Highly selective ethanol vapour sensing materials for a new generation of gas sensors based on molecularly imprinted polymers.

A simple gas sensor consisting of a molecularly imprinted polymer-carbon nanotube composite cast onto a screen-printed electrode has been developed with extremely high selectivity for ethanol vapour over methanol vapour. Ethanol gas sensors typically display selectivity for ethanol over methanol in the range 2-4 times, while the mean ratio of ethanol to methanol response observed with the described device was 672. This selectivity was achieved under ambient conditions.

Graphitic carbon nitride-based electrochemical sensors: A comprehensive review of their synthesis, characterization, and applications.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) has garnered much attention as a promising 2D material in the realm of electrochemical sensors. It contains a polymeric matrix that can serve as an economical and non-toxic electrode material for the detection of a diverse range of analytes. However, its performance is impeded by a relatively limited active surface area and inherent instability.

Molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticle-carbon nanotube composite electrochemical gas sensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of methanol vapour.

An electrochemical gas sensor has been fabricated using molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes on screen-printed electrodes. Methanol vapour was chosen as the target due to its toxicity as its suitability as a model for more harmful pollutant gases. The sensor functions under ambient conditions and in the required concentration range, in contrast to all previous MIP-based gas sensors for methanol.

On the Response to Hygrothermal Ageing of Fully Recyclable Flax and Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites.

The present work studies the response to hygrothermal ageing of natural fibre composites (NFCs) against synthetic fibre composites when using three different types of polymers as matrices. For ageing, coupons were fully immersed in distilled water at 23, 40, and 60 °C for a total ageing period of 56 days. Flax fibre-reinforced composites, using two recyclable polymer systems: (i) a bio-based recyclable epoxy and (ii) an acrylic-based liquid thermoplastic resin, were tested against conventional glass fibre-reinforced composites employing a synthetic (petroleum-based) epoxy.

Theoretical and Experimental Determination of Thermomechanical Properties of Epoxy-SiO Nanocomposites.

Improvements in the thermomechanical properties of epoxy upon inclusion of well-dispersed SiO nanoparticles have been demonstrated both experimentally and through molecular dynamics simulations. The SiO was represented by two different dispersion models: dispersed individual molecules and as spherical nanoparticles. The calculated thermodynamic and thermomechanical properties were consistent with experimental results.

Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles as a Mechanical Boosting Agent in Material Extrusion 3D-Printed Polycarbonate.

In this work, the effect of silicon carbide (carborundum, SiC), as a boosting agent of the mechanical response of the polycarbonate (PC) polymer, was investigated. The work aimed to fabricate nanocomposites with an improved mechanical performance and to further expand the utilization of 3D printing in fields requiring an enhanced material response. The nanocomposites were produced by a thermomechanical process in various SiC concentrations in order to evaluate the filler loading in the mechanical enhancement.

High-performance medical-grade resin radically reinforced with cellulose nanofibers for 3D printing.

The effect of Cellulose NanoFiber (CNF) addition to a medical-grade resin in Stereolithography (SLA) Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology is reported, aiming to elaborate an easily processable, highly stiff bio-compound. CNFs were shear stir blended at various weight ratios with liquid resin. The fabricated nanocomposite materials were introduced in an SLA 3D printer for specimens manufacturing.

High Performance Polycarbonate Nanocomposites Mechanically Boosted with Titanium Carbide in Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing.

Herein, a polycarbonate (PC) polymer is melt extruded together with titanium carbide (TiC) nano powder for the development of advanced nanocomposite materials in material extrusion (MEX) 3D printing. Raw material for the 3D printing process was prepared in filament form with a thermomechanical extrusion process and specimens were built to be tested according to international standards. A thorough mechanical characterization testing course (tensile, flexural, impact, microhardness, and dynamic mechanical analysis-DMA) was conducted on the 3D printed specimens.

Recent developments in microbial degradation of polypropylene: Integrated approaches towards a sustainable environment.

Fossil-fuel-based plastics have many enticing properties, but their production has resulted in significant environmental issues that require immediate attention. Despite the fact that these polymers are manmade, some bacteria can degrade and metabolise them, suggesting that biotechnologies based on the principle of plastic biodegradation could be beneficial. Among different types of plastics, polypropylene (PP), either having low or high density, is one of the most consumed plastics (18.

Development and Optimization of Medical-Grade Multi-Functional Polyamide 12-Cuprous Oxide Nanocomposites with Superior Mechanical and Antibacterial Properties for Cost-Effective 3D Printing.

In the current study, nanocomposites of medical-grade polyamide 12 (PA12) with incorporated copper (I) oxide (cuprous oxide-CuO) were prepared and fully characterized for their mechanical, thermal, and antibacterial properties. The investigation was performed on specimens manufactured by fused filament fabrication (FFF) and aimed to produce multi-purpose geometrically complex nanocomposite materials that could be employed in medical, food, and other sectors. Tensile, flexural, impact and Vickers microhardness measurements were conducted on the 3D-printed specimens.

Synthesis of Bio-based monomers and polymers using microbes for a sustainable bioeconomy.

As a result of environmental concerns and the depletion of biomass assets, eco-friendly, renewable biomass-based chemical extraction has recently received significant attention. Bio-based chemicals can be prepared using different renewable feedstockbio-resources through microbial fermentation. Chemicals produced from renewable feedstockscan reduce ecological consequences from improper disposal and repurpose them into valuable products.

On the Mechanical Response of Silicon Dioxide Nanofiller Concentration on Fused Filament Fabrication 3D Printed Isotactic Polypropylene Nanocomposites.

Utilization of advanced engineering thermoplastic materials in fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing process is critical in expanding additive manufacturing (AM) applications. Polypropylene (PP) is a widely used thermoplastic material, while silicon dioxide (SiO) nanoparticles (NPs), which can be found in many living organisms, are commonly employed as fillers in polymers to improve their mechanical properties and processability. In this work, PP/SiO nanocomposite filaments at various concentrations were developed following a melt mixing extrusion process, and used for FFF 3D printing of specimens' characterization according to international standards.

Optimization of the Filler Concentration on Fused Filament Fabrication 3D Printed Polypropylene with Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites.

Polypropylene (PP) is an engineered thermoplastic polymer widely used in various applications. This work aims to enhance the properties of PP with the introduction of titanium dioxide (TiO) nanoparticles (NPs) as nanofillers. Novel nanocomposite filaments were produced at 0.

Enhanced Mechanical, Thermal and Antimicrobial Properties of Additively Manufactured Polylactic Acid with Optimized Nano Silica Content.

The scope of this work was to create, with melt mixing compounding process, novel nanocomposite filaments with enhanced properties that industry can benefit from, using commercially available materials, to enhance the performance of three-dimensional (3D) printed structures fabricated via fused filament fabrication (FFF) process. Silicon Dioxide (SiO) nanoparticles (NPs) were selected as fillers for a polylactic acid (PLA) thermoplastic matrix at various weight % (wt.%) concentrations, namely, 0.

Sustainable Additive Manufacturing: Mechanical Response of Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol over Multiple Recycling Processes.

The continuous demand for thermoplastic polymers in a great variety of applications, combined with an urgent need to minimize the quantity of waste for a balanced energy-from-waste strategy, has led to increasing scientific interest in developing new recycling processes for plastic products. Glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG) is known to have some enhanced properties as compared to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) homopolymer; this has recently attracted the interest from the fused filament fabrication (FFF) three-dimensional (3D) printing community. PET has shown a reduced ability for repeated recycling through traditional processes.

3D Printed Thermoelectric Polyurethane/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites: A Novel Approach towards the Fabrication of Flexible and Stretchable Organic Thermoelectrics.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing of thermoelectric polymer nanocomposites is reported for the first time employing flexible, stretchable and electrically conductive 3D printable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) filaments. TPU/MWCNT conductive polymer composites (CPC) have been initially developed employing melt-mixing and extrusion processes. TPU pellets and two different types of MWCNTs, namely the NC-7000 MWCNTs (NC-MWCNT) and Long MWCNTs (L-MWCNT) were used to manufacture TPU/MWCNT nanocomposite filaments with 1.

Three-Dimensional (3D) Conductive Network of CNT-Modified Short Jute Fiber-Reinforced Natural Rubber: Hierarchical CNT-Enabled Thermoelectric and Electrically Conductive Composite Interfaces.

Jute fibers (JFs) coated with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been introduced in a natural rubber (NR) matrix creating a three-dimensional (3D) electrically conductive percolated network. The JF-CNT endowed electrical conductivity and thermoelectric properties to the final composites. CNT networks fully covered the fiber surfaces as shown by the corresponding scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis.

Permeable Nanomontmorillonite and Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Binders.

Clinker reduction in cementitious binders is of paramount importance today, and nanotechnology has extended permissible limits. In the present study, a reference binder consisting of 60% Portland cement, 20% limestone, 20% fly ash, 3% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibres and 2% superplasticizer is optimized with three different types of nano-montmorillonite (nMt) dispersions; two organomodified ones and an inorganic one at different proportions (0.5% to 4%).