AB-2

Brown sediment with clasts ranging from small to large in size. Clast shape ranges from sub-angular to sub-rounded. The clasts are generally well dispersed, with a few areas of closer aggregates. Lineations are common throughout the sample. A few rotation structures and a few areas of edge-to-edge grain crushing can also be seen. Comet structures can also be seen in very minor amounts.

J.R. WB-2

Dark brown sediment with clasts ranging from small to large. Clast shape ranges from angular to rounded. Comet structures and lineations can be commonly seen throughout the sample. There are minor amounts of rotation structures also present. The sample contains clasts that are generally well dispersed.

WB-3b

Dark brown sediment with well dispersed clasts. The clasts range from small to large in size and sub-angular to sub-rounded in shape. The sample is abundant in rotation structures and lineations. It also contains comet structures and minor amounts of grain stacking.

9 AUG B-M-D

This sample contains a fine grained, dark grey ground mass with well dispersed clasts. Clasts are not abundant but range from small to large. The clast shape ranges from sub-angular to sub-rounded. A few faint rotation structures can be seen. Minor amounts of lineations can also be seen.

14 AUG B-M-B

Dark grey ground mass with clasts ranging from small to large. The clast shape ranges from sub-angular to sub-rounded. Lineations can be seen throughout the sample. Clasts are generally well dispersed.

AUG-A-M-E

Greyish brown sediment with clasts ranging from small to large. The clast shape ranges from sub-angular to sub-rounded. Lineations are abundant in this sample. The larger clasts are very well dispersed.

MF-1

Brown sediment with well dispersed clasts ranging from small to large. Clast shape ranges from angular to sub-rounded. Lineations and rotation structures can be seen in this sample. Minor amounts of edge-to-edge grain crushing can also be seen.

MF-2

Brown sediment with clasts ranging from small to large. The clast shape ranges from angular to sub-rounded. The clasts are generally well dispersed but edge-to-edge grain crushing is present. A few lineations and faint rotation structures can also be seen.

Self-assembled natural rubber/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites using latex compounding techniques

Functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) plays an important role in eliminating nanotube aggregation for reinforcing polymeric materials. We prepared a new class of natural rubber (NR)/MWCNT composites by using latex compounding and self-assembly technique. The MWCNTs were functionalized with mixed acids (H2SO₄/HNO₃ = 3:1, volume ratio) and then assembled with poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and latex particles. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the assembling mechanism between latex particles and MWCNTs. It is found that MWCNTs are homogenously dispersed in the natural rubber (NR) latex as individual nanotubes since strong self-aggregation of MWCNTs has been greatly depressed with their surface functionalization. The well-dispersed MWCNTs produce a remarkable increase in the tensile strength of NR even when the amount of MWCNTs is only 1 wt.%. Dynamic mechanical analysis shows that the glass transition temperature of composites is higher and the inner-thermogenesis and thermal stability of NR/MWCNT composites are better, when compared to those of the pure NR. The marked improvement in these properties is largely due to the strong interfacial adhesion between the NR phase and MWCNTs. Functionalization of MWCNTs represents a potentially powerful technology for significant reinforcement of natural rubber materials.

Improving the dispersion and mechanical properties of epoxy/carbon nanotube composites

The incorporation and uniform dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in polymer matrix could facilitate engineers to create high performance nanocomposites that potentially compete with most advanced materials in nature. The unique combination of outstanding mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of CNTs makes them excellent nanofillers for the fabrication of advanced materials. Successful enhancement in mechanical properties via reinforcement is expected only when the nanofillers are well dispersed in the polymer matrix. Moreover, the orientation as well as the CNT/matrix interfacial strength also determines the effective physical properties of the nanocomposites. However, CNTs typically assemble to give bundles, which are heavily entangled to each other with a high aspect ratio and a large π-electronic surface. In this work, we outline some preliminary results in preparing high performance epoxy composites. Composites with fine dispersion and superior mechanical properties were prepared using epoxy and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The fine dispersion of the nanocomposites can be identified in the high resolution SEM image shown in Figure 1. This method can provide an alternative route for the preparation of new structural and functional nanocomposites.

Reduced graphene oxide/ZnO composite : reusable adsorbent for pollutant management

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) coated with ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) was synthesized by a self-assembly and in situ photoreduction method, and then their application for removing organic pollutant from water was investigated. The RGO@ZnO composite nanomaterial has unique structural features including well-dispersed NPs on the surface and dense NPs loading. This composite exhibited a greatly improved Rhodamine B (RhB) adsorption capacity and an improved photocatalytic activity for degrading RhB compared to neat ZnO NPs. These properties made RGO@ZnO reusable for pollutant adsorbent. The composite showed an excellent cycling performance for organic pollutant removal up to 99% recovery over several cycles via simulated sunlight irradiation.

