Faculty Publications
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://idr.nitk.ac.in/handle/123456789/18736
Publications by NITK Faculty
Browse
9 results
Search Results
Item Flexible Electromagnetic Shielding Material Using Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Coated Cotton Fabric(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2022) Arun Kumar, D.S.; Tharehalli Rajanna, T.R.; Kandasamy, K.; Bhat Panemangalore, P.; Rahman, M.R.The present work focuses on the development of cotton fabric with multi-walled carbon nanotube coating (CMC) through a dip and dry process. The influence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) concentration on transmission, reflection, and absorption properties, which leads to an estimation of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, was also studied. The merits of MWCNTs coating on the cotton fabric were evaluated using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and surface resistivity. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy result supports the bonding between MWCNTs and cotton fabric. The significant increase of 98.9% of EMI shielding for the highest MWCNTs weight percentage (22.23 wt%) was attributed due to the well-interconnected network of MWCNTs. The shielding mechanism in the high wt% MWCNTs samples is dominated by both reflection and absorption properties. © 2011-2012 IEEE.Item Mechanical characterization of 3D printed MWCNTs/HDPE nanocomposites(Elsevier Ltd, 2022) Kumar, S.; Ramesh, M.R.; Doddamani, M.; Rangappa, S.M.; Siengchin, S.The development of polymer nanocomposite blends using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is presented in this paper. Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) based 3D printer is used to realize MWCNT (0.5, 1, 3, and 5 by wt. %)/HDPE nanocomposite (NC) 3D printed samples. The addition of MWCNT increases TCryst, αCryst and TMelt. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of neat HDPE and MWCNT/HDPE NCs is also carried out to check their thermal stability at higher working temperatures. The degradation temperature of MWCNT/HDPE NCs is observed to be higher than neat HDPE and increasing with MWCNT content. The filaments are tested for tensile, while specimens are tested for both tensile and flexural properties. It is observed that tensile and flexural modulus and strength improve with increasing MWCNT. Finally, the results of the tensile tested specimens are compared to those of various HDPE composites found in the literature. © 2022Item Nanoindentation and nano-scratch testing on cement paste(ICE Publishing, 2023) Barbhuiya, S.; Das, B.B.Carbon nanotubes are an attractive reinforcement material for several composites. This is due to their inherently high tensile strength and high modulus of elasticity. This study focused on the nanomechanical characteristics of cement paste with and without short multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The objective behind studying the nanomechanical properties of cement paste is to better understand the fundamental behaviour of cement at the nanoscale level. Cement paste is a complex material that consists of various phases, including cement hydrates, unhydrated cement particles and porosity. By studying the mechanical properties of cement paste at the nanoscale, researchers can gain insights into the mechanisms that govern the behaviour of this material. Following earlier tests, the amount of MWCNTs was kept constant (0.30% by weight of cement). The nanomechanical parameters explored included the localised Young's modulus and hardness. According to the test results, short MWCNTs increased the proportion of high-density calcium silicate hydrate in the cement paste. The nanomechanical properties (localised Young's modulus and hardness) of cement paste with short MWCNTs were found to be greater than those of cement paste without MWCNTs. According to nano-scratching experiments, the cement matrix with short MWCNTs was substantially more durable than the matrix without them. © 2023 Emerald Publishing Limited: All rights reserved.Item Buckling behavior of non-uniformly heated 3D printed plain and functionally graded nanocomposites(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2023) Kumar, S.; Ramesh, M.R.; Jeyaraj, J.; Powar, S.; Doddamani, M.The functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (0.5–5 wt.%) are compounded with high density polyethylene (HDPE), and, subsequently, used for extruding nanocomposite filaments to fabricate nanocomposites (NCs) and functionally graded nanocomposites (FGNCs) through 3D printing. The 3D printed NCs are investigated for coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and buckling under different non-uniform temperature distributions (case-1: left edge heating, case-2: centre heating, and case-3: left and right edge heating). A significant reduction in CTE is observed with MWCNT addition and gradation. The highest reduction in CTE is observed for H5 (5 wt.