Energy, Environment and Water Research Center

Energy, Environment and Water Research Center

Abstract

In the last two decades, polymer nanocomposites have attracted great interests because of the remarkable enhancements in mechanical and physical properties with minute amount of nano-filler, promising to eliminate the typical compromise that exists between properties and processability of composite materials. Despite the expectations created in the academic and industrial communities, their success has so far been limited. The reasons can be ascribed to the poor dispersion in polymer matrices, to the often weak interfacial interaction with polymers, and to the lack of control of nano-filler orientation.

In this presentation, all the aspects above will be tackled, studying the potential of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) and sepiolite nano-clay into thermoplastic polymers.

Particular emphasis will be given to the prospective of such novel materials for application fields like transparent conductive films, smart textiles, non-halogenated fire-retardant compounds, enhanced of mechanical and barrier properties, etc.

Biography

Emiliano Bilotti graduated cum laude in Materials Engineering from “Federico II”, University of Naples. In 2004 he joined Queen Mary for his PhD studies, under the supervision of Prof. Ton Peijs. His research focused on Thermoplastic Polymer / Clay Nanocomposites and the study of new environment friendly flame retardant materials, in the frame of a European STRP project: Nanofire. During his doctorate he developed expertises in different fields of polymer processing and characterisation. He also acquired knowledge in the area of nano-mechanics and nano-objects manipulation using state-of-the-art Scanning Probe Microscopy facilities. From December 2007 he is employed as a Post-Doctoral Research Assistant at QMUL on Inteltex, a project supported by the EC through the Sixth Framework Programme. The overall objective of the project is the development of intelligent multi-reactive textile fibres, via incorporation of conductive nano-fillers in non-conductive polymeric matrix. The conductivity of such fibres varies with external stimuli, such as strain, temperature and vapours in the atmosphere, imparting sensing properties to the fibres. From September 2010 Emiliano Bilotti will be working as a Research Manager in Nanoforce, an R&D spin-off company of QMUL focused on polymer nanocomposites and ceramic nanostructures, and lecturing part-time in the School of Engineering and Materials Science, QMUL.

For more information contact Assistant Professor Nick Polydorides tel. +357 22208600 or email n [dot] polydorides [at] cyi [dot] ac [dot] cy