Reinforcement of natural rubber with core-shell structure silica-poly(Methyl Methacrylate) nanoparticles

A highly performing natural rubber/silica (NR/SiO2) nanocomposite with a SiO2 loading of 2 wt% was prepared by combining similar dissolve mutually theory with latex compounding techniques. Before polymerization, double bonds were introduced onto the surface of the SiO2 particles with the silane-coupling agent. The core-shell structure silica-poly(methyl methacrylate), SiO2-PMMA, nanoparticles were formed by grafting polymerization of MMA on the surface of the modified SiO2 particles via in situ emulsion, and then NR/SiO2 nanocomposite was prepared by blending SiO2-PMMA and PMMA-modified NR (NR-PMMA). The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results show that PMMA has been successfully introduced onto the surface of SiO2, which can be well dispersed in NR matrix and present good interfacial adhesion with NR phase. Compared with those of pure NR, the thermal resistance and tensile properties of NR/SiO2 nanocomposite are significantly improved.

Silver nanoparticles prepared by gamma irradiation across metal-organic framework templates

In this study, we demonstrate for the first time the successful fabrication of well-dispersed ultrafine silver nanoparticles inside metal-organic frameworks through a single step gamma irradiation at room temperature. HKUST-1 crystals are soaked in silver nitrate aqueous solution and irradiated with a Cobalt 60 source across a range of irradiation doses to synthesize highly uniformly distributed silver nano-particles. The average size of the silver nanoparticles across the Ag@HKUST-1 materials is found to vary between 1.4 and 3 nm for dose exposures between 1 and 200 kGy, respectively. The Ag@HKUST-1 hybrid crystals exhibit strong surface plasmon resonance and are highly durable and efficient catalytic materials for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol (up to 14.46 × 10-3 s-1 for 1 kGy Ag@HKUST-1). The crystals can be easily recycled for at least five successive cycles of reaction with a conversion efficiency higher than 99.9%. The gamma irradiation is demonstrated to be an effective and environmental friendly process for the synthesis of nano-particles across confined metal-organic frameworks at room temperature with potential applications in environmental science.

Promoted water transport across graphene oxide-poly(amide) thin film composite membranes and their antibacterial activity

Hybrid composite membranes have great potential for desalination applications since water transport can be favorably promoted by selective diffusion at the interface between matrix and reinforcement materials. In this paper, graphene oxide nano-sheets were successfully incorporated across 200nm thick poly(amide) films by interfacial polymerization to form novel thin-film composite membranes. The impact of the graphene oxide on the morphology, chemistry, and surface charge of the ultra-thin poly(amide) layer, and the ability to desalinate seawater was investigated. The graphene oxide nano-sheets were found to be well dispersed across the composite membranes, leading to a lower membrane surface energy and an enhanced hydrophilicity. The iso-electric point of the samples, key to surface charge repulsion during desalination, was found to be consistently shifted to higher pH values with an increasing graphene oxide content. Compared to a pristine poly(amide) membrane, the pure water flux across the composite membranes with 0.12wt.% of graphene oxide was also found to increase by up to 80% from 0.122 to 0.219L·μm·m-2·h-1·bar-1 without significantly affecting salt selectivity. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of the composite membrane on microbial growth were evaluated and the novel composite membranes exhibited superior anti-microbial activity and may act as a potential anti-fouling membrane material.

Homogeneous isolation of nanocelluloses by controlling the shearing force and pressure in microenvironment

Nanocelluloses were prepared from sugarcane bagasse celluloses by dynamic high pressure microfluidization (DHPM), aiming at achieving a homogeneous isolation through the controlling of shearing force and pressure within a microenvironment. In the DHPM process, the homogeneous cellulose solution passed through chambers at a higher pressure in fewer cycles, compared with the high pressure homogenization (HPH) process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) demonstrated that entangled network structures of celluloses were well dispersed in the microenvironment, which provided proper shearing forces and pressure to fracture the hydrogen bonds. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), CP/MAS 13C NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) measurements suggested that intra-molecular hydrogen bonds were maintained. These nanocelluloses of smaller particle size, good dispersion and lower thermal stability will have great potential to be applied in electronics devices, electrochemistry, medicine, and package and printing industry. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.