% of MWCNT in HDPE) NC and H1 ⟶ H3 ⟶ H5 (FGNC-2) among the NCs and the FGNCs. It is noted that Tcr (critical buckling temperature) is highest for case-3 and lowest for case-2. The highest deflection is noticed in case-2, while no significant difference is observed in case-1 and case-3 heating conditions. It is also observed that Tcr increases with gradation and MWCNTs addition. The H5 NC and FGNC-2 exhibited the highest Tcr among the NCs and FGNCs, respectively. The maximum deflection is noticed for HDPE, whereas the minimum deflection is noticed for FGNC-2 and H-5 NC among the tested samples. The results also revealed that Tcr is very sensitive to type of heating. © 2023 Society of Plastics Engineers.Item Flexible and cost effective CNT coated cotton fabric for CO gas sensing application(Elsevier B.V., 2023) D.s, A.K.; Chauhan, S.S.; Krishnamoorthy, K.; P, D.B.; Bharathi, K.D.; Ravikumar, A.; Rahman, M.R.In this paper, a low-cost and room temperature flexible carbon monoxide (CO) gas sensor is presented using multi-walled carbon nanotubes coated cotton fabric. A dip and drying method is used to fabricate a lightweight, and high-performance fabric based CO gas sensor using different concentrations of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is utilized for examining the deagglomeration of MWCNTs in the presence of a sufficient amount of surfactant. The field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) is used to evaluate the formation of a uniform network of MWCNTs on the cotton fabric. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is used to confirm the presence of functional groups which plays an important role in CO gas sensing. The fabricated cotton fabric coated with MWCNTs (CCM) sensors are tested with different concentrations of CO gas ranging from 25 ppm to 100 ppm at room temperature. It is found that in comparison to all other sensors, the CCM sensor coated with the higher concentration of MWCNTs (0.5 mg/ml) shows a maximum response of 9.11 % at 25 ppm and 15.2 % at 100 ppm concentration of CO gas respectively. The CCM 4 sensor shows the fastest response and recovery within 49s for 25–100 ppm of CO gas. Moreover, the fabricated CCM sensor exhibited good repeatability, reproducibility, and selectivity. These sensors are suitable for low-cost smart textile applications. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.Item Synergistic boost in Fe3O4 anode performance for li-ion batteries via Zn and Cu double doping and multi-walled carbon nanotube composite integration(Elsevier B.V., 2024) Kumar, A.; Mukesh, P.; Lakshmi Sagar, G.; Hegde, A.; Nagaraja, H.S.In this study, a novel nanocomposite material comprising pure Fe3O4 (FO), doped Zn0.5Cu0.5Fe2O4-3 (ZCFO-3), and Zn0.5Cu0.5Fe2O4-3@ Multi-walled carbon nanotube (ZCFO-3@MWCNT) nanocomposite material is carefully prepared using a simple one-step hydrothermal process. Comprehensive surface and morphological analysis are conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), while compositional studies are investigated through Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical performance is fully analyzed through Cyclic voltammetry (CV), Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), rate capability tests, discharge/charge capacity, and cyclic stability evaluations. Among these three nanomaterials, ZCFO-3@MWCNT nanocomposite at 100 mA g−1 current density reveals the best performance, with a discharge capacity of 1974 mAh g–1, ZCFO-3 and FO reveal 1340 mAh g–1 and 1317 mAh g–1 respectively. After 800 cycles at 500 mA g−1 current density, ZCFO-3@MWCNT stays strong with a discharge capacity of 646 mAh g–1, while ZCFO-3 manages only 362 mAh g–1 and FO only 111 mAh g–1. After 1200 cycles at 500 mA g−1, the nanocomposite still delivers 518 mAh g–1. This study suggests that ZCFO-3@MWCNT could be a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.Item 3D printing of functionally graded nanocomposites: An investigation of microstructural, rheological, and mechanical behavior(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2024) Kumar, S.; Rajath, S.; Shivakumar, N.D.; Ramesh, M.R.; Doddamani, M.Manufacturing functionally graded material through 3D printing is challenging owing to the deposition of different materials with different thermal properties in each layer, leading to a higher thermal gradient between deposited and depositing layers, resulting in improper bonding between them and, hence, reduced mechanical properties. This study focuses on 3D printing of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-based lightweight functionally graded nanocomposites (FGNCs) and their investigation for microstructural, rheological, physical, and mechanical properties. Functionalized MWCNTs (0.5% → 5%) are initially compounded with widely utilized HDPE to develop nanocomposites (H0.5→H5 pellets) for extruding filaments for 3D printing. 