacity of the palladium-loaded samples exceeds 0.1 wt % and is much higher than the capacity of the raw carbon supports (less than 0.01 wt %). The maximum hydrogen capacity at 1 atm and room temperature was found to be 0.5 wt %. A maximum hydrogen capacity of 0.7 wt % was obtained at 90 bar in a palladium-loaded MAXSORB sample, while the capacities for the raw carbon nanotubes and MAXSORB at the same pressure were 0.21 and 0.42 wt %, respectively. At low pressure, it was observed that the H/Pd atomic ratios in the palladium-loaded samples were always higher than in the bulk Pd. The spillover effect is considered as a possible cause of the high H/Pd atomic ratios. On the other hand, the effect of the pressure increase on the spillover was observed to be very low at high pressure and room temperature.

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The influence of a compatibilizer on the thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of PEEK/carbon nanotube composites Díez-Pascual, A. M.; Naffakh, M.; Gómez, M. A.; Marco, C.; Ellis, G.; González-Domínguez, J. M.; Ansón, A; Martínez, M. T.; Martínez-Rubi, Y.; Simard, B.; Ashrafi, B. AbstractThe effect of polyetherimide (PEI) as a compatibilizing agent on the morphology, thermal, electrical and dynamic mechanical properties of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK)/single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) nanocomposites, has been investigated for different CNT loadings. After a pre-processing step based on ball milling and pre-mixing under mechanical treatment in ethanol, the samples were prepared by melt extrusion. A more homogeneous distribution of the CNTs throughout the matrix is found for composites containing PEI, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrates an increase in the matrix degradation temperatures under dry air and nitrogen atmospheres with the addition of SWCNTs; the level of thermal stability of these nanocomposites is maintained when PEI is incorporated. Both differential scanning calorimetry and synchrotron x-ray scattering studies indicate a slight decrease in the crystallization temperatures of the compatibilized samples, and suggest the existence of reorganization phenomena during the heating, which are favoured in the composites incorporating the compatibilizer, due to their smaller crystal size. Dynamic mechanical studies show an increase in the glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites upon the addition of PEI. Furthermore, the presence of PEI causes an enhancement in the storage modulus, and hence in the rigidity of these systems, attributed to an improved interfacial adhesion between the reinforcement and the matrix. The electrical and thermal conductivities of these composites decrease with the incorporation of PEI. Overall, the compatibilized samples exhibit improved properties and are promising for their use in industrial applications.

Improved thermal properties are found for composites incorporating arc-purified SWCNTs, attributed to the higher degree of debundling and lower metal content of these CNTs. These compatibilized composites are new materials for potential high-temperature structural applications.

A systematic characterization of single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) material after successive purification steps, including reflux treatment with nitric acid, air oxidation, and annealing, has been performed. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy shows that a considerable reduction of the metal impurities by up to 95% can be obtained by the nitric acid reflux treatment. During this process, Raman spectroscopy clearly proves that HNO 3 molecules are intercalated into the bundles of SWCNTs. At the same time, SWCNTs have suffered a high degree of degradation and defects are being introduced. The subsequent thermal processes lead to the removal of further defect carbon materials and to the almost complete de-intercalation of the HNO 3 molecules. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that the remaining SWCNT bundles tend to form thick bundles. Thus the applied purification process results in a high-purity SWCNT material with a drastically reduced content of metal nanoparticles and composed of large bundles of SWCNTs.

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