Publications by authors named "Emile Motta de Castro"
Rapid cooling in fast-rate manufacturing processes such as additive manufacturing and stamp forming limits the development of crystallinity in semicrystalline polymer nanocomposites and, therefore, potential improvements in the mechanical performance. While the nucleation, chain mobility, and crystallization time from rapid cooling are known competing mechanisms in crystallization, herein we elucidate that the crystalline morphology and architecture also play a key role in tuning the mechanical performance. We explore how modifying the spherulite morphology via a cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) and graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) hybrid system in their pristine form can improve or preserve the mechanical properties of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) nanocomposites under two extreme cooling rates (fast -460 °C/min and slow -0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Manufacturing carbon fiber composites has faced challenges in simultaneously improving both multifunctionality and structural properties due to limitations in current production methods that do not control nanoscale interactions effectively.
- A new programmable spray coating technique allows for the deposition of various nanomaterials in customizable patterns, which enhances damage containment and electrical-thermal conductivity in composites compared to traditional methods.
- Research indicates that altering the shape of deposited patterns—from disks to rings—can significantly improve the interaction between carbon fibers and epoxy, resulting in better mechanical and multifunctional performance without compromising structural integrity.