3D-printed FGNC samples are investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), rheology, density, tensile, and flexural tests. SEM and rheology confirm the homogeneous dispersion of the filler in HDPE and the processing parameters suitability in blending, extrusion, and 3D printing. Complex viscosity (η*), loss modulus (E″), and storage modulus (E′) of FGNCs increase, while the damping decreases with the MWCNTs rise in the graded layers. Density results revealed the highest weight saving potential (~12%) of FGNC-2 (H1–H3–H5), showing great weight saving potential. Tensile and flexural properties rise when the MWCNTs content rises in the graded layer. The FGNC-2 showed the highest tensile strength and moduli, 37.12% and 90.41% higher than HDPE. Flexural strength and moduli are also found to be the highest for FGNC-2, 28.57%, and 26.83% higher than HDPE. The highest specific moduli and strength are found for FGNC-2, 46.16% and 44.14% higher than HDPE, respectively. Experimental findings are found to be strongly in agreement with numerical findings. 3D-printed FGNC-2 demonstrated the best flexural and tensile characteristics with the lowest weight and hence can be used to make practical parts and structures that need variable stiffness. Highlights: FGNCs functionally graded n anocomposites are concurrently 3D printed. FGNC-2 exhibited the highest weight saving potential of 12%. FGNC-2 showed 90.41% and 37.12% enhanced tensile modulus and strength. FGNC-2 displayed 28.57% and 26.83% improved flexural strength and modulus. FGNCs exhibited better mechanical performance than the homogeneous NCs. © 2024 Society of Plastics Engineers.Item Green covalent surface functionalization of carbon nanofillers and hybridization to improve the thermal and electrical properties of RTV SR nanocomposites(Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Chandrashekar, A.; Hegde, M.; Siya; Karthik Reddy, B.; Jineesh, J.A.; Ravichandran, V.; Eswaraiah, E.; Prabhu, T.N.In this work, graphene (GP) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) are covalently surface functionalized via a green method using clove extract. The clove–modified carbon hybrid silicone rubber (SR) nanocomposites are fabricated by incorporating clove –modified GP (CGP) and MWCNT (CMWCNT) in various weight ratios with a total filler loading of 10 wt%. Our study investigated the effect of green covalent surface modification and the use of hybrid filler on the thermal and electrical properties of the silicone rubber. The nanocomposite with 9:1 hybrid ratio showed the highest thermal conductivity of about 0.406 W m?1 K?1, 103 % enhancement and thermal effusivity of about 766.2 Ws1/2 m?2 K?1, 29.64 % enhancement with respect to pure SR. Thermal management performance was evaluated by applying thermal compounds as thermal interface material on a 1 W light emitting diode (LED) bulb for testing. It was found that during heating, the hybrid composite with 9:1 ratio showed 2.3 °C reduction in the surface temperature of the LED bulb (under ON condition) and reduced the surface temperature by 1.8 ? within 20 s and reached almost room temperature in 100 s (under OFF condition). In addition, nanocomposite with 9:1 hybrid ratio showed excellent thermal stability, enhanced electrical resistivity which presents a promising strategy for designing thermally conductive polymer nanocomposites based thermal interface materials in managing excess heat for thermal management applications. © 2025Item Synergistic enhancement in thermal conductivity of RTV silicone rubber via non-covalently surface-modified graphene and MWCNT hybrid fillers(Springer, 2025) Chandrashekar, A.; Hegde, M.; Siya Shetty; Reddy, B.K.; Jineesh, J.A.; Varrla, E.; Prabhu, T.N.Effective thermal management is critical for advanced electronic devices, yet conventional polymer-based thermal interface materials (TIMs) often exhibit low thermal conductivity, poor filler dispersion, and high interfacial resistance. This study addresses these limitations by enhancing filler–matrix interactions and exploiting synergistic effects between dual-dimensional carbon nanofillers. Graphene (GPs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were non-covalently surface modified using phenyl glycidyl ether (PGE) via ultrasonication in THF, improving dispersion and compatibility with room temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber (RTV SR). The surface-functionalized fillers (PGE@GP, PGE@MWCNT) were characterized using FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, FESEM, and TGA to confirm successful modification. Composite films were fabricated by incorporating PGE-modified fillers into RTV SR at three different hybrid ratios (PGE@GP:PGE@MWCNT = 9:1, 8:2, and 7:3) with a total filler content of 10 wt%. The composite with a 9:1 ratio achieved the highest thermal conductivity of 0.459 ± 0.001 Wm?1 K?1, representing a 129.5% enhancement over pure RTV SR. The observed 48.06% synergistic improvement highlights the effectiveness of combining dual-dimensional fillers. Additionally, the composite retained electrical insulation, a critical property for TIM applications. Application tests using a 1 W LED bulb demonstrated the composite’s ability to dissipate heat efficiently, confirming its potential as a high performance, electrically insulating thermal interface material for modern electronic systems. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.