Effect of Ultrasonication on the Morphology, Mechanical Property, Ionic Conductivity, and Flame Retardancy of PEO-LiCF3SO3-Halloysite Nanotube Composites for Use as Solid Polymer Electrolyte.

PEO-LiCF3SO3-halloysite nanotube (HNT) composites were fabricated by solution casting together with hot compression to form a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) membrane. Different ultrasonic exposure times were used to disperse HNT nanoparticles in the PEO-20%LiCF3SO3-HNT composite solutions prior to casting. An exposure time of 15 min gave the highest ionic conductivity in the SPE membrane, the ionic conductivity significantly increased by two orders of magnitude from 6.6 × 10-6 to 1.1 × 10-4 S/cm. TEM, FE-SEM, and EDS-mapping were used to study the dispersion of HNTs in the SPE membrane. ATR-FTIR revealed that the bonding of PEO-LiCF3SO3 and PEO-HNT was created. XRD and DSC showed a reduction in the crystallinity of PEO due to HNT addition. The ultrasonication for an optimal period gave uniform dispersion of HNT, reduced the polymer crystallinity and strengthened the tensile property of SPE membrane. Moreover, the electrochemical stability, flame retardance and dimensional stability were improved by the addition of HNT and by ultrasonication.

Effect of Organo-Modified Montmorillonite Nanoclay on Mechanical, Thermo-Mechanical, and Thermal Properties of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Phenolic Composites.

This work aims to explore the effect of organo-modified montmorillonite nanoclay (O-MMT) on the mechanical, thermo-mechanical, and thermal properties of carbon fiber-reinforced phenolic composites (CFRP). CFRP at variable O-MMT contents (from 0 to 2.5 wt%) were prepared. The addition of 1.5 wt% O-MMT was found to give the heat resistant polymer composite optimum properties. Compared to the CFRP, the CFRP with 1.5 wt% O-MMT provided a higher tensile strength of 64 MPa (+20%), higher impact strength of 49 kJ/m2 (+51%), but a little lower bending strength of 162 MPa (-1%). The composite showed a 64% higher storage modulus at 30 °C of 6.4 GPa. It also could reserve its high modulus up to 145 °C. Moreover, it had a higher heat deflection temperature of 152 °C (+1%) and a higher thermal degradation temperature of 630 °C. This composite could maintain its mechanical properties at high temperature and was a good candidate for heat resistant material.

Improving the attachment and proliferation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on modified polystyrene by nitrogen-containing plasma.

Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) are important alternative source of pluripotent cells for several therapeutic purposes. Understanding of adhesion properties of such cells is necessary to regulate the attachment, growth and proliferation on targeted culture surfaces. BCP-K1, a line of WJMSCs, and polystyrene (PS) culture dishes were used as membrane samples. A 13.56 MHz inductively coupled discharge plasma reactor with a mixture of N-containing gas and noble gas was used. This was expected to introduce the more hydrophilic groups on PS surface and enhance the cell adhesion. The plasma-treated PS dishes with the mixed gas of N(2) + He at 50 W and NH(3) + He at 100 W were reactive towards BCP-K1. Cellular adhesion and proliferation was significantly twice as efficient on the treated surfaces than on PS dishes. BCP-K1 also secreted more focal adhesion kinase to adhere and proliferate when cultured on N(2)-treated PS dishes than on the NH(3)-treated PS dishes. Stable stemness markers were detected, including CD105, CD9 and SSEA-4, expressed on BCP-K1 growing on the modified PS dish surfaces, during 7 days of culturing. The presence of -NH(2) groups on the PS dish surface were revealed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A large amount of oxygen- and nitrogen-containing functional groups, up to 9.0 %, were introduced by NH(3) plasma and N(2) plasma. The functional groups introduced on to the PS surfaces were clearly the key factors which enhanced WJMSCs attachment and stemness stability.