Nanoporous silica membranes fabricated using multiwalled carbon nanotubes.

Nanoporous silica membranes were fabricated using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) and acyl chloride-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The amine groups of silane reacted with the functional groups (e.g.

Electrical and mechanical properties of poly(L-lactide)/carbon nanotubes/clay nanocomposites.

An organoclay containing epoxy groups, twice-functionalized organoclay (TFC), was synthesized by reacting (glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxy silane with Cloisite25A (C25A), which had already been modified with an amine compound. The introduction of epoxy groups to the clay surface and carboxylic group-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) improved the interfacial adhesion between the poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and nano-sized fillers when melt-compounded. The PLLA/MWCNTs/TFC nanocomposites showed superior tensile properties to those of PLLA and PLLA/CNTs.

Preparation and characterization of silicone rubber/functionalized carbon nanotubes composites via in situ polymerization.

The dispersion of the nanometer-sized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in a silicone matrix leads to a marked improvement in the properties of the silicone based composite. In this study, silicone rubber/MWCNTs nanocomposite was successfully prepared by functionalizing MWCNTs with silane compound. This allowed a homogeneous dispersion of functionalized MWCNTs in the silicone matrix.

Controlled functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes with various molecular-weight poly(L-lactic acid).

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were functionalized with poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) with different molecular weights using a "grafting to" technique. The oxidized MWNT (MWNT-COOH) were converted to the acyl-chloride-functionalized MWNT (MWNT-COCl) by treating them with thionyl chloride (SOCl2) and reacting them with PLLA to prepare the MWNT-g-PLLA. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy revealed that the PLLA was covalently attached to the MWNT, and the weight gain due to the functionalization was determined by thermogravimetric analyses (TGA).

Antimicrobial activity of p-hydroxyphenyl acrylate derivatives.

To estimate the antimicrobial effect of p-hydroxyphenyl acrylate (H5) derivatives on the basis of their molecular structure, the hydroxy and acryl groups of p-hydroxyphenyl acrylate were modified. The antimicrobial activity of the resulting compounds was assessed against a Gram-positive bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus), a Gram-negative bacterium (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium pinphilum) by the halo zone and the shake flask test. The antimicrobial activity of H5 was ascribed mainly to the acryl group.

Toxicity and biodegradation of diamines.

Phytotoxicity and cytotoxicity of 2,4-diaminotoluene (2,4-D), 4,4'-methylenedianiline (4,4-D), and 1,6-hexanediamine (1,6-D) were investigated by observing the germination of young radish seeds and the viability of HeLa cells, respectively. 2,4-D showed the highest, 4,4-D intermediate, and 1,6-D lowest cytotoxicity. However, the phytotoxicity decreased in the order of 4,4-D > 2,4-D > 1,6-D.