The Mechanical properties and fracture behavior of nanocomposites and carbon fiber composites (CFRPs) containing organoclay in the epoxy matrix have been investigated. Morphological studies using TEM and XRD revealed that the clay particles within the epoxy resin were intercalated or orderly exfoliated. The organoclay brought about a significant improvement in flexural modulus, especially in the first few wt% of loading, and the improvement of flexural modulus was at the expense of a reduction in flexural strength. The quasi-static fracture toughness increased, whereas the impact fracture toughness dropped sharply with increasing the clay content.Flexural properties of CFRPs containing organoclay modified epoxy matrix generally followed the trend similar to the epoxy nanocomposite although the variation was much smaller for the CFRPs. Both the initiation and propagation values of model I interlaminar fracture toughness of CFRP composites increased with increasing clay concentration. In particular, the propagation fracture toughness almost doubled with 7wt% clay loading. A strong correlation was established between the fracture toughness of organoclay-modified epoxy matrix and the CFRP composite interlaminar fracture toughness.

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ABSTRACT:Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) reinforced composites for electromagnetic (EM) absorption are reviewed.Here, four types of nanostructured radar absorbing materials (RAMs) were discussed including MWCNTs polymer composites, magnetic nanostructures decorated MWCNTs polymer composites, nonmagnetic nanostructures decorated MWCNTs polymer composites, and honeycomb-coated MWCNTs as RAMs. Challenges hindering the practical applications of such composites have been discussed. It has also been highlighted that MWCNTs decorated with magnetic and dielectric nanostructures are effective for broadband lightweight absorbing materials. C

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Eight tri‐ and diorganotin(IV) carboxylates with general formulae R3SnL and R2SnL2 (where R = CH3, n‐C4H9, C6H5, C7H7, and L = 2′,4′‐difluoro‐4‐hydroxy‐[1,1′]‐biphenyl‐3‐carboxylic acid) were synthesized and characterized by UV–vis, IR, conductance, multinuclear (1H, 13C, and 119Sn) NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The crystal structure of [(CH3)3Sn(C13H7O3F2)] indicates that the tin atom in the asymmetric unit exists in a trigonal bipyramidal geometry having a space group Pbca with an orthorhombic crystal system. These complexes were also screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 13:638–649, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10057