Carbon nanotube (CNT)‐reinforced polymer fibers have broad applications in electrical, thermal, optical, and smart applications. The key for mechanically robust fibers is the precise microstructural control of these CNTs, including their location, dispersion, and orientation. A new methodology is presented here that combines dry‐jet‐wet spinning and forced assembly for scalable fabrication of fiber composites, consisting of alternating layers of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and CNT/PAN. The thickness of each layer is controlled during the multiplication process, with resolutions down to the nanometer scale. The introduction of alternating layers facilitates the quality of CNT dispersion due to nanoscale confinement, and at the same time, enhances their orientation due to shear stress generated at each layer interface. In a demonstration example, with 0.5 wt% CNTs loading and the inclusion of 170 nm thick layers, a composite fiber shows a significant mechanical enhancement, namely, a 46.4% increase in modulus and a 39.5% increase in strength compared to a pure PAN fiber. Beyond mechanical reinforcement, the presented fabrication method is expected to have enormous potential for scalable fabrication of polymer nanocomposites with complex structural features for versatile applications.
The directed assembly of conjugated polymers into macroscopic organization with controlled orientation and placement is pivotal in improving device performance. Here, the supramolecular assembly of oriented spherulitic crystals of poly(3‐butylthiophene) surrounding a single carbon nanotube fiber under controlled solvent evaporation of solution‐cast films is reported. Oriented lamellar structures nucleate on the surface of the nanotube fiber in the form of a transcrystalline interphase. The factors influencing the formation of transcrystals are investigated in terms of chemical structure, crystallization temperature, and time. Dynamic process measurements exhibit the linear growth of transcrystals with time. Microstructural analysis of transcrystals reveals individual lamellar organization and crystal polymorphism. The form II modification occurs at low temperatures, while both form I and form II modifications coexist at high temperatures. A possible model is presented to interpret transcrystallization and polymorphism.
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 1752615
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10460499
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Macromolecular Rapid Communications
- Volume:
- 40
- Issue:
- 19
- ISSN:
- 1022-1336
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract The growth of spontaneously twisted crystals is a common but poorly understood phenomenon. An analysis of the formation of twisted crystals of a metastable benzamide polymorph (form
II ) crystallizing from highly supersaturated aqueous and ethanol solutions is given here. Benzamide, the first polymorphic molecular crystal reported (1832), would have been the first helicoidal crystal observed had the original authors undertaken an analysis by light microscopy. Polymorphism and twisting frequently concur as they are both associated with high thermodynamic driving forces for crystallization. Optical and electron microscopies as well as electron and powder X‐ray diffraction reveal a complex lamellar structure of benzamide formII needle‐like crystals. The internal stress produced by the overgrowth of lamellae is shown to be able to create a twist moment that is responsible for the observed non‐classical morphologies. -
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Abstract The growth of spontaneously twisted crystals is a common but poorly understood phenomenon. An analysis of the formation of twisted crystals of a metastable benzamide polymorph (form
II ) crystallizing from highly supersaturated aqueous and ethanol solutions is given here. Benzamide, the first polymorphic molecular crystal reported (1832), would have been the first helicoidal crystal observed had the original authors undertaken an analysis by light microscopy. Polymorphism and twisting frequently concur as they are both associated with high thermodynamic driving forces for crystallization. Optical and electron microscopies as well as electron and powder X‐ray diffraction reveal a complex lamellar structure of benzamide formII needle‐like crystals. The internal stress produced by the overgrowth of lamellae is shown to be able to create a twist moment that is responsible for the observed non‐classical morphologies. -
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Abstract Polymorphisms for melanic form of insects may provide various selective advantages. However, melanic alleles may have significant/subtle pleiotrophic “costs.” Several potential pleiotrophic effects of the W (=Y)‐linked melanism gene in
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ABSTRACT We report the fabrication of poly (ethylene‐co‐methacrylic acid) sodium‐neutralized ionomer (Surlyn 8940) fibers via a forced‐assembly coextrusion and layer multiplication process with polystyrene (PS) as the matrix material. The PS separating materials were removed by toluene extraction to yield independent Surlyn fibers. The tensile properties of Surlyn fiber strands were studied under different strain rates. Surlyn fibers were oriented to 300% strain at different temperatures to study the effect of orientation on the tensile properties. The oriented Surlyn fibers were annealed after orientation to further enhance the mechanical properties. Further drawing of these oriented fiber mats to a draw ratio of 4 at 60 °C followed by annealing at 60 °C can afford moduli in excess of 350 MPa and tensile strengths in excess of 70 MPa. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.
2019 ,136 , 48046.
