-Exchange reactions of Na-montmorillonite with zirconyl chloride solutions give products with basal spacings near 18 A which are stable to 500~ and have surface areas of the order of 300-400 m2/g. The Na ions are exchanged with tetrameric hydroxy cations [Zr4(OH)I( nH~O] 2+. The high surface area is attributed to the porosity formed by stable zirconium oxide" pillars" formed by dehydroxylatlon ...

Due to their biodegradability, affordability, low density, and numerous other benefits, natural fiber polymer composites are preferable conventional GFRP in maritime applications. However, when exposed moisture, mechanical qualities deteriorate. A significant agricultural waste called pineapple leaf (PALF) can be employed as reinforcement epoxy matrices. Improved interfacial bonding between pha...

Tapioca starch, poly(lactic acid), and Cloisite NA+ nanocomposite foams, with four clay contents (1, 3, 5, 7, wt %), were prepared by melt-intercalation method. Selected structural, thermal, physical, and mechanical properties were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and an Instron universal testing machine, respectively....

This paper describes the effects of reinforcement by randomly distributed nylon fibers and addition of nanoclay on some engineering properties of a typical asphalt concrete. The properties of asphalt concrete reinforced by different percentages of 25 mm nylon fibers have been compared with those of the mixtures containing different percentages of nanoclay and those in which both the fibers and ...

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/organic-montmorillonite composites were prepared by melt intercalation. Their structures and properties were investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and mechanical testing. The results showed that PVC chains could be intercalated into the gallery of organically modified montmorillonite to form exfoliated PVC/organic-montmorillo...