Polymer nanocomposites are known to exhibit enhanced mechanical properties compared to neat polymeric system [1]. Fillers can be used as reinforcement in polymer composites for the enhancement of mechanical properties [2]. Reinforced” polymers consist of a polymeric matrix and relatively stiff filler that exhibit a drastic change in modulus or stress at given strain in compare with the pure pol...

Polymer nanocomposites are known to exhibit enhanced mechanical properties compared to neat polymeric system [1]. Fillers can be used as reinforcement in polymer composites for the enhancement of mechanical properties [2]. Reinforced” polymers consist of a polymeric matrix and relatively stiff filler that exhibit a drastic change in modulus or stress at given strain in compare with the pure pol...

Materials science continues to occupy a central place in our lives primarily through the design and creation of new materials, and our quality of life has improved over time thanks to the discovery of new materials. Major milestones in the advancement of our society are intimately associated with materials throughout history: the stone age, bronze age, iron age, steel age (industrial revolution...

Recently, Supercritical fluids have been used in material synthesis and processing because of their special properties such as high diffusivity, low viscosity, and low surface tension. Supercritical carbon dioxide is the most attractive because it is non-toxic, non-flammable, and has moderate critical temperature and critical pressure. Moreover, and can also swell most polymers. In this study, ...

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Strength and toughness are two mechanical properties that are generally mutually exclusive but highly sought-after in the design of advanced composite materials. There has only been limited progress in achieving both high strength and toughness in composite materials. However, the fundamental underlying mechanics remain largely unexplored, especially at the nanoscale. Inspired by the lamellar s...

We report on the structure, uniaxial orientation, and photoluminescent properties of CdS nanorods that form stable nanocomposites with smectic C hydrogen-bonded polymers from the family of poly(4-(n-acryloyloxyalkoxy)benzoic acids. TEM analysis of microtomed films of nanocomposites reveals that CdS nanorods form small domains that are homogeneously distributed in the LC polymer matrix. They und...

Particle-polymer nanocomposites often exhibit mechanical properties described poorly by micromechanical models that include only the particle and matrix phases. Existence of an interfacial region between the particle and matrix, or interphase, has been posited and indirectly demonstrated to account for this effect. Here, we present a straightforward analytical approach to estimate effective